Max Stotz information

Max Stotz
Max Stotz
	Stotz as an Oberfeldwebel
Born	13 February 1912; Mannswörth, Lower Austria, Austria-Hungary
Died	19 August 1943 (aged 31) (MIA); Last seen near Kirov, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
Allegiance	First Austrian Republic; (1933–1934); Federal State of Austria; (1934–1938); Nazi Germany; (1938–1943)
Service/branch	Austrian Armed Forces; (1933–1938); Luftwaffe; (1938–1943)
Years of service	1933–1943
Rank	Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit	JG 76, JG 54
Commands held	5./JG 54
Battles/wars	See battles World War II Invasion of Poland; Battle of France; Battle of Britain; Operation Barbarossa;
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Max Stotz (13 February 1912 – 19 August 1943) was an Austrian Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with shooting down 189 enemy aircraft claimed in more than 700 combat missions.^[1]

Born in Mannswörth, Stotz volunteered for military service in the Austrian Army in 1933. In 1935, he transferred to the Austrian Air Force and following the Anschluss, Austria's annexation into Nazi Germany, he served in the German Luftwaffe, initially with Jagdgeschwader 76 (JG 76—76th Fighter Wing) and later with Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). He flew his first combat missions in the Invasion of Poland and claimed his first aerial victory during the "Phoney War" period on the Western Front. Following his 53rd aerial victory he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II, on 19 June 1942 and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 30 October 1942 after 100 victories.

In early August 1943, Stotz was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 5. Staffel (5th squadron) of JG 54. Stotz was posted as missing in action after aerial combat near Vitebsk on 19 August 1943. He was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) posthumously.

^ Spick 1996, p. 228.

[FOOTNOTESpick1996228-1] Spick 1996, p. 228.

Max Stotz information

and 21 Related for: Max Stotz information

Max Stotz

Stotz

List of aviators who became ace in a day

List of World War II aces credited with 100 or more victories

Johannes Steinhoff

Erich Hartmann

Gerhard Barkhorn

Walter Nowotny

Heinrich Ehrler

Adolf Galland

Alfred Grislawski

Schwechat

Walter Krupinski

Helmut Lent

Otto Kittel

Hermann Graf

Franz Schall

Egon Mayer

Erich Rudorffer

Josef Zwernemann

Friedrich Wachowiak

Max Stotz
Stotz as an Oberfeldwebel
Born	(1912-02-13)13 February 1912 Mannswörth, Lower Austria, Austria-Hungary
Died	19 August 1943(1943-08-19) (aged 31) (MIA) Last seen near Kirov, Byelorussian SSR, Soviet Union
Allegiance	First Austrian Republic (1933–1934) Federal State of Austria (1934–1938) Nazi Germany (1938–1943)
Service/branch	Austrian Armed Forces (1933–1938) Luftwaffe (1938–1943)
Years of service	1933–1943
Rank	Hauptmann (Captain)
Unit	JG 76, JG 54
Commands held	5./JG 54
Battles/wars	See battles World War II Invasion of Poland Battle of France Battle of Britain Operation Barbarossa
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves