{{short description|German fighter ace and Knight's Cross recipient}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}} {{Use American English|date=May 2025}} {{Infobox military person |name=Rolf Pingel |birth_date=1 October 1913 |death_date={{death date and age|2000|4|4|1913|10|1|df=y}} |image= |caption= |birth_place= Kiel |death_place= Lollar |nickname= |allegiance={{flag|Nazi Germany}} |branch={{air force|Nazi Germany}} |service_years=1934–1945 |rank=''Major'' (major) |unit=Condor Legion<br/>JG 53<br/>JG 26 |commands=III./JG 53<br/>I./JG 26 |battles={{hidden |''See battles'' |Spanish Civil War ---- World War II *Battle of France *Battle of Britain *Defense of the Reich |- |headerstyle=background:#dbdbdb |style=text-align:center; }} |awards=Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords<br />Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |other_work= }}
'''Rolf Pingel''' (1 October 1913 – 4 April 2000) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during the Spanish Civil War and World War II. He is credited with six aerial victories during the Spanish Civil War and a further 22 aerial victories on the Western Front of World War II. He flew about 550 combat missions, including approximately 200 in Spain.
Born in Kiel, Pingel grew up in the Weimar Republic. He joined the military service in the Luftwaffe and was trained as a fighter pilot. During the Spanish Civil War, he volunteered for service in the Condor Legion. In Spain, he claimed his first aerial victory on 5 June 1937. For his service in Spain, he was decorated with the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords. During World War II, Pingel claimed his first victory on 10 September 1939 as a squadron leader of 2. ''Staffel'' (2nd squadron) of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 53 (JG 53–53rd Fighter Wing). In August 1940, Pingel was transferred to ''Jagdgeschwader'' 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) where he became a group commander. There, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 September 1940. On 10 July 1941, his Messerschmitt Bf 109 was damaged in combat, resulting in a forced landing near St Margaret's at Cliffe and was captured by the British Home Guard. He was released in 1947 as a prisoner of war. Pingel died on 4 April 2000 in Lollar, Germany.
==Early life and career== Pingel was born 1 October 1913 in Kiel, at the time in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein, a province of the Kingdom of Prussia.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=180}} In 1935, he began his flight training at Kitzingen Airfield, and was then posted to the ''Jagdfliegerschule'' at Schleißheim. After he completed his flight training, he was posted to I. ''Gruppe'' (1st group) of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 134 "Horst Wessel" (JG 134–134th Fighter Wing) in March 1937.{{sfn|Goss|2018|p=96}}
thumb|upright=0.6|left|2. ''Staffel'' insignia During the Spanish Civil War, Pingel volunteered for service with the Condor Legion, a unit composed of volunteers from the Luftwaffe and from the Army which served with the Nationalists. There, he was assigned to 2. ''Staffel'' (2nd squadron) of ''Jagdgruppe'' 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group) under the command of ''Oberleutnant'' Günther Lützow.{{sfn|Braatz|2005|p=147}} 2. ''Staffel'' was the first squadron to be fully equipped with the then-new Messerschmitt Bf 109.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=56}} On 8 July, during the Battle of Brunete, Pingel led a flight of three aircraft ({{lang|de|Kette}}) from 2. ''Staffel'' on a fighter escort mission for bombers from ''Kampfgruppe'' 88 and reconnaissance aircraft from ''Aufklärungsgruppe'' 88. Near Aranjuez, the flight encountered five bombers heading towards Ávila. In this encounter, Pingel was credited with shooting down a Tupolev SB-2 bomber.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|pp=64–65}} Four days later, he was credited with the destruction of another SB-2 bomber and an escorting Polikarpov I-16 fighter.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=66}} On 16 July near Fuenlabrada, Pingel shot down another I-16 fighter.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=66}} Pingel was credited with his sixth and last aerial victory in Spain on 22 August during the Battle of Santander, claiming yet another I-16.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=78}} He was later awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords ({{lang|de|Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern}}) on 14 April 1939 for his service in the Spanish Civil War.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=969}}
Upon returning from Spain, Pingel was appointed ''Staffelkapitän'' (squadron leader) of 2.(''leichte Jäger'') ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 334 (JG 334–334th Fighter Wing) on 1 October 1938. This squadron was part of I. ''Gruppe'' of JG 334 under the command of ''Major'' Hans-Hugo Witt. This unit was renamed on 1 November and was then referred to as 2. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 133 (JG 133–133rd Fighter Wing). On 1 April 1939, it was again renamed, becoming the 2. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 53 (JG 53–53rd Fighter Wing).{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000|p=232}} In early 1939, the ''Gruppe'' started replacing the Bf 109 D-1 with the newer Bf 109 E-1 and E-3 variants, completing the change by March. During the following months, the pilots trained aerial gunnery at Wangerooge Airfield. At the time of the German mobilization on 26 August, the ''Gruppe'' was based at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2000|p=230}}
