Otto Schultz (31 May 1920 – 28 July 2013) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II.

Otto Schultz
Born(1920-05-31)31 May 1920
Dannenberg
Died28 July 2013(2013-07-28) (aged 93)
Allegiance Nazi Germany
 West Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Bundeswehrkreuz (Iron Cross) German Air Force
RankHauptmann (Wehrmacht)
Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Commands heldII./JG 51
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

As part of JG 51 operating near Tunis, Schultz scored his first western victory on 1 December, downing a Spitfire. In December, the Gruppe was very successful over the new American pilots - claiming 50 victories while losing only two of their own. But as in Russia, in 1943, the superior numbers soon made their impact.[1] In August, orders transferred II./JG 51 to Munich to retrain as a specialist anti-bomber unit.[2]

With Romania's surrender to Soviet forces in late August, and its subsequent declaration of war against Germany, II./JG 51 retreated to Yugoslavia. Left as final air-cover for the army retreating out of Greece, 6./JG 51 reportedly engaged their former allies in Romanian-flown Bf 109s.[3] Schultz was reportedly credited with 73 aerial victories in about 820 combat missions.[citation needed]

Awards edit

References edit

Citations edit

  1. ^ Weal 2006, p. 96.
  2. ^ Weal 2006, p. 99.
  3. ^ Weal 2006, p. 102.
  4. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 202.
  5. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 428.
  6. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 392.
  7. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 689.

Bibliography edit

  • Bergström, Christer; Dikov, Andrey; Antipov, Vlad (2006). Black Cross, Red Star Vol 3 Eagle Editions Ltd ISBN 0-9761034-4-3
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2008). Jagdverband 44 Squadron of Experten. Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 27. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-294-3.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • 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.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Spick, Mike (2006). Aces of the Reich. Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-675-6
  • Weal, John (2001). Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 37. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-084-1.
  • Weal, John (2006). Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders". Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 22. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-045-1.
Military offices
Preceded by Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 51
4 February 1944 – 23 December 1944
Succeeded by
Ltn Elias Kühlein
Preceded by Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 51
24 December 1944 – 12 April 1945
Succeeded by
None: unit disbanded