Max Stotz

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.

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.

Early life and career Stotz was born on 13 February 1912 in Mannswörth, at the time in Austria-Hungary. He was the son of a farmer and joined the military service in the Austrian Army (Bundesheer) on 7 April 1933. He initially served as a Gebirgsjäger with Alpenjäger-Regiment 11 in Klagenfurt. In 1935, he requested transfer to the Austrian Air Force (Österreichische Luftstreitkräfte) and was transferred to Flieger-Regiment 2 in Graz. There, from 1 July to 23 November 1936, he was trained as a pilot. From 24 November 1936 to 5 May 1938, Stotz served with Flieger-Regiment 1 at Wiener Neustadt. At Wiener Neustadt, he was a member of the aerobatics squadron in 1937/38. Following the Anschluss, Austria's annexation into Nazi Germany on 12 March 1938, Stotz was accepted into the German Luftwaffe and became a pilot with 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 76 (JG 76—76th Fighter Wing), a squadron of I. Gruppe (1st group) under the command of Oberleutnant Dietrich Hrabak.

World War II World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. I. Gruppe of JG 76 participated in the invasion and returned to its home airfield at Wien-Aspern where it remained until end of October. On 26 October, the Gruppenstab and 1. Staffel were ordered to Frankfurt Rhein-Main where it was united again with 2. and 3. Staffel on 2 November. From Frankfurt Rhein-Main, the Gruppe flew fighter protection during the "Phoney War" for the Frankfurt, Rhine and Saar region. On 5 November, Stotz received the Iron Cross 2nd Class . The next day, he claimed his first aerial victory over a Royal Air Force (RAF) Bristol Blenheim bomber near Völklingen. In April 1940, I. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Mainz-Finthen, originally named Fliegerhorst Ober-Olm. The Gruppe stayed at Ober-Olm until the Battle of France began.

On 11 May, I. Gruppe moved from Ober-Olm to Wengerohr, present-day a suburb of Wittlich. From Wengerohr, the unit flew combat air patrols in the area of Montmédy, Charleville-Mézières and Bastogne. On 14 May, I. Gruppe flew combat missions over the Meuse and Sedan area during the Battle of Sedan. In this action, Stotz claimed two Fairey Battle light bombers shot down over the Sedan combat area. Following the German advance into France, I. Gruppe was moved to a airfields at Bastogne and Nives on 15 May. On 19 May, Stotz claimed a Potez 63 and a Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 west of Laon. This earned him the Iron Cross 1st Class , awarded to him on 1 June 1940. On 21 May, I. Gruppe moved to Charleville from where the unit flew missions in the Battle of Dunkirk. On 3 June, I. Gruppe participated in Operation Paula (Unternehmen Paula), an offensive operation to destroy the remaining units of the Armée de l'Air. That day, Stotz claimed the destruction of a Curtiss P-36 Hawk fighter west of Épernay. Three days later, he claimed two further Curtiss fighters northwest of Amiens. The Gruppe was moved to Conteville on 7 June, to Guise on 16 June, and then to Émerainville on 18 June. On 19 June, I. Gruppe was withdrawn from France and moved to Brussels on 22 June.

On 26 June 1940, I. Gruppe of JG 76 was moved to the airfield at Waalhaven in the Netherlands and subordinated to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). There, the Gruppe was tasked with providing aerial protection over the Dutch coastal area. On 5 July, I./JG 76 was officially integrated into JG 54 and was renamed to II./JG 54. Three days later, Stotz claimed his last aerial victory on the Western Front over a Blenheim bomber south of Rotterdam. He was awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 20 September 1940.

On 29 March 1941, II./JG 54 was withdrawn from the English Channel and was ordered to Graz-Thalerhof. There the various squadrons were split up with 4. Staffel being subordinated to III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 77 (JG 77—77th Fighter Wing) and ordered to Deta in Romania. On 6 April, 4. Staffel flew combat missions in the Invasion of Yugoslavia. The next day, the Staffel flew combat air patrols on the Hungarian-Yugoslavian border. On 9 April, II./JG 54 was united again at Kecskemét, Hungary and returned to Deta on 11 April. The Gruppe was withdrawn from this theater on 19 April and ordered to an airfield at Zemun near Belgrade.

