Karl Gratz

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Karl Gratz
JaBoG 33
Battles/wars
See battles

World War II

AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Karl Gratz (24 January 1919 – 14 March 2002) was an

fighter ace, he was credited with 138 aerial victories claimed in more than 900 missions. Gratz claimed the majority of his victories over the Eastern Front, and 17 over the Western Front
.

In late 1941, Gratz was posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—8th squadron of the 52nd Fighter Wing) which at the time was fighting on the Eastern Front. He claimed his first aerial victory on 15 February 1942. On 1 July 1942, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross following his 54th aerial victory. He then served as a fighter pilot instructor and was posted to Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) in March 1943. Back on the Easter Front in 1944, he claimed his 100th aerial victory in March/April 1944. At the end of World War II, he served as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 10. Staffel (10th squadron) of JG 52. He surrendered to United States Army forces and was turned over to the Red Army.

Gratz was released from captivity in 1949, joined the

Jagdbombergeschwader 33 (JaBoG 33—Fighter-Bomber Wing 33). He retired in 1970 holding the rank of Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel). Gratz died on 14 March 2002 in Leck
.

World War II

"Charlie" Gratz was posted in autumn 1941 to 8.

ground-attack aircraft.[3]

Izium salient (red) in 1942

On 12 May, German forces launched Operation Fredericus, also referred to as the

ace-in-a-day" for the first time when he shot down two Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 and seven MiG-1 fighters, taking his total to 27 aerial victories.[7] During the following days, III. Gruppe continued to fly missions in support of the Army.[8] Gratz claimed two Polikarpov I-16 fighters on 15 May, a single MiG-1 on 16 May, two further MiG-1s on 17 May, and yet another MiG-1 fighter on 18 May.[9]

On 20 May, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Barwenkowa, approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) south-southwest of Izium. By the end of May 24, Soviet forces opposite Kharkov had been surrounded by German formations, over the next days, Soviet forces attempt to break the encirclement.

Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 8 June 1942.[12]

He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 1 July 1942.[13] The presentation was made by Major Hubertus von Bonin.[14] Gratz was one of four JG 52 pilots presented with the Knight's Cross that day. The other three pilots to receive the distinction that day were Feldwebel Alfred Grislawski, Feldwebel Karl Steffen and Oberleutnant Siegfried Simsch.[15] By late 1942 29 more victories had been claimed.

On the Western Front

After a spell instructing, Gratz was posted in March 1943 to 11. Staffel (11th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) on the English channel front. The 11. Staffel was an additional 4th squadron of I. Gruppe of JG 2 which was based at Triquerville and equipped with the Bf 109 G-3. On 1 October 1943, the squadron was renumbered and from then on was known as 4. Staffel of JG 2.[16]

On 12 March, Gratz claimed his first aerial victory on the

BS548, flown by Captain O Massart of No. 340 Squadron was severely damaged in battle with a Fw 190 belonging to JG 2. The pilot returned unhurt. Massart formed part of a Ramrod patrol to Rouen.[18]

On 4 April, he claimed two further Spitfires destroyed in combat 80 km (50 mi) north of

Flight Lieutenant P B Wright DFC in Spitfire BS465.[20]

Gratz received the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 8 June 1943.[21] On 16 August, the Eighth Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) targeted the Le Bourget airfield near Paris with a large formation of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress escorted by a number of Republic P-47 Thunderbolt escort fighters. In defense of this attack, I. Gruppe of JG 2 claimed three B-17s and one P-47 shot down for the loss of five pilots killed in action.[22] In this encounter, Gratz was credited with the destruction of one B-17 shot down 9 km (5.6 mi) southeast of Brétigny.[23]

On the Eastern Front

In March 1944, Gratz returned to JG 52. That month, Gratz was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 64th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[24] On 1 April 1945, Gratz was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 10. Staffel of JG 52. He succeeded Leutnant Viktor Petermann who was transferred.[25] 10. Staffel was subordinated to III. Gruppe of JG 52 and headed by Major Adolf Borchers.[26] In the last weeks of the war, Gratz was particularly successful and claimed 18 victories. After the surrender he was delivered by U.S. military to the Soviet authorities and remained in captivity until 1949.

