Emil Bitsch

Emil Bitsch (14 June 1916 – 15 March 1944) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. He was one of the most successful pilots in the Eastern Front. Emil Bitsch was credited with 108 aerial victories—that is, 108 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. He claimed 104 victories over the Eastern Front and 4 victories over the Western front (all four-engine bombers). He is one of the two pilots credited with the kill of the Soviet female ace Katya Budanova. Bitsch was killed in action with United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) fighters on 15 March 1944.

During the War
On July 1941, Bitsch first served with III./Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing) based on the Eastern Front. Lieutenant Bitsch claimed his first victory on 2 July by shot down an Il-2. He had total five victories by 1941. He claimed two Russian Yak-4 twin-engine fighters which shot down on 24 June 1942 to claim his 9th and 10th victories. In July, he claimed 15 victories, including his 20th victory shot down on 13 July. Bitsch recorded 18 victories in August, including his 30th victory shot down on 16 August and he achieved 40th victory on 28 August.

On 4 September 1942, Oberleutnant Bitsch was shot down over northwest of Stalingrad. He bailed out of his Bf 109 F-4 and landed safely but had suffered light injuries in the incident. He returned to combat duty again and proved himself effective again. Bitsch recorded his 50th victory shot down on 19 March 1943 over 3 km South of Stary. On 1 June 1943, Bitsch was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 3. In July, Oberleutnant Bitsch claimed 29 victories, including six enemy aircraft shot down on 5 July. On 19 July he shot down a Yak-1 on the Mius front, probably flown by Soviet female ace Katya Budanova. He recorded his 100th victory on 21 July. Bitsch was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 29 August for 104 victories.

In August 1943, III./JG 3 was transferred to Germany to serve on Reichsverteidigung duties (Defense of the Reich). Bitsch shot down four United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) four-engine bombers during this period. On 15 March 1944, Bitsch was shot down and killed in Bf 109 G-6 in aerial combat with USAAF P-47 fighters of the 352d Fighter Group over Schijndel. Bitsch is buried at the German war cemetery at Ysselsteyn (The Netherlands). The crash site was re-discovered in 1994 by Thijs Hellings, a researcher of the World War II airwar from Schijndel. With help from the land-owner remains of the plane where recovered including radio, armoured glass, compass and many small items.

Awards

 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (31 August 1942)
 * German Cross in Gold on 19 October 1942 as Leutnant in the I./JG 3
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 August 1943 as Oberleutnant (war officer) and Staffelkapitän of the 8./JG 3 "Udet"