Otto Schulz

For other people named Otto Schulz, see Otto Schulz (disambiguation).
Otto Schulz

Otto Schulz
Nickname(s) Eins-Zwei-Drei Schulz
Born (1911-02-11)11 February 1911
Treptow an der Rega (Now in Poland)
Died 17 June 1942(1942-06-17) (aged 31)
Sidi Rezegh
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Luftwaffe
Years of service 1934–1942
Rank Oberleutnant
Unit Jagdgeschwader 27
Battles/wars

World War II

Awards German Cross(14 February 1942) Knight's Cross (22 February 1942)

Oberleutnant Otto Schulz (born 11 February 1911 in Treptow an der Rega – died 17 June 1942 in Sidi Rezegh) was a German World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace. He scored 48 of his victories against the Western Allies and three victories over the Eastern Front in over 450 combat missions whilst flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109. [Also, as distinct from Otto Schultz, another German fighter ace in World War 2 who flew with JG51 over the Eastern Front]

Luftwaffe service

Otto Schulz joined the Luftwaffe in 1934 and served as an instructor until January 1940, when he was posted to the newly formed 4./Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing). He participated in the French Campaign and the Battle of Britain, scoring his first victory on 31 August 1940. By the end of 1940, he had four victories to his credit. Schulz also participated in the brief Balkan Campaign in April 1941, scoring two victories, flying out of airbases in Bulgaria[1] then Greece. His unit, as with most of the Luftwaffe, was then withdrawn for the imminent invasion of Russia. Despite II./JG 27's very brief 9-day participation in Operation Barbarossa,[2] he scored three victories. Two of these were some of the 25 bombers shot down over Vilnius by II./JG 27 on 25 June,[3] however most of that short time the Gruppe was tasked with fighter-bomber missions.

The Gruppe was then withdrawn back to Germany to re-equip on the new Messerschmitt Bf 109F fighter, before being sent to join I./JG 27 already based in North Africa late in September.[4] Once there, Otto became far more successful. On 6 October 1941, 20 October and 28 November, he recorded three victories on each day. Otto's score-sheet is slightly unusual in that many of his victories can be positively identified with specific Allied pilots: On 30 November, his 23rd and 24th victims were aces Sergeant Alan Cameron (6.5 victories) and Pilot Officer Neville Duke (27th v.). He claimed another 'ace' on 15 December (30th v.), when he shot down and killed Pilot Officer Geoffrey Ranger (5 victories) of No. 250 Squadron RAF.

On 25 January 1942, in claiming two P-40 fighters for his 34th and 35th victories, he overtook his Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) Gustav Rödel as the top scorer in II./JG 27. On 15 February 1942, he took off on his own and chased after 20 aircraft of Nos 94 and 112 Sqns that had just strafed his airfield at Martuba.[5] He shot down five more P-40 Kittyhawks in ten minutes, including the top 17-victory Royal Air Force (RAF) ace Ernest "Imshi" Mason.[6][7] This put him on 44 victories, just behind the 48 of the then top-scorer in the Desert, Hans-Joachim Marseille. In recognition of this success, they were both awarded the Knight's Cross on the same day - 22 February - the first such awards for JG 27 since arriving in North Africa.

After this his scoring slowed down to only three victories in March. Sent to officer-training school,[8] he was promoted to Leutnant in April. At the end of May, now an Oberleutnant and assigned to the Stab (HQ) flight of II./JG 27 as Technical Officer,[9] he had another quick flurry of four victories including his 50th on 31 May: a P-40 flown by South African ace Major Andrew Duncan (5.5 victories) of No. 5 Squadron SAAF, who was killed.

On 17 June 1942, after claiming his 51st and last victory (Canadian ace Flight Lieutenant Walter “Wally” Conrad (6.5 victories) of No. 274 Squadron who was wounded), Schulz himself was shot down and killed in his Bf 109 F-4trop [W.Nr 10271] by RAF Kittyhawks near Sidi Rezegh.[10][11] Research suggests the victory should be credited to Canadian ace James "Stocky" Edwards of No. 260 Squadron RAF.

Otto Schulz is credited with 51 victories from about 400 combat missions, and included only 3 victories on the Eastern Front.

