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Pilots JG27.4 $Otto Schulz North Africa 1941 01
Two photographs showing a Bf-109F-4 Trop of Gruppenstab II./JG27, probably in December 1941. Seated in the cockpit Photo 01: is Ofw. Otto Schulz of 4./JG27 who was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 22 February 1942. It is believed that in this photograph, one of a series taken at the same time, Schulz was merely posing in the cockpit as at this time he had his own machine coded White 2 and did not join the Gruppenstab until he had been promoted to Oberleutnant in May 1942.
Pilots JG27.4 $Otto Schulz North Africa 1941 02 Photo 01: Ofw. Otto Schulz received the Ritterkreuz after his 44th victory on 22 February 1942. He was killed in action on 17 June 1942, a day of particularly intense aerial activity in North Africa when four Bf-109s from II./JG27 on a freie Jagd mission joined in an air battle near Sidi-Rezegh involving nine Boston bombers accompanied by a reported 30 escort fighters. Schulz attacked and shot down a Hurricane, his 51st victory, which he saw crash-land, and was engaged in strafing his victim on the ground when he was himself attacked by a Kittyhawk and killed.
Otto Schulz was born on 11 February 1911 at Treptow an der Rega in the Greifenberg region of Pommern. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1934 and served for many years as an instructor. On 3 January 1940, Schulz was transferred to 4./JG27. He participated in the French campaign and the Battle of Britain. He recorded his first victory on 31 August 1940, when he shot down a RAF Spitfire fighter near Dover. By the end of 1940, he had four victories to his credit. In April 1941, Schulz participated in the Balkans invasion. He recorded two victories over Greece, including a Greek PZL fighter shot down over the airfield at Larissa on 15 April and a RAF Hurricane fighter shot down near Megara on 20 April.
Schulz participated in the invasion of Russia. He claimed three victories during June 1941, before the unit was transferred to the Mediterranean theatre in September. Operating over the deserts of North Africa, Schulz was to be particularly successful. On each of the days 6 October 1941, 20 October and 28 November, he recorded three victories. Schulz shot down two RAF P-40 fighters on 30 November to record his 23rd and 24th victories. Both were piloted by notable Allied pilots: Australian, Sergeant Alan ‘Tiny’ Cameron (6.5 confirmed, 1 probable and 7 damaged victories) of 3Sqn, RAAF, who crash-landed and British pilot Pilot Officer Neville Duke (26.833 confirmed, 1 probable and 6 damaged victories) of 112Sqn, RAF.
He claimed another notable RAF pilot on 15 December (30), when he shot down and killed Pilot Officer Geoffrey Ranger (5.333 confirmed, 1 probable and 1 damaged victories) of 250Sqn, RAF. It is also thought that Schulz was the victor, when he shot down a Curtiss P-40 flown by the Australian ace, Flying Officer Andrew ‘Nicky’ Barr (11 confirmed, 3 probable and 8 damaged victories) of 3Sqn, RAAF , who crash-landed in the Agedabia-El Brega area, wounded on 11 January. He shot down five Curtiss P-40 fighters in 10 minutes on 15 February 1942 (40-44), including another British ace, S/L Ernest ‘Imshi’ Mason (15.4 confirmed and 3.6 damaged victories) of 94Sqn, RAF, who was killed in this engagement.
Oberfeldwebel Schulz was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 22 February. He was promoted to the rank of Leutnant in April. On 31 May, Schulz recorded another Curtiss P-40 victory (49), flown by yet another notable Allied ace, South African Major Andrew Duncan (5.5 confirmed and 1 probable victories) of 5Sqn, SAAF, who was killed in the engagement. On 17 June 1942, Schulz was shot down and killed in aerial combat. He had shot down an RAF Hurricane fighter, flown by Canadian ace Flight Lieutenant Walter “Wally” Conrad (6.5 confirmed, 3 probable and 11 damaged victories) of 274Sqn, RAF, who suffered wounds in the engagement, for his 51st, and last, victory. However, Schulz was then shot down in Bf-109F-4 (W.Nr 10271) <+ by a RAF Curtiss P-40 in the Sidi Rezegh area. It is thought his victor was Canadian ace Flight Sergeant James ‘Eddie’ Edwards (16.083 confirmed, 8.5 probable and 13 damaged victories) of 260Sqn, RAF.
Otto Schulz was credited with 51 victories in approximately 400 missions. He recorded three victories over the Eastern front and 48 victories over the Western front.
