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Heinrich Krafft

{{short description|German World War II flying ace}}

{{Infobox military person

|name=Heinrich Krafft

|birth_date=13 August 1914

|death_date={{death date and age|1942|12|14|1914|8|13|df=y}}

|image=

|caption=

|birth_place=Bilin, Bohemia

|death_place=Belyi, Russia

|nickname="Gaudi"

|allegiance={{flag|Nazi Germany}}

|branch=Army (1935–36)
Luftwaffe (1936–42)

|serviceyears=1935–1942

|rank=Hauptmann (captain)

|unit=JG 51

|commands=I./JG 51

|battles=World War II

|awards=Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

|laterwork=}}

Heinrich "Gaudi" Krafft (13 August 1914 – 14 December 1942) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. During his career he was credited with 78 aerial victories, 4 over the Western Front and 74 over the Eastern Front.

Career

On 10 November 1940, Krafft was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 3. Staffel of JG 51, replacing Oberleutnant Richard Leppla who was transferred.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002|p=28}}

On 18 March, Krafft and fellow JG 51 pilot Leutnant Hans Strelow were awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes}}) for 46 and 52 aerial victories claimed respectively.{{sfn|Weal|2001|p=45}}{{sfn|Weal|2006|p=122}}

On 1 June 1942, Krafft succeeded Hauptmann Josef Fözö as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of JG 51.{{sfn|Aders|Held|1993|p=247}}

On 14 December 1942, Krafft's Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-3 (Werknummer 0539—factory number) was hit by anti-aircraft artillery resulting in a forced landing near Torbin, located approximately {{convert|10|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} south of Bely behind enemy lines. Krafft was captured by Soviet forces and beaten to death. His body was later recovered by German forces, indicating severe blows to the head.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|pp=262, 276}} Command of I. Gruppe of JG 51 was temporarily passed to Oberleutnant Rudolf Busch before Hauptmann Erich Leie was given command on 6 January 1943.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=265}}

Summary of career

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Krafft was credited with 78 aerial victories.{{sfn|Zabecki|2014|p=1615}}

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 46131". The Luftwaffe grid map ({{lang|de|Jägermeldenetz}}) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about {{Convert|360|sqmi|sqkm}}. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area {{Convert|3|x|4|km|mi|abbr=on|sp=us}} in size.{{sfn|Planquadrat}}

class="wikitable plainrowheaders collapsible" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; text-align:right; width: 100%;"
colspan="10" | Chronicle of aerial victories
colspan="10" style="text-align: left;" |

{{legend|#fbec5d;|This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Krafft an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

{{legend|#ffdead|This and the # (hash mark) indicates those aerial victories listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock without an explicit sequence number.|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}}

scope="col"| Claim

!scope="col"| Date

!scope="col"| Time

!scope="col" width="200px"| Type

!scope="col"| Location

!scope="col" style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | Claim

!scope="col"| Date

!scope="col"| Time

!scope="col" width="200px"| Type

!scope="col"| Location

colspan="10" | – 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1

| 11 May 1940

| 18:08

| Hurricane

| Rotterdam{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001|p=274}}

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 3

| 21 May 1940

| 08:10

| M.S.406

| Abbeville{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001|p=274}}

2

| 11 May 1940

| 18:16

| Hurricane

| Rotterdam{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001|p=274}}

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 4

| 22 May 1940

| {{Center|—}}

| Curtiss

| Abbeville{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001|p=274}}

colspan="10" | – 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
5

| 22 June 1941

| 07:02

| I-153{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=248}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 18

| 31 August 1941

| 10:31

| SB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=254}}

|

6

| 22 June 1941

| 09:55

| SB-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=248}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 19

| 31 August 1941

| 10:36

| SB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=254}}

|

7

| 22 June 1941

| 10:02

| SB-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=248}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 20

| 8 September 1941

| 09:30

| Pe-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=254}}

|

8

| 22 June 1941

| 17:45

| DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=248}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 21

| 4 October 1941

| 08:20

| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=255}}

|

9

| 25 June 1941

| 14:00

| SB-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=248}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 22

| 5 October 1941

| 06:50

| I-61

| {{Convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Dubrowka{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=255}}