Victories

No Date Time Unit & Airfield Gruppe Kommandeur[12] Location Claimed Aircraft Source (OKL Claim reference) / Comments
1 31 August 1940 13:40 4./JG 27 - Fiennes, France Olt Ernst Düllberg (temp) Dover Spitfire Prien/Bock
2 1 September 1940 15:15 4./JG 27 - Fiennes, France Olt Ernst Düllberg (temp) Ashford Spitfire Prien/Bock
3 3 September 1940 11:35 4./JG 27 - Fiennes, France Olt Ernst Düllberg (temp) Thames estuary Spitfire Prien/Bock
4 28 October 1940 15:30 4./JG 27 - St Inglevert, France Hptm Wolfgang Lippert Gravesend Spitfire Prien/Bock
5 15 April 1941 6:55 4./JG 27 - Bitolj, S.Yugoslavia Hptm Wolfgang Lippert W of Trikkala PZL P.24 C.2036/II AnerkNo 29
6 20 April 1941 17:10 4./JG 27 - Larissa, Greece Hptm Wolfgang Lippert Megara Hurricane C.2036/II AnerkNo 46
7 22 June 1941 8:20 4./JG 27 - Przasnysz, E.Poland Hptm Wolfgang Lippert N of Olytus I-15 C.2036/II AnerkNo 35
8 26 June 1941 9:25 4./JG 27 - Vilnius, Lithuania Hptm Wolfgang Lippert NNW of Vilnius SB-3 C.2036/II AnerkNo 37
9 26 June 1941 14:40 4./JG 27 - Vilnius, Lithuania Hptm Wolfgang Lippert E of Paratjanowo SB-3 C.2036/II AnerkNo 39
10 (6 or) 10 October 1941 9:10 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Hptm Wolfgang Lippert SE of Sidi Omar P-40 Tomahawk AnerkNo 47; of 2 Sqn SAAF
11 (6 or) 10 October 1941 9:15 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Hptm Wolfgang Lippert SE of Sidi Omar Hurricane C.2036/II AnerkNo 49
12 (6 or) 10 October 1941 9:20 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Hptm Wolfgang Lippert SE of Sidi Omar Hurricane C.2036/II AnerkNo 51
13 30 October 1941 9:30 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Hptm Wolfgang Lippert S of Bardia Hurricane C.2036/II AnerkNo 52
14 30 October 1941 9:35 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Hptm Wolfgang Lippert 10 km E of Sidi Omar Hurricane C.2033/I AnerkNo 23
15 30 October 1941 9:43 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Hptm Wolfgang Lippert 25 km SW of Sollum: 3000m Hurricane C.2033/I AnerkNo 23
16 17 November 1941 7:10 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Hptm Wolfgang Lippert NE of Ain-el-Gazala: 50m Bombay C.2036/II AnerkNo 54
17 21 November 1941 9:55 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Hptm Wolfgang Lippert SW of El Adem Wellington C.2036/II AnerkNo 55; of 109 Sqn RAF
18 22 November 1941 16:55 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Hptm Wolfgang Lippert 20 km SE of Bir Hacheim: 2000m P-40 Tomahawk C.2033/I; Prien/Bock; of 112 Sqn RAF or 3 Sqn RAAF
19 25 November 1941 16:00 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) N of Tobruk P-40 C.2036/II AnerkNr 61
20 28 November 1941 16:00 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) N of El Adem P-40 C.2036/II AnerkNr 63
21 28 November 1941 16:10 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) SW of El Adem Hurricane C.2036/II AnerkNr 64; F/O Vos, 94 Sqn
22 28 November 1941 16:12 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) El Adem Hurricane C.2036/II AnerkNr 65; Ltn Palm, 94 Sqn
23 30 November 1941 9:10 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) NE of Bir-el-Gobi P-40 Tomahawk C.2036/II AnerkNr 66; Sgt Cameron, 3 Sqn RAAF
24 30 November 1941 9:20 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) SW of El Adem P-40 Tomahawk C.2036/II AnerkNr 67; P/O Duke, 112 Sqn RAF
25 4 December 1941 10:16 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) Bir-el-Gobi P-40 C.2036/II AnerkNr 69
26 6 December 1941 12:28 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) SE of El Adem Blenheim C.2036/II AnerkNr 74; of Lorraine Sqn RAF
27 6 December 1941 12:30 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) SE of El Adem Blenheim C.2036/II AnerkNr 75
28 7 December 1941 9:50 4./JG 27 - Ain-el-Gazala, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) S of Ain-el-Gazala Boston C.2036/II AnerkNr 76; of 24 Sqn SAAF
29 8 December 1941 13:10 4./JG 27 - Tmimi, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) N of Ridotto Boston C.2036/II AnerkNr 77; of 24 Sqn SAAF
30 15 December 1941 11:30 4./JG 27 - Derna, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) SW of Geziregh P-40 Tomahawk C.2036/I AnerkNr 81; P/O Ranger, 250 Sqn RAF
