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 Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, 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(1916-05-21)21 May 1916
Bamberg
Died11 September 1988(1988-09-11) (aged 72)
Ebern in Unterfranken
Buried
Allegiance
Service/branch
Years of service
  • 1935–45
  • 1956–72
Rank
UnitFlugzeugführerschule "S"
Commands held
Battles/wars
AwardsKnight'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 Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft, while flying a mission over the Strait of Kerch.[5] He was appointed Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of 5./JG 52 on 9 May 1943. He succeeded Leutnant Josef Zwernemann who temporarily led the Staffel after its former commander, Leutnant Helmut Haberda had been killed in action.[6] By September, he had claimed 20 victories. Batz claimed his 75th aerial victory on 7 December, after shooting down 25 the previous week, for which he received leave until February 1944. He scored number 76 on 10 February, then went on a spree adding 131 victories in the next 6 and a half months. He got the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) in March, followed by his 100th victory two days later.[7] He was the 67th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[8]

Group commander and surrender

III./JG 52 emblem

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.[9][10][11]

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.[12] 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.[13]

By the end of 1944, Batz had shot down 224 enemy aircraft. On 1 February 1945, Batz was transferred to take command of II. Gruppe of JG 52, based in Hungary. He succeeded Hauptmann Erich Hartmann who had temporarily led the Gruppe after its former commander Major Gerhard Barkhorn had been transferred.[14][15] Command of III. Gruppe was then passed on to Major Adolf Borchers.[16] 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).[17]

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.[17]

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.[17] 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.[18]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Batz was credited with 237 aerial victories.[19] According to Spick, Batz was credited with 237 aerial victories claimed in 445 combat missions. Of this figure, 232 aerial victories were claimed on the Eastern Front and five over the Western Allies, including two four-engine bombers.[20] 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.[21]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 34 Ost 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.[22]

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 ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Barbas, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Matthews and Foreman.

Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[23]
1 11 March 1943 15:15 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85131[24]
Mingrelskaya
20 April 1943 16:10 LaGG-3 northwest of Gelendzhik[25]
Nowor/Gelendzhik
2 13 March 1943 06:40 Boston PQ 34 Ost 6662[24] 6 20 April 1943 16:12 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75454, 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Kabardinka[25]
Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Novorossiysk
3 15 April 1943 12:05 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 85143[25]
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[25]
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[25]
southeast of Tscherkassowski
6 May 1943
Yak-1
5 20 April 1943 11:05 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 85273[25]
Gelendzhik
8 9 May 1943 17:00 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 76893, southeast of Kijewskoje[26]
south of Bakanskij
– 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[27]
9 10 June 1943 14:45 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 75531, south of Anapa[28]
Black Sea, 45 km (28 mi) west-southwest Gelendzhik
65♠ 5 December 1943 06:10 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] southeast of Eltigen[29]
10 21 July 1943 16:43 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75474[28]
Black Sea, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Novorossiysk
66♠ 5 December 1943 06:11 Yak-1 east of Eltigen[29]
11 22 July 1943 08:16?[Note 2] Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 85141[28]
east of Krymsk
67♠ 5 December 1943 08:33 P-39 west-southwest of Eltigen[29]
12 7 August 1943 17:50 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 76863, 8 km (5.0 mi) northwest of Kijewskoje[30]
Kijewskoje
68♠ 5 December 1943 08:50 Yak-1 southeast of Eltigen[29]
13 9 August 1943 08:04 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75233, Kijewskoje[30]
west of Krymsk
69♠ 5 December 1943 14:07 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] northwest of Cape Takyl[29]
14 9 August 1943 18:15 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 75262, southwest of Krymskaja[30]
south of Krymsk
70 6 December 1943 08:00 Yak-1 northeast of Eltigen[29]
15 15 August 1943 17:35 Spitfire PQ 34 Ost 76854[30]
east of Varenikovskaya
71 6 December 1943 08:06 Yak-1 south of Eltigen[29]
16 5 September 1943 12:19 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 60342[31]
5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Taranovka
72 6 December 1943 10:41 P-39 east of Eltigen[29]
17 5 September 1943 12:25 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 60354[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Taranovka
73 7 December 1943 09:30 Yak-1 north of Ketschegen[29]
18 9 September 1943 06:29 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 50223[31]
5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Olshany
74 7 December 1943 09:38 Yak-1 southwest of Gorkom[29]
19 9 September 1943 06:27 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 60142[31]
Andrejewka
75 7 December 1943 10:10 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] southeast of Kerch[29]
9 September 1943 06:45 Yak-1[31] 76 10 February 1944 09:25 Yak-1 vicinity of Bulganak[32]
east of Bulganak
20 9 September 1943 16:50 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 50212[31]
20 km (12 mi) south-southeast of Bohodukhiv
77 10 February 1944 09:40 Yak-9 PQ 66562[32]
Grammatikowo
21 25 September 1943 14:50 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 10114[31]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Perejaslav-Chmel'nickij
78 10 February 1944 15:00 Yak-9 vicinity of Bulganak[32]
east of Bulganak
22 3 October 1943 15:00 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 58812[33]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Bolschoj Tokmak
79 12 February 1944 10:47 Yak-1 PQ 66642[32]
Majak
23 5 October 1943 15:25 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 49323[33] 80 12 February 1944 11:15 Yak-1 PQ 66562[32]
Kerch
24 6 October 1943 07:30 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 4918[33]
65 km (40 mi) northwest of Dnipropetrovsk
81 12 February 1944 15:31 Yak-1 PQ 66564[32]
Kerch