==World War II== World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. Still based at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim, I. ''Gruppe'' patrolled western German border between Trier and Saarbrücken during the "Phoney War".{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001a|p=361}} Pingel claimed his first World War II aerial victory on 10 September when he shot down a French ANF Les Mureaux 113 near Ensdorf. On 30 September he was credited with the destruction of a Royal Air Force (RAF) Fairey Battle west of Saarbrücken.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001a|p=368}} The Battle belonged to No. 150 Squadron of the Advanced Air Striking Force on a mission to Saarbrücken.{{sfn|Prien|1997|p=45}} At the end of October, the ''Gruppe'' was moved to an airfield at Kirchberg to make room at Wiesbaden-Erbenheim for the newly created III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 53.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001a|p=361}}
On 5 June, German forces launched ''Fall Rot'' (Case Red), the second phase of the conquest of France. That day, ''Hauptmann'' Werner Mölders was shot down in combat in the vicinity of Compiègne and taken prisoner of war. Pingel was transferred from 2. ''Staffel'' to temporarily command III. ''Gruppe''.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001b|pp=347, 349–350}} On 11 June, JG 53 supported the fighting at the Aisne and near Reims where Pingel shot down two Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighters.{{sfn|Prien|1997|p=121}} Following the Armistice of 22 June 1940 Mölders returned to III. ''Gruppe'' only to be transferred to take command of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing). ''Hauptmann'' Harro Harder was officially appointed ''Gruppenkommandeur'' (group commander) of III. ''Gruppe'' and Pingel returned to take command of 2. ''Staffel''.{{sfn|Prien|1997|p=123}}
===With ''Jagdgeschwader'' 26=== On 22 August, the Commander-in-Chief of the Luftwaffe, ''Reichsmarschall'' Hermann Göring, appointed ''Major'' Adolf Galland as ''Geschwaderkommodore'' (wing commander) of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing). Göring was convinced that the Luftwaffe's failure to defeat the RAF Fighter Command was caused by the lack of aggressiveness on behalf of the Luftwaffe fighter pilots. In consequence, Göring reassigned every ''Geschwaderkommodore'' position to younger and more successful men.{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=60}} Galland shared Göring's opinion, and as a first measure had ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of I. ''Gruppe'', ''Hauptmann'' Kurt Fischer replaced by Pingel.{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=61}}
Pingel claimed his first aerial victories with JG 26 on 29 August. In terms of aerial victories claimed, it was I. ''Gruppe''{{'}}s most successful mission so far, for the loss of one of their own, the ''Gruppe'' claimed five RAF fighters. Pingel accounted for two Spitfire fighters, shot down near Dungeness.{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|pp=64–65}} On 14 September, two members of JG 26 received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes}}), ''Oberleutnant'' Joachim Müncheberg and Pingel. At the time, twenty aerial victories were the requirement for a Knight's Cross nomination. Pingel had not yet reached this figure. Caldwell assumes that Pingel, in parts, received this award for his leadership skills.{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=73}}
[[File:Captured Me 109F-2 at Duxford 1941.jpg|thumb|right|Pingel's captured Bf 109 F-2 (RAF serial ''ES906'') at the Air Fighting Development Unit, RAF Duxford, October 1941.]] On 28 September, Pingel shot down a No. 249 Squadron Hawker Hurricane near Maidstone but his Bf 109 E-4 (''Werknummer'' 3756—factory number) was badly damaged, forcing Pingel to ditch off the English coast near Hastings and be rescued by the ''Seenotdienst'' (sea rescue service).{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002a|p=294}}{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=78}} He claimed his last aerial victory in 1940 on 5 November. In combat with the No. 12 Group's Duxford Wing, Pingel claimed to have shot down a No. 19 Squadron Spitfire east of Gravesend.{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|pp=85–86}}
On 22 June 1941, the RAF flew "Circus" No. 18 targeting Hazebrouck with six Bristol Blenheim bombers, escorted by Spitfires from No. 609 and No. 611 Squadron. Defending against this attack, Pingel claimed his 20th aerial victory, a Spitfire shot down west of Dunkirk.{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|pp=139–140}} On 10 July, the RAF sent three Short Stirling bombers as part of "Circus" No. 42 to Chocques. The Luftwaffe dispatched fighters from JG 2 and JG 26 to intercept the bombers and escorting fighters but failed to make contact until the RAF attack force was already returning to England. Pingel, in pursuit of one of the Stirlings, followed the bomber into English airspace and attacked it. He damaged the tail section of the bomber but his Bf 109 F-2 (''Werknummer'' 12764) was hit by the defensive fire of the bomber. He then came under attack from a Spitfire which resulted in him making a forced landing near Dover and St Margaret's at Cliffe.{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|pp=149–150}}{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=521}} He was taken prisoner by a detachment of Home Guard. During his captivity, Pingel was promoted to ''Major'' (major) and taken to Canada as a prisoner of war. He was released in 1947.{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=28}}{{sfn|Spick|1996|p=101}}
