Karl Gratz

Karl Gratz (24 January 1919 – 14 March 2002) was an Austrian-born Luftwaffe fighter pilot during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 138 aerial victories claimed in more than 900 missions. Gratz claimed the majority of his victories over the Eastern Front, and 17 over the Western Front.

Karl Gratz
Karl Gratz
Born	(1919-01-24)24 January 1919 Wiener Neustadt
Died	14 March 2002(2002-03-14) (aged 83) Leck
Allegiance	Nazi Germany (to 1945)  West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe  Luftwaffe
Years of service	1936–45, –1970
Rank	Leutnant (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Unit	JG 52 JaBoG 33
Battles/wars	See battles World War II Eastern Front Second Battle of Kharkov Western Front
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

In late 1941, Gratz was posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—8th squadron of the 52nd Fighter Wing) which at the time was fighting on the Eastern Front. He claimed his first aerial victory on 15 February 1942. On 1 July 1942, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross following his 54th aerial victory. He then served as a fighter pilot instructor and was posted to Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) in March 1943. Back on the Easter Front in 1944, he claimed his 100th aerial victory in March/April 1944. At the end of World War II, he served as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 10. Staffel (10th squadron) of JG 52. He surrendered to United States Army forces and was turned over to the Red Army.

Gratz was released from captivity in 1949, joined the Bundeswehr and served in Jagdbombergeschwader 33 (JaBoG 33—Fighter-Bomber Wing 33). He retired in 1970 holding the rank of Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel). Gratz died on 14 March 2002 in Leck.

World War II

"Charlie" Gratz was posted in autumn 1941 to 8. Staffel (8th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—8th squadron of the 52nd Fighter Wing), a squadron of III. Gruppe (3rd group), on the Eastern Front.^{[Note 1]} In January 1942, III. Gruppe was ordered to move from Taganrog to an airfield at Kharkov and was subordinated to IV. Fliegerkorps.^[1] At the time, the Gruppe was the only fighter unit operating on the left flank of Army Group South, covering the airspace from Belgorod in the north to the Donets Basin in the south, and was equipped with Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4. On 18 January, Soviet forces launched the Barvenkovo–Lozovaya Offensive which created the Izium salient. On 15 February, III. Gruppe flew missions in the vicinity of Belgorod and Prokhorovka, over the front lines of the 6th Army.^[2] That day, Gratz claimed his first two aerial victories, a Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3 fighter which at the time was referred to as an I-61, and an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft.^[3]

 

Izium salient (red) in 1942

On 12 May, German forces launched Operation Fredericus, also referred to as the Second Battle of Kharkov, with the objective to eliminate the Izium bridgehead over Seversky Donets. That day, III. Gruppe was moved to the Kharkov-Rogan airfield, southeast of Kharkov, and subordinated to the Stab (headquarters unit) of JG 52. On 13 May, III. Gruppe flew combat missions east and southeast of Kharkov.^[4] During the day, the Gruppe claimed 42 aerial victories, including three Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 fighters by Gratz.^[5] The following day, III. Gruppe predominantly flew fighter escort missions for Junkers Ju 87 dive bombers from VIII. Fliegerkorps attacking Soviet ground forces on the northern pincer, and claimed 52 aerial victories for the loss of one aircraft damaged.^[6] That day, Graz became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time when he shot down two Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 and seven MiG-1 fighters, taking his total to 27 aerial victories.^[7] During the following days, III. Gruppe continued to fly missions in support of the Army.^[8] Gratz claimed two Polikarpov I-16 fighters on 15 May, a single MiG-1 on 16 May, two further MiG-1s on 17 May, and yet another MiG-1 fighter on 18 May.^[9]

