Otto Schulz
Encyclopedia
Oberleutnant
Otto Schulz (born 11 February 1911 in Treptow an der Rega – died 17 June 1942 in Sidi Rezegh) was a German
World War II
Luftwaffe
fighter ace. He scored 48 of his victories against the Western Allies
and three victories over the Eastern Front
in over 450 combat missions whilst flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109
.
scoring his first victory on 31 August 1940. By the end of 1940, he had four victories to his credit. Schulz also participated in the Balkan Campaign scoring two victories. Transferring to the Eastern Front during June he scored three victories during his unit's brief participation in Operation Barbarossa
.
Schulz was transferred to the Mediterranean theater in September 1941. He enjoyed much success in North Africa
. On 6 October 1941, 20 October and 28 November, he recorded three victories on each day. On 30 November, his 23rd and 24th victims were aces Sergeant Alan Cameron (6.5 victories) and Pilot Officer Neville Duke
(27). He claimed another 'ace' on 15 December (30), when he shot down and killed Pilot Officer Geoffrey Ranger (5 victories) of No.250 Sqn. He also shot down a P-40 flown by Australian ace Flying Officer “Nicky” Barr (11 victories) of No. 3 Sqn, RAAF, who crash-landed, wounded on 11 January.
Schulz received his nickname Eins-Zwei-Drei Schulz (One Two Three Schulz) in January 1942 when he took off in an emergency scramble at 7.01, shot down two bombers at 7.02 and landed again at 7.03. On 15 February 1942, he shot down five P-40 fighters in ten minutes, including the 15-victory RAF ace Ernest “Imshi” Mason
. He was promoted to Leutnant in April. On 31 May, Schulz shot down another P-40 flown by South African ace Major Andrew Duncan (5.5 victories) of No. 5 Sqn, SAAF, who was killed.
On 17 June 1942, after claiming his 51st and last kill (Canadian ace Flight Lieutenant Walter “Wally” Conrad (6.5 victories) of 274 Sqn who was wounded), Schulz was shot down and killed by RAF Kittyhawks. Research suggests the victory should be credited to Canadian ace James "Stocky" Edwards
of No. 260 Squadron RAF
.
Oberleutnant
Oberleutnant is a junior officer rank in the militaries of Germany, Switzerland and Austria. In the German Army, it dates from the early 19th century. Translated as "Senior Lieutenant", the rank is typically bestowed upon commissioned officers after five to six years of active duty...
Otto Schulz (born 11 February 1911 in Treptow an der Rega – died 17 June 1942 in Sidi Rezegh) was a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
fighter ace. He scored 48 of his victories against the Western Allies
Western Allies
The Western Allies were a political and geographic grouping among the Allied Powers of the Second World War. It generally includes the United Kingdom and British Commonwealth, the United States, France and various other European and Latin American countries, but excludes China, the Soviet Union,...
and three victories over the Eastern Front
Eastern Front (World War II)
The Eastern Front of World War II was a theatre of World War II between the European Axis powers and co-belligerent Finland against the Soviet Union, Poland, and some other Allies which encompassed Northern, Southern and Eastern Europe from 22 June 1941 to 9 May 1945...
in over 450 combat missions whilst flying the Messerschmitt Bf 109
Messerschmitt Bf 109
The Messerschmitt Bf 109, often called Me 109, was a German World War II fighter aircraft designed by Willy Messerschmitt and Robert Lusser during the early to mid 1930s...
.
Luftwaffe service
Otto Schulz joined the Luftwaffe in 1934 and served as an instructor until January 1940, when he was posted 4./JG 27. He participated in the French Campaign and Battle of BritainBattle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
scoring his first victory on 31 August 1940. By the end of 1940, he had four victories to his credit. Schulz also participated in the Balkan Campaign scoring two victories. Transferring to the Eastern Front during June he scored three victories during his unit's brief participation in Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
.
Schulz was transferred to the Mediterranean theater in September 1941. He enjoyed much success in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
. On 6 October 1941, 20 October and 28 November, he recorded three victories on each day. On 30 November, his 23rd and 24th victims were aces Sergeant Alan Cameron (6.5 victories) and Pilot Officer Neville Duke
Neville Duke
Squadron Leader Neville Frederick Duke DSO, OBE, DFC & Two Bars, AFC, FRAeS,Czech War Cross was a British Second World War fighter pilot. He was the top Allied flying ace in the Mediterranean Theatre, having shot down at least 27 enemy aircraft, and was acknowledged as one of the world's foremost...
(27). He claimed another 'ace' on 15 December (30), when he shot down and killed Pilot Officer Geoffrey Ranger (5 victories) of No.250 Sqn. He also shot down a P-40 flown by Australian ace Flying Officer “Nicky” Barr (11 victories) of No. 3 Sqn, RAAF, who crash-landed, wounded on 11 January.
Schulz received his nickname Eins-Zwei-Drei Schulz (One Two Three Schulz) in January 1942 when he took off in an emergency scramble at 7.01, shot down two bombers at 7.02 and landed again at 7.03. On 15 February 1942, he shot down five P-40 fighters in ten minutes, including the 15-victory RAF ace Ernest “Imshi” Mason
Ernest Mason
Ernest "Imshi" Mason DFC and Bar was a British World War II flying ace, credited with one Luftwaffe and 14 Regia Aeronautica aircraft destroyed, two shared destroyed, three damaged and another three shared damaged in the air...
. He was promoted to Leutnant in April. On 31 May, Schulz shot down another P-40 flown by South African ace Major Andrew Duncan (5.5 victories) of No. 5 Sqn, SAAF, who was killed.
On 17 June 1942, after claiming his 51st and last kill (Canadian ace Flight Lieutenant Walter “Wally” Conrad (6.5 victories) of 274 Sqn who was wounded), Schulz was shot down and killed by RAF Kittyhawks. Research suggests the victory should be credited to Canadian ace James "Stocky" Edwards
James Francis Edwards
James Francis "Stocky" Edwards, CM, DFC & Bar, DFM, CD was a Canadian fighter pilot during World War II. Edwards is Canada's highest scoring ace in the Western Desert Campaign.-Early life:...
of No. 260 Squadron RAF
No. 260 Squadron RAF
No. 260 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force Squadron formed as a reconnaissance and anti–submarine unit in World War I and a fighter unit in World War II.-Formation and World War I:No...
.
Awards
- Ehrenpokal der LuftwaffeEhrenpokal der LuftwaffeThe Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe was a Luftwaffe award established on February 27, 1940 by Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, the Reich Minister of Aviation and Commander in Chief of the Luftwaffe. It was officially known as the Ehrenpokal "für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg", or Honor Goblet "For...
(30 December 1941) - Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
2nd and 1st Class - German Cross in GoldGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
(14 February 1942) - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
(22 February 1942)