Background
Wilhelm Batz grew up between the World Wars, with the Red Baron as his ideal of a fighter pilot.
Wilhelm Batz grew up between the World Wars, with the Red Baron as his ideal of a fighter pilot.
He was wounded three times and was shot down four times. The Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves and Swords was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Batz joined the Luftwaffe in 1935 and trained as a fighter pilot, becoming an instructor in 1937 at the flying school at Kaufbeuren and the fighter pilot school at Bad Aibling.
Promoted Leutnant in November 1940, his applications for combat assignment were continually rejected.
With some 5,000 flying hours, Batz was finally transferred to 2./Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost in December 1942. Batz was then transferred to World War II (JG 52).
On 11 March 1943, Batz claimed his first victory, an Il-2 Sturmovik, while flying a mission over the Strait of Kerch. He was appointed Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of 5./JG 52 in May 1943, and by September, he had claimed 20 victories.
In April, Batz was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (Group Commander), III./JG 52.
Batz downed two P-51s and a B-24 at this time. By the end of 1944, Batz had shot down 224 enemy aircraft. In February 1945, Batz was transferred to take command of World War II/JG 52, based in Hungary.
Major Batz was awarded the Schwerter on 21 April 1945.
At war’s end he was able to extricate his unit and men from Hungary and Austria back to Germany to surrender to American forces. He was thus able to avoid the prolonged Soviet captivity that befell the personnel of other two JG 52 Gruppen.
Bibliography.
Wound Badge in Silver Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe on 13 December 1943 as Oberleutnant and pilot Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "400" Combined Pilots-Observation Badge German Cross in Gold on 28 January 1944 as Oberleutnant in the World War II/Jagdgeschwader 52. Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (24 April 1943) 1st Class (3 July 1943) Knight"s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords Knight"s Cross on 26 March 1944 as Oberleutnant (war officer) and Staffelkapitän of the 5./Jagdgeschwader 52 526th Oak Leaves on 20 July 1944 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 52 (145th) Swords on 21 April 1945 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the World War II/Jagdgeschwader 52.
In June, his unit was moved to defend Romanian targets against the American 15th Air Force.