10

| 29 June 1941

| 12:40

| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=248}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 23

| 8 October 1941

| 14:15

| DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=255}}

|

11

| 30 June 1941

| 13:05

| SB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=248}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 24

| 10 October 1941

| 11:00

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=255}}

|

12

| 30 June 1941

| 18:50

| DB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=248}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 25

| 11 October 1941

| 14:35

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=255}}

|

13

| 13 July 1941

| 14:55

| SB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=251}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 26

| 22 October 1941

| 11:35

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=255}}

|

14

| 24 July 1941

| 11:30

| Seversky{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=252}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 27

| 24 October 1941

| 15:45

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=256}}

|

15

| 26 August 1941

| 17:14

| V-11{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=254}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 28

| 25 October 1941

| 08:50

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=256}}

|

16

| 26 August 1941

| 17:19

| V-11

| {{Convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} southeast of Dobruschij{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=254}}

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 29

| 1 December 1941

| 13:13

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=256}}

|

17

| 31 August 1941

| 10:25

| SB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=254}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 30

| 5 December 1941

| 14:30

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=257}}

|

colspan="10" | – 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942
31

| 6 December 1941

| 11:32

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#ffdead" | #

| 10 February 1942

| 15:14

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}

|

32

| 6 December 1941

| 14:38

| BSch (Il-2){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}{{Refn|The aircraft type "BSchl" refers to an unspecified ground-attack aircraft, most likely an Ilyushin Il-2.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=72}}|group="Note"|name="BSch"}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#ffdead" | #

| 10 February 1942

| 15:17

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}

|

33

| 6 December 1941

| 14:40

| BSch (Il-2){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#ffdead" | #

| 16 February 1942

| 15:25

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}

|

34

| 12 December 1941

| 12:19

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#ffdead" | #

| 17 February 1942

| 16:20

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}

|

35

| 18 December 1941

| 11:00

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#ffdead" | #

| 18 February 1942

| 15:30

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}

|

36

| 18 December 1941

| 11:07

| BSch (Il-2){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#ffdead" | #

| 20 February 1942

| 10:10

| U-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}

|

style="background:#ffdead" | #

| 25 January 1942

| 15:03

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#ffdead" | #

| 30 April 1942

| 16:33

| Il-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=72}}

|

style="background:#ffdead" | #

| 26 January 1942

| 15:20

| I-61{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=70}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" |

|

|

|

|

colspan="10" | – Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" –
Eastern Front — May – 14 December 1942
style="background:#ffdead" | #

| 22 May 1942

| 16:13

| unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=269}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#ffdead" | #

| 6 July 1942

| 10:51

| unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=269}}

|

style="background:#ffdead" | #

| 3 June 1942

| 19:20

| unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=269}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#ffdead" | #

| 6 July 1942

| 15:20

| unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=269}}

|

style="background:#ffdead" | #

| 11 June 1942

| 07:56

| unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=269}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#ffdead" | #

| 6 July 1942

| 15:20

| unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=269}}

|

style="background:#ffdead" | #

| 11 June 1942

| 07:58

| unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=269}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#ffdead" | #

| 7 July 1942

| 09:55

| unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=269}}

|

style="background:#ffdead" | #

| 26 June 1942

| 14:58

| unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=269}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#ffdead" | #

| 7 July 1942

| 19:42

| unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=269}}

|

style="background:#ffdead" | #

| 26 June 1942

| 14:59

| unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=269}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#ffdead" | #

| 8 July 1942

| 15:43

| unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=269}}

|

style="background:#ffdead" | #

| 27 June 1942

| 09:41

| unknown{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=269}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" |

|

|

|

|

colspan="10" style="text-align: center" | According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Krafft claimed two undocumented aerial victories before August 1942.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=273}}
61

| 7 August 1942

| 09:55

| Il-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=270}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 70

| 30 November 1942

| 12:07

| Il-2

| PQ 46131{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=271}}

62

| 29 September 1942

| {{Center|—}}

| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=270}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#fbec5d;" | 71♠

| 4 December 1942

| 09:25

| Il-2

| vicinity of Ssolowino{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=272}}

63

| 30 September 1942

| {{Center|—}}

| I-16{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=270}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#fbec5d;" | 72♠

| 4 December 1942

| 09:30

| Il-2

| vicinity of Bortniki{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=272}}

