Wilhelm Batz

Wilhelm Batz (21 May 1916 – 11 September 1988) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] Batz flew 445 combat missions and claimed 237 enemy aircraft shot down. 234 of these victories were achieved over the Eastern Front, including at least 46 Il-2 Sturmoviks, but he did claim three victories, including one four-engine bomber against the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) over the Ploieşti oil fields. Batz was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords.

Wilhelm Batz
Born	21 May 1916 Bamberg
Died	11 September 1988 (aged 72) Ebern in Unterfranken
Buried	Leverkusen-Opladen
Allegiance	Nazi Germany  West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht)  German Air Force (Bundeswehr)
Years of service	1935–45 1956–72
Rank	Major (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Unit	Flugzeugführerschule "S"
Commands held	III./JG 52, II./JG 52 LTG 63
Battles/wars	See battles World War II Eastern Front Defense of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords

Early life and career

Batz was born on 21 May 1916 in Bamberg, at the time in the Kingdom of Bavaria. He was the son of a Beamter, a civil servant. After Batz graduated with his Abitur (university-preparatory high school diploma), for four years, he volunteered military service in the Luftwaffe on 1 November 1935.[2] Batz grew up between the World Wars, with the Red Baron as his ideal of a fighter pilot.[3]

World War II

Batz joined the Luftwaffe in 1935 and trained as a fighter pilot, becoming an instructor in 1937 at the flying school at Kaufbeuren and the fighter pilot school at Bad Aibling. Promoted Leutnant in November 1940, his applications for combat assignment were continually rejected. With some 5,000 flying hours, Batz was finally transferred to 2./Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost in December 1942.[4] Batz was then transferred to II./Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52). On 11 March 1943, Batz claimed his first victory, an Il-2 Sturmovik, while flying a mission over the Strait of Kerch.[5] He was appointed Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of 5./JG 52 in May 1943, and by September, he had claimed 20 victories. Batz claimed his 75th aerial victory on 26 March 1944 for which he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes), followed by his 100th victory two days later.[6] He was the 67th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[7]

Group commander and surrender

Batz was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) on 1 April 1944. The narrow land bridge to the Crimean peninsula, held by the German 17th Army, came under attack from Soviet forces on 7 April, leading to the capture of Odessa on 10 April during the Dnieper–Carpathian Offensive. In these battles, Batz claimed six aerial victories on 8 April, five on 10 April, reaching his 120th victory on 13 April. One day later, II. Gruppe (2nd group) moved to an airfield at Cape Chersonez located at the Sevastopol Bay. That morning, the airfield came under aerial attack and bomb splinters injured Batz. Although his injuries were minor, he was grounded for two weeks and banned by the doctor from flying operationally. During his convalescence, Batz succeeded Günther Rall as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 52 on 19 April 1944.[8]

In June, his unit was moved to defend Romanian targets against the American 15th Air Force. Batz claimed two P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft and a B-24 Liberator bomber at this time. Batz was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 20 July for 188 victories, 200 being achieved on 17 August 1944. The award was presented by Adolf Hitler at the Führerhauptquartier (Führer Headquarters) at Rastenburg on 25 August 1944.[9] Two other Luftwaffe officers were presented with the Oak Leaves that day by Hitler, the night-fighter pilot Hauptmann (Captain) Heinz Strüning and the officer of anti-aircraft warfare, Major (Major) Herbert Lamprecht.[10]

By the end of 1944, Batz had shot down 224 enemy aircraft. In February 1945, Batz was transferred to take command of II. Gruppe of JG 52, based in Hungary. Batz was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern) on 21 April 1945. The bestowal of the Swords to his Knight's Cross cannot be verified via the records held in the German Federal Archives. Batz presented evidence of the conferment which was confirmed by the Gemeinschaft der Jagdflieger (Association of German Armed Forces Airmen).[11]

On 4 May 1945, II. Gruppe moved to Zeltweg Air Base but did not fly combat missions from this airfield. On 8 May, General der Flieger Paul Deichmann, the commanding officer of Luftwaffenkommando 4, ordered the cease-fire by 12:00. To avoid capture by Soviet forces, Batz conferred with Deichmann and was ordered to fly his aircraft to Munich, landing at Unterbiberg where they surrendered to US forces, becoming prisoners of war. He and II. Gruppe personnel were then taken to Fürstenfeldbruck where most of the men were released in June 1945. Batz was taken to Bad Aibling where the ground personnel had surrendered and released shortly after.[11]

Later life

Following World War II, Batz applied for service in the German Air Force of the Bundeswehr in 1955, joining in 1956 holding the rank of Major. Following flight training in the United States, he was commanded to a training squadron of Flugzeugführerschule "S", a pilot training school, in Landsberg. He later commanded this training facility for nine months in 1961. Batz was then appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of Lufttransportgeschwader 63 (LTG 63–Air Transport Wing 63) stationed at the Hohn Air Base in Schleswig-Holstein. He commanded this wing from 1961 to 1964, surrendering command to Horst Rudat. Promoted to Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel), Batz then served as a staff officer with Lufttransportkommando (Air Force Transport Command) in Köln-Wahn and retired on 30 September 1972.[11] Batz died on 11 September 1988 in a hospital Ebern in Unterfranken. He was buried on the cemetery in Quettingen, a borough of Leverkusen-Opladen.[12]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 233 confirmed and eight unconfirmed aerial victories, numerically ranging from 1 to 233, omitting the 223rd claim. All these victories were claimed on the Eastern Front.[13]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 85131". 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.[14]

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Batz an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.   This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Batz did not receive credit.   This and the ! (exclamation mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Matthews and Foreman.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[15]
1	11 March 1943	15:15	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85131[16] Mingrelskaya	—	20 April 1943	16:10	LaGG-3	northwest of Gelendzhik[17] Nowor/Gelendzhik
2	13 March 1943	06:40	Boston	PQ 34 Ost 6662[16]	6	20 April 1943	16:12	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 75454, 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Kabardinka[17] Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Novorossiysk
3	15 April 1943	12:05	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85143[17] east of Krymsk	7	20 April 1943	16:14	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	PQ 34 Ost 754927 km (4.3 mi) west of Gelendzhik[17] Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Gelendzhik
4	15 April 1943	15:17	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 85184, 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Abinskaja[17] southeast of Tscherkassowski	—	6 May 1943	—	Yak-1
5	20 April 1943	11:05	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	PQ 34 Ost 85273[17] Gelendzhik	8	9 May 1943	17:00	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 76893, southeast of Kijewskoje[18] south of Bakanskij
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[19]
9	10 June 1943	14:45	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 75531, south of Anapa[20] Black Sea, 45 km (28 mi) west-southwest Gelendzhik	67♠	5 December 1943	08:33	P-39	west-southwest of Eltigen[21]
10	21 July 1943	16:43	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 75474[20] Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Novorossiysk	68♠	5 December 1943	08:50	Yak-1	southeast of Eltigen[21]
11	22 July 1943	08:16![Note 2]	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	PQ 34 Ost 85141[20] east of Krymsk	69♠	5 December 1943	14:07	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	northwest of Cape Takyl[21]
12	7 August 1943	17:50	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 76863, 8 km (5.0 mi) northwest of Kijewskoje[22] Kijewskoje	70	6 December 1943	08:00	Yak-1	northeast of Eltigen[21]
13	9 August 1943	08:04	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 75233, Kijewskoje[22] west of Krymsk	71	6 December 1943	08:06	Yak-1	south of Eltigen[21]
14	9 August 1943	18:15	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 75262, southwest of Krymskaja[22] south of Krymsk	72	6 December 1943	10:41	P-39	east of Eltigen[21]
15	15 August 1943	17:35	Spitfire	PQ 34 Ost 76854[22] east of Warenikowskaja	73	7 December 1943	09:30	Yak-1	north of Ketschegen[21]
16	5 September 1943	12:19	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 60342[23] 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Taranovka	74	7 December 1943	09:38	Yak-1	southwest of Gorkom[21]
17	5 September 1943	12:25	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 60354[23] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Taranovka	75	7 December 1943	10:10	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	southeast of Kerch[21]
18	9 September 1943	06:29	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 50223[23] 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Olshany	76	10 February 1944	09:25	Yak-1	east of Bulganak