25 7 October 1943 06:53 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 49324[33]
60 km (37 mi) west-northwest of Dnipropetrovsk
82 14 February 1944 08:15 P-40?[Note 3] PQ 66592[32]
Kamysh Burun
26 8 October 1943 13:20 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66623[33]
Iljitsch
83 14 February 1944 11:30 P-39 PQ 66644[32]
Kolonka
27 12 October 1943 09:40 La-5 PQ 34 Ost 49322[33]
60 km (37 mi) west-northwest of Dnipropetrovsk
84 14 February 1944 11:50 Yak-1 PQ 66534[32]
Cape Tarchan
28 12 October 1943 15:40 Yak-9 PQ 34 Ost 49314[33]
Borodajewke
85 15 February 1944 09:10 P-39 PQ 66644[35]
Kolonka
29 13 October 1943 15:45 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 10152[33]
20 km (12 mi) south of Perejaslav-Chmel'nickij
86 15 February 1944 14:30 Yak-1 PQ 66644[35]
Kolonka
30 15 October 1943 06:15 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 10161[33]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Perejaslav-Chmel'nickij
87 21 February 1944 13:15 Yak-1 PQ 66562 or 66567[35]
west of Tatarskij
31 20 October 1943 10:10 Pe-2 PQ 34 Ost 39281, 2 km (1.2 mi) north of Petrowka[33]
30 km (19 mi) east-northeast of Mironowka
88 26 February 1944 15:25 Yak-1 PQ 66562[35]
Grammatikowo
32 20 October 1943 10:12 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 39251, 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Mlynok[36]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Kremenchuk
89 1 March 1944 08:10 P-39 PQ 66644[35]
Kolonka
33 21 October 1943 15:07 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 39612, northwest of Pjatichatki[36]
Pjatichatki
90 2 March 1944 09:55 Yak-1 PQ 66534[35]
Cape Tarchan
34 25 October 1943 12:35 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 57182[36]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Melitopol
91 3 March 1944 13:55 P-40 PQ 66642[35]
Majak
35 25 October 1943 12:40 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 57183[36]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Melitopol
92 10 March 1944 14:28 P-39 PQ 66643[35]
Kerch
36 29 October 1943 11:00 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 47183[36]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Ivanovka
93 10 March 1944 14:33 P-39 PQ 66812[35]
Taman
13 November 1943
Yak-1 vicinity of Bagerowo[37] 94 11 March 1944 11:45 Yak-1 PQ 47773[35]
Tachigary
37 15 November 1943 12:10 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66564[37]
Kerch
95 11 March 1944 16:15 Yak-7 PQ 37862[35]
20 km (12 mi) east of Perekop
38 16 November 1943 11:40 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66832, northwest of Bakssy[37]
east of Bulganak
96 13 March 1944 13:30 Yak-1 PQ 66613[38]
Malyj
39 16 November 1943 13:50 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66692[37]
Achtanisowskaja
97 14 March 1944 13:06 Yak-1 PQ 47784[38]
40 km (25 mi) north of Dzhankoi
40 16 November 1943 14:15 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66661[37]
Sea, west of Zaporozhskaya
98 17 March 1944 08:40 Yak-7 vicinity of Chigari[38]
41 19 November 1943 15:20 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66641, northwest of Bakssy[37]
east of Bulganak
99 19 March 1944 07:28?[Note 4] P-39 PQ 66612[38]
east of Cape Khroni
42 21 November 1943 09:15 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66643, Kolonka[37]
east of Bakssy
100 22 March 1944 10:43 Yak-9 PQ 66532[38]
Cape Tarchan
43 21 November 1943 09:40 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66671, east of Kerch[37] 101 22 March 1944 14:02 P-39 Cape Tarchan[38]
44 25 November 1943 11:10 LaGG-3 PQ 34 Ost 66642, north of Majak[39]
Adshim-Uschkaj
102 1 April 1944 15:50?[Note 5] Yak-1?[Note 5] PQ 65211[40]
Sea, southeast of Cape Takyl
45 26 November 1943 07:40 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66561[39]
Malyj
103 1 April 1944 16:10 Yak-7 PQ 65211[40]
Sea, southeast of Cape Takyl
46 26 November 1943 10:37 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66812, northwest of Taman[39]
west of Taman
104 5 April 1944 17:02?[Note 6] Yak-1 PQ 46112[40]
Grammatikowo
47 27 November 1943 13:45 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66814, southwest of Taman[39]
Krotkow
105 6 April 1944 13:55 Yak-7 PQ 47771[40]
south of Gromovka
48 28 November 1943 11:27 Yak-1 PQ Ost 66594[39]
Kamysh Burun
