1923 - Joins the military, attached to the Aviation Division.
1929, August 28 - receives his military pilots certification after completing
the required courses, but with only 15 hours of flying time logged.
1929 - Rank: Sergeant
He trained sport aviators in Valmiera, and in the late 1930s all aeroclub instructors were also military pilots.
1929, December - his squadron (1st Fighter Squadron, Riga) is equipped with the new Bristol Bulldogs.
1930, December 5 - his status is upgraded to "combat pilot"
September 8, 1935 - Participates in the Aviation Festival at Riga/Spilve.
August 21, 1938 - participates in the Aviation Festival at Riga/Spilve.
1938 - his Squadron (still with 1st Fighter Squadron) is equipped with the new Gloster Gladiators.
June 7, 1939 - As part of the Aviation Regiment's 20th anniversary, he is awarded the Award of Honour II. class.
1940, August 18 - (Soviet Occupation) Rudzitis is one of the last Latvians to fly a Gloster Gladiator. Most of
his squadron had already been evacuated for Krustpils, but he and two others (Dulle and Bambers)
were kept behind to fly a Gladiator in the 'united' air show at Spilve.
(German occupation) - fought in the infantry
1943 - graduated from the advanced officer training program at Bolderaja, then was transferred
to Grobini to train aviators for the Latvian Luftwaffe unit being formed.
Emigrated to West Germany (Menchengladbach) after the war.
1967 - he managed to get his spouse free from behind the Iron Curtain, but
she passed away eight years later.
Sources
- Bruvelis, Edvins Latvijas Aviacijas Vesture
- Daugavas Vanagu Menesraksts 1977, No.3
- Daugavas Vanagu Menesraksts 1982, No.3
