| Otto Schultz | |
|---|---|
| Born | 31 May 1920 |
| Died | 28 July 2013 (aged 93) |
| Place of birth | Dannenberg |
| Allegiance |
 Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
| Service/branch |
 Luftwaffe |
| Years of service |
?–1945 ?–1976 |
| Rank |
Hauptmann (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr) |
| Unit | JG 51 |
| Commands held | II./JG 51 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Otto Schultz (31 May 1920 – 28 July 2013)[1] was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. For the fighter pilots, it was a quantifiable measure of skill and success. Schultz was credited with 73 aerial victories in about 820 combat missions. [Not to be confused with the similarly named fighter ace Otto Schulz who served with JG27]
Military career[]
After completing his pilot-training in 1940 Feldwebel Schultz was assigned to 4./JG 51 (4th squadron of the 51st Fighter Wing). Under Staffelkapitän Josef Fözö he learnt his craft as a junior pilot during the Battle of Britain. After a short break early in 1941 his Gruppe, II/JG 51, took up its station in eastern Poland for the invasion of Russia, Operation Barbarossa.
Schultz got immediate success in his first missions of the campaign, shooting down two SB-2 bombers on 22 June for his first victories. But in the hectic opening days it would be a week before he got his next victory. There was no shortage of opportunities though, as the Russians flew desperate missions to support their surrounded frontier armies, and by the end of July he had scored 11 victories. Through the battles for Smolensk, Kiev and Moscow, he continued to pick up victories and when he was awarded the Ehrenpokal on 3 November his tally had risen to 18.
After an extended period away from the Eastern Front over the winter of 1941-42, Ofw Schultz returned to II/JG 51. Although the Central front appeared very static, fierce air battles took place overhead as the Soviets launched major offensives to try and drain German forces away from their disintegrating southern front. After sporadic victories in June and July, he scored a dozen in August over the Rzhev salient to extend his score to 36 victories.
Another period of leave followed from September (perhaps due to injury?) and he was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 24 September. Meanwhile his Gruppe was withdrawn in October 1942 to upgrade to the new Fw 190A fighter, but events overtook them: after the defeat at El Alamein in late October, the Western Allies then staged the Operation Torch landings in Algeria and Morocco. So II/JG 51, with its core of veteran pilots, was immediately dispatched to reinforce the Mediterranean forces with new Me 109G2's instead, and were ready for operations by mid-November.
Back with 4./JG 51 and based near Tunis, Ofw 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.[2] Meanwhile, Schultz scored regularly and on 14 March 1943 he was awarded the Knight's Cross for reaching 51 victories. He was now one of the veteran experts of the Gruppe and they spend 1943 hopping across the Mediterranean. With the fall of Tunis in May, they went onto Sicily, Sardinia, southern and central Italy.
In August, orders transferred II/JG 51 to Munich to retrain as a specialist anti-bomber unit.[3] With the 15th USAAF now well established in Italy, Germany was now being targeted from two directions. Also at this time, Schultz undertook officer-training and was commissioned as a Leutnant. Transferred back with II/JG 51 to northern Italy in December as a first line of defense, he shot down his first Viermot (four-engined bomber) on 28 December. The Anzio landings in January 1944 then brought a forward deployment to Rome to be cover for the ground-attack aircraft supporting the counter-attack.
On 4 February 1944 Schultz (now with about 65 victories) was promoted to Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 51 following the death in action of 54-victory ace Herbert Puschmann northeast of Rome. In March he led his unit across the Adriatic into the Balkan theatre. The American bombers were now also targeting the Romanian oil-refineries at Ploesti, vital to the German war effort. He claimed 7 more Viermots there, including possibly his last victory on 15 July 1944.