Operation Barbarossa alt=A map of Eastern Europe depicting the movement of military units and formations. Following the surrender of the Royal Yugoslav Army on 17 April 1941, JG 54 received orders on 3 May 1941 to turn over all Bf 109-Es so they could receive the new Bf 109-F variant. Transition training was completed at Airfield Stolp-Reitz in Pomerania. Following intensive training, the Geschwader was moved to airfields in Eastern Prussia. II. Gruppe under command of Hauptmann Hrabak was moved to Trakehnen on 20 June 1941. The Wehrmacht launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, on 22 June with II. Gruppe supporting Army Group North in its strategic goal towards Leningrad.

On 25 June, II. Gruppe was moved to an airfield at Kowno and was tasked with providing fighter escort for Panzer Group 4 advancing towards the Düna river. The next day, Stotz claimed his first aerial victory in this theater of operations over a Tupolev SB-2 bomber in the vicinity of Ostrov.

Eastern Front On 7 August 1942, Stotz flew one of ten Bf 109s escorting a formation of Junkers Ju 88 bombers from Kampfgeschwader 3 (KG 3—3rd Bomber Wing) attacking the Soviet 6th and 8th Tank Corps at Sychyovka when they were intercepted by eight Yakovlev Yak-1 fighters from 32 IAP (32nd Fighter Aviation Regiment). In this encounter, Stotz claimed two Yak-1s shot down. On 16 August 1942, Stotz for the first time encountered the unknown to him Lavochkin La-5 fighter aircraft from 49 IAP (49th Fighter Aviation Regiment). That day, he claimed two aerial victories which were misidentified and filed as a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 and a Curtiss P-40 Warhawk.

On 29 October 1942, Stotz was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 29th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. The next day, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves for this achievement. He was the 137th member of the German armed forces to be so honored. The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler personally. On this account, he was also promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant), backdated to 1 October 1942. On 30 December 1942, Stotz claimed 10 aerial victories, bringing his total to 129. On 12 January 1943, Soviet forces launched Operation Iskra, also known as the second battle of Lake Ladoga, an operation which created a corridor into the besieged city Leningrad. Defending against this operation, Stotz claimed his 150th aerial victory on 26 January when he was credited with five Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighters and a single Yak-1 fighter shot down in the area of Mga and Shlisselburg.