On 20 May, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Barwenkowa, approximately 40 kilometres (25 miles) south-southwest of Izium. By the end of May 24, Soviet forces opposite Kharkov had been surrounded by German formations, over the next days, Soviet forces attempt to break the encirclement.^[10] During this combat, Gratz claimed four aerial victories on 26 May over two LaGG-3s and two MiG-1s. The next day, he added three further aerial victories to his tally over a LaGG-3 and two MiG-1s. On 29 May, his total reached 42 aerial victories when shot down an I-16 and yet another MiG-1.^[11] He received the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 8 June 1942.^[12]

He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 1 July 1942.^[13] The presentation was made by Major Hubertus von Bonin.^[14] Gratz was one of four JG 52 pilots presented with the Knight's Cross that day. The other three pilots to receive the distinction that day were Feldwebel Alfred Grislawski, Feldwebel Karl Steffen and Oberleutnant Siegfried Simsch.^[15] By late 1942 29 more victories had been claimed.

On the Western Front

After a spell instructing, Gratz was posted in March 1943 to 11. Staffel (11th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing) on the English channel front. The 11. Staffel was an additional 4th squadron of I. Gruppe of JG 2 which was based at Triquerville and equipped with the Bf 109 G-3. On 1 October 1943, the squadron was renumbered and from then on was known as 4. Staffel of JG 2.^[16]

On 12 March, Gratz claimed his first aerial victory on the Western Front when he shot down a Supermarine Spitfire fighter 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Fécamp.^[17] The Royal Air Force (RAF) Fighter Command suffered only one casualty in combat that day. A Spitfire IX, BS548, flown by Captain O Massart of No. 340 Squadron was severely damaged in battle with a Fw 190 belonging to JG 2. The pilot returned unhurt. Massart formed part of a Ramrod patrol to Rouen.^[18]

On 4 April, he claimed two further Spitfires destroyed in combat 80 km (50 mi) north of Caen.^[17] Fighter Command lost ten pilots killed, one captured while two evaded capture with help from the French resistance. JG 26 claimed five, JG 2 claimed six and one fell in combat with JG 1.^[19] No. 129 Squadron RAF is known to have engaged JG 2 over the English Channel while on a Roadstead operation. JG 2 claimed two of their number. The only casualty was Flight Sergeant A J Symonds. His body was recovered by a Supermarine Walrus.^[19] The following day Gratz claimed a victory near Ostend. Fighter Command carried out two Ramrod operations in the morning and one in the afternoon, losing three fighters in total. No. 129 Squadron's Sergeant J S Hetherington, in Spitfire AR527, was killed in action with JG 2 on a sweep from Venturas to Landunvez. No. 332 Squadron RAF lost Spitfire ES291 and the pilot Sergeant S N Larssen killed on Ramrod 52 to Haamstede. In the afternoon, another Ramrod to Landunvez killed No. 616 Squadron RAF Flight Lieutenant P B Wright DFC in Spitfire BS465.^[20]

Gratz received the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 8 June 1943.^[21] On 16 August, the Eighth Air Force of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) targeted the Le Bourget airfield near Paris with a large formation of Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress escorted by a number of Republic P-47 Thunderbolt escort fighters. In defense of this attack, I. Gruppe of JG 2 claimed three B-17s and one P-47 shot down for the loss of five pilots killed in action.^[22] In this encounter, Gratz was credited with the destruction of one B-17 shot down 9 km (5.6 mi) southeast of Brétigny.^[23]

On the Eastern Front

In March 1944, Gratz returned to JG 52. That month, Gratz was credited with his 100th aerial victory. He was the 64th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.^[24] On 1 April 1945, Gratz was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 10. Staffel of JG 52. He succeeded Leutnant Viktor Petermann who was transferred.^[25] 10. Staffel was subordinated to III. Gruppe of JG 52 and headed by Major Adolf Borchers.^[26] In the last weeks of the war, Gratz was particularly successful and claimed 18 victories. After the surrender he was delivered by U.S. military to the Soviet authorities and remained in captivity until 1949.

