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Karl Gratz

Victories : 138
-----------------------------
Country : Germany
