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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 aircraft during aerial combat. Batz flew 445 combat missions and claimed 237 aircraft shot down; 234 victories were achieved over the Eastern Front, including at least 46 Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. Batz claimed three victories, including one four-engine bomber against the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) over the Ploieşti oil fields. Following the war, he served in the German Air Force of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).
Born in Bamberg, Batz joined the Luftwaffe in 1935 and completed his flight training in 1939. Batz then served as a flight instructor before he was trained as fighter pilot. In February 1943, Batz was transferred to II. Gruppe (2nd Group) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) which was on the Eastern Front. Batz claimed his first aerial victory on 11 March 1943. Following the claiming of 100 aerial victories, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944. He was given command of III. Gruppe of JG 52 in April 1944 and command of II. Gruppe of JG 52 in February 1945. Batz was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords in April 1945. After the war, Batz joined the Air Force of the Bundeswehr, commanding Lufttransportgeschwader 63 (LTG 63–Air Transport Wing 63). He retired in 1972 and died on 11 September 1988 in Ebern in Unterfranken.
Batz was born on 21 May 1916 in Bamberg, in the Kingdom of Bavaria. He was the son of a Beamter, a civil servant. Batz grew up between the world wars, with the Red Baron as his ideal of a fighter pilot. After Batz graduated with his Abitur (university-preparatory high school diploma), he volunteered for four years military service in the Luftwaffe on 1 November 1935. After he completed his basic training at Neubiberg, he was posted to the flight school at Kaufbeuren Airfield on 1 February 1936. Following flight training, he became a flight instructor with Fliegerausbildungs-Regiment 23 (23rd Aviators Training Regiment). In November 1939, Batz was posted to at Jüterbog-Damm and later to Reinsdorf Airfield.
In June 1940, Batz returned to Fliegerausbildungs-Regiment 23 in Kaufbeuren. He then attended an officers training course at the Luftkriegsschule 2 in Berlin–Gatow. On 1 November 1940, Batz was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant). He continued to serve as a flight instructor, logging more than 5,000 flying hours, until 31 October 1942. On 1 November, Batz was posted to the Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot school) in Bad Aibling. On 20 December, Batz moved on to 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Supplementary Fighter Group, East) which was based at Saint-Jean-d'Angély in France.
World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 1 February 1943, Batz was transferred to II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing). The Gruppe was based at an airfield at Rostov-on-Don on the Eastern Front and under command of Hauptmann Johannes Steinhoff. The Gruppe was moved to the combat area of the Kuban bridgehead on 10 February where it was initially based at an airfield at Slavyansk-na-Kubani. Due to weather, II. Gruppe moved to Kerch on 16 February. Here flying with the Gruppenstab (headquarters unit), Batz claimed his first aerial victory on 11 March when he shot down a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter. Two days later, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Anapa. During the relocation flight, he was credited with the destruction of a Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber, also known as "Boston". On 1 April, Batz was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant).
Flying from Anapa, Batz claimed two LaGG-3 fighters shot down on 15 April, the second near Abinskaya. On 20 April, he claimed four aerial victories. He was credited with the destruction of an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. A LaGG-3 fighter claimed near Gelendzhik remained unconfirmed while a further claim over another LaGG-3 fighter shot down near Kabardinka, located approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Gelendzhik and an Il-2 ground-attack aircraft destroyed west of Gelendzhik were approved. On 24 April, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse) for seven aerial victories. On 9 May, Batz was credited with shooting down a Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter.
On 26 May 1943, Batz was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of JG 52. He succeeded Leutnant Josef Zwernemann who temporarily led the Staffel after its former commander, Leutnant Helmut Haberda had been killed in action on 8 May. On 3 July, Batz was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse). By end of October, Batz was credited with 36 aerial victories, making him the fifth leading active fighter pilot of II. Gruppe. The Gruppe had moved to Kherson on 30 October and then transferred to Baherove on the Crimean peninsula on 2 November where it was based until 19 March 1944. By end of November, Batz had increased his number of aerial victories to 50. In December, he claimed 25 further aerial victories, raising his total to 75 on 7 December. This included three "ace-in-a-day" achievements on 1, 2 and 5 December. On 7 December, Batz attacked small vessels off the coast of Eltigen (Heroyevskoe), part of Kerch. During the strafing attack, his Bf 109 was hit by anti-aircraft fire resulting in a forced landing. Batz sustained injuries to his shoulder and was sent on home leave. His home leave and convalescence ended in February 1944. On 28 January 1944, Batz received the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold).
Batz claimed his first three aerial victories of 1944 on 10 February when he shot down a Yak-1 and two Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters. At the end of February, his number of aerial victories had increased to 88, putting him in second place in II. Gruppe tied with Leutnant Heinrich Sturm and Leutnant Helmut Lipfert. On 19 March, the Gruppe was ordered to Grammatikowo located near Sovietskyi. Here on 22 March, Batz claimed his 100th aerial victory when he shot down a Yak-9 and Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter. He was the 67th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve a hundred victories. Batz was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 26 March. With 101 aerial victories to his credit, he was the third most successful fighter pilot in II. Gruppe. Barkhorn with 251 aerial victories was in the lead and Leutnant Otto Fönnekold was second with 116 claims.
