Emil Bitsch
Encyclopedia
Emil Bitsch 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. He claimed 104 victories over the Eastern Front and 4 victories over the Western front (all four-engine bombers).
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. 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.
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...
. Emil Bitsch was credited with 108 aerial victories. He claimed 104 victories over the Eastern Front and 4 victories over the Western front (all four-engine bombers).
During the War
On July 1941, Bitsch first served with III./JG 3 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
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...
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
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
of 8./JG 3. In July, Oberleutnant Bitsch claimed 29 victories, including six enemy aircraft shot down on 5 July. 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
Defense of the Reich
The Defence of the Reich is the name given to the strategic defensive aerial campaign fought by the Luftwaffe over German occupied Europe and Germany itself during World War II. Its aim was to prevent the destruction of German military and civil industries by the Western Allies...
). Bitsch shot down four United States Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
(USAAF) four-engine bombers during this period. On 15 March 1944, Bitsch was shot down and killed in Bf 109 G-6
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...
in aerial combat with USAAF P-47 fighters of the 352d Fighter Group
352d Fighter Group
The 352d Fighter Group was one of the most highly decorated USAAF Fighter Groups in World War II, producing many leading aces of the war. The 352d was composed of three squadrons: . Once deployed to the European Theater of Operations , the group was eventually headquartered in Bodney, England...
over Schijndel
Schijndel
Schijndel is a municipalityin the southern Netherlands, in the province of North Brabant. Schijndel is located approximately fourteen kilometers southeast of 's-Hertogenbosch. Schijndel was founded on the 6th of December in the year 1309...
. 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 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...
(31 August 1942) - German CrossGerman 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...
in Gold on 19 October 1942 as Leutnant in the I./JG 3 - 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...
on 29 August 1943 as OberleutnantOberleutnantOberleutnant 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...
(war officer) and StaffelkapitänStaffelkapitänStaffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
of the 8./JG 3 "Udet"
External links
- for details of the excavation of his plane.
- Emil Bitsch at www.luftwaffe-reich.co.uk
- German Aces of WWII at www.acesofWorld War II.com