Jakob Norz

Jakob Norz (20 October 1920 – 16 September 1944) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. Norz is listed with 117 aerial victories—that is, 117 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—becoming an "ace-in-a-day" on seven separate occasions. All his victories were claimed over the Soviet Air Forces in 332 combat missions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Norz was killed on 16 September 1944 in a forced landing following combat with a large formation of Soviet aircraft attacking Kirkenes.

Career Norz was born on 20 October 1920 in Saulgrub in Free State of Bavaria within the Weimar Republic. Holding the rank of Unteroffizier (non-commissioned officer) he served with the I. Gruppe (1st group) of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 (NJG 2—2nd Night Fighter Wing) since late 1941. With this unit he flew night fighter missions against England and convoy escort missions over the Mediterranean Sea. He was briefly transferred as a day time fighter pilot to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) operating on the Eastern Front in early 1942. Shortly afterwards, he was posted to the 11. Staffel (11th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing) which was located in Norway. On 21 March, the squadron was re-designated 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing). On 20 April, 8. Staffel moved to an airfield at Petsamo, present-day Pechenga in Murmansk Oblast, Russia on the Eismeerfront (Ice Sea Front)—the area of operations nearest the Arctic Ocean.

War on the Arctic Front Operating in this northern theatre of operations, Norz claimed his first five aerial victories by the end of 1942. He was presented with the Iron Cross 1st Class by Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff on account of his II. and III. Gruppe visit at Pechenga on 19 June.

Following victorious combat with two Ilyushin Il-2 "Shturmovik" southwest Eyna Guba on 5 March 1943 he made a forced landing of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 13108—factory number) on a frozen lake in no man's land. He returned to a German held position after an eight-hour walk in high snow. Norz claimed his 17th and 18th aerial victory on 4 June 1943.

JG 5 flew multiple missions from Pechenga and Kirkenes in protection of a German convoy on 14 September. At 17:03, a Rotte of Bf 109 G-2s sighted and reported an enemy formation consisting of Douglas A-20 Havoc, also known as Boston bombers, Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack aircraft, as well as Bell P-39 Airacobra and Hawker Hurricane fighters. At 18:15, 9. Staffel was scrambled at Pechenga and 5. Staffel at Svartnes. A bit later further Bf 109s from 4., 7. and 5. Staffel took off. The Germans intercepted the Soviet formation east of Ekkerøy over the Varangerfjord. In this aerial engagement, Norz claimed the destruction of Hurricane fighter.

On 25 November, following ten days of relative quiet, the Soviet Air Forces conducted a coordinated attack on Titovka, and the airfields Høybuktmoen at Kirkenes and Luostari near Pechenga. Titovka is attacked by sixteen Il-2s and six Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, escorted by six Yakovlev Yak-1 and four Yakovlev Yak-9. Høybuktmoen was hit by twelve Petlyakov Pe-2 escorted by twelve Bell P-39 Airacobra and six Yak-9. The Luostari airfield was struck by sixteen Il-2 and six P-40, protected by fourteen Yak-1 and six Hurricanes. That day, Norz claimed two Il-2 ground attack aircraft, taking his total to 45 aerial victories.

On 17 March 1944, Norz became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time, claiming five Soviet fighters shot down. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944 following his 74th aerial victory. During aerial combat on 4 July, he claimed five Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters shot down, taking his total to 91. On 17 July, he became the 82nd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. As part of the group expansion from three Staffeln per Gruppe to four Staffeln per Gruppe, Norz's 8. Staffel was re-designated and became the 11. Staffel of JG 5 on 15 August. Norz claimed four Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers and a Bell P-39 Airacobra destroyed on 23 August, taking his total to 116 aerial victories.

Walter Schuck, a wartime friend of Jakob Norz, witnessed Norz's final flight on 16 September 1944. According to Schuck, Norz attacked and shot down a Douglas Boston but was hit in the engine by the defensive fire from the Boston. Norz reported that his cabin was filling with smoke. Schuck urged Norz to bale out but Norz decided to fly back to base to avoid capture by the Russians. Schuck broke off further combat and escorted Norz back to base. Norz, intoxicated by the smoke, reported that his elevator seized and that he could not trim the aircraft. Already too low for bailing out, Norz attempted a crash landing in the tundra. The Bf 109 G-6 "yellow 8" (Werknummer 412 199—factory number) struck a rock and disintegrated, killing Norz. He was buried with military honors at the German war cemetery at Pechenga.

