Hans Götz

Hans Götz
Born(1919-06-02)2 June 1919
Stuttgart, Germany
Died4 August 1943(1943-08-04) (aged 24)
Karachev, Russia
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branchLuftwaffe
Years of service1939–1943
RankHauptmann (captain)
UnitJG 54
CommandsI./JG 54
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Hans Götz (2 June 1919 – 4 August 1943) was a former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Hans Götz was credited with 82 victories in 600 combat missions. He claimed three victories over the Western Front.

Career

Götz was born on 2 June 1922 in Stuttgart, the capital of the Free People's State of Württemberg of the Weimar Republic.[1]

On 22 February 1943, Götz was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing). He succeeded Oberleutnant Siegfried Graf Matuschka who was transferred. When on 6 July Major Reinhard Seiler was wounded in combat, Götz was temporarily given the position of Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of JG 54 until the new commander Hauptmann Gerhard Homuth took command on 1 August. The following day, Homuth was killed in action and Götz again assumed command of the Gruppe.[2] Only two days later, on 4 August, Götz was killed in action following combat with Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack aircraft. His Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A-5 (Werknummer 1119—factory number) crashed and exploded northeast of Karachev.[3]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Götz was credited with 82 aerial victories.[4] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 82 aerial victory claims. This number includes 79 claims on the Eastern Front and three over the Western Allies.[5]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 29323". 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.[6]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[7]
At the Channel and over England — 26 June – 23 September 1940
1 15 August 1940 15:15 Hurricane 10 km (6.2 mi) off Maidstone over sea[8] 3 9 September 1940 19:05 Spitfire[8]
2 9 September 1940 19:00 Spitfire[8]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[7]
Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 5 December 1941
4 25 June 1941 11:43 I-18 (MiG-1)[9] 11 24 September 1941 10:13 I-153[10]
5 25 June 1941 11:48 I-18 (MiG-1)[9] 12 26 September 1941 05:55 I-18 (MiG-1)[10]
6 7 July 1941 16:00 SB-3[11] 13 26 September 1941 06:50 I-18 (MiG-1)[10]
7 20 July 1941 10:25 SB-3[12] 14 29 September 1941 15:22 SB-3[10]
8 10 August 1941 04:45 Pe-2[12] 15 25 October 1941 11:03 I-26 (Yak-1)[13]
9 13 August 1941 17:40 I-18 (MiG-1)[12] 16 29 October 1941 11:02 I-26 (Yak-1)[13]
10 23 September 1941 11:05 I-18 (MiG-1)[10]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[7]
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942
17 13 December 1941 13:50 I-16[14] 22 15 March 1942 16:35 P-40[15]
18 17 December 1941 13:25 I-16?[14][Note 1] 23 16 March 1942 10:40 Pe-2 8 km (5.0 mi) southeast of Nirischi[15]
19 1 January 1942 12:03 I-18 (MiG-1)[14] 24 18 March 1942 13:27 P-40[15]
20 21 February 1942 14:14 I-18 (MiG-1)[16] 25 27 April 1942 08:31 U-2 PQ 29323[17]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Malaya Vishera
21 14 March 1942 16:16 I-16[15]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[7]
Eastern Front — 1 May – September 1942
26 10 May 1942 09:45 Yak-1 east of Leningrad[18] 36 24 August 1942 16:04 LaGG-3 PQ 4748[19]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Staritsa
27 30 May 1942 18:03 I-16[20] 37 25 August 1942 04:38 Il-2 PQ 47554[19]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Rzhev
28 30 May 1942 18:35 P-40[20] 38 25 August 1942 04:42 Il-2 PQ 47651[19]
20 km (12 mi) southwest of Staritsa
29 30 May 1942 18:38 P-40[20] 39 26 August 1942 15:29 U-2 PQ 47483[19]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Staritsa
30 3 June 1942 14:34 U-2[20] 40 26 August 1942 15:44 LaGG-3 PQ 47153[19]
30 km (19 mi) east-southeast of Torzhok
31 15 June 1942 15:25 LaGG-3[21] 41 27 August 1942 11:44 Yak-1 PQ 46231[22]
30 km (19 mi) southeast of Zubtsov
32 23 June 1942 09:38 Il-2[21] 42 27 August 1942 11:55 Yak-1 PQ 56142[22]
45 km (28 mi) north-northeast of Gagarin
33 23 June 1942 09:41 Il-2[21] 43 29 August 1942 16:12?[Note 2] Il-2 PQ 10182[22]
east of Mga
34 22 August 1942 15:28 Hurricane PQ 47872[19]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Zubtsov 		44 2 September 1942 13:00 Il-2 PQ 10141[22]
east of Shlisselburg
35 23 August 1942 14:50 Yak-1 PQ 54261[19]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-northwest of Belyov
– 3. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[5]
Eastern Front — November 1942
45 5 November 1942 09:44 I-153 PQ 11754[23]
over Lake Ladoga 		47 9 November 1942 14:13 I-153 PQ 11742[24]
20 km (12 mi) north of Shlisselburg
46 7 November 1942 12:25 MiG-3 PQ 11791[23]
over Lake Ladoga 		48 11 November 1942 14:25 P-40 PQ 11763[24]
over Lake Ladoga
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[25]
Eastern Front — January – 3 February 1943
49 13 January 1943 07:59 La-5 PQ 10174[26]
southeast of Shlisselburg 		53 23 January 1943 11:10 Yak-1 PQ 1014[27]
50 14 January 1943 11:10 La-5 PQ 10163[28]
southeast of Shlisselburg 		54 24 January 1943 10:15 Il-2 PQ 1015[27]
51 14 January 1943 11:12 La-5 PQ 10164[28]
southeast of Shlisselburg 		55 24 January 1943 14:52 Il-2 PQ 00421[27]
Pushkin-Mga
52 15 January 1943 08:44 Su-2 (Seversky) PQ 10192[28]
east of Mga 		56 27 January 1943 08:37 Il-2 PQ 00292[27]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Mga
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[25]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 4 August 1943
57 11 February 1943 09:33 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 00482[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) west of Tosno 		70 6 July 1943 14:35 Yak-1?[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 63671[30]
15 km (9.3 mi) south of Maloarkhangelsk