Stotz was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) on 1 February 1943. On 21 February, Stotz flew as wingman of his Gruppenkommandeur (group commander), Major Hans Hahn. During this mission, Hahn's aircraft suffered engine failure resulting in a forced landing behind enemy lines. Hahn was captured and taken prisoner of war. Stotz was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 5. Staffel of JG 54 on 10 August 1943. He succeeded Leutnant Emil Lang who had temporarily led the Staffel after Oberleutnant Alfred Teumer had been transferred in July. Following aerial combat on 19 August 1943 with a large formation of Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters in the vicinity of Vitebsk, Stotz bailed out of his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 550 201—factory) north of Kirov and went missing in action. He was last seen drifting down over Soviet held territory. Command of 5. Staffel was then again given to Leutnant Lang.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Stotz was credited with 189 aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 182 aerial victory claims, plus one further unconfirmed claim. This number includes 174 on the Eastern Front and 8 on the Western Front.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 28123". 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 – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 76 –"Phoney War" — 1 September 1939 – 9 May 1940 1? 6 November 1939 Blenheim Völklingen – 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 76 –Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940 2 14 May 1940 16:15 Battle Sedan 6 3 June 1940 15:20 Curtiss west of Épernay 3 14 May 1940 16:15 Battle Sedan 7 6 June 1940 21:00 Curtiss northwest of Amiens 4 19 May 1940 14:15 Potez 63 8 6 June 1940 21:00 Curtiss northwest of Amiens 5 19 May 1940 18:30 M.S.405 west of Laon – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 29 March 1941 9 8 July 1940? 14:10 Blenheim south of Rotterdam – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941 10 26 June 1941 20:15 SB-2 vicinity of Ostrov 19 19 August 1941 18:00 I-16 11 8 July 1941 02:53 I-15 Ostrov 20 27 August 1941 05:55 I-18 (MiG-1) 12 23 July 1941 09:00 I-18 (MiG-1) 21 9 September 1941 10:10 I-18 (MiG-1) 13 11 August 1941 15:40 I-16 22 10 September 1941 12:45 I-18 (MiG-1) 14 13 August 1941 09:25 I-16 23 11 September 1941 10:45 I-18 (MiG-1) 15 13 August 1941 18:25 I-16 24 14 September 1941? 09:05 I-18 (MiG-1) 16 15 August 1941 14:35 I-18 (MiG-1) 25 14 September 1941 18:00 I-18 (MiG-1) 17 18 August 1941 10:50 DB-3 26 16 September 1941 07:15 I-18 (MiG-1) 18 18 August 1941 10:58 I-18 (MiG-1) 27 25 October 1941 15:55 I-16 – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 20 January – 30 April 1942 28 23 February 1942 15:18 I-18 (MiG-1) 38 1 April 1942 18:10 I-18 (MiG-1) 29 23 February 1942 15:20 I-18 (MiG-1) 39 1 April 1942 18:12 I-18 (MiG-1) 30 26 February 1942 12:30 Pe-2 40 16 April 1942 09:50 LaGG-3 31 12 March 1942 13:40 P-40 41 19 April 1942 06:40 LaGG-3 32 12 March 1942 13:42 I-16 42 19 April 1942 06:50 Yak-1 33 14 March 1942 17:44? Il-2 43 19 April 1942 14:15 Yak-1 34 15 March 1942 11:10 I-18 (MiG-1) 44 21 April 1942 16:58 Yak-1 35 20 March 1942 14:30 I-16 45 30 April 1942 07:40 Yak-1 36 29 March 1942 16:50 I-18 (MiG-1) 46 30 April 1942 13:45 Yak-1 37 1 April 1942 10:25 P-40 – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943 47 9 May 1942 15:50 Yak-1 99 26 October 1942 08:41 LaGG-3 PQ 28123 northwest of Demyansk 48 12 May 1942 08:45 LaGG-3 100 29 October 1942 07:28 LaGG-3 PQ 29792 north of Demyansk 49 15 May 1942 10:10 LaGG-3 101 3 December 1942 12:30 Yak-1 PQ 2814 50 29 May 1942 10:25 MiG-3 102♠ 3 December 1942 07:25 Il-2 PQ 18234 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 51 4 June 1942 12:25 LaGG-3 103♠ 3 December 1942 10:42? La-5 PQ 18251 southeast of Staraya Russa 52 4 June 1942 12:27 LaGG-3 104♠ 3 December 1942 10:45 La-5 PQ 18263 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 53 7 June 1942 08:10 Il-2 105♠ 3 December 1942 13:50 La-5 PQ 28231 northwest of Demyansk 54 2 August 1942 16:20 I-16 PQ 00154 south of Leningrad 106♠ 3 December 1942 13:58 Il-2 PQ 28124 northwest of Demyansk 55 4 August 1942 15:50 Yak-1 PQ 29781 north-northwest of Demyansk 107 6 December 1942 11:38 LaGG-3 PQ 18261 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 56 4 August 1942 15:51 Yak-1 PQ 29751 southwest