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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 aircraft during aerial combat. Batz flew 445 combat missions and claimed 237 aircraft shot down; 234 victories were achieved over the Eastern Front, including at least 46 Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. Batz claimed three victories, including one four-engine bomber against the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) over the Ploieşti oil fields. Following the war, he served in the German Air Force of the Federal Republic of Germany (West Germany).
Born in Bamberg, Batz joined the Luftwaffe in 1935 and completed his flight training in 1939. Batz then served as a flight instructor before he was trained as fighter pilot. In February 1943, Batz was transferred to II. Gruppe (2nd Group) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) which was on the Eastern Front. Batz claimed his first aerial victory on 11 March 1943. Following the claiming of 100 aerial victories, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944. He was given command of III. Gruppe of JG 52 in April 1944 and command of II. Gruppe of JG 52 in February 1945. Batz was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords in April 1945. After the war, Batz joined the Air Force of the Bundeswehr, commanding Lufttransportgeschwader 63 (LTG 63–Air Transport Wing 63). He retired in 1972 and died on 11 September 1988 in Ebern in Unterfranken.
Batz was born on 21 May 1916 in Bamberg, in the Kingdom of Bavaria. He was the son of a Beamter, a civil servant. Batz grew up between the world wars, with the Red Baron as his ideal of a fighter pilot. After Batz graduated with his Abitur (university-preparatory high school diploma), he volunteered for four years military service in the Luftwaffe on 1 November 1935. After he completed his basic training at Neubiberg, he was posted to the flight school at Kaufbeuren Airfield on 1 February 1936. Following flight training, he became a flight instructor with Fliegerausbildungs-Regiment 23 (23rd Aviators Training Regiment). In November 1939, Batz was posted to at Jüterbog-Damm and later to Reinsdorf Airfield.
In June 1940, Batz returned to Fliegerausbildungs-Regiment 23 in Kaufbeuren. He then attended an officers training course at the Luftkriegsschule 2 in Berlin–Gatow. On 1 November 1940, Batz was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant). He continued to serve as a flight instructor, logging more than 5,000 flying hours, until 31 October 1942. On 1 November, Batz was posted to the Jagdfliegerschule (fighter pilot school) in Bad Aibling. On 20 December, Batz moved on to 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (Supplementary Fighter Group, East) which was based at Saint-Jean-d'Angély in France.
World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. On 1 February 1943, Batz was transferred to II. Gruppe (2nd group) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing). The Gruppe was based at an airfield at Rostov-on-Don on the Eastern Front and under command of Hauptmann Johannes Steinhoff. The Gruppe was moved to the combat area of the Kuban bridgehead on 10 February where it was initially based at an airfield at Slavyansk-na-Kubani. Due to weather, II. Gruppe moved to Kerch on 16 February. Here flying with the Gruppenstab (headquarters unit), Batz claimed his first aerial victory on 11 March when he shot down a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter. Two days later, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Anapa. During the relocation flight, he was credited with the destruction of a Douglas A-20 Havoc bomber, also known as "Boston". On 1 April, Batz was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant).
Flying from Anapa, Batz claimed two LaGG-3 fighters shot down on 15 April, the second near Abinskaya. On 20 April, he claimed four aerial victories. He was credited with the destruction of an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. A LaGG-3 fighter claimed near Gelendzhik remained unconfirmed while a further claim over another LaGG-3 fighter shot down near Kabardinka, located approximately 15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Gelendzhik and an Il-2 ground-attack aircraft destroyed west of Gelendzhik were approved. On 24 April, he was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class (Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse) for seven aerial victories. On 9 May, Batz was credited with shooting down a Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter.
On 26 May 1943, Batz was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of JG 52. He succeeded Leutnant Josef Zwernemann who temporarily led the Staffel after its former commander, Leutnant Helmut Haberda had been killed in action on 8 May. On 3 July, Batz was awarded the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse). By end of October, Batz was credited with 36 aerial victories, making him the fifth leading active fighter pilot of II. Gruppe. The Gruppe had moved to Kherson on 30 October and then transferred to Baherove on the Crimean peninsula on 2 November where it was based until 19 March 1944. By end of November, Batz had increased his number of aerial victories to 50. In December, he claimed 25 further aerial victories, raising his total to 75 on 7 December. This included three "ace-in-a-day" achievements on 1, 2 and 5 December. On 7 December, Batz attacked small vessels off the coast of Eltigen (Heroyevskoe), part of Kerch. During the strafing attack, his Bf 109 was hit by anti-aircraft fire resulting in a forced landing. Batz sustained injuries to his shoulder and was sent on home leave. His home leave and convalescence ended in February 1944. On 28 January 1944, Batz received the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold).
Batz claimed his first three aerial victories of 1944 on 10 February when he shot down a Yak-1 and two Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters. At the end of February, his number of aerial victories had increased to 88, putting him in second place in II. Gruppe tied with Leutnant Heinrich Sturm and Leutnant Helmut Lipfert. On 19 March, the Gruppe was ordered to Grammatikowo located near Sovietskyi. Here on 22 March, Batz claimed his 100th aerial victory when he shot down a Yak-9 and Bell P-39 Airacobra fighter. He was the 67th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve a hundred victories. Batz was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 26 March. With 101 aerial victories to his credit, he was the third most successful fighter pilot in II. Gruppe. Barkhorn with 251 aerial victories was in the lead and Leutnant Otto Fönnekold was second with 116 claims.
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