Paul Billik

Paul Billik (27 March 1891 – 8 March 1926) was a German World War I fighter ace credited with 31 victories. He was killed in a flying accident while pioneering civil aviation.

His life before aviation

Billik was born on 27 March 1891 in Haatsch in the Silesian region of what was then Germany, and is now the Czech Republic. He attended school in Ratibor (Racibórz) until 1910.

In 1911, he joined the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 12th Division and was based in Brzeg. He was promoted to the rank of corporal, over the next two years. He was still in this regiment when World War I started, and he went into battle with them. In November 1915, he received a commission, apparently on the battlefield, which suggests uncommon courage and ability. In May 1916, he transferred to the Fliegertruppe for aviation training. On 1 April 1917 he joined the Prussian Jagdstaffel 12, which was later commanded by Oberleutnant Adolf Ritter von Tutschek. He was assigned an Albatros fighter to fly, which he personalized with his good luck insignia of a pre-Nazi swastika.

On 30 April, he downed a Sopwith Pup for his first victory; his victim was Royal Naval Air Service ace Flight Sub-Lieutenant John Joseph Malone. Billik downed three more opposing fighters before being transferred, with number four being on 3 July 1917. Billik was rewarded with the Iron Cross First Class. and scored once in August, twice in September, was wounded on 7 October, and claimed victory number eight on 12 December. The Pfalz was an underperforming airplane, but Billik was shrewd enough to modify tactics to minimise its limitations. On 7 February 1918, Billik led his new unit, by now nicknamed the "Black Squadron", to Bersée to support 6 Armee.

On 19 May, in a dogfight where the Germans were outnumbered, he downed ace Major Albert Desbrisay Carter of No. 19 Squadron RAF, who survived as a prisoner of war. Billik was slightly wounded in the encounter.

On 1 June 1918, he shot the wing off British ace Captain William Cairnes' Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a, sending it plummeting earthward in a high-speed spin; Cairnes (of No. 74 Squadron) did not survive.

On 8 July, Billik killed ace Captain Arthur Claydon of No. 32 Squadron RAF. It was about this time that Jagdstaffel 52 finally upgraded to Fokker D.VIIs and Dr.Is.

On 25 July, Billik was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.

Decorations and awards Prussian military pilot badge Iron Cross, 1st and 2nd class Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern, with Swords

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