In early March 1941 Ofhr. Rudolf Leuschel joined the II./JG 26 directly after completed his training as a fighter pilot. He would score his first, a year later on 9 March 1942, a Spitfire downed 15 km southwest of Boulongne.

However on 2 October he was on the receiving end when landing at Cambrai after his Fw 190A-4 "Brown 3" had been damaged in combat with Spitfires, he crashed into another Fw 190 wounding him.

In May 1943 he was posted to 10./JG 54 as their new Staffelkapitän, while fighting in the west in the Home Defense duties he manage to add to his score.

His second, while a Lt. he downed a Spitfire 1 km west of Bray-sur-Somme on 13 May 1943. The day after, on 14 May his third Allied machine to fell before his guns, a P-47 claimed 6 km north of Ath. Then followed another Spitfire claim on 24 June. On 4 July one more Spitfire was shot down for his fifth.

Another Spitfire was downed southeast of Roubaix on 4 September 1943. Then followed his first 4-engine bomber, a USAAF B-17 from 94th BG, 331st BS on 11 November. His 8th, was his second P-47 Thunderbolt that he downed over Ghent on 1 December.

His final and ninth confirmed victory was claimed on 29 January 1944, another 4-engine bomber, this time a B-24 from 44th BG, 66th BS.

Close to a month later, on 25 February 1944 Hptm. Rudolf Leuschel would fly his last combat mission. After entering combat 16 Km south of Metz with P-47 Thunderbolts from 4th FG, he was shot down and crashed at Aubange Belgium, near Metz/Arlon, killing him instantly.

This was one of five new profiles made during this week, most of them would be published in my upcoming Profile Book No 18.