11 September 1988(1988-09-11) (aged 72) Ebern in Unterfranken
Buried
Leverkusen-Opladen
Allegiance
Nazi Germany
West Germany
Service/branch
Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht)
German Air Force (Bundeswehr)
Years of service
1935–1945
1956–1972
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
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.[1] 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.
Born in Bamberg, 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.
WilhelmBatz (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...
WilhelmBatz (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...
Kreuzes) served with JG 52: Heinrich-Wilhelm Ahnert Herbert Bachnick Gerhard Barkhorn (Oak Leaves and Swords) WilhelmBatz (Oak Leaves and Swords) Friedrich...
Witnesses to the wedding included his friends Gerhard Barkhorn and WilhelmBatz. On 25 May, II. Gruppe was ordered to transfer one Staffel to the west...
different occasions. First to 250 Killed in action on 8 November 1944. WilhelmBatz Germany Luftwaffe 237 Erich Rudorffer Germany Luftwaffe 224 Jet ace...
fighter. Two airframes are listed as delivered to II./JG52 under Major WilhelmBatz in late spring of 1945, these being armed with only one 30 mm (1.18 in)...
Westerholt. Galland's older brother was Fritz and his two younger brothers were Wilhelm-Ferdinand and Paul. Their father had pet names for all his family members...
Hubert Strassl shot down 15 Soviet aircraft on 5 July 1943 near Orel. WilhelmBatz claimed 15 Soviet aircraft shot down on 31 May 1944. To achieve this...
Secretary of the Federal Minister of Transport and Digital Infrastructure WilhelmBatz (1916–1988), Luftwaffe, ace Louis-Alexandre Berthier (1753–1815), Chief...
Rudorffer (13 in 17 minutes), August Lambert (17), Hubert Strassl (15), WilhelmBatz (15), Johannes Wiese (12), Franz Schall (11 and 13) have surpassed him...
Rudolf Batz (10 November 1903 – 8 February 1961) was a German SS functionary during the Nazi era. From 1 July to 4 November 1941 he was the leader of Einsatzkommando...
led the Staffel until 26 May when command was passed to Oberleutnant WilhelmBatz. Zwernemann was then posted to the fighter pilot training school Ergänzungsgruppe...
Stadtbauoberinspektor Tiefbautechniker im Straßenbau (inspector for road construction) Wilhelm and his wife Therese. Barkhorn had two brothers, Helmut and Dieter, and...
250–299 Günther Rall (275) Otto Kittel (267) Walter Nowotny (258) 200–249 WilhelmBatz (237) Erich Rudorffer (222) Heinrich Bär (220) Hermann Graf (212) Heinrich...
79, American economist, businessman and government official, cancer. WilhelmBatz, 72, German Luftwaffe fighter ace during World War II. Roger Hargreaves...
score of 48 (including 26 Spitfires). On 10 November 1940, Oesau succeeded Wilhelm Balthasar as Gruppenkommandeur of III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3. With...
Bartosch* Unteroffizier 13 JG 51 KIA 21 February 1944 Erich Bartz 30 JG 51 WilhelmBatz Major 237/233 JG 52 Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Helmut...
250–299 Günther Rall (275) Otto Kittel (267) Walter Nowotny (258) 200–249 WilhelmBatz (237) Erich Rudorffer (222) Heinrich Bär (220) Hermann Graf (212) Heinrich...
based at Cape Chersonez located at the Sevastopol Bay and led by Major WilhelmBatz. He claimed first aerial victory following his tour as a fighter pilot...
Wilhelm Lemke (27 September 1920 – 4 December 1943) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. Lemke was credited with 131 aerial victories—that is,...
250–299 Günther Rall (275) Otto Kittel (267) Walter Nowotny (258) 200–249 WilhelmBatz (237) Erich Rudorffer (222) Heinrich Bär (220) Hermann Graf (212) Heinrich...
was subordinated to II. Gruppe of JG 52 which was headed by Hauptmann Wilhelm Ensslen. At the time, the Gruppe was based at Peuplingues near the English...
James Caird party on the opposing side of South Georgia Island. Born: WilhelmBatz, German air force officer, commander of the Jagdgeschwader 52 for the...
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