19	9 September 1943	06:27	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 60142[23] Andrejewka	77	10 February 1944	09:40	Yak-9	Grammatikowo
—	9 September 1943	06:45	Yak-1[23]		78	10 February 1944	15:00	Yak-9	east of Bulganak
20	9 September 1943	16:50	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 50212[23] 20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Bohodukhiv	79	12 February 1944	10:47	Yak-1	Majak
21	25 September 1943	14:50	Yak-1	PQ 35 Ost 10114[23] 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Perejaslav-Chmel'nickij	80	12 February 1944	11:15	Yak-1	Kerch
22	3 October 1943	15:00	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 58812[24] 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Bolschoj Tokmak	81	12 February 1944	15:31	Yak-1	Kerch
23	5 October 1943	15:25	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 49323[24]	82	14 February 1944	08:15	P-39	Kamysh Burun
24	6 October 1943	07:30	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 4918[24] 65 km (40 mi) northwest of Dnipropetrovsk	83	14 February 1944	11:30	P-39	Kolonka
25	7 October 1943	06:53	La-5	PQ 34 Ost 49324[24] 60 km (37 mi) west-northwest of Dnipropetrovsk	84	14 February 1944	11:50	Yak-1	Cape Tarchan
26	8 October 1943	13:20	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66623[24] Iljitsch	85	15 February 1944	09:10	P-39	Kolonka
27	12 October 1943	09:40	La-5	PQ 34 Ost 49322[24] 60 km (37 mi) west-northwest of Dnipropetrovsk	86	15 February 1944	14:30	Yak-1	Kolonka
28	12 October 1943	15:40	Yak-9	PQ 34 Ost 49314[24] Borodajewke	87	21 February 1944	13:15	Yak-1	west of Tatarskij
29	13 October 1943	15:45	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 10152[24] 20 km (12 mi) south of Perejaslav-Chmel'nickij	88	26 February 1944	15:25	Yak-1	Grammatikowo
30	15 October 1943	06:15	La-5	PQ 35 Ost 10161[24] 20 km (12 mi) southeast of Perejaslav-Chmel'nickij	89	1 March 1944	08:10	P-39	Kolonka
31	20 October 1943	10:10	Pe-2	PQ 34 Ost 39281, 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Petrowka[24] 30 km (19 mi) east-northeast of Mironowka	90	2 March 1944	09:55	Yak-1	Cape Tarchan
32	20 October 1943	10:12	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 39251, 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Mlynok[25] 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Kremenchuk	91	3 March 1944	13:55	P-40	Majak
33	21 October 1943	15:07	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	PQ 34 Ost 39612, northwest of Pjatichatki[25] Pjatichatki	92	10 March 1944	14:28	P-39	Kerch
34	25 October 1943	12:35	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 57182[25] 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Melitopol	93	10 March 1944	14:33	P-39	Taman
35	25 October 1943	12:40	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 57183[25] 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Melitopol	94	11 March 1944	11:45	Yak-1	Tachigary
36	29 October 1943	11:00	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 47183[25] 25 km (16 mi) northwest of Ivanovka	95	11 March 1944	16:15	Yak-7	20 km (12 mi) east of Perekop
—	13 November 1943	—	Yak-1	vicinity of Bagerowo[26]	96	13 March 1944	13:30	Yak-1	Malyj
37	15 November 1943	12:10	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66564[26] Kerch	97	14 March 1944	13:06	Yak-1	40 km (25 mi) north of Dzhankoi
38	16 November 1943	11:40	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66832, northwest of Bakssy[26] east of Bulganak	98	17 March 1944	08:40	Yak-7	Chigari
39	16 November 1943	13:50	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66692[26] Achtanisowskaja	99	19 March 1944	07:25	P-39	east of Cape Chroni
40	16 November 1943	14:15	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66661[26] Sea, west of Zaporozhskaya	100	22 March 1944	10:43	Yak-9	Cape Tarchan
41	19 November 1943	15:20	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66641, northwest of Bakssy[26] east of Bulganak	101	22 March 1944	14:02	P-39	Cape Tarchan
42	21 November 1943	09:15	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66643, Kolonka[26] east of Bakssy	102	1 April 1944	16:10	Yak-7	Sea, southeast of Cape Takyl
43	21 November 1943	09:40	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66671, east of Kerch[26]	103	1 April 1944	16:50	Yak-7	Sea, southeast of Cape Takyl
44	25 November 1943	11:10	LaGG-3	PQ 34 Ost 66642, north of Majak[27] Adshim-Uschkaj	104	5 April 1944	17:12	Yak-1	Grammatikowo
45	26 November 1943	07:40	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66561[27] Malyj	105	6 April 1944	13:55	Yak-7	south of Gromovka
46	26 November 1943	10:37	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66812, northwest of Taman[27] west of Taman	106	7 April 1944	07:15	Yak-7	40 km (25 mi) north of Dzhankoi
47	27 November 1943	13:45	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66814, southwest of Taman[27] Krotkow	107♠	8 April 1944	12:25	Yak-7	20 km (12 mi) southeast of Perekop
