Rudorffer was born on 1 November 1917 in Zwochau, at the time in the Kingdom of Saxony of the German Empire.

After graduation from school, he received a vocational education as an automobile metalsmith specialized in coachbuilding.

He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe with Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung 61 (Flier Replacement Unit 61) in Oschatz on 16 April 1936.

[Note 1] On 14 March 1937, Rudorffer was posted to Kampfgeschwader 153 (KG 153—153rd Bomber Wing), where he served as a mechanic until end October 1938.

He was then transferred to Flieger-Ersatz-Abteilung 51 (Flier Replacement Unit 51) based at Liegnitz in Silesia, present-day Legnica in Poland, for flight training.

Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Karl-Heinz Greisert and subordinated to I. Gruppe of JG 2 based at Frankfurt-Rebstock Airfield.

Here, the Gruppe supported the advancing German armor of Army Group A crossing the Ardennes mountain range.

[5] Following two further aerial victories claimed, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse) on 22 May 1940.

He flew throughout the Battle of Britain, and it is claimed he was pursued down Croydon High Street below rooftop level by a Hawker Hurricane fighter.

[9] In July 1941, while flying with the Stab (headquarters unit) of JG 2, Rudorffer claimed six aerial victories.

The objective of this operation was to give the German battleships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau and the heavy cruiser Prinz Eugen fighter protection in the breakout from Brest to Germany.

In support of this, the Luftwaffe, formulated an air superiority plan dubbed Operation Donnerkeil for the protection of the three German capital ships.

[6] During the Dieppe Raid on 19 August, Rudorffer claimed two Supermarine Spitfire fighters shot down north of Dieppe[14] In early November 1942, the Western Allies launched Operation Torch, the Anglo–American invasion of French North Africa.

Gruppe of JG 2 was withdrawn from the English Channel Front and ordered to San Pietro Clarenza, Sicily.

The Gruppe flew its first missions on 19 November, securing German air and sea transportation to Tunis.

Gruppe was based at an airfield near Siversky, located approximately 65 kilometers (40 miles) south-southwest of Leningrad.

Due to the experience gained in combat with the Royal Air Force (RAF) he achieved considerable success.

[27] On 3 November, Soviet forces launched the strategic operation leading to the Battle of Kiev.

Also present at the ceremony were Anton Hafner, Otto Kittel, Günther Schack, Emil Lang, Alfred Grislawski, Martin Möbus, Wilhelm Herget, Hans-Karl Stepp, Rudolf Schoenert, Günther Radusch, Otto Pollmann and Fritz Breithaupt, who all received the Oak Leaves on this date.

Gruppe began its relocation to Libau, present-day Liepāja, where they were based at an airfield named Grobin.

[34] On 26 January 1945, Rudorffer was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern), the 126th presentation of the award, for 212 aerial victories claimed.

Nowotny, a fighter pilot credited with 258 aerial victories and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub, Schwertern und Brillanten), had been assessing the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet aircraft under operational conditions.

On 12 November 1944, the Oberkommando der Luftwaffe (OKL—Air Force High Command) ordered JG 7 "Nowotny" to be equipped with the Me 262.

On 14 January 1945, he was recalled to command I. Gruppe JG 7 "Nowotny" from Major Theodor Weissenberger who replaced Steinhoff as Geschwaderkommodore.

[43] The aircraft, now based at Omaka Aerodrome in New Zealand, still wears the colours of Rudorffer's machine.

[45] Morgan and Weal list Rudorffer with 220 aerial victories of which 12 were claimed flying the Me 262 jet fighter.