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Norz was credited with 117 aerial victories. Obermaier and Spick also list Norz with 117 aerial victories claimed in 332 combat missions, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 104 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 36 Ost 3079". The Luftwaffe grid map 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 . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –Eastern Front and northern Norway, and Finland — 10 January – 31 December 1942 1 15 May 1942 18:30 Hurricane south of Ura-Guba 4 5 September 1942 08:38 Hurricane PQ 36 Ost 3079 2 10 August 1942 18:48 Hurricane PQ 37 Ost 20854 5? 29 October 1942 unknown 3 2 September 1942 11:18 I-61 (MiG-3) PQ 36 Ost 3912vicinity of the Kola railroad – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –Eastern Front and northern Norway, and Finland — 1 January – 31 December 1943 6? 24 January 1943 LaGG-3 26 4 July 1943 22:02 Pe-2 PQ 37 Ost 11739 7? 5 February 1943 LaGG-3 27 4 July 1943 22:05 Boston PQ 37 Ost 1179 ? 28 February 1943 16:03 P-40 28 12 July 1943 01:00 P-39 PQ 37 Ost 11346 ? 28 February 1943 16:06 Pe-2 29 16 July 1943 00:55 P-39 PQ 37 Ost 10668 8 1 March 1943 07:17? Il-2 PQ 37 Ost 1067vicinity of Pechenga 30 16 July 1943 01:05 P-39 PQ 37 Ost 10283 9 5 March 1943 08:12 P-40 PQ 37 Ost 1069 31 20 August 1943 11:30 Hurricane PQ 27 Ost RH 96, vicinity of Alta 10 5 March 1943 12:05 Il-2 PQ 37 Ost 1066 32 23 August 1943 04:56 Hampden PQ 37 Ost SE 66 11 27 March 1943 14:30? P-39 PQ 37 Ost 3079 33 23 August 1943 04:58 Pe-2 PQ 37 Ost SE 63 12 30 March 1943 10:45 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 3911 34 6 September 1943 19:04 Boston PQ 37 Ost OB 7 13 22 May 1943 19:45 Hurricane PQ 37 Ost 2033 35 6 September 1943 19:05 Boston PQ 37 Ost OB 8 14 22 May 1943 21:40 Hurricane PQ 37 Ost 2019 36 6 September 1943 19:07 Boston PQ 37 Ost OC 6 15 1 June 1943 03:46 P-39 PQ 37 Ost 2036 37 14 September 1943 18:45 Hurricane PQ 37 Ost RC 4 16 1 June 1943 03:49 P-39 PQ 37 Ost 2049 38 20 September 1943 16:05 Pe-2 PQ 37 Ost UH 71 17 5 June 1943 04:02 Hurricane PQ 37 Ost 2044 39 23 September 1943 12:50 P-40 PQ 37 Ost UG 18 5 June 1943 05:48 Hurricane PQ 37 Ost 3051 40 23 September 1943 12:53 P-40 PQ 37 Ost AG 19 19 June 1943 16:27 Hurricane PQ 37 Ost 20421 41 23 September 1943 12:55 P-40 PQ 37 Ost AG 20 27 June 1943 12:02 Hurricane PQ 37 Ost 10299 east of Pummanki 42 24 September 1943 08:50 P-40 PQ 37 Ost UG 21 27 June 1943 12:04 Hurricane PQ 37 Ost 20177 northeast of Pummanki 43? 24 September 1943 08:55 P-39 PQ 37 Ost UG 22 29 June 1943 14:12 Pe-2 PQ 37 Ost 11623 northeast of Vardø 44 24 September 1943 09:00 P-40 PQ 36 Ost AG 23 29 June 1943 14:13 Pe-2 PQ 37 Ost 11489 northeast of Vardø 45? 24 September 1943 09:20 Hurricane PQ 36 Ost AG 24 29 June 1943 14:16 P-40 PQ 37 Ost 11495 northeast of Vardø 46? 9 October 1943 Yak-7 Murmansk 25 4 July 1943 22:01 Pe-2 PQ 37 Ost 11812 According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Norz claimed seven undocumented aerial victories in October to November 1943. These seven claims are neither listed by Mombeek nor by Mathews and Foreman. 54 6 November 1943 12:17 Pe-2 PQ 37 Ost RF 74, northwest of Subowka 56 25 November 1943 11:55 Il-2 PQ 37 Ost UE 83, east of Pechenga airfield northwest of Pechenga airfield 55 25 November 1943 11:52 Il-2 PQ 37 Ost TC 43, east of Pechenga airfield northwest of Pechenga airfield – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –Eastern Front and northern Norway, and Finland — 1 January – July 1944 57 21 February 1944 14:21 P-39 west of Murmashiwest of Murmansk 82♠ 28 June 1944 00:05 P-39 northeast of Kirkenes 58 21 February 1944 14:24 P-39 west of Murmashivicinity of Murmansk 83♠ 28 June 1944 00:13 P-39 north of Kirkenes 59? 