48	28 November 1943	11:27	Yak-1	PQ Ost 66594[27] Kamysh Burun	108♠	8 April 1944	13:07	Yak-7	20 km (12 mi) southeast of Perekop
49	28 November 1943	11:33	P-39	PQ 34 Ost 66812, northwest of Taman[27] west of Taman	109♠	8 April 1944	14:55	Yak-7	south of Gromovka
50	30 November 1943	10:20	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	PQ 34 Ost 66841, south of Kossa Tusla[27] Sea, southwest of Taman	110♠	8 April 1944	15:08	Yak-7	Tachigary
51♠	1 December 1943	07:20	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66733, southeast of Eltigen[27] Sea, east of Eltigen	111♠	8 April 1944	15:10	Il-2	40 km (25 mi) north of Dzhankoi
52♠	1 December 1943	07:23	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	west of Cape Tusla[27]	112♠	8 April 1944	17:10	Il-2	Grammatikowo
53♠	1 December 1943	11:10	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 66731, south of Eltigen[27] east of Eltigen	113♠	10 April 1944	12:27	P-39	east of Tomoschewka
54♠	1 December 1943	14:09	Yak-1	southeast of Eltigen[27]	114♠	10 April 1944	12:28	P-39	east of Tomoschewka
55♠	1 December 1943	14:10	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	south of Eltigen[27]	115♠	10 April 1944	12:29	P-39	east of Tomoschewka
56♠	2 December 1943	11:05	Yak-1	PQ 34 Ost 66673, west of Taman[27] Kossa Tusla	116♠	10 April 1944	15:45	Yak-1	east of Tomoschewka
57♠	2 December 1943	11:35	Il-2	PQ 34 Ost 66811[27] Sea, Cape Tusla	117♠	10 April 1944	15:48	Yak-1	east of Tomoschewka
58♠	2 December 1943	13:53	LaGG-3	west of Gorkam[27]	118	11 April 1944	14:15	Yak-7	25 km (16 mi) southeast of Perekop
59♠	2 December 1943	14:15	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	northeast of Eltigen[27]	119	13 April 1944	11:15	Boston	north-northeast of Sarabus
60♠	2 December 1943	14:19	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	southeast of Kerch[27] Kerch	120	13 April 1944	11:20	Yak-1	10 km (6.2 mi) north of Sarabus
61	4 December 1943	06:30	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	south of Eltigen[27]	121	29 April 1944	18:02	Yak-7	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași
62	4 December 1943	08:20	Yak-1	northeast of Eltigen[27]	122♠	2 May 1944	13:00	P-39	25 km (16 mi) northeast of Iași
63	4 December 1943	09:15	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	southwest of Eltigen[27]	123♠	2 May 1944	13:07	Yak-1	north of Târgu Frumos
64♠	5 December 1943	05:50	Yak-1	east of Cape Warsowka[21]	124♠	2 May 1944	14:22	P-39	20 km (12 mi) west of Iași
65♠	5 December 1943	06:10	Il-2 m.H.[Note 1]	southeast of Eltigen[21]	125♠	2 May 1944	15:10	Il-2	20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Iași
66♠	5 December 1943	06:11	Yak-1	east of Eltigen[21]	126♠	2 May 1944	15:15	P-39	20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Roman
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[28]
127	3 May 1944	14:45	P-39	25 km (16 mi) northeast of Iași	174	30 June 1944	18:49	LaGG
128	3 May 1944	15:01	Yak-7	north of Târgu Frumos	175	15 July 1944	20:00	P-39	40 km (25 mi) northwest of Brody
129	5 May 1944	12:18	La-5	10 km (6.2 mi) west of Târgu Frumos	176	15 July 1944	20:02	P-39	45 km (28 mi) north of Busk
130	5 May 1944	12:24	La-5	north of Târgu Frumos	177	16 July 1944	13:25	LaGG	55 km (34 mi) southwest of Lutsk
131	7 May 1944	15:20	Pe-2	30 km (19 mi) north-northwest of Kishinev	178	16 July 1944	13:28	Il-2	30 km (19 mi) northwest of Brody
132	10 May 1944	11:25	La-5	5 km (3.1 mi) south of Grigoriopol	179	18 July 1944	15:35	LaGG	30 km (19 mi) south of Wlodzimierz
133	10 May 1944	11:27	La-5	10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Grigoriopol	180	18 July 1944	18:00	LaGG	10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Zolochiv
134	20 May 1944	13:20	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Grigoriopol	181♠	19 July 1944	15:57	LaGG	Luboml
135	20 May 1944	18:34	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Grigoriopol	182♠	19 July 1944	16:05	LaGG	Luboml
136	20 May 1944	18:35	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Grigoriopol	183♠	19 July 1944	19:40	LaGG	20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Kholm
137	20 May 1944	18:35	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Grigoriopol	184♠	19 July 1944	19:45	Il-2	25 km (16 mi) southeast of Kholm
138	30 May 1944	11:20	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	185♠	19 July 1944	19:46	Il-2	25 km (16 mi) northeast of Hostynne
139	30 May 1944	11:29	P-39	8 km (5.0 mi) north of Iași	186♠	19 July 1944	19:51	Il-2
140	30 May 1944	17:31	P-39	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași	187	21 July 1944	16:42	P-39	Lvov
141♠	31 May 1944	06:50	LaGG	20 km (12 mi) northeast of Iași	188	26 July 1944	17:18	LaGG	10 km (6.2 mi) west of Sambir
142♠	31 May 1944	06:57	Il-2	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	189	26 July 1944	17:22	LaGG	10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Sambir
143♠	31 May 1944	07:05	Il-2	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași	—	7 August 1944	—	B-24