With Romania's surrender to Soviet forces in late August, and its subsequent declaration of war against Germany, II/JG 51 was forced to retreat back 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 Me 109s.[4] When they finally reached Budapest, the Gruppe only had 3 serviceable aircraft left, out of a nominal complement of around 90, although aircraft-production was no longer the issue - it was fuel and lack of trained pilots. They were re-united with the rest of JG 51 again, albeit scattered the length of the (shortening) Eastern Front. Now fighting against two enemy forces and grossly outnumbered, on 24 December, Oberleutnant Schultz was given command of II/JG 51, with whom he had fought throughout the war. This was after its previous Kommandeur, Major Karl Rammelt was severely injured against American bombers northwest of Budapest.
With its back to the wall there was now little of consequence that his Gruppe could do to impact on the war's outcome. After covering the SS Panzer Army's attack at Lake Balaton, it retreated back to Austria, flying its last mission on 9 April before disbanding three days later. It is possible that he was thereafter sent to Lechfeld to train on flying the Me262 jet.
Oberleutnant Otto Schultz survived the war, and in 820 missions was credited with 73 victories. He went on to serve in the reformed West German airforce, retiring in 1976 with the rank of Oberstleutnant (Lt Colonel).
Victories[]
| No | Date | Time | Unit & Airfield | Gruppe Kommandeur[5] | Location / Planquad | Claimed Aircraft | Source / Comments[6] |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 22 Jun 1941 | 9:32 | 4./JG 51 – Siedlce | Hptm Josef Fözö | Belorussia ? | SB-2 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 51 |
| 2 | 22 Jun 1941 | 9:40 | 4./JG 51 – Siedlce | Hptm Josef Fözö | Belorussia ? | SB-2 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 62 |
| 3 | 29 Jun 1941 | 17:50 | 4./JG 51 – Siedlce | Hptm Josef Fözö | Belorussia ? | I-18 (MiG-3) | C.2036/II AnerkNr 74 |
| 4 | 30 Jun 1941 | 17:30 | 4./JG 51 - Siedlce | Hptm Josef Fözö | Belorussia ? | DB-3 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 75 |
| 5 | 30 Jun 1941 | 17:40 | 4./JG 51 - Siedlce | Hptm Josef Fözö | Belorussia ? | DB-3 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 77 |
| 6 | 8 Jul 1941 | 19:20 | 4./JG 51 - Stara Bychov | Hptm Josef Fözö | S of Walki | SB-2 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 81 |
| 7 | 10 Jul 1941 | 9:50 | 4./JG 51 - Stara Bychov | Hptm Josef Fözö | ? | I-16 | Prien & Bock |
| 8 | 11 Jul 1941 | 16:25 | 4./JG 51 - Stara Bychov | Hptm Josef Fözö | ? | DB-3 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 93 |
| 9 | 13 Jul 1941 | 16:25 | 4./JG 51 - Stara Bychov | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | ? | DB-3 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 183 |
| 10 | 26 Jul 1941 | 18:45 | 4./JG 51 - Smolensk | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | ? | Pe-2 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 99 |
| 11 | 26 Jul 1941 | 18:50 | 4./JG 51 - Smolensk | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | ? | Pe-2 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 101 |
| 12 | 9 Aug 1941 | 13:50 | 4./JG 51 - Schatalovka | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | ? | Pe-2 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 111 |