Later life

Post-war, his military service in the

Jagdbombergeschwader 33 (JaBoG 33—Fighter-Bomber Wing 33) flying the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak then under the command of Walter Krupinski. JaBoG 33 was transferred to the Turkish base at Bandırma for shooting and bombing training with live ammunition from 25 May to 31 August 1959.[27] During one of the practice flights Gratz was nearly shot down by his wingman Leutnant Dietrich Schultz-Sembten. Schultz-Sembten had mistakenly fired all of his rockets prematurely during the attack run. After the landing, Gratz is quoted with having said: "Schultz-Sembten, you must have gone mad! I have to say one thing, you idiot: If you had hit me, I would have outmaneuvered you and shot you down."[28]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Gratz was credited with 138 aerial victories.[29] Obermaier and Spick also list Gratz with 138 aerial victories, including 17 on the Western Front of which three of them were USAAF four-engined bombers.[30][31] Barbas states that Gratz claimed 18 aerial victories after 16 February, 14 of which are undocumented.[32] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Gratz was credited with 138 aerial victories. This figure includes 132 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and six over the Western Allies, including one four-engined bomber.[33]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 44442". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) 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 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[34]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ♠ (
ace-in-a-day
", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Barbas, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[35]
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 28 April 1942
1 15 February 1942 13:47 I-61 (MiG-3)[3] 6 9 March 1942 12:37 I-61 (MiG-3)[36]
2 15 February 1942 15:50 Il-2[3] 7 18 March 1942 12:24 SB-2[36]
3 16 February 1942 07:35 Il-2[3] 8 24 March 1942 16:53 I-61 (MiG-3)[37]
4 22 February 1942 15:35 V-11 (Il-2)[38] 9 7 April 1942 13:12 I-61 (MiG-3)[37]
5 8 March 1942 11:18 I-61 (MiG-3)[36] 10 7 April 1942 13:17 I-61 (MiG-3)[37]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[39]
Eastern Front — 29 April – October 1942
11 30 April 1942 14:27 I-16[40] 48 22 June 1942 08:28 LaGG-3[41]
12 30 April 1942 14:32 I-61 (MiG-3)[40] 49 23 June 1942 14:45 MiG-1[41]
13 30 April 1942 14:36 I-153[40] 50 24 June 1942 05:51 MiG-1[42]
14 3 May 1942 11:47 I-16[43] 51 24 June 1942 05:54 MiG-1[42]
15 8 May 1942 15:35 MiG-1[43] 52 24 June 1942 05:58 MiG-1[42]
16 13 May 1942 06:47 MiG-1[5] 53 30 June 1942 13:28 LaGG-3[42]
17 13 May 1942 09:09 MiG-1[5] 54 30 June 1942 13:54 Hurricane[42]
18 13 May 1942 09:12 MiG-1[5] 55 4 September 1942 13:48 MiG 1 PQ 44442, south of Mozdok[44]
19♠ 14 May 1942 07:02 LaGG-3[5] 56 4 September 1942 16:53 I-16 PQ 44452[44]
south of Mozdok
20♠ 14 May 1942 07:08 LaGG-3[5] 57 7 September 1942 08:45 Pe-2 PQ 44454, south of Mozdok[45]
vicinity of Wosnessnokaja
21♠ 14 May 1942 09:39 MiG-1[9] 58 8 September 1942 12:44 LaGG-3 PQ 44377, south of Mozdok[45]
22♠ 14 May 1942 09:43 MiG-1[9] 59 9 September 1942 14:01 MiG-1 PQ 44442, south of Mozdok[45]
23♠ 14 May 1942 12:10 MiG-1[9] 60 9 September 1942 16:46 LaGG-3 PQ 44463[45]
south of Mozdok
24♠ 14 May 1942 12:14 MiG-1 5 km (3.1 mi) west of Kotowka[9] 61 17 September 1942 14:30 I-16 PQ 54362[46]
vicinity of Dudorovskiy
25♠ 14 May 1942 12:17 MiG-1[9] 62 22 September 1942 08:35 La-5 PQ 44671[46]
26♠ 14 May 1942 18:16 MiG-1[9] 63 22 September 1942 08:40 MiG-1 PQ 44572[46]
east of Elkhotovo
27♠ 14 May 1942 18:19 MiG-1[9] 64 25 September 1942 16:22?[Note 2] Il-2?[Note 2] PQ 44372[46]
east of Elkhotovo
28 15 May 1942 07:58 I-16[9] 65 27 September 1942 12:35 LaGG-3 PQ 44613[48]
29 15 May 1942 17:02 I-16[9] 66 27 September 1942 14:58 Boston PQ 4442, south of Mozdok[48]
30 16 May 1942 08:04 MiG-1[9] 67 27 September 1942 15:06 Boston PQ 44451[48]
west of Werchne Atschakuli
31 17 May 1942 07:02 MiG-1[9] 68 27 September 1942 15:08 LaGG-3 PQ 44483[48]
32 17 May 1942 07:12 MiG-1[9] 69♠ 28 September 1942 12:27 LaGG-3 PQ 44674[48]
south of Sagopschin
33 18 May 1942 05:14 MiG-1[9] 70♠ 28 September 1942 12:30 LaGG-3 PQ 44642[48]
34 26 May 1942 05:28 LaGG-3[11] 71♠ 28 September 1942 12:32 LaGG-3 PQ 44554[48]
35 26 May 1942 09:36 MiG-1 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Izium[11] 72♠ 28 September 1942 16:03 LaGG-3 PQ 44563[48]
36 26 May 1942 09:40 MiG-1 3 km (1.9 mi) east of Izium[11] 73♠ 28 September 1942 16:08 LaGG-3 PQ 44572[48]