No Date Time A/c Type Unit Location Comments 1 31.8.1940 13:40 Spitfire 4./JG27 Dover - 2 1.9.1940 15:15 Spitfire 4./JG27 Ashford - 3 3.9.1940 11:35 Spitfire 4./JG27 Themsemündung - 4 28.10.1940 15:30 Spitfire 4./JG27 Gravesend - 5 15.4.1941 6:55 PZL P.24 4./JG27 W Trikkala - 6 20.4.1941 17:10 Hurricane 4./JG27 Megara - 7 22.6.1941 8:20 I-15 4./JG27 N Olytus - 8 26.6.1941 9:25 SB-3 4./JG27 NNW Wilna - 9 26.6.1941 14:40 SB-3 4./JG27 E Paratjanowo - 10 10.10.1941 9:10 P-40 4./JG27 SE Sidi Omar Tomahawk of 2Sqn, SAAF 11 10.10.1941 9:15 Hurricane 4./JG27 SE Sidi Omar - 12 10.10.1941 9:20 Hurricane 4./JG27 SE Sidi Omar - 13 30.10.1941 9:30 Hurricane 4./JG27 S Bardia - 14 30.10.1941 9:35 Hurricane 4./JG27 10km E Sidi Omar - 15 30.10.1941 9:43 Hurricane 4./JG27 25km SW Sollum - 16 17.11.1941 7:10 Bombay 4./JG27 NE Ain-el-Gazala - 17 21.11.1941 9:55 Wellington 4./JG27 SW El Adem Wellington of 109Sqn, RAF 18 22.11.1941 16:55 P-40 4./JG27 20km SE Bir Hacheim Tomahawk of 112Sqn, RAF or 3Sqn, RAAF 19 25.11.1941 16:00 P-40 4./JG27 N Tobruk - 20 28.11.1941 16:00 P-40 4./JG27 N El Adem - 21 28.11.1942 16:10 Hurricane 4./JG27 SW El Adem Hurricane of 94Sqn, RAF $F/O Vos, killed 22 28.11.1942 16:12 Hurricane 4./JG27 El Adem Hurricane of 94Sqn, RAF $Lt Palm, killed 23 30.11.1942 9:10 P-40 4./JG27 NE Bir-el-Gobi Tomahawk IIb (AK506) of 3Sqn, RAAF $Sgt AC Cameron (6.5/1/7 victories), baled out 24 30.11.1942 9:20 P-40 4./JG27 SW El Adem Tomahawk IIb (AK402) “F” 112Sqn, RAF $P/O NF Duke (26.833/1/6 victories), crash-landed 25 4.12.1941 10:16 P-40 4./JG27 Bir-el-Gobi - 26 6.12.1941 12:28 Blenheim 4./JG27 SE El Adem Blenheim of Lorraine Sqn, RAF 27 6.12.1941 12:30 Blenheim 4./JG27 SE El Adem - 28 7.12.1941 9:50 Boston 4./JG27 S Ain-el-Gazala Boston of 24Sqn, SAAF 29 8.12.1941 13:10 Boston 4./JG27 N Ridotto Boston of 24Sqn, SAAF 30 15.12.1941 11:30 P-40 4./JG27 SW Geziregh Tomahawk IIb 250Sqn, RAF $P/O GH Ranger (5.333/1/1 victories), killed 31 20.12.1941 9:40 P-40 4./JG27 W Maraua Tomahawk of 112 or 250Sqn, RAF 32 20.12.1941 9:43 P-40 4./JG27 W Maraua Tomahawk of 112 or 250Sqn, RAF 33 11.1.1942 13:10 P-40 4./JG27 NE Antelat Kittyhawk (AK645) 3Sqn, RAAF $F/O AW Barr (11/3/8 victories), crash-landed, wounded 34 25.1.1942 16:35 P-40 4./JG27 NE Antelat Kittyhawk of 250Sqn, RAF 35 25.1.1942 16:40 P-40 4./JG27 25km NE Antelat - 36 8.2.1942 10:35 P-40 4./JG27 W Ain-el-Gazala - 37 8.2.1942 10:40 P-40 4./JG27 E Ain-el-Gazala - 38 13.2.1942 10:22 P-40 4./JG27 NE Tobruk - 39 13.2.1942 10:30 P-40 4./JG27 Tobruk 40 15.2.1942 17:45 P-40 4./JG27 SE Martuba Kittyhawk 94Sqn, RAF $S/L EM Mason (15.4/0/3.6 victories), killed 41 15.2.1942 17:46 P-40 4./JG27 SE Martuba Kittyhawk 94Sqn RAF flown by Sgt Belcher 42 15.2.1942 17:47 P-40 4./JG27 SE Martuba Kittyhawk 94Sqn RAF flown by Sgt Weightman 43 15.2.1942 17:50 P-40 4./JG27 W Ain-el-Gazala Kittyhawk 94Sqn RAF flown by P/O Marshall 44 15.2.1942 17:55 P-40 4./JG27 SE Martuba Kittyhawk 94Sqn RAF $Sgt McQueen, damaged, returned 45 13.3.1942 12:35 P-40 4./JG27 SW Tobruk Kittyhawk 112Sqn RAF flown by Sgt Rozanski 46 15.3.1942 11:32 P-40 4./JG27 10-12km S Fort Acroma Kittyhawk 450Sqn RAF 47 28.5.1942 12:20 P-40 Stab II./JG27 15km NW El Adem Kittyhawk of 260Sqn, RAF flown by Sgt Ovenston 48 28.5.1942 16:12 P-40 Stab II./JG27 15km E El Adem Tomahawk of 5Sqn, SAAF flown by Lt Pare, baled out 49 31.5.1942 18:57 P-40 Stab II./JG27 20km SW El Adem Tomahawk IIb (AN523) ‘R’ 5Sqn SAAF $Maj A Duncan (5.5/1/0 victories), killed 50 31.5.1942 19:00 P-40 Stab II./JG27 15km SW El Adem Tomahawk 5Sqn SAAF $Capt Copeland 51 17.6.1942 10:20 Hurricane Stab II./JG27 E Bu Amud Hurricane of 274Sqn RAF $F/Lt WAG Conrad (6.5/3/11 victories), wounded Victories : 51 Awards : Ehrenpokal (30 December 1941) Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (14 February 1942) Ritterkreuz (22 February 1942) Units : JG27 http://www.luftwaffe.cz/schulz.html
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