24 February 1944 09:40 P-39 Lake Tug 84♠ 28 June 1944 00:20 P-39 northeast of Kirkenes 60 29 February 1944 13:30 Yak-7 northwest of Murmansksouthwest of Murmansk 85♠ 28 June 1944 03:50 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost SC-2/3 61 29 February 1944 13:36 Yak-7 northwest of Murmansk 86♠ 28 June 1944 03:58 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost RC-8/3 5 March 1944 13:35 Il-2 southwest of Murmansk 87♠ 4 July 1944 18:59 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost RA-4/6 62 5 March 1944 13:36 Il-2 north of Ekkerøy 88♠ 4 July 1944 19:09 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost RB-7/1, north of Taarnet 63 13 March 1944 13:37 Yak-7 southeast of Vayda-Guba 89♠ 4 July 1944 19:15 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost SA-5/5 64? 13 March 1944 13:39 Yak-7 west of Rybachy Peninsula 90♠ 4 July 1944 19:26 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost SB-1/9 65 13 March 1944 13:41 Yak-9 southeast of Pummanki 91♠ 4 July 1944 19:30 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost SB-1/2, east-northeast of Kirkenes 66♠ 17 March 1944 11:10 Il-2 north of Hamningberg 92 9 July 1944 20:50 P-40 PQ 37 Ost QC-1/2 67♠ 17 March 1944 11:11 P-39 northeast of Hamningberg 93 9 July 1944 20:51 P-40 PQ 37 Ost QC-1/4 68♠ 17 March 1944 11:13 P-39 southeast of Hamningbergnortheast of Hamningberg 94 9 July 1944 20:53 P-40 PQ 37 Ost QC-5/1 69♠ 17 March 1944 15:39 P-39 northeast of Pechenga 95 9 July 1944 20:57 P-40 PQ 37 Ost QD-4/7 70♠ 17 March 1944 15:40 P-39 northeast of Pechenganorth of Pechenga 96♠ 17 July 1944 18:30 P-39 PQ 37 Ost SB-5/2 71 2 April 1944 04:49 Yak-7 PQ 37 Ost RD-9/6 97♠ 17 July 1944 18:33 P-39 PQ 37 Ost SB-1/5 72 2 April 1944 04:51 Yak-7 PQ 37 Ost RD-9/6 98♠ 17 July 1944 19:01 Boston PQ 37 Ost SB-1/9 73 2 April 1944 04:53 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost RD-8/3 99♠ 17 July 1944 19:03 Boston PQ 37 Ost SB-3/1 74 7 April 1944 10:31 Yak-9 PQ 37 Ost SG-8/7 100♠ 17 July 1944 19:12 Boston vicinity of Kirkenes 75♠ 27 June 1944 16:46 Boston north of Kirkenes 101 21 July 1944 05:25 P-40 southeast of Cape Markur 76♠ 27 June 1944 16:46 Boston north of Kirkenes 102 22 July 1944 12:35 P-40 PQ 37 Ost RE-8/6 77♠ 27 June 1944 16:47 Boston north-northeast of Kirkenes 103 22 July 1944 12:41 P-40 PQ 37 Ost RE-9/8 78♠ 27 June 1944 17:02 Yak-9 southeast of Kirkenes 104 22 July 1944 12:42 P-40 PQ 37 Ost RE-3/7 79♠ 27 June 1944 17:10 Yak-9 northwest of Kirkenes 105 28 July 1944 12:56 P-39 PQ 37 Ost UC-3/1 80♠ 28 June 1944 00:01 P-39 northeast of Kirkenes 106 28 July 1944 12:59 P-39 PQ 37 Ost UC-3/9 81♠ 28 June 1944 00:03 P-39 west of Kirkenes – 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –Eastern Front — 15 August – 16 September 1944 107♠ 17 August 1944 09:48 P-39 PQ 37 Ost TB-7 113♠ 23 August 1944 12:39 Pe-2 PQ 37 Ost RD, north of Pechenga 108♠ 17 August 1944 09:54 Boston PQ 37 Ost SA-1 114♠ 23 August 1944 12:40 Pe-2 PQ 37 Ost SD, northwest of Pechenga 109♠ 17 August 1944 09:55 Boston PQ 37 Ost RU-9 115♠ 23 August 1944 12:40 Pe-2 PQ 37 Ost SD, northwest of Pechenga 110♠ 17 August 1944 09:56 Boston PQ 37 Ost RU-9 116♠ 23 August 1944 16:38 P-39 PQ 37 Ost TC 111♠ 17 August 1944 09:58 Boston PQ 37 Ost RU-3 117 16 September 1944 11:56 Boston PQ 37 Ost SA-2/8vicinity of Kirkenes 112♠ 23 August 1944 12:10 Pe-2 PQ 37 Ost RD, north of Pechenga

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 13 September 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Feldwebel in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 5 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 5