Pingel's aircraft, the Bf 109 F–2, was returned to flying condition by the RAF and allocated the serial number ''ES906''. It was briefly flown for evaluation testing until it crashed near Fowlmere on 20 October 1941, killing its Polish pilot Flight Officer Marian J. Skalski.{{sfn|Saunders|2014|p=163}}
==Later life== Pingel died on 4 April 2000 at the age of {{age|1913|10|1|2000|4|4}} in Lollar, Germany.{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=28}}
==Summary of career==
===Aerial victory claims=== According to Obermaier, Pingel flew 550 combat missions, 200 of which during the Spanish Civil War. He was credited with 28 aerial victories, six in the Spanish Civil War and another 22 in World War II.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=180}} Mathews and Foreman, authors of ''Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims'', researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 27 aerial victory claims. This number includes six claims during the Spanish Civil War, and further 21 over the Western Allies of World War II.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|pp=969–970}}
{| 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|#faecc8|This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Caldwell, Forsyth, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} |- !scope="col"| Claim !scope="col"| Date !scope="col"| Time !scope="col" width="100px"| Type !scope="col"| Location !scope="col" style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | Claim !scope="col"| Date !scope="col"| Time !scope="col" width="100px"| Type !scope="col"| Location |- ! colspan="10" | Spanish Civil War |- ! colspan="10" | – 2. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgruppe'' 88 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=969}}<br /><small>Spanish Civil War — July – December 1938</small> |- | style="background:#faecc8" | 1?{{Refn|According to Forsyth this claim is unconfirmed.{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=105}}|group="Note"}} | 5 June 1937 | {{Center|—}} | I-15{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=105}} | San Julián de Musques | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 4 | 12 July 1937 | {{Center|—}} | I-16{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=105}} | |- | 2 | 8 July 1937 | {{Center|—}} | SB-2{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=105}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 5 | 16 July 1937 | {{Center|—}} | I-16{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=105}} | |- | 3 | 12 July 1937 | {{Center|—}} | SB-2{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=105}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 6 | 22 August 1937 | {{Center|—}} | I-16{{sfn|Forsyth|2011|p=105}} | |- ! colspan="10" | World War II |- ! colspan="10" | – 2. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 53 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=969}}<br /><small>"Phoney War" — 1 September 1939 – 9 May 1940</small> |- | 1 | 10 September 1939 | 14:15 | Mureaux 113 | Ensdorf{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001a|p=368}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 2 | 30 September 1939 | 11:50 | Battle | west of Saarbrücken{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001a|p=368}} |- ! colspan="10" | – 2. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 53 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=969}}<br /><small>Battle of France — 10 May – 5 June 1940</small> |- | 3 | 14 May 1940 | style="background:#faecc8" | 11:20?{{Refn|According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:30.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=969}}|group="Note"}} | MB.151 | south of Sedan{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001b|p=327}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 5 | 14 May 1940 | 16:30 | Battle | Sedan{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001b|p=327}} |- | 4 | 14 May 1940 | 11:22 | MB.151 | south of Sedan{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001b|p=327}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 6 | 26 May 1940 | 10:55 | Hurricane{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001b|p=327}} | |- ! colspan="10" | – ''Stab'' III. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 53 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=969}}<br /><small>Battle of France — 5–20 June 1940</small> |- | 7 | 11 June 1940 | style="background:#faecc8" | 11:55?{{Refn|According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 11:50.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=969}}|group="Note"}} | M.S.406 | Reims-Épernay{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001b|p=357}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 8 | 11 June 1940 | 12:10 | M.S.406 | southwest of Épernay{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2001b|p=357}} |- ! colspan="10" | – 2. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 53 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=969}}<br /><small>At the Channel and over England — 26 June – 21 August 1940</small> |- | style="background:#faecc8" | 9?{{Refn|This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=969}}|group="Note"}} | 15 August 1940 | {{Center|—}} | Hurricane{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002b|p=201}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 10 | 18 August 1940 | 15:32 | Spitfire{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002b|p=201}} | |- ! colspan="10" | – ''Stab'' I. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 26 "Schlageter" –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=970}}<br /><small>At the Channel and over England — 22 August 1940 – 21 June 1941</small> |- | 11 | 29 August 1940 | 20:06 | Spitfire | Dungeness{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002a|p=291}}{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=64}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 16 | 28 September 1940 | 14:40 | Hurricane | Maidstone{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002a|p=291}}{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=78}} |- | 12 | 29 August 1940 | 20:07 | Spitfire | Dungeness{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002a|p=291}}{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=65}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 17 | 5 November 1940 | 17:05 | Spitfire | east of Gravesend{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002a|p=292}}{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=86}} |- | 13 | 31 August 1940 | 18:45 | Spitfire | south of London{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002a|p=291}}{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=66}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 18 | 16 June 1941 | 16:35 | Blenheim | southeast of Boulogne{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002a|p=292}}{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=135}} |- | 14 | 7 September 1940 | 19:25 | Spitfire | Tonbridge{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002a|p=291}}{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=72}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 19 | 16 June 1941 | 16:52 | Spitfire | south of Dungeness{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002a|p=292}}{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=135}} |- | 15 | 14 September 1940 | 16:50 | Hurricane | southeast of Maidstone{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2002a|p=291}}{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=73}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="10" | – ''Stab'' I. ''Gruppe'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 26 "Schlageter" –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=970}}<br /><small>At the Channel and over England — 22 June – 10 July 1941</small> |- | 20 | 22 June 1941 | 16:10 | Spitfire | west of Dunkirk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=512}}{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=140}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 22 | 2 July 1941 | 12:50 | Spitfire | south of Dunkirk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=512}}{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=146}} |- | 21 | 27 June 1941 | 21:43 | Spitfire | Roubaix{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=512}}{{sfn|Caldwell|1996|p=143}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |}
===Awards=== * Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (14 April 1939){{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2015|p=969}} * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=28}} * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 September 1940 as ''Hauptmann'' and ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of the I./''Jagdgeschwader'' 26 "Schlageter"{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=340}}{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=596}}
==Notes== {{Reflist|group="Note"}}
==References==
===Citations=== {{Reflist|25em}}
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Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-64-9 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Prien |first1=Jochen |last2=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Rodeike |first3=Peter |last4=Bock |first4=Winfried |year=2003 |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-68-7 }} * {{Cite book |last=Saunders |first=Andy |author-link1=Andy Saunders (military history writer) |year=2014 |title=Arrival of Eagles : Luftwaffe Landings in Britain 1939-1945 |publisher=Grub Street |location=London |isbn=978-1-909808-39-3 }} * {{Cite book |last=Scherzer |first=Veit |year=2007 |title=Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives |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=de |location=Jena, Germany |publisher=Scherzers Militaer-Verlag |isbn=978-3-938845-17-2 }} * {{Cite book |last=Spick |first=Mike |year=1996 |title=Luftwaffe Fighter Aces |location=New York |publisher=Ivy Books |isbn=978-0-8041-1696-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/luftwaffefighter00mike }} {{Refend}}
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{succession box |before=''Hauptmann'' Werner Mölders |after=''Hauptmann'' Harro Harder |title=Commander of III. Jagdgeschwader 53 |years=June 1940 – July 1940 }} {{succession box |before=Hauptmann Kurt Fischer |after=Major Johannes Seifert |title=Commander of I. Jagdgeschwader 26 |years=22 August 1940 – 10 July 1941 }} {{s-end}}
{{Knight's Cross recipients of JG 26}} {{Aces of the Condor Legion}} {{Subject bar | portal1=Aviation | portal2=Biography }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pingel, Rolf}} Category:1913 births Category:2000 deaths Category:Military personnel from Kiel Category:Military personnel from the Province of Schleswig-Holstein Category:German World War II flying aces Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Category:Spanish Civil War flying aces Category:German prisoners of war in World War II held by the United Kingdom Category:Shot-down aviators Category:Condor Legion personnel