31 20 December 1941 9:40 4./JG 27 - Magrum, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) W of Maraua P-40 Tomahawk C.2036/I AnerkNr 82; of 112 or 250 Sqn RAF
32 20 December 1941 9:43 4./JG 27 - Magrum, Cyrenaica Olt Gustav Rödel (temp) W of Maraua P-40 Tomahawk C.2036/I AnerkNr 83; of 112 or 250 Sqn RAF
33 11 January 1942 13:10 4./JG 27 - Arco Philaenorum, El Agheila Hptm Erich Gerlitz NE of Antelat P-40 Kittyhawk C.2036/II AnerkNr 84; F/O Barr, 3 Sqn RAAF
34 25 January 1942 16:35 4./JG 27 - El Agheila, Libya Hptm Erich Gerlitz NE of Antelat P-40 Kittyhawk C.2036/II AnerkNr 85; of 250 Sqn RAF
35 25 January 1942 16:40 4./JG 27 - El Agheila, Libya Hptm Erich Gerlitz 25 km NE of Antelat: 50m P-40 C.2035/II AnerkNr 22
36 8 February 1942 10:35 4./JG 27 - Martuba, Cyrenaica Hptm Erich Gerlitz W of Ain-el-Gazala: 1000m P-40 C.2035/II AnerkNr 22
37 8 February 1942 10:40 4./JG 27 - Martuba, Cyrenaica Hptm Erich Gerlitz E of Ain-el-Gazala P-40 C.2036/II AnerkNr 87
38 13 February 1942 10:22 4./JG 27 - Martuba, Cyrenaica Hptm Erich Gerlitz NE of Tobruk P-40 C.2036/II AnerkNr 11
39 13 February 1942 10:30 4./JG 27 - Martuba, Cyrenaica Hptm Erich Gerlitz Tobruk P-40 C.2036/II AnerkNr 88
40 15 February 1942 17:45 4./JG 27 - Martuba, Cyrenaica Hptm Erich Gerlitz SE of Martuba P-40 Kittyhawk C.2036/II AnerkNr 89; S/Ldr Mason, 94 Sqn
41 15 February 1942 17:46 4./JG 27 - Martuba, Cyrenaica Hptm Erich Gerlitz SE of Martuba P-40 Kittyhawk C.2036/II AnerkNr 90; Sgt Belcher, 94 Sqn
42 15 February 1942 17:47 4./JG 27 - Martuba, Cyrenaica Hptm Erich Gerlitz SE of Martuba P-40 Kittyhawk C.2036/II AnerkNr 91; Sgt Weightman, 94 Sqn
43 15 February 1942 17:50 4./JG 27 - Martuba, Cyrenaica Hptm Erich Gerlitz W of Ain-el-Gazala P-40 Kittyhawk C.2036/II AnerkNr 92; P/O Marshall, 94 Sqn
44 15 February 1942 17:55 4./JG 27 - Martuba, Cyrenaica Hptm Erich Gerlitz SE of Martuba P-40 Kittyhawk C.2035/II; Prien/Bock; Sgt McQueen, 94 Sqn
45 13 March 1942 12:35 4./JG 27 - Martuba, Cyrenaica Hptm Erich Gerlitz SW of Tobruk P-40 Kittyhawk C.2036/II AnerkNr 57; Sgt Rozanski, 112 Sqn
46 15 March 1942 11:32 4./JG 27 - Martuba, Cyrenaica Hptm Erich Gerlitz 10–12 km S of Fort Acroma: 400m P-40 Kittyhawk C.2033/I AnerkNr 22; of 450 Sqn RAF
47 28 May 1942 12:20 Stab II/JG 27 - Tmimi, Cyrenaica Hptm Gustav Rödel 15 km NW of El Adem P-40 Kittyhawk C.2036/II AnerkNr 28; Sgt Ovenston, 260 Sqn RAF
48 28 May 1942 16:12 Stab II/JG 27 - Tmimi, Cyrenaica Hptm Gustav Rödel 15 km E of El Adem P-40 Tomahawk C.2036/II AnerkNr 29; Lt Pare, 5 Sqn SAAF
49 31 May 1942 18:57 Stab II/JG 27 - Tmimi, Cyrenaica Hptm Gustav Rödel 20 km SW of El Adem: 500m P-40 Tomahawk IIb C.2033/I AnerkNr 75; Maj Duncan, 5 Sqn SAAF
50 31 May 1942 19:00 Stab II/JG 27 - Tmimi, Cyrenaica Hptm Gustav Rödel 15 km SW of El Adem P-40 Tomahawk C.2036/II AnerkNr 30; Capt Copeland, 5 Sqn SAAF
51 17 June 1942 10:20 Stab II/JG 27 - Tmimi, Cyrenaica Hptm Gustav Rödel E of Bu Amud Hurricane C.2036/II AnerkNr 34; F/Ltn Conrad, 274 Sqn RAF

Awards

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Weal 2003, p.42
  2. ↑ Weal 2003, p.49
  3. ↑ Weal 2003, p.49
  4. ↑ Weal 2003, p.49
  5. ↑ Weal 2003, p.78
  6. ↑ Sundin & Bergstrom 2003, p.34
  7. ↑ Scutts 1994, p.20
  8. ↑ Scutts 1994, p.20
  9. ↑ Weal 2003, p.78
  10. ↑ Weal 2003, p.78
  11. ↑ Sundin & Bergstrom 2003, p. 34.
  12. ↑ Weal 2003, p.121
  13. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 430.
  14. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 393.

Bibliography

  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8. 
  • Scutts, Jerry (1994). Bf 109 Aces of North Africa and the Mediterranean. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85532-448-0. 
  • Sundin, Claes & Bergström. Christer. Luftwaffe Fighter Aircraft in Profile. Altglen, PA: Schiffer Military History, (1997). ISBN 0-7643-0291-4 including colour profile of aircraft [#25]
  • Weal, John (2003). Jagdgeschwader 27 'Afrika'. London, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-538-9. 

Further reading

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