Later life

Post-war, his military service in the Bundeswehr saw him promoted to Oberstleutnant. Gratz served in Jagdbombergeschwader 33 (JaBoG 33—Fighter-Bomber Wing 33) flying the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak then under the command of Walter Krupinski. JaBoG 33 was transferred to the Turkish base at Bandırma for shooting and bombing training with live ammunition from 25 May to 31 August 1959.^[27] During one of the practice flights Gratz was nearly shot down by his wingman Leutnant Dietrich Schultz-Sembten. Schultz-Sembten had mistakenly fired all of his rockets prematurely during the attack run. After the landing, Gratz is quoted with having said: "Schultz-Sembten, you must have gone mad! I have to say one thing, you idiot: If you had hit me, I would have outmaneuvered you and shot you down."^[28]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Gratz was credited with 138 aerial victories.^[29] Obermaier and Spick also list Gratz with 138 aerial victories, including 17 on the Western Front of which three of them were USAAF four-engined bombers.^[30][31] Barbas states that Gratz claimed 18 aerial victories after 16 February, 14 of which are undocumented.^[32] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that Gratz was credited with 138 aerial victories. This figure includes 132 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and six over the Western Allies, including one four-engined bomber.^[33]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 44442". 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.^[34]

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Gratz an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.   This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Barbas, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –^[35] Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 28 April 1942
1	15 February 1942	13:47	I-61 (MiG-3)^[3]		6	9 March 1942	12:37	I-61 (MiG-3)^[36]
2	15 February 1942	15:50	Il-2^[3]		7	18 March 1942	12:24	SB-2^[36]
3	16 February 1942	07:35	Il-2^[3]		8	24 March 1942	16:53	I-61 (MiG-3)^[37]
4	22 February 1942	15:35	V-11 (Il-2)^[38]		9	7 April 1942	13:12	I-61 (MiG-3)^[37]
5	8 March 1942	11:18	I-61 (MiG-3)^[36]		10	7 April 1942	13:17	I-61 (MiG-3)^[37]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –^[39] Eastern Front — 29 April – October 1942
11	30 April 1942	14:27	I-16^[40]		48	22 June 1942	08:28	LaGG-3^[41]
12	30 April 1942	14:32	I-61 (MiG-3)^[40]		49	23 June 1942	14:45	MiG-1^[41]
13	30 April 1942	14:36	I-153^[40]		50	24 June 1942	05:51	MiG-1^[42]
14	3 May 1942	11:47	I-16^[43]		51	24 June 1942	05:54	MiG-1^[42]
15	8 May 1942	15:35	MiG-1^[43]		52	24 June 1942	05:58	MiG-1^[42]
16	13 May 1942	06:47	MiG-1^[5]		53	30 June 1942	13:28	LaGG-3^[42]
17	13 May 1942	09:09	MiG-1^[5]		54	30 June 1942	13:54	Hurricane^[42]
18	13 May 1942	09:12	MiG-1^[5]		55	4 September 1942	13:48	MiG 1	PQ 44442, south of Mozdok^[44]
19♠	14 May 1942	07:02	LaGG-3^[5]		56	4 September 1942	16:53	I-16	PQ 44452^[44] south of Mozdok
20♠	14 May 1942	07:08	LaGG-3^[5]		57	7 September 1942	08:45	Pe-2	PQ 44454, south of Mozdok^[45] vicinity of Wosnessnokaja