| 13 | 16 Aug 1941 | 15:42 | 4./JG 51 - Schatalovka | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | ? | I-18 (MiG-3) | C.2036/II AnerkNr 111 |
| 14 | 25 Aug 1941 | 7:55 | 4./JG 51 - Schatalovka | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | S of Gomel | DB-3 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 115 |
| 15 | 24 Sep 1941 | 10:50 | 4./JG 51 - Schatalovka | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | ? | R-3 biplane | C.2036/II AnerkNr 121 |
| 16 | 27 Oct 1941 | 15:40 | 4./JG 51 - Schatalovka | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | ? | I-61 (I-16?) | C.2036/II AnerkNr 138 |
| 17 | 29 Oct 1941 | 7:20 | 4./JG 51 - Schatalovka | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 25 km NE of Orel | I-16 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 139 |
| 18 | 29 Oct 1941 | 12:40 | 4./JG 51 - Schatalovka | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | ? | I-16 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 141 |
| ? | 8 Jun 1942 | 3:50 | 4./JG 51 - Bryansk | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | ? | I-180 (Yak-7) | C.2036/II AnerkNr 162 |
| ? | 23 Jun 1942 | 15:20 | 4./JG 51 - Bryansk | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | ? | Pe-2 | C.2025/I AnerkNr 170 |
| ? | 2 Jul 1942 | 18:07 | 4./JG 51 - Bryansk | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 25 km NNW of Dugino | Pe-2 | C.2025/I AnerkNr 199 |
| ? | 9 Jul 1942 | 14:55 | 4./JG 51 - Bryansk | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | ? | Yak-1 | C.2036/II AnerkNr 186 |
| ? | 3 Aug 1942 | 4:53 | 4./JG 51 - Dugino | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | Rzhev, 47 524:2500m | LaGG-3 | C.2025/I AnerkNr 251 |
| ? | 4 Aug 1942 | 10:48 | 4./JG 51 - Dugino | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | Rzhev, 47 823:treetop | Il-2 | C.2025/I AnerkNr 452 |
| ? | 6 Aug 1942 | 18:57 | 4./JG 51 - Dugino | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | Vyazma, 56 373:treetop | Il-2 | C.2025/I AnerkNr 254 |
| ? | 9 Aug 1942 | 11:05 | 4./JG 51 - Dugino | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | Rzhev, 47 814:1000m | LaGG-3 | C.2032/II AnerkNr 213 |
| 29 | 22 Aug 1942 | 14:50 | 4./JG 51 - Dugino | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | NW of Orel, 54 283:treetop | Il-2 | C.2032/II AnerkNr 217 |
| 30 | 22 Aug 1942 | 14:53 | 4./JG 51 - Dugino | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | NW of Orel, 54 253:treetop | Il-2 | C.2032/II AnerkNr 218 |
| 31 | 23 Aug 1942 | 7:00 | 4./JG 51 - Dugino | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | NW of Orel, 54 283:treetop | Il-2 | C.2032/II AnerkNr 228 |
| 32 | 25 Aug 1942 | 8:25 | 4./JG 51 - Dugino | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | NW of Orel, 54 261:400m | LaGG-3 | C.2032/II AnerkNr 231 |
| 33 | 25 Aug 1942 | 14:24 | 4./JG 51 - Dugino | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | NW of Orel, 54 283:2000m | Pe-2 | C.2032/II AnerkNr 233 |
| 34 | 27 Aug 1942 | 17:45 | 4./JG 51 - Dugino | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | N of Orel, 64 774:200m | MiG-3 | C.2032/II AnerkNr 237 |
| 35 | 27 Aug 1942 | 17:48 | 4./JG 51 - Dugino | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | N of Orel, 64 772:1500m | MiG-3 | C.2032/II AnerkNr 239 |
| 36 | 27 Aug 1942 | 17:58 | 4./JG 51 - Dugino | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | Orel, 63 131:treetop | Il-2 | C.2032/II AnerkNr 240 |