of Arensburg 108 6 December 1942 12:23 LaGG-3? PQ 29783 north of Demyansk 57 4 August 1942 15:53 Yak-1 PQ 29723 northeast of Staraya Russa 109 12 December 1942 13:52? Il-2? PQ 18234 north-northwest of Demyansk 58 7 August 1942 16:10 Yak-1 PQ 4626 110 12 December 1942 13:57 LaGG-3 PQ 28116 northwest of Demyansk 59 7 August 1942 16:12 Yak-1 PQ 4626 111 12 December 1942 13:58 LaGG-3 PQ 29773 east-northeast of Staraya Russa 60 9 August 1942 10:15 Pe-2 PQ 4786 east-southeast of Zubtsov 112 25 December 1942 10:41 P-39 PQ 28141 northwest of Demyansk 61 9 August 1942 10:17 Pe-2 PQ 4734 north-northwest of Rzhev 113 25 December 1942 10:43 P-39 PQ 28173 west-northwest of Demyansk 62 9 August 1942 10:18 LaGG-3 PQ 4787 south of Zubtsov 114 25 December 1942 10:45 P-39 PQ 18292 southeast of Staraya Russa 63 10 August 1942 13:40 LaGG-3? PQ 47593 south of Staritsa 115♠ 29 December 1942 09:17 LaGG-3 PQ 28342 west of Demyansk 64 10 August 1942 13:41 LaGG-3? PQ 47523 west of Rzhev 116♠ 29 December 1942 09:36? LaGG-3 PQ 28133 northwest of Demyansk 65 10 August 1942 13:42 LaGG-3? PQ 47533 north-northeast of Rzhev 117♠ 29 December 1942 11:40 LaGG-3 PQ 29761 north of Demyansk 66 10 August 1942 14:15 Il-2 PQ 46254 northeast of Konaja 118♠ 29 December 1942 11:45 LaGG-3 PQ 28112 northwest of Demyansk 67 11 August 1942 06:41? LaGG-3 PQ 47842 south of Zubtsov 119♠ 29 December 1942 11:47 LaGG-3 PQ 28112 northwest of Demyansk 68 11 August 1942 07:40 LaGG-3 PQ 47593north of Rzhev 120♠ 30 December 1942 08:50 LaGG-3 PQ 18262 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 69 11 August 1942 07:43 LaGG-3 PQ 47592north of Rzhev 121♠ 30 December 1942 08:51 LaGG-3 PQ 18161 northwest of Demyansk 70 16 August 1942 07:38 LaGG-3 west of Flolowskojewest of Grolovskoye 122♠ 30 December 1942 08:52 LaGG-3 PQ 18133 northwest of Demyansk 71 16 August 1942 07:41 P-40 PQ 55874 southeast of Sukhinichi 123♠ 30 December 1942 08:54 LaGG-3 PQ 28111 northwest of Demyansk 72 16 August 1942? 13:45 P-40 PQ 54162 south of Sukhinichi 124♠ 30 December 1942 08:56 LaGG-3 PQ 29771 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 73 16 August 1942? 13:47 P-40 PQ 54134 south of Sukhinichi 125♠ 30 December 1942 11:48? LaGG-3 PQ 18261 southwest of Valday 74♠ 22 August 1942 07:30 MiG-3 PQ 64172vicinity of Belyov 126♠ 30 December 1942 13:45 Il-2 PQ 28173 northwest of Demyansk 75♠ 22 August 1942 07:35 MiG-3 PQ 64172vicinity of Belyov 127♠ 30 December 1942 13:47 LaGG-3 PQ 18261 east-southeast of Staraya Russa 76♠ 22 August 1942 07:38 Pe-2 PQ 64174vicinity of Belyov 128♠ 30 December 1942 13:49 LaGG-3 PQ 28141 northwest of Demyansk 77♠ 22 August 1942 15:40 Yak-1 PQ 64171vicinity of Belyov 129♠ 30 December 1942 13:55 LaGG-3 PQ 39582 east-northeast of Staraya Russa 78♠ 22 August 1942 15:45 Yak-1 PQ 64143 north of Belyov 130 6 January 1943 07:50 P-40 PQ 28112 northwest of Demyansk 79 23 August 1942 07:00 Yak-1 PQ 54264 west-northwest of Belyov 131 6 January 1943 07:51 P-40 PQ 28113 northwest of Demyansk 80 23 August 1942 07:03 P-40 PQ 54262 west-northwest of Belyov 132 6 January 1943 07:52 LaGG-3 PQ 28121 northwest of Demyansk 81 23 August 1942 13:05 Yak-1 PQ 5442 southwest of Belyov 133 6 January 1943 07:53 LaGG-3 PQ 28121 northwest of Demyansk 82 23 August 1942 13:08 Yak-1 PQ 54284 west of Belyov 134♠ 14 January 1943 10:35 La-5 PQ 10194east of Mga 83 24 August 1942 16:35 Yak-1 PQ 54261 west-northwest of Belyov 135♠ 14 January 1943 10:36 La-5 PQ 10193east of Mga 84 27 August 1942 09:12? Yak-1 PQ 47593north of Rzhev 136♠ 14 January 1943 10:37 La-5 PQ 10193east of Mga 85 1 September 1942 07:24 LaGG-3 PQ 10164, Putilowo 137♠ 14 January 1943 10:38 La-5 PQ 10192east of Mga 86 15 September 1942 11:12 Yak-1 PQ 28114 northwest of Demyansk 138♠ 14 January 1943 12:10 La-5 PQ 10241 east-southeast of Mga 87 15 September 1942 11:13 Yak-1 PQ 28121 northwest of Demyansk 139♠ 14 January 1943 12:11 La-5 PQ 10253 west-southwest of Shlisselburg 88 22 September 1942 13:25 LaGG-3 PQ 28153 north of Demyansk 140♠ 14 January 1943 12:12 La-5 PQ 10194east of Mga 89 22 September 1942 14:00? P-40 PQ 29293 141 15 January 1943 11:15 Yak-1 PQ 00234 west of Shlisselburg 90 25 September 1942 17:50 P-40 PQ 28221 north-northeast of Demyansk 142 25 January 1943 09:44 La-5 PQ 10152southeast of Shlisselburg 91 4 October 1942 13:55 LaGG-3 PQ 3875 143 25 January 1943 09:45 La-5 PQ 10148south of Shlisselburg 92 5 October 1942 07:00? LaGG-3 PQ 3859 144 25 January 1943 09:48 LaGG-3 PQ 10161southeast of Shlisselburg 93 5 October 1942 07:45 LaGG-3 PQ 3864 145♠ 26 January 1943 10:57 LaGG-3 PQ 10112vicinity of Shlisselburg 94 6 October 1942 12:35 LaGG-3 PQ 38551 north-northeast of Ostashkov 146♠ 26 January 1943 10:59 Yak-1 PQ 10151southeast of Shlisselburg 95 6 October 1942 13:00 Yak-1 PQ 38632 west-southwest of Vyshny Volochyok 147♠ 26 January 1943 11:25 LaGG-3 PQ 10171Mga 96 7 October 1942 10:12 Yak-1 PQ 3853 148♠ 26 January 1943 14:00 LaGG-3 PQ 11773Lake Ladoga 96? 