106 7 April 1944 07:15?[Note 7] P-40?[Note 7] PQ 47784[40]
40 km (25 mi) north of Dzhankoi
49 28 November 1943 11:33 P-39 PQ 34 Ost 66812, northwest of Taman[39]
west of Taman
107♠ 8 April 1944 12:25 Yak-7 PQ 37891[40]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Perekop
50 30 November 1943 10:20 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 34 Ost 66841, south of Kossa Tusla[39]
Sea, southwest of Taman
108♠ 8 April 1944 13:07 Yak-7 PQ 37894[40]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Perekop
51♠ 1 December 1943 07:20 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66733, southeast of Eltigen[39]
Sea, east of Eltigen
109♠ 8 April 1944 14:55 P-40?[Note 8] PQ 47771[40]
south of Gromovka
52♠ 1 December 1943 07:23 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] west of Cape Tusla[39] 110♠ 8 April 1944 15:08 Yak-7 PQ 47774[40]
Tachigary
53♠ 1 December 1943 11:10 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 66731, south of Eltigen[39]
east of Eltigen
111♠ 8 April 1944 15:10 Il-2 PQ 47783[40]
40 km (25 mi) north of Dzhankoi
54♠ 1 December 1943 14:09 Yak-1 southeast of Eltigen[39] 112♠ 8 April 1944 17:10 Il-2 Grammatikowo[40]
55♠ 1 December 1943 14:10 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] south of Eltigen[39] 113♠ 10 April 1944 12:27 Yak-7?[Note 9] PQ 46114[42]
east of Tomoschewka
56♠ 2 December 1943 11:05 Yak-1 PQ 34 Ost 66673, west of Taman[39]
Kossa Tusla
114♠ 10 April 1944 12:28 P-39 PQ 46114[42]
east of Tomoschewka
57♠ 2 December 1943 11:35 Il-2 PQ 34 Ost 66811[39]
Sea, Cape Tusla
115♠ 10 April 1944 12:29 P-39 PQ 46114[42]
east of Tomoschewka
58♠ 2 December 1943 13:53 LaGG-3 west of Gorkam[39] 116♠ 10 April 1944 15:45 Yak-1 PQ 46114[42]
east of Tomoschewka
59♠ 2 December 1943 14:15 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] northeast of Eltigen[39] 117♠ 10 April 1944 15:48 Yak-1 PQ 46114[42]
east of Tomoschewka
60♠ 2 December 1943 14:19 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] southeast of Kerch[39]
Kerch
118 11 April 1944 14:15 Yak-7 PQ 36234[42]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Perekop
61 4 December 1943 06:30 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] south of Eltigen[39] 119 13 April 1944 11:15 Yak-7?[Note 10] vicinity of Sarabus[42]
north-northeast of Sarabus
62 4 December 1943 08:20 Yak-1 northeast of Eltigen[39] 120 13 April 1944 11:20 Yak-1 PQ 46743[42]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Sarabus
63 4 December 1943 09:15 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] southwest of Eltigen[39] 121 29 April 1944 18:02 Yak-7 vicinity of Carpiti[43]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași
64♠ 5 December 1943 05:50 Yak-1 east of Cape Warsowka[29]
Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[44]
122♠ 2 May 1944 13:00 P-39 PQ 78711[45]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Iași
176 30 June 1944 15:33 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 84287[46]
123♠ 2 May 1944 13:07 Yak-1 PQ 68834[45]
north of Târgu Frumos
177 30 June 1944 18:49 LaGG PQ 94112[46]
124♠ 2 May 1944 15:10 Il-2 PQ 78753[45]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Iași
178 15 July 1944 20:00 P-39 PQ 41651[46]
40 km (25 mi) northwest of Brody
125♠ 2 May 1944 15:15 P-39 PQ 78723[45]
20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Roman
179 15 July 1944 20:02 P-39 PQ 41644[46]
45 km (28 mi) north of Busk
124♠ 2 May 1944 17:22?[Note 11] P-39 PQ 78742[45]
20 km (12 mi) west of Iași
180 16 July 1944 13:25 LaGG PQ 41629[46]
55 km (34 mi) southwest of Lutsk
127 3 May 1944 15:01 Yak-7 PQ 68834[45]
north of Târgu Frumos
181 16 July 1944 13:28 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 41688[46]
30 km (19 mi) northwest of Brody
128 3 May 1944 15:45?[Note 12] P-39 PQ 78712[45]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Iași
182 18 July 1944 15:35 LaGG PQ 41395[46]
30 km (19 mi) south of Wlodzimierz
129 5 May 1944 12:18 La-5 PQ 68822[47]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Târgu Frumos
183 18 July 1944 18:00 LaGG PQ 40259[46]
10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Zolochiv
130 5 May 1944 12:24 La-5 PQ 68831[47]
north of Târgu Frumos
184♠ 19 July 1944 15:57 LaGG PQ 32832[46]
Luboml
131 7 May 1944 15:20 Pe-2 PQ 68672[47]
