Me262 Ace Walter "Graf" Krupinski Interview

From Jane's WWII Fighters

Walter Krupinski, known to his comrades as "Graf" ("Count"), first saw combat against the RAF on the Western Front. Transferring to the east, his victories soon started to mount and in October 1942, he became a commander in the legendary Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52) wing. A year later his victories reached 150. He was one of JG 52's elite fighter pilots, becoming Staffelkapitan of 7. Staffel in the spring of 1943. In March 1944, with 177 victories to his name, he returned to Germany to take command of II./JG 11. Flying high altitude Bf 109s, he chalked up another 12 victories before being wounded. From September 1944 to March 1945 he led III./JG 26, during which his unit participated in the Ardennes Offensive. Krupinski is one of the few living aces to have flown the long-nosed Fw190D in combat.

He finished the war flying with Adolf Galland's famous Jagdverband 44 (JV 44), a squadron of experts flying the revolutionary Me 262 jet fighter. He was one of the most successful pilots flying on both the Russian and Western Fronts. By the end of his career, he was credited with 197 aerial victories and held the Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves. He was also an exceptional leader who taught many young fighter pilots their trade, including Erich Hartmann. In 1,100 missions, he never lost a wingman.

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