21♠	14 May 1942	09:39	MiG-1^[9]		58	8 September 1942	12:44	LaGG-3	PQ 44377, south of Mozdok^[45]
22♠	14 May 1942	09:43	MiG-1^[9]		59	9 September 1942	14:01	MiG-1	PQ 44442, south of Mozdok^[45]
23♠	14 May 1942	12:10	MiG-1^[9]		60	9 September 1942	16:46	LaGG-3	PQ 44463^[45] south of Mozdok
24♠	14 May 1942	12:14	MiG-1	5 km (3.1 mi) west of Kotowka^[9]	61	17 September 1942	14:30	I-16	PQ 54362^[46] vicinity of Dudorovskiy
25♠	14 May 1942	12:17	MiG-1^[9]		62	22 September 1942	08:35	La-5	PQ 44671^[46]
26♠	14 May 1942	18:16	MiG-1^[9]		63	22 September 1942	08:40	MiG-1	PQ 44572^[46] east of Elkhotovo
27♠	14 May 1942	18:19	MiG-1^[9]		64	25 September 1942	16:22?^[Note 2]	Il-2?^[Note 2]	PQ 44372^[46] east of Elkhotovo
28	15 May 1942	07:58	I-16^[9]		65	27 September 1942	12:35	LaGG-3	PQ 44613^[48]
29	15 May 1942	17:02	I-16^[9]		66	27 September 1942	14:58	Boston	PQ 4442, south of Mozdok^[48]
30	16 May 1942	08:04	MiG-1^[9]		67	27 September 1942	15:06	Boston	PQ 44451^[48] west of Werchne Atschakuli
31	17 May 1942	07:02	MiG-1^[9]		68	27 September 1942	15:08	LaGG-3	PQ 44483^[48]
32	17 May 1942	07:12	MiG-1^[9]		69♠	28 September 1942	12:27	LaGG-3	PQ 44674^[48] south of Sagopschin
33	18 May 1942	05:14	MiG-1^[9]		70♠	28 September 1942	12:30	LaGG-3	PQ 44642^[48]
34	26 May 1942	05:28	LaGG-3^[11]		71♠	28 September 1942	12:32	LaGG-3	PQ 44554^[48]
35	26 May 1942	09:36	MiG-1	5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Izium^[11]	72♠	28 September 1942	16:03	LaGG-3	PQ 44563^[48]
36	26 May 1942	09:40	MiG-1	3 km (1.9 mi) east of Izium^[11]	73♠	28 September 1942	16:08	LaGG-3	PQ 44572^[48]
37	26 May 1942	17:15	LaGG-3^[11]		74	29 September 1942	07:58	LaGG-3	PQ 44614^[48] south of Sagopschin
38	27 May 1942	04:55	MiG-1^[11]		75	29 September 1942	08:04	LaGG-3	PQ 44623^[48] vicinity of Malgobek
39	27 May 1942	04:58	MiG-1^[11]		76	30 September 1942	16:03	LaGG-3	PQ 44614, south of Sagopschin^[49]
40	27 May 1942	18:43	LaGG-3^[11]		77	30 September 1942	16:05	LaGG-3	PQ 44644^[49]
41	29 May 1942	16:50	I-16^[11]		78	30 September 1942	16:09	LaGG-3	PQ 44652^[49]
42	29 May 1942	17:18	LaGG-3^[11]		79	2 October 1942	13:48	I-16	PQ 43282^[49]
43	2 June 1942	14:42	Su-2 (Seversky)^[50]		80	2 October 1942	13:52?^[Note 3]	I-16	PQ 34423^[49]
44	2 June 1942	14:51	Su-2 (Seversky)^[50]		81	4 October 1942	14:58	Boston	PQ 44721^[49] south of Elkhotovo
45	2 June 1942	14:59	MiG-1^[50]		82	4 October 1942	15:01	LaGG-3	PQ 44764^[49]
46	9 June 1942	19:09	MiG-1^[50]		83	4 October 1942	15:07	Boston	PQ 44842^[49]
47	21 June 1942	05:19	Il-2^[41]
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –^[47] Western Front — 1 January – 31 December 1943
84	12 March 1943	13:05	Spitfire	30 km (19 mi) northwest of Fécamp^[17]	87	5 April 1943	16:02	Spitfire	80 km (50 mi) north of Ostend^[17]
85	4 April 1943	13:28	Spitfire	80 km (50 mi) north of Caen^[17]	88	27 July 1943	18:35	Spitfire	25 km (16 mi) east of Caen^[23]
86	4 April 1943	13:32	Spitfire	80 km (50 mi) north of Caen^[17]	89	16 August 1943	11:45	B-17	9 km (5.6 mi) southeast of Brétigny^[23]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –^[51] Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 December 1944
