The Eduard Modeller's Den

The Eduard Modeller's Den is an online paid magazine of Czech company Eduard - M. A. designed for enthusiasts of plastic modeling, history, and related subjects. It offers a diverse range of content, including articles on current events, historical articles, museum travel guides, and interviews with notable personalities.

Strana 24

Eduard Modeller‘s Den No. 6 - JUNE 2025

WHO SHOT DOWN ROLF?

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HISTORY

Rolf Peter Pingel was born in Kiel

October 1913 and when old enough,

joined the Luwae. On compleon

of his training, he was posted to

I./JG 134 at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim in

March 1937. During the Spanish Civil

War, Rolf ew with 2./J 88 shoong

down six aircra for which he was

awarded the Spanien-Kreuz in Gold

(Spanish Cross in Gold) with Swords.

At the end of 1937, he was given

command of 2./JG 334 which was

eventually re-designated 2./JG 53.

Rolf’s rst kill of the Second World

War was a French Mureaux 113 of

GAO 1/506 on 10 September 1939,

followed by a Fairey Bale of 150

Sqn on 30 September 1939. His next

kill was not unl 14 May 1940 when

he shot down three French and

a single Brish aircra in one day.

By the end of the Bale of France, he

had shot down eight aircra (the last

two when he was acng Gruppen

Kommandeur of III./JG 53 following

the shoong down and capture of

his good friend Werner Mölders on

5 June 1940). Returning to 2./JG 53

for the Bale of Britain, Hauptmann

Pingel shot down two more RAF

aircra before he was posted to

command I./JG 26 on 22 August 1940

when command of JG 26 was given

to Major Adolf Galland.

Rolf would be awarded the

Rierkreuz (Knights Cross) on

14 September 1940 and by 28

September 1940, had shot down

a total of 22 aircra. However, his kill

of 28 September 1940 (a Hurricane

near Maidstone believed to be own

by Plt O Albert Lewis of 249 Sqn)

would be the last of the Bale of

Britain. Rolf recalls what happened

on the aernoon of 28 September

1940:

„I was followed by a ghter to

a place about 10 miles north-west

of Boulogne where I force-landed in

the sea. Shortly before I landed, the

Brish pilot drew alongside, opened

his can o py, sh o o k his hea d an d tur n ed

back for England. I had been shot by

hundreds of bullets, the engine did

Rolf Pingel seen here aer the award

of the Rierkreuz and commanding I./JG 26.

I./JG 53 Sitzkrieg 1939-40. LtoR: Ofw Ignaz Prestele(+ 4 May 42),

Lt Walter Rupp (POW 17 Oct 40), Oblt Rolf Pingel (POW 10 Jul 41),

Oblt Hans-Karl Mayer (+ 17 Oct 40).