| 37 | 1 Dec 1942 | 10:45 | 4./JG 51 – El Aouina | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 15 km SW of Mateur:treetop | Spitfire | C.2027/I AnerkNr 26 |
| 38 | 3 Dec 1942 | 10:16 | 4./JG 51 – El Aouina | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 1 km S of Tunis: 1200m | Lightning | C.2027/I AnerkNr 26 |
| 39 | 4 Dec 1942 | 15:40 | 4./JG 51 – El Aouina | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 15 km SW of Mateur: 2500m | Spitfire | C.2027/I AnerkNr 28 |
| 40 | 4 Dec 1942 | 15:47 | 4./JG 51 – El Aouina | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 18 km SW of Mateur: 1500m | Spitfire | C.2027/I AnerkNr 29 |
| 41 | 28 Dec 1942 | 15:33 | 4./JG 51 – La Sebala | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 1 km S of Pont du Fahs: 700m | Lightning | C.2027/I AnerkNr 31 |
| ? | 2 Jan 1943 | 12:27 | 4./JG 51 – La Sebala | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 5 km W of Pont du Fahs: 7000m | Lightning | C.2031/II AnerkNr 276 |
| ? | 10 Jan 1943 | 7:30 | 4./JG 51 – Gabes | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | near Feriana: 2500m | Spitfire | C.2031/II AnerkNr 2 |
| ? | 10 Jan 1943 | 11:00 | 4./JG 51 – Gabes | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 20 km W of Gabes: 5400m | Marauder | C.2031/II AnerkNr 28 |
| ? | 11 Jan 1943 | 16:00 | 4./JG 51 – Gabes | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 40 km NW of Gabes: 200-300m | Lightning | C.2031/II AnerkNr 281 |
| ? | 15 Jan 1943 | 13:25 | 4./JG 51 – Gabes | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 30 km SNW of Gabes: treetop | Lightning | C.2031/II AnerkNr 282 |
| ? | 22 Jan 1943 | 12:20 | 4./JG 51 – Gabes | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 15 km W of Gabes: 600m | Lightning | C.2031/II AnerkNr 284 |
| ? | 30 Jan 1943 | 10:30 | 4./JG 51 – Gabes | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 18 km NW of Gabes: 3000m | Lightning | C.2031/II AnerkNr 285 |
| ? | 30 Jan 1943 | 10:45 | 4./JG 51 – Gabes | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 10 km NW of Kebili: 20m | Lightning | C.2031/II AnerkNr 285 |
| ? | 2 Feb 1943 | 14:30 | 4./JG 51 – Gabes | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | N of Gabes, 03Ost 95311:treetop | Tomahawk | C.2027/I AnerkNr 305 |
| ? | 8 Feb 1943 | 12:52 | 4./JG 51 – Gabes | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 60 km NW of Gabes: 4000m | Mitchell | C.2027/I AnerkNr 308 |
| ? | 26 Feb 1943 | ? | 4./JG 51 – La Smala des Souassis | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | ? | ? | [7] |
| ? | 21 Mar 1943 | 14:20 | 4./JG 51 – La Smala des Souassis | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 35 km ESE of Gabes: 800m | Spitfire | C.2031/II AnerkNr 316 |
| ? | 31 May 1943 | 13:05 | 4./JG 51 – Casa Zeppera, Sardinia | Hptm Hartmann Grasser | 70632: 200m | Lightning | C.2031/II |
| ? | 24 Jun 1943 | 9:15 | 4./JG 51 – Casa Zeppera, Sardinia | Hptm Karl Rammelt | 04Ost? 98214: 500m | Tomahawk | C.2027/I |
| 60? | 25 Dec 1943 | 11:24 | 5(?)./JG 51 – Udine | Hptm Karl Rammelt | S of Rovigo: 7000m | Lightning | C.2031/II AnerkNr 361 |
| 61? | 25 Dec 1943 | 11:24 | 5(?)./JG 51 – Udine | Hptm Karl Rammelt | S of Rovigo: 7000m | Lightning | C.2031/II AnerkNr 360 |
| 62? | 28 Dec 1943 | 11:55 | 5(?)./JG 51 – Udine | Hptm Karl Rammelt | 5 km S of Montegaldella: 3000m | B-17 | C.2031/II AnerkNr 362 |
| 63? | 16 Jan 1944 | 12:40 | 5(?)./JG 51 – Udine | Hptm Karl Rammelt | 10 km NE of Civitavecchia: 3000m | A-20 | C.2025/II |
