Berthold Korts

Berthold Korts (21 May 1912 – 29 August 1943) was a World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace and was credited with 113 aerial victories—that is, 113 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II.

Berthold Korts
Berthold Korts
Note that the Knight's Cross at his neck is a photomontage
Born(1912-05-21)21 May 1912
Karlsruhe
Died29 August 1943(1943-08-29) (aged 31)
near Kharkiv
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
RankLeutnant (second lieutenant)
UnitJG 52
Commands held9./JG 52
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Career

Korts military career began with the artillery before he began his pilot training in the summer of 1940.[Note 1] In June 1942, holding the rank of Feldwebel, he was transferred to 9. Staffel (9th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front.[2][Note 2] At the time, this squadron was under the command of Hauptmann Hermann Graf and one of three squadrons subordinated to the III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 52 commanded by Major Hubertus von Bonin.[3]

In early August 1942, III. Gruppe was based at an airfield near the Yegorlyk River, approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) west-southwest of Salsk. The Gruppe supported the 1st Panzer Army in its advance towards Maykop and Grozny.[4] There, Korts claimed his first aerial victory over a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter on 6 August.[5] On 10 August, III. Gruppe was moved to Armavir and 9. Staffel was ordered to a makeshift airfield at Plastunowskaja where it supported the attack of the 17th Army across the Kuban River on Novorossiysk. The next day, Korts claimed two Douglas A-20 Havoc, also referred to as “Boston” bombers, shot down.[6]

In spring of 1943, he served with the Stab of JG 52. Over the Kuban bridgehead he achieved his 23rd–26th aerial victory on 15 April 1943, 36th–40th on 27 May 1943 and the 50th on 2 June 1943. He was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 12 July 1943.[2]

Squadron leader
Karaya-Staffel emblem

Promoted to an officers rank, Korts was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel (9th squadron), also referred to as the Karaya-Staffel of JG 52, on 27 July 1943. He replaced Oberleutnant Rudolf Trepte who was transferred to the Stab of III. Gruppe.[7] At the time, III. Gruppe was based at Ivanovka and engaged in the fighting near Oryol during Operation Kutuzov. On 28 July, the Bryansk Front, supported by ground attack aircraft, attacked the German forces at Oryol.[8] During the course of the day, Korts claimed a LaGG-3 fighter shot down west of Bolkhov.[9]

The 75th aerial victory was claimed by him on 3 August 1943. On 4 August, strong Soviet forces breached the right defensive flank of the 4th Panzer Army. In defense of this attack, III. Gruppe was engaged in combat near Tomarovka, northwest of Belgorod. In total, the Gruppe claimed 42 aerial victories that day, including nine of which by Korts. This made him an "ace-in-a-day" for the third time.[10]

He reached the century mark on 17 August 1943 when he shot down two LaGG-3 fighters in the vicinity of Izium.[11] He was the 50th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[12] The announcement that he had been awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) was received by his unit on the day he went missing in action.[13][14]

Korts, flying Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 15899—factory number) and his wingman Unteroffizier Hans-Otto Müller in Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 15869) were last seen in combat with Soviet P-39 Airacobra fighters on 29 August 1943 in the vicinity of Amvrosiivka.[15] He was succeeded by Erich Hartmann as Staffelkapitän of 9. Staffel.[13][16]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Authors Obermaier and Spick list Korts with 113 aerial victories.[17][18] Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 108 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[19] The authors Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock indicate that additional five aerial victories have been claimed by Korts, two of which end of June or early July 1943, and further three on 5 August 1943.[20]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 0516". The Luftwaffe grid map (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 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 × 4 km in size.[21]

Awards

Notes
  1. Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.[1]
  2. For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  3. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3.[23]
  4. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 12:56.[23]
  5. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Lavochkin La-5.[23]
  6. This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[35]
  7. The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  8. This claim is not listed by Matthews and Foreman.[23]
  9. According to Obermaier on 23 August 1943.[17]

References

Citations
  1. Bergström, Antipov & Sundin 2003, p. 17.
  2. Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 673.
  3. Prien et al. 2006, p. 537.
  4. Prien et al. 2006, p. 521.
  5. Prien et al. 2006, p. 552.
  6. Prien et al. 2006, pp. 521–522, 552.
  7. Prien et al. 2012, p. 474.
  8. Prien et al. 2012, p. 445.
  9. Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 675.
  10. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 447, 485–486.
  11. Prien et al. 2012, p. 487.
  12. Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  13. Weal 2001, p. 70.
  14. Weal 2004, pp. 97–98.
  15. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 452–453, 498.
  16. Weal 2004, p. 98.
  17. Obermaier 1989, p. 150.
  18. Spick 1996, p. 232.
  19. Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 673–675.
  20. Prien et al. 2012, pp. 486, 494.
  21. Planquadrat.
  22. Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 673–674.
  23. Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 674.
  24. Prien et al. 2006, p. 562.
  25. Prien et al. 2006, p. 554.
  26. Prien et al. 2006, p. 555.
  27. Prien et al. 2006, p. 564.
  28. Prien et al. 2006, p. 557.
  29. Prien et al. 2006, p. 561.
  30. Prien et al. 2006, p. 565.
  31. Prien et al. 2012, p. 478.
  32. Prien et al. 2012, p. 481.
  33. Prien et al. 2012, p. 479.
  34. Prien et al. 2012, p. 482.
  35. Prien et al. 2012, p. 480.
  36. Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 674–675.
  37. Prien et al. 2012, p. 483.
  38. Prien et al. 2012, p. 494.
  39. Prien et al. 2012, p. 484.
  40. Prien et al. 2012, p. 485.
  41. Prien et al. 2012, p. 486.
  42. Prien et al. 2012, p. 488.
  43. Patzwall 2008, p. 123.
  44. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 247.
  45. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 270.
  46. Scherzer 2007, p. 467.

Bibliography
  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 18 December 2019.
  • Bergström, Christer; Antipov, Vlad; Sundin, Claes (2003). Graf & Grislawski – A Pair of Aces. Hamilton MT: Eagle Editions. ISBN 978-0-9721060-4-7.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [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] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). 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 [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] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/II—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/II—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-05-5.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). 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 [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] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
  • Weal, John (2001). Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-084-1.
  • Weal, John (2004). Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten (Aviation Elite Units). Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-786-4.
  • "Berthold Korts". Traditionsgemeinschaft Jagdgeschwader 52 & Luftwaffen - JG 52 - Museum e.V. (in German). Retrieved 18 January 2010.
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