58 11 February 1943 09:40 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 00413[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Pushkin 		71 7 July 1943 13:30 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 6357[31]
59 15 February 1943 07:30 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10563[29]
10 km (6.2 mi) east of Lyuban 		72 8 July 1943 13:36 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63551[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
60 22 February 1943 15:45 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 00432[32]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Mga 		73 9 July 1943 12:00 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63811[31]
25 km (16 mi) south of Maloarkhangelsk
61 23 February 1943 14:54 Pe-2 PQ 36 Ost 00251[32]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Shlisselburg 		74 10 July 1943 08:11 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63538[31]
15 km (9.3 mi) west-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk
62 28 February 1943 06:20 U-2 PQ 35 Ost 29164[32]
15 km (9.3 mi) east of Malaya Vishera 		75 12 July 1943 07:39 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 64385[33]
15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Bolkhov
63 7 March 1943 12:48 Il-2 PQ 26 Ost 90252[34]
20 km (12 mi) southeasr of Lomonosov 		76 16 July 1943 13:31 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 54539[33]
40 km (25 mi) west of Bolkhov
64 15 March 1943 09:50 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 29831[34]
45 km (28 mi) north of Demyansk 		77 17 July 1943 08:49 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54645[35]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Bolkhov
65 1 April 1943 13:35 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10151[36]
southeast of Shlisselburg 		78 31 July 1943 09:10 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 54672[35]
30 km (19 mi) southwest of Bolkhov
66 5 July 1943 03:51 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 63683[37]
20 km (12 mi) near Maloarkhangelsk 		79 1 August 1943 17:37 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 64563[35]
10 km (6.2 mi) south of Bolkhov
67 5 July 1943 07:10 P-39 PQ 35 Ost 63729[30]
35 km (22 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 		80 2 August 1943 04:41 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54821[35]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Bolkhov
68 5 July 1943 15:55 Boston PQ 35 Ost 63633[30]
35 km (22 mi) east-northeast of Maloarkhangelsk 		81 2 August 1943 14:37 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 53479[35]
25 km (16 mi) southwest of Dmitrovsk
69 6 July 1943 07:35 Yak-1?[Note 3] PQ 35 Ost 63577[30]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Maloarkhangelsk 		82 2 August 1943 19:20 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 53631[38]
40 km (25 mi) west-northwest of Maloarkhangelsk

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ According to Matthews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-1.[7]
  2. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:13.[7]
  3. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-7.[7]
  4. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the I./Jagdgeschwader 54.[43]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 119.
  2. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 165.
  3. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 192.
  4. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
  5. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 406–407.
  6. ^ Planquadrat.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 406.
  8. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2002, p. 300.
  9. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 199.
  10. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2003, p. 202.
  11. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 200.
  12. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2003, p. 201.
  13. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 203.
  14. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 199.
  15. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2005, p. 201.
  16. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 200.
  17. ^ Prien et al. 2005, p. 202.
  18. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 85.
  19. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2006, p. 91.
  20. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 86.
  21. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 88.
  22. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 93.
  23. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 94.
  24. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 95.
  25. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 407.
  26. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 96.
  27. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 99.
  28. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 98.
  29. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 169.
  30. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 176.
  31. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 177.
  32. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 170.
  33. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 178.
  34. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 171.
  35. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 179.
  36. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 173.
  37. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 175.
  38. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 180.
  39. ^ Dixon 2023, pp. 298–299.
  40. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 120.
  41. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 143.
  42. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 198.
  43. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 340.

Bibliography

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