Hobby Master Archive

The best known and most effective Stuka pilot, Hans Ulrich Rudel (Oberst St.G2.). Oberst would be the equivalent to USAAF Colonel or RAF Group Captain. Rudel’s squadron of nine tank-busting Ju-87 G-1 was assigned to support the 3rd SS Panzer Division “Totenkopf”. On the first day of the Operation Citadel (July 4, 1943 - August 23, 1943), during his first mission, Rudel knocked out four Soviet tanks and by the evening, his score grew to twelve. Ju-87 G I was used extensively in battle during the Offensive of Kursk. Rudel found that the best way to knock out tanks was to hit them in the back (T-34’s rear mounted engine and its cooling system did not permit the installation of heavier armor plating) or the side. Interesting fact is that attacking the back of the tank meant that the plane had to come from the rear flying towards friendly territory - great advantage if the plane got damaged during the attack. By wars end Rudel had the following records; 2,530 missions of combat, 9 air to air victories), 519+ destroyed tanks, 800 vehicles of all the types, 150 pieces of artillery, innumerable bridges, 70 amphibious boats, a battleship, a cruiser, destroyer.