90	19 April 1944	17:20	P-40	vicinity of Sevastopol^[52] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sevastopol	105	24 May 1944	06:34	LaGG	PQ 78712^[53] 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Iași
91	22 April 1944	17:14	P-39	PQ 25464^[52] 20 km (12 mi) west-northwest of Yelnya	106	30 May 1944	07:14	Pe-2	PQ 78522^[53] 25 km (16 mi) west of Tudora
92	22 April 1944	17:30	Il-2	PQ 35482^[52] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Sevastopol	107	30 May 1944	15:50	Il-2 m.H.^[Note 4]	PQ 78674^[53] 8 km (5.0 mi) north of Iași
93	23 April 1944	10:10	LaGG	vicinity of Balaklava^[52] 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Sevastopol	108	5 June 1944	10:21	Yak-9	PQ 79561^[54] vicinity of Huși
94	24 April 1944	09:16	LaGG	PQ 35452^[52] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sevastopol	109	12 June 1944	17:34	LaGG	PQ 78869^[55] 25 km (16 mi) east of Iași
95	24 April 1944	15:23	Il-2	PQ 35482^[52] 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Sevastopol	110	22 June 1944	14:08	LaGG	PQ 68872^[55] north of Târgu Frumos
96	24 April 1944	15:36	LaGG	PQ 35454^[52] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sevastopol	111	27 June 1944	16:40	P-39?^[Note 5]	PQ 85233^[55] east of Stawropoliskaja
97	24 April 1944	15:36	LaGG	PQ 35454^[52] 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Sevastopol	112	16 July 1944	08:28	P-39	PQ 50328^[55] 20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Ternopil
98	25 April 1944	07:44	LaGG	vicinity of Katscha^[52]	113	16 July 1944	08:31	P-39	PQ 50362^[55] 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Ternopil
99	5 May 1944	10:42	P-39	PQ 35433^[53] 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Sevastopol	114	16 July 1944	08:48	Pe-2	PQ 50366^[55] 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Ternopil
100	6 May 1944	13:02	LaGG	vicinity of Belbek^[53] vicinity of Sevastopol	115	20 July 1944	09:31	P-39	PQ 32835^[55] vicinity of Liuboml
101	21 May 1944	05:32	LaGG	PQ 68884^[53] 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Târgu Frumos	116	22 August 1944	09:16	P-39	PQ 11415^[56] 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Sandomir
102	21 May 1944	05:38	LaGG	PQ 68853^[53] 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Târgu Frumos	117?^[Note 6]	24 October 1944	15:58	Yak-9	20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Majdanpek^[57]
103	22 May 1944	06:42	LaGG	PQ 78742^[53] 20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Roman	118	26 October 1944	11:00	Il-2^[58]	15 km (9.3 mi) south of Orșova
104	22 May 1944	10:50	P-39	PQ 78342^[53] 30 km (19 mi) east-southeast of Botoșani	119	26 October 1944	11:04	Il-2^[58]	15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Turnu Severin
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 –^[59] Eastern Front — 1 January – April 1945
121	16 February 1945	—	unknown^[32]		127	10 April 1945	—	P-39
123	24 March 1945	—	Yak-9	PQ 71147^[32] vicinity of Strehlen	128	10 April 1945	—	Yak-3
124	9 April 1945	—	P-39		129	10 April 1945	—	P-39
125	9 April 1945	—	P-38		131	17 April 1945	—	Yak-9
126	9 April 1945	—	P-39