30 km (19 mi) north-northwest of Kishinev
185♠ 19 July 1944 16:05 LaGG PQ 42712[46]
Luboml
132 10 May 1944 11:25 La-5 PQ 98754[47]
5 km (3.1 mi) south of Grigoriopol
186♠ 19 July 1944 19:40 LaGG PQ 32883[46]
20 km (12 mi) east-southeast of Kholm
133 10 May 1944 11:27 La-5 PQ 98761[47]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Grigoriopol
187♠ 19 July 1944 19:45 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 31223[46]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Kholm
134 20 May 1944 13:20 LaGG PQ 98743[47]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Grigoriopol
188♠ 19 July 1944 19:46 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 31234[46]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Hostynne
135 20 May 1944 18:34 LaGG PQ 98742[47]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Grigoriopol
189♠ 19 July 1944 19:51 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 82899[46]
136 20 May 1944 18:35 LaGG PQ 98742[47]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Grigoriopol
190 21 July 1944 16:42 P-39 PQ 40142[48]
Lvov
137 20 May 1944 18:35 LaGG PQ 98742[47]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Grigoriopol
191 26 July 1944 17:18 LaGG PQ 30377[48]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Sambir
138 30 May 1944 11:20 LaGG PQ 78678[47]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași
192 26 July 1944 17:22 LaGG PQ 30511[48]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Sambir
139 30 May 1944 11:29 P-39 PQ 78674[47]
8 km (5.0 mi) north of Iași
193?[Note 13] 7 August 1944
B-24[48]
140 30 May 1944 17:36?[Note 14] P-39 PQ 78812[47]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași
194 12 August 1944 11:50 Pe-2 PQ 11342[48]
30 km (19 mi) southwest of Opatów
141♠ 31 May 1944 06:50 LaGG PQ 78683[47]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Iași
195 12 August 1944 11:52 LaGG PQ 11343[48]
30 km (19 mi) southwest of Opatów
142♠ 31 May 1944 06:57 Il-2 PQ 78679[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași
196 12 August 1944 15:58 LaGG PQ 11355[48]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Opatów
143♠ 31 May 1944 07:05 Il-2 vicinity of Iași[50]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași
197 15 August 1944 11:45 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 11514[48]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Mielec
144♠ 31 May 1944 07:13 Il-2 PQ 78814[50]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași
198 15 August 1944 11:50 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 11524[48]
20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Mielec
145♠ 31 May 1944 07:15 Il-2 PQ 78823[50]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași
199 15 August 1944 11:51?[Note 15] LaGG PQ 11525[48]
20 km (12 mi) north-northwest of Mielec
146♠ 31 May 1944 11:17 P-39 PQ 78679[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași
200♠ 17 August 1944 08:23 LaGG PQ 11186[48]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Opatów
147♠ 31 May 1944 11:20 P-39 PQ 78678[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași
201♠ 17 August 1944 12:39 P-39 PQ 11277[48]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Opatów
148♠ 31 May 1944 11:24 P-39 PQ 78672[50]
Sulani
202♠ 17 August 1944 12:41 P-39 PQ 11413[48]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz
149♠ 31 May 1944 11:33 P-39 PQ 78657[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Tudora
203♠ 17 August 1944 12:48 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 11415[48]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz
150♠ 31 May 1944 11:39 LaGG PQ 78673[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași
204♠ 17 August 1944 19:25 P-39 PQ 11278[48]
15 km (9.3 mi) east-southeast of Opatów
151♠ 31 May 1944 16:30 LaGG PQ 78678[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași
205♠ 17 August 1944 19:30 LaGG PQ 11261[48]
40 km (25 mi) east-southeast of Ostrowicz
152♠ 31 May 1944 16:45 LaGG PQ 78566[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Tudora
206♠ 22 August 1944 12:33 P-39 PQ 11275[48]
12 km (7.5 mi) east-southeast of Opatów
153♠ 31 May 1944 17:05 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 78814[50]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași
207♠ 22 August 1944 12:34 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 11285[48]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Sandomierz
154♠ 31 May 1944 17:08 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 78813[50]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Iași
208♠ 22 August 1944 12:34 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 11284[48]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Sandomierz
155♠ 31 May 1944 19:14 P-39 PQ 78359[50]
30 km (19 mi) northwest of Tudora
209♠ 22 August 1944 18:47 P-39 PQ 11413[48]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz
156 2 June 1944 16:15 P-39 PQ 78558[50]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Tudora
210♠ 22 August 1944 18:49 P-39 PQ 11413[48]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomierz
157 3 June 1944 11:45?[Note 16] P-39 PQ 78677[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași
211♠ 22 August 1944 18:57 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 11287[48]
10 km (6.2 mi) north of Sandomierz
158 3 June 1944 12:50 P-39 PQ 78677[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași
212 15 October 1944 14:18 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 16689[51]
Resita
159 3 June 1944 13:35 P-39 PQ 78647[50]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Tudora
213 15 October 1944 14:20?[Note 17] Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 16689[51]
Resita
160 4 June 1944 08:45 LaGG PQ 78598[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași
214 16 October 1944 14:14 LaGG PQ 25491[51]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Turnu Serverin
161 4 June 1944 08:55 LaGG PQ 78763[50]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Iași
215 17 October 1944 09:42 LaGG PQ 25459[51]
Turnu Serverin
162♠ 5 June 1944 14:56?[Note 18] LaGG PQ 78566[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Tudora
216 17 October 1944 14:05 LaGG PQ 25455[51]
Turnu Serverin
163♠ 5 June 1944 15:04 LaGG PQ 78671[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași
217 20 October 1944 14:07 LaGG PQ 25399[51]
25 km (16 mi) south of Orsova
164♠ 5 June 1944 15:06 LaGG PQ 78569[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Tudora
218 20 October 1944 14:08 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25477[51]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Turnu Serverin
165♠ 5 June 1944 15:14 LaGG PQ 78671[50]
15 km (9.3 mi) north of Iași
219♠ 23 October 1944 10:30 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 25388[51]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Majdanpek
166♠ 5 June 1944 18:40 P-39 PQ 78586[46]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Iași
220♠ 23 October 1944 10:33 LaGG PQ 25523[51]
30 km (19 mi) southwest of Turnu Serverin
167♠ 5 June 1944 19:02 LaGG PQ 78591[46]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași
221♠ 23 October 1944 10:43?[Note 19] LaGG PQ 25533[51]
25 km (16 mi) south-southwest of Orsova
168♠ 5 June 1944 19:07 LaGG PQ 78594[46]
Zahorne
222♠ 23 October 1944 14:00 LaGG PQ 25397[51]
25 km (16 mi) south of Orsova
169♠ 5 June 1944 19:17 Il-2 m.H.[Note 1] PQ 48672[46]
20 km (12 mi) north of Bistritz
223♠ 23 October 1944 14:30 LaGG PQ 25349[51]
30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Orsova
170 8 June 1944 15:30 LaGG PQ 78592[46]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Iași
224 26 October 1944 11:09 LaGG PQ 25336[51]
Orsova
171 8 June 1944 16:25 LaGG PQ 78647[46]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Tudora
225 26 October 1944 11:10 LaGG PQ 25338[51]
Orsova
172?[Note 13] 23 June 1944
P-51[46] 226 29 October 1944?[Note 20] 14:18 LaGG PQ 25278[51]
25 km (16 mi) northwest of Turnu Serverin
173?[Note 13] 23 June 1944
P-51[46] 225?[Note 21] 18 January 1945
Yak-3[53]
174?[Note 13] 24 June 1944
B-24[46] 226?[Note 22] 19 January 1945
Il-2[53]
175 30 June 1944 15:25 LaGG PQ 84469[46] 227?[Note 23] 21 January 1945
Yak-9[53]
Stab II. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[52]
228 13 March 1945
Il-2[54] 233 16 March 1945
Il-2[54]
229 13 March 1945
Il-2[54] 234 19 March 1945
Il-2[54]
230 14 March 1945
Il-2[54] 235 19 March 1945
La-5[54]
231 14 March 1945
Il-2[54] 236 5 April 1945
Il-2[54]
232 14 March 1945
Boston[54] 237 16 April 1945
Il-2[54]