37 26 May 1942 17:15 LaGG-3[11] 74 29 September 1942 07:58 LaGG-3 PQ 44614[48]
south of Sagopschin
38 27 May 1942 04:55 MiG-1[11] 75 29 September 1942 08:04 LaGG-3 PQ 44623[48]
vicinity of Malgobek
39 27 May 1942 04:58 MiG-1[11] 76 30 September 1942 16:03 LaGG-3 PQ 44614, south of Sagopschin[49]
40 27 May 1942 18:43 LaGG-3[11] 77 30 September 1942 16:05 LaGG-3 PQ 44644[49]
41 29 May 1942 16:50 I-16[11] 78 30 September 1942 16:09 LaGG-3 PQ 44652[49]
42 29 May 1942 17:18 LaGG-3[11] 79 2 October 1942 13:48 I-16 PQ 43282[49]
43 2 June 1942 14:42 Su-2 (Seversky)[50] 80 2 October 1942 13:52?[Note 3] I-16 PQ 34423[49]
44 2 June 1942 14:51 Su-2 (Seversky)[50] 81 4 October 1942 14:58 Boston PQ 44721[49]
south of Elkhotovo
45 2 June 1942 14:59 MiG-1[50] 82 4 October 1942 15:01 LaGG-3 PQ 44764[49]
46 9 June 1942 19:09 MiG-1[50] 83 4 October 1942 15:07 Boston PQ 44842[49]
47 21 June 1942 05:19 Il-2[41]
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[47]
Western Front — 1 January – 31 December 1943
84 12 March 1943 13:05 Spitfire 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Fécamp[17] 87 5 April 1943 16:02 Spitfire 80 km (50 mi) north of Ostend[17]
85 4 April 1943 13:28 Spitfire 80 km (50 mi) north of Caen[17] 88 27 July 1943 18:35 Spitfire 25 km (16 mi) east of Caen[23]
86 4 April 1943 13:32 Spitfire 80 km (50 mi) north of Caen[17] 89 16 August 1943 11:45 B-17 9 km (5.6 mi) southeast of Brétigny[23]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[51]
Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 December 1944
90 19 April 1944 17:20 P-40 vicinity of Sevastopol[52]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sevastopol 		105 24 May 1944 06:34 LaGG PQ 78712[53]
25 km (16 mi) northeast of Iași
91 22 April 1944 17:14 P-39 PQ 25464[52]
20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Yelnya 		106 30 May 1944 07:14 Pe-2 PQ 78522[53]
25 km (16 mi) west of Tudora
92 22 April 1944 17:30 Il-2 PQ 35482[52]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Sevastopol 		107 30 May 1944 15:50 Il-2 m.H.[Note 4] PQ 78674[53]
8 km (5.0 mi) north of Iași
93 23 April 1944 10:10 LaGG vicinity of Balaklava[52]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol 		108 5 June 1944 10:21 Yak-9 PQ 79561[54]
vicinity of Huși
94 24 April 1944 09:16 LaGG PQ 35452[52]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sevastopol 		109 12 June 1944 17:34 LaGG PQ 78869[55]
25 km (16 mi) east of Iași
95 24 April 1944 15:23 Il-2 PQ 35482[52]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Sevastopol 		110 22 June 1944 14:08 LaGG PQ 68872[55]
north of Târgu Frumos
96 24 April 1944 15:36 LaGG PQ 35454[52]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sevastopol 		111 27 June 1944 16:40 P-39?[Note 5] PQ 85233[55]
east of Stawropoliskaja
97 24 April 1944 15:36 LaGG PQ 35454[52]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sevastopol 		112 16 July 1944 08:28 P-39 PQ 50328[55]
20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Ternopil
98 25 April 1944 07:44 LaGG vicinity of Katscha[52] 113 16 July 1944 08:31 P-39 PQ 50362[55]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Ternopil
99 5 May 1944 10:42 P-39 PQ 35433[53]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Sevastopol 		114 16 July 1944 08:48 Pe-2 PQ 50366[55]
25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Ternopil
100 6 May 1944 13:02 LaGG vicinity of Belbek[53]
vicinity of Sevastopol 		115 20 July 1944 09:31 P-39 PQ 32835[55]
vicinity of Liuboml
101 21 May 1944 05:32 LaGG PQ 68884[53]
20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Târgu Frumos 		116 22 August 1944 09:16 P-39 PQ 11415[56]
15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomir
102 21 May 1944 05:38 LaGG PQ 68853[53]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Târgu Frumos 		117?[Note 6] 24 October 1944 15:58 Yak-9 20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Majdanpek[57]
103 22 May 1944 06:42 LaGG PQ 78742[53]
20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Roman 		118 26 October 1944 11:00 Il-2[58] 15 km (9.3 mi) south of Orșova
104 22 May 1944 10:50 P-39 PQ 78342[53]
30 km (19 mi) east-southeast of Botoșani 		119 26 October 1944 11:04 Il-2[58] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Turnu Severin
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[59]
Eastern Front — 1 January – April 1945
121 16 February 1945
—
 unknown[32] 127 10 April 1945
—
 P-39
123 24 March 1945
—
 Yak-9 PQ 71147[32]
vicinity of Strehlen 		128 10 April 1945
—
 Yak-3
124 9 April 1945
—
 P-39 129 10 April 1945
—
 P-39
125 9 April 1945
—
 P-38 131 17 April 1945
—
 Yak-9
126 9 April 1945
—
 P-39