21 October 1942 13:28 Il-2 north of Staraya Russa 149♠ 26 January 1943 14:01? LaGG-3 PQ 10111vicinity of Shlisselburg 97 23 October 1942 16:25 LaGG-3 PQ 28211 north-northeast of Demyansk 150♠ 26 January 1943 14:05 LaGG-3 PQ 11773Lake Ladoga 98 26 October 1942 08:36 LaGG-3 PQ 28131 north of Demyansk 151 27 January 1943 10:42 LaGG-3 PQ 10712 south of Lyuban – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — February 1943 152 9 February 1943 10:10 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10161southeast of Shlisselburg 157 11 February 1943 10:06 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 00273 northeast of Pushkin 153 9 February 1943 10:12 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10123east of Shlisselburg 158 19 February 1943 11:52 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 28354 west of Demyansk 154 9 February 1943 13:12 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 00421Pushkin-Mga 159 19 February 1943 11:54 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 28441 east of Demyansk 155 11 February 1943 09:51? P-40 PQ 36 Ost 00281 west of Mga 160 21 February 1943 09:11 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 18464 west of Demyansk 156 11 February 1943 09:54 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00282 west of Mga 161 21 February 1943 09:12 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 18463 west of Demyansk – 5. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Eastern Front — May – 19 August 1943 162 21 May 1943 15:27 I-153 PQ 35 Ost 21883 173 5 June 1943 11:50 Yak-7 PQ 36 Ost 10333 east-southeast of Mga 163 21 May 1943 19:07 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 20231 174 5 June 1943 11:51 Yak-7 PQ 36 Ost 10411 east-southeast of Mga 164 22 May 1943 11:01 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10414 east-southeast of Mga 175 21 June 1943 10:20 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10142south of Shlisselburg 165 22 May 1943 11:07 La-5 PQ 36 Ost 10442 southeast of Mga 176 21 June 1943 10:22 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10113vicinity of Shlisselburg 166 26 May 1943 19:50 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10123east of Shlisselburg 177 9 August 1943 16:00 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54583 northeast of Karachev 167 26 May 1943 19:52 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10152southeast of Shlisselburg 178 11 August 1943 18:35 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 45751 northwest of Kirov 168 26 May 1943 19:55 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 10142south of Shlisselburg 179 12 August 1943 07:53 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 45754 west of Kirov 169 30 May 1943 20:00 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 11892 northeast of Leningrad 180 12 August 1943 07:56 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 45753 north of Kirov 170 30 May 1943 20:01 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 11892 northwest of Shlisselburg 181 15 August 1943 16:04 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 44693 north-northwest of Karachev 171 30 May 1943 20:25 P-40 PQ 36 Ost 10161southeast of Shlisselburg 182 15 August 1943 16:05 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 44694 north-northwest of Karachev 172 1 June 1943 16:05 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 20121west of Volkhov

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (5 November 1939) 1st Class (1 June 1940) Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) (28 September 1940) German Cross in Gold on 1 December 1941 as Oberfeldwebel in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 54 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 19 June 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 54 137th Oak Leaves on 30 October 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 5./Jagdgeschwader 54