144♠	31 May 1944	07:13	Il-2	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași	190	12 August 1944	11:50	Pe-2	30 km (19 mi) southwest of Opatów
145♠	31 May 1944	07:15	Il-2	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași	191	12 August 1944	11:52	LaGG	30 km (19 mi) southwest of Opatów
146♠	31 May 1944	11:17	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	192	12 August 1944	15:58	LaGG	20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Opatów
147♠	31 May 1944	11:20	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	193	15 August 1944	11:45	Il-2	25 km (16 mi) northwest of Mielec
148♠	31 May 1944	11:24	P-39	Sulani	194	15 August 1944	11:50	Il-2	20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Mielec
149♠	31 May 1944	11:33	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Tudora	195	15 August 1944	11:55	LaGG	20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Mielec
150♠	31 May 1944	11:39	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	196♠	17 August 1944	08:23	LaGG	10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów
151♠	31 May 1944	16:30	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	197♠	17 August 1944	12:39	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Opatów
152♠	31 May 1944	16:45	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Tudora	198♠	17 August 1944	12:41	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz
153♠	31 May 1944	17:05	Il-2	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași	199♠	17 August 1944	12:48	Il-2	15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz
154♠	31 May 1944	17:08	Il-2	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași	200♠	17 August 1944	19:25	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Opatów
155♠	31 May 1944	19:14	P-39	30 km (19 mi) northwest of Tudora	201♠	17 August 1944	19:30	LaGG	40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Ostrowicz
156	2 June 1944	16:15	P-39	25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Tudora	202♠	22 August 1944	12:33	P-39	12 km (7.5 mi) east-southeast of Opatów
157	3 June 1944	12:50	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	203♠	22 August 1944	12:34	Il-2	10 km (6.2 mi) north of Sandomierz
158	3 June 1944	13:35	P-39	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Tudora	204♠	22 August 1944	12:34	Il-2	10 km (6.2 mi) north of Sandomierz
159	3 June 1944	19:45	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	205♠	22 August 1944	18:47	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz
160	4 June 1944	08:45	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași	206♠	22 August 1944	18:49	P-39	15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz
161	4 June 1944	08:55	LaGG	10 km (6.2 mi) west of Iași	207♠	22 August 1944	18:57	Il-2	10 km (6.2 mi) north of Sandomierz
162♠	5 June 1944	14:51	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Tudora	208	15 October 1944	14:18	Il-2	Resita
163♠	5 June 1944	15:04	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	209	15 October 1944	14:25	Il-2	Resita
164♠	5 June 1944	15:06	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Tudora	210	16 October 1944	14:14	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Turnu Serverin
165♠	5 June 1944	15:14	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași	211	17 October 1944	09:42	LaGG	Turnu Serverin
166♠	5 June 1944	18:40	P-39	25 km (16 mi) northwest of Iași	212	17 October 1944	14:05	LaGG	Turnu Serverin
167♠	5 June 1944	19:02	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași	213	20 October 1944	14:07	LaGG	25 km (16 mi) south of Orsova
168♠	5 June 1944	19:07	LaGG	Zahorne	214	20 October 1944	14:08	Il-2	15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Turnu Serverin
169♠	5 June 1944	19:17	Il-2	20 km (12 mi) north of Bistritz	215♠	23 October 1944	10:13	LaGG	25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Orsova
170	8 June 1944	15:30	LaGG	15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași	216♠	23 October 1944	10:30	Il-2	25 km (16 mi) northeast of Majdanpek
171	8 June 1944	16:25	LaGG	10 km (6.2 mi) south of Tudora	217♠	23 October 1944	10:33	LaGG	30 km (19 mi) southwest of Turnu Serverin
—	23 June 1944	—	P-51		218♠	23 October 1944	14:00	LaGG	25 km (16 mi) south of Orsova
—	23 June 1944	—	P-51		219♠	23 October 1944	14:30	LaGG	30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Orsova
—	24 June 1944	—	B-24		220	26 October 1944	11:09	LaGG	Orsova
172	30 June 1944	15:25	LaGG		221	26 October 1944	11:10	LaGG	Orsova
173	30 June 1944	15:33	Il-2		222	26 October 1944	14:18	LaGG	25 km (16 mi) northwest of Turnu Serverin
– Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[29]
224	13 March 1945	—	Il-2		229	16 March 1945	—	Il-2
225	13 March 1945	—	Il-2		230	19 March 1945	—	Il-2
226	14 March 1945	—	Il-2		231	19 March 1945	—	La-5
227	14 March 1945	—	Il-2		232	5 April 1945	—	Il-2
228	14 March 1945	—	Boston		233	16 April 1945	—	Il-2

Awards

• Wound Badge in Silver[6]
• Honorary Cup of the Luftwaffe on 13 December 1943 as Oberleutnant and pilot[30][Note 3]
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "400"[6]
• Combined Pilots-Observation Badge[6]
• German Cross in Gold on 28 January 1944 as Oberleutnant in the II./Jagdgeschwader 52.[32]
• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (24 April 1943)[33]
  • 1st Class (3 July 1943)[33]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
  • Knight's Cross on 26 March 1944 as Oberleutnant (war officer) and Staffelkapitän of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 52[34][35]
  • 526th Oak Leaves on 20 July 1944 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 52[36][Note 4]
  • (145th) Swords on 21 April 1945 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the II./Jagdgeschwader 52.[37][Note 5]

Dates of rank

Wehrmacht
1 November 1940:	Leutnant (Second Lieutenant)[39]
1 April 1943:	Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant)[40]
1 April 1944:	Hauptmann (Captain)[8]
April 1945:	Major (Major)[11]
Bundeswehr
1964:	Oberstleutnant (Major)[11]

Notes

1. The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
2. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 08:14.[15]
3. According to Obermaier on 14 November 1943.[31]
4. According to Scherzer as leader of the III./Jagdgeschwader 52.[34]
5. The Swords to the Knight's Cross were awarded without an official sequential number.[34] The sequential number "145" was assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).[38]

References

Citations

1. Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
2. Stockert 2012, p. 92.
3. Toliver & Constable 1996, p. 165.
4. Kurowski 1996, p. 173.
5. Kurowski 1996, p. 174.
6. Berger 1999, p. 23.
7. Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
8. Stockert 2012, p. 97.
9. Stockert 2012, p. 3.
10. Stockert 2012, p. 100.
11. Stockert 2012, p. 102.
12. Stockert 2012, p. 103.
13. Matthews & Foreman 2014, pp. 53–57.
14. Planquadrat.
15. Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 53.
16. Prien et al. 2012, p. 379.
17. Prien et al. 2012, p. 381.
18. Prien et al. 2012, p. 383.
19. Matthews & Foreman 2014, pp. 53–55.
20. Prien et al. 2012, p. 385.
21. Prien et al. 2012, p. 394.
22. Prien et al. 2012, p. 387.
23. Prien et al. 2012, p. 389.
24. Prien et al. 2012, p. 390.
25. Prien et al. 2012, p. 391.
26. Prien et al. 2012, p. 392.
27. Prien et al. 2012, p. 393.
28. Matthews & Foreman 2014, pp. 55–57.
29. Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 57.
30. Patzwall 2008, p. 45.
31. Obermaier 1989, p. 41.
32. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 26.
33. Thomas 1997, p. 23.
34. Scherzer 2007, p. 204.
35. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 123.
36. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 85.
37. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 48.
38. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 48, 49.
39. Stockert 2012, p. 93.
40. Stockert 2012, p. 94.

Bibliography

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• Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Retrieved 30 January 2018.
• 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.
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