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization
  2. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:20 as a Polikarpov I-16.[47]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:53.[47]
  4. ^ The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
  5. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Douglas A-20 Havoc.[47]
  6. ^ According to Barbas, this claim was filed while flying with the Stab of JG 52.[57]
  7. ^ According to Obermaier on 26 July 1943.[30]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 143.
  2. ^ Prien et al. 2005, pp. 144–146.
  3. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2005, p. 155.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 514–515.
  5. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2006, p. 545.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 515–516.
  7. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 545–546.
  8. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 516.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Prien et al. 2006, p. 546.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 516–517.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2006, p. 547.
  12. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 283.
  13. ^ Weal 2004, p. 79.
  14. ^ Weal 2007, p. 47.
  15. ^ Weal 2004, pp. 78–79, 85.
  16. ^ Prien et al. 2010, pp. 432, 436.
  17. ^ a b c d e f Prien et al. 2010, p. 443.
  18. ^ Franks 1998, p. 85.
  19. ^ a b Franks 1998, pp. 89–90.
  20. ^ Franks 1998, p. 90.
  21. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 418.
  22. ^ Prien et al. 2010, pp. 435, 450.
  23. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2010, p. 444.
  24. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  25. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 280.
  26. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 279.
  27. ^ Braatz 2010, p. 233.
  28. ^ Braatz 2010, p. 234.
  29. ^ Zabecki 2019, p. 329.
  30. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 121.
  31. ^ Spick 1996, p. 229.
  32. ^ a b c Barbas 2010, p. 381.
  33. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 418–421.
  34. ^ Planquadrat.
  35. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 418–419.
  36. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 157.
  37. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 158.
  38. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 156.
  39. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 419–420.
  40. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 542.
  41. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 549.
  42. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2006, p. 550.
  43. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 544.
  44. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 556.
  45. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 557.
  46. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 559.
  47. ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 420.
  48. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2006, p. 560.
  49. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2006, p. 561.
  50. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 548.
  51. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 420–421.
  52. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barbas 2010, p. 375.
  53. ^ a b c d e f g h i Barbas 2010, p. 376.
  54. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 377.
  55. ^ a b c d e f g Barbas 2010, p. 378.
  56. ^ Barbas 2010, p. 379.
  57. ^ a b Barbas 2016, p. 75.
  58. ^ a b Barbas 2010, p. 380.
  59. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 421.
  60. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 201.
  61. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 88.
  62. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 146.
  63. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 202.
  64. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 346.

Bibliography

External links

  • "Karl Gratz". Jagdgeschwader 52 — Traditionsgemeinschaft Jagdgeschwader 52 e.V. (in German). Retrieved 15 September 2011.
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