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 8 June 1942 as Unteroffizier and pilot^[60]
• German Cross in Gold on 8 June 1943 as Feldwebel in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52^{[61][Note 7]}
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 July 1942 as Unteroffizier and pilot in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 52^[62][63]

Notes

1. For an explanation of the meaning of Luftwaffe unit designation see Luftwaffe Organization
2. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 16:20 as a Polikarpov I-16.^[47]
3. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 13:53.^[47]
4. The "m.H." refers to an Ilyushin Il-2 with rear gunner (mit Heckschütze).
5. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Douglas A-20 Havoc.^[47]
6. According to Barbas, this claim was filed while flying with the Stab of JG 52.^[57]
7. According to Obermaier on 26 July 1943.^[30]

References

Citations

1. Prien et al. 2005, p. 143.
2. Prien et al. 2005, pp. 144–146.
3. Prien et al. 2005, p. 155.
4. Prien et al. 2006, pp. 514–515.
5. Prien et al. 2006, p. 545.
6. Prien et al. 2006, pp. 515–516.
7. Prien et al. 2006, pp. 545–546.
8. Prien et al. 2006, p. 516.
9. Prien et al. 2006, p. 546.
10. Prien et al. 2006, pp. 516–517.
11. Prien et al. 2006, p. 547.
12. Barbas 2010, p. 283.
13. Weal 2004, p. 79.
14. Weal 2007, p. 47.
15. Weal 2004, pp. 78–79, 85.
16. Prien et al. 2010, pp. 432, 436.
17. Prien et al. 2010, p. 443.
18. Franks 1998, p. 85.
19. Franks 1998, pp. 89–90.
20. Franks 1998, p. 90.
21. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 418.
22. Prien et al. 2010, pp. 435, 450.
23. Prien et al. 2010, p. 444.
24. Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
25. Barbas 2010, p. 280.
26. Barbas 2010, p. 279.
27. Braatz 2010, p. 233.
28. Braatz 2010, p. 234.
29. Zabecki 2019, p. 329.
30. Obermaier 1989, p. 121.
31. Spick 1996, p. 229.
32. Barbas 2010, p. 381.
33. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 418–421.
34. Planquadrat.
35. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 418–419.
36. Prien et al. 2005, p. 157.
37. Prien et al. 2005, p. 158.
38. Prien et al. 2005, p. 156.
39. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 419–420.
40. Prien et al. 2006, p. 542.
41. Prien et al. 2006, p. 549.
42. Prien et al. 2006, p. 550.
43. Prien et al. 2006, p. 544.
44. Prien et al. 2006, p. 556.
45. Prien et al. 2006, p. 557.
46. Prien et al. 2006, p. 559.
47. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 420.
48. Prien et al. 2006, p. 560.
49. Prien et al. 2006, p. 561.
50. Prien et al. 2006, p. 548.
51. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 420–421.
52. Barbas 2010, p. 375.
53. Barbas 2010, p. 376.
54. Barbas 2010, p. 377.
55. Barbas 2010, p. 378.
56. Barbas 2010, p. 379.
57. Barbas 2016, p. 75.
58. Barbas 2010, p. 380.
59. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 421.
60. Patzwall 2008, p. 88.
61. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 146.
62. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 202.
63. Scherzer 2007, p. 346.

Bibliography

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• Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 2 G–L. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-19-6.
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• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
• Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2005). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/I—Winterkampf im Osten—6.12.1941 bis 30.4.1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/I—Winter War in the East—6 December 1941 to 30 April 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-76-2.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
• Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2010). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/IV—Einsatz im Westen—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/IV—Action in the West—1 January to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-92-2.
• 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
• Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
• Weal, John (2004). Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten. Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 15. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-786-4.
• Weal, John (2007). More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-177-9.
• Zabecki, David T., ed. (2019). The German War Machine in World War II. Santa Barbara, California: ABC-Clio. ISBN 978-1-44-086918-1.

External links

• "Karl Gratz". Jagdgeschwader 52 — Traditionsgemeinschaft Jagdgeschwader 52 e.V. (in German). Retrieved 15 September 2011.