64

| 1 October 1942

| {{Center|—}}

| Hurricane{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=270}}

|

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#fbec5d;" | 73♠

| 4 December 1942

| 12:15

| Il-2

| south of Dubawo{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=272}}

65

| 23 October 1942

| 15:22

| LaGG-3

| Sapadnaja Dwina{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=271}}

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#fbec5d;" | 74♠

| 4 December 1942

| 12:17

| Il-2

| Dubawo{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=272}}

66

| 11 November 1942

| 14:16

| LaGG-3

| PQ 27814{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=271}}

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#fbec5d;" | 75♠

| 4 December 1942

| 14:57

| Il-2

| vicinity of Swrtuiki{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=272}}

67

| 26 November 1942

| 12:24

| Il-2

| PQ 26422, west of Ramuschewo{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=271}}

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 76

| 8 December 1942

| 13:35

| La-5

| PQ 26281{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=272}}

68

| 26 November 1942

| 12:26

| Il-2

| PQ 26384, west of Ramuschewo{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=271}}

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 77

| 10 December 1942

| 09:35

| LaGG-3

| vicinity of Ssawoschny{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=272}}

69

| 26 November 1942

| 12:28

| Il-2

| PQ 26284, west of Ramuschewo{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=271}}

| style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 78

| 10 December 1942

| 12:28

| Pe-2

| vicinity of Meinzorow{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=272}}

=Awards=

Notes

{{Reflist|group="Note"}}

References

=Citations=

{{Reflist|25em}}

=Bibliography=

{{Refbegin|30em}}

  • {{Cite book

|last1=Aders

|first1=Gebhard

|last2=Held

|first2=Werner

|year=1993

|title=Jagdgeschwader 51 'Mölders' Eine Chronik – Berichte – Erlebnisse – Dokumente

|trans-title=Fighter Wing 51 'Mölders' A Chronicle – Reports – Experiences – Documents

|language=de

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|publisher=Motorbuch Verlag

|isbn=978-3-613-01045-1

}}

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|author-link=:sv:Christer Bergström

|work=Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat

|title=Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website

|url=http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/planquadrat.htm

|accessdate=6 March 2025

|ref={{sfnRef|Planquadrat}}

|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181222042030/http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/planquadrat.htm

|archive-date=22 December 2018

|url-status=dead

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|title=Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile

|trans-title=The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches

|language=de

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|publisher=Podzun-Pallas

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|year=2001

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen 9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen 10.5. bis 25.6.1940

|trans-title=Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940

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|year=2002

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941

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|year=2003

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

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|last1=Prien

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|last3=Rodeike

|first3=Peter

|last4=Bock

|first4=Winfried

|year=2005

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6 December 1941 bis 30 April 1942

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942

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|location=Eutin, Germany

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|year=2006

|title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943

|trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943

|language=de

|location=Eutin, Germany

|publisher=Struve-Druck

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|trans-title=The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives

|language=German

|location=Jena, Germany

|publisher=Scherzers Militaer-Verlag

|isbn=978-3-938845-17-2

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|location=Oxford, UK

|publisher=Osprey Publishing

|isbn=978-1-84176-084-1

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|last=Weal

|first=John

|year=2006

|title=Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"

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|volume=22

|location=Oxford, UK

|publisher=Osprey Publishing

|isbn=978-1-84603-045-1

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  • {{Cite book

|editor-last=Zabecki

|editor-first=David T.

|editor-link=David T. Zabecki

|title=Germany at War: 400 Years of Military History

|location=Santa Barbara, California

|publisher=ABC-Clio

|year=2014

|isbn=978-1-59884-981-3

}}

{{Refend}}

{{s-start}}

{{s-mil}}

{{succession box|

before=Hauptmann Josef Fözö|

after=Hauptmann Rudolf Busch|

title= Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 51|

years=1 June 1942 – 14 December 1942

}}

{{s-end}}

{{Knight's Cross recipients of JG 51}}

{{Subject bar

| portal1=Aviation

| portal2=Biography

}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Krafft, Heinrich}}

Category:1914 births

Category:1942 deaths

Category:People from Bílina

Category:Luftwaffe pilots

Category:German World War II flying aces

Category:Recipients of the Gold German Cross

Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Category:Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II

Category:Sudeten German people

Category:Naturalized citizens of Germany