| 64? | 22 Jan 1944 | 15:50 | 5(?)./JG 51 – Tuscania | Hptm Karl Rammelt | Tivoli: 800m | Thunderbolt | C.2025/II |
| 65? | 22 Jan 1944 | 16:05 | 5(?)./JG 51 – Tuscania | Hptm Karl Rammelt | S of Ostia: 3000m | Lightning | C.2025/II |
| 66 | 5 Apr 1944 | 14:18 | 6./JG 51 – Târgşorul | Hptm Karl Rammelt | 80 km SW of Ploesti: 3000m | B-24 | C.2032/I AnerkNr 21 |
| 67 | 16 Apr 1944 | 11:30 | 6./JG 51 – Târgşorul | Hptm Karl Rammelt | RK-2: | B-24 | C.2027/I AnerkNr 5 |
| 68 | 6 Jun 1944 | 10:45 | 6./JG 51 – Radomir | Maj Karl Rammelt | Zagubitza, UD-2.6: 4000m | B-24 | C.2027/II AnerkNr 49 |
| 69 | 11 Jun 1944 | 11:45 | 6./JG 51 – Radomir | Maj Karl Rammelt | Bielovo, 24Ost GF-7.6: 1000m | B-24 | C.2027/II AnerkNr 52 |
| 70 | 23 Jun 1944 | ? | 6./JG 51 – Sofia | Maj Karl Rammelt | ? | B-17 | [8] |
| 71 | 24 Jun 1944 | 8:55 | 6./JG 51 – Sofia | Maj Karl Rammelt | Radomir, 24Ost S/GF-9: 5000m | B-24 | C.2027/II AnerkNr 117 |
| 72 | 15 Jul 1944 | ? | 6./JG 51 – Sofia | Maj Karl Rammelt | ? | B-24 | [9] |
| 73 | 22 Dec 1944 | 14:30 | 6./JG 51 – Imely | Maj Karl Rammelt | 14Ost N/ES-6.3: 1500m | La-5 | C.2035/II |
Awards[]
- Flugzeugführerabzeichen
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (3 November 1941)
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- German Cross in Gold (24 September 1942)
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 March 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 51[10]
References[]
- Citations
- ↑ http://www.hanrieder-kondolenzen.de/otto_schultz-wittner
- ↑ Weal 2006, pg. 96.
- ↑ Weal 2006, pg. 99.
- ↑ Weal 2006, pg.102.
- ↑ Luftwaffe Air Units: Single–Engined Fighters website.
- ↑ Aces of the Luftwaffe website.
- ↑ JG51 Victory Claims pdf.
- ↑ JG51 Victory Claims pdf.
- ↑ JG51 Victory Claims pdf.
- ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 318.
- Bibliography
- Bergström, Christer; Dikov, Andrey; Antipov, Vlad (2006). Black Cross, Red Star Vol 3 Eagle Editions Ltd ISBN 0-9761034-4-3* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
- Forsythe, Robert (2008). Aviation Elite Units #27: Jagdverband 44 - Squadron of "Experten". Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 978-1-84603-294-3
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939–1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-065-6.
- 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 (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Spick, Mike (2006). Aces of the Reich. Greenhill Books. ISBN 1-85367-675-6
- Weal, John (2001). Bf109 Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd ISBN 1-84176-084-6.
- Weal, John (2006). Aviation Elite Units #22: Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders". Oxford: Osprey Publishing Ltd. ISBN 1-84603-045-5.
External links[]
- World War 2 Awards.com
- "Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries". Schultz, Otto. http://www.ww2.dk/Lw%20Offz%20-%20S-Z%20-%20April%202012.pdf. Retrieved 30 August 2013
- "Luftwaffe Fighter Claims". Schultz, Otto. http://lesbutler.co.uk/claims/tonywood.htm. Retrieved 7 January 2013
- "The Luftwaffe, 1933-45". JG51. http://www.ww2.dk/air/jagd/jg51.htm. Retrieved 30 August 2013
- "Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" Victory Claims 1939-45". Schultz, Otto. http://www.luftwaffe.cz/jg51claims.pdf. Retrieved 3 September 2013
Military Offices held[]
The original article can be found at Otto Schultz and the edit history here.