Awards

Dates of rank

Wehrmacht
1 November 1940:Leutnant (Second Lieutenant)[64]
1 April 1943:Oberleutnant (First Lieutenant)[65]
1 April 1944:Hauptmann (Captain)[9]
April 1945:Major (Major)[17]
Bundeswehr
1964:Oberstleutnant (Lieutenant Colonel)[17]

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.[23]
  3. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Bell P-39 Airacobra.[34]
  4. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 07:25.[34]
  5. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 15:50 as a Yakovlev Yak-7.[34]
  6. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 17:12.[34]
  7. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 04:15 as a Yakovlev Yak-7.[41]
  8. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-7.[41]
  9. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Bell P-39 Airacobra.[41]
  10. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Douglas A-20 Havoc "Boston".[41]
  11. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 14:22.[41]
  12. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 14:45.[41]
  13. According to Matthews and Foreman this claim is unconfirmed.[49]
  14. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 17:31.[41]
  15. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 11:55.[49]
  16. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 19:45.[41]
  17. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 14:45.[41]
  18. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 14:51.[49]
  19. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed at 10:13.[52]
  20. According to Matthews and Foreman claimed om 26 October 1944.[52]
  21. This claim is not listed by Matthews and Foreman.[52] Barbas labeled this claim as Batz's 225th aerial victory, the same number he assigned to his second aerial victory claimed on 26 October 1944.[51]
  22. This claim is not listed by Matthews and Foreman.[52] Barbas labeled this claim as Batz's 226th aerial victory, the same number he assigned to his aerial victory claimed on 29 October 1944.[51]
  23. This claim is not listed by Matthews and Foreman.[52]
  24. According to Obermaier on 14 November 1943.[56]
  25. According to Scherzer as leader of the III./Jagdgeschwader 52.[59]
  26. The Swords to the Knight's Cross were awarded without an official sequential number.[59] The sequential number "145" was assigned by the Association of Knight's Cross Recipients (AKCR).[63]

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. Barbas 2005, p. 286.
  7. Berger 1999, p. 23.
  8. Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  9. Stockert 2012, p. 97.
  10. Schreier 1990, p. 190.
  11. Weal 2004, p. 105.
  12. Stockert 2012, p. 3.
  13. Stockert 2012, p. 100.
  14. Barbas 2005, p. 285.
  15. Schreier 1990, p. 188.
  16. Barbas 2010, p. 279.
  17. Stockert 2012, p. 102.
  18. Stockert 2012, p. 103.
  19. Zabecki 2019, p. 328.
  20. Spick 1996, p. 227.
  21. Matthews & Foreman 2014, pp. 53–57.
  22. Planquadrat.
  23. Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 53.
  24. Prien et al. 2012, p. 379.
  25. Prien et al. 2012, p. 381.
  26. Prien et al. 2012, p. 383.
  27. Matthews & Foreman 2014, pp. 53–55.
  28. Prien et al. 2012, p. 385.
  29. Prien et al. 2012, p. 394.
  30. Prien et al. 2012, p. 387.
  31. Prien et al. 2012, p. 389.
  32. Barbas 2005, p. 359.
  33. Prien et al. 2012, p. 390.
  34. Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 54.
  35. Barbas 2005, p. 360.
  36. Prien et al. 2012, p. 391.
  37. Prien et al. 2012, p. 392.
  38. Barbas 2005, p. 361.
  39. Prien et al. 2012, p. 393.
  40. Barbas 2005, p. 362.
  41. Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 55.
  42. Barbas 2005, p. 363.
  43. Barbas 2005, p. 365.
  44. Matthews & Foreman 2014, pp. 55–57.
  45. Barbas 2010, p. 375.
  46. Barbas 2010, p. 378.
  47. Barbas 2010, p. 376.
  48. Barbas 2010, p. 379.
  49. Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 56.
  50. Barbas 2010, p. 377.
  51. Barbas 2010, p. 380.
  52. Matthews & Foreman 2014, p. 57.
  53. Barbas 2010, p. 381.
  54. Barbas 2005, p. 372.
  55. Patzwall 2008, p. 45.
  56. Obermaier 1989, p. 41.
  57. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 26.
  58. Thomas 1997, p. 23.
  59. Scherzer 2007, p. 204.
  60. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 123.
  61. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 85.
  62. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 48.
  63. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 48, 49.
  64. Stockert 2012, p. 93.
  65. Stockert 2012, p. 94.

Bibliography

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  • Barbas, Bernd (2010). Die Geschichte der III. Gruppe des Jagdgeschwaders 52 [The History of 3rd Group of Fighter Wing 52] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-94-6.
  • Berger, Florian (1999). Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges [With Oak Leaves and Swords. The Highest Decorated Soldiers of the Second World War] (in German). Vienna, Austria: Selbstverlag Florian Berger. ISBN 978-3-9501307-0-6.
  • 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.
  • Kurowski, Franz (1996). Luftwaffe Aces. Winnipeg, Canada: J.J. Fedorowicz Publishing Inc. ISBN 978-0-921991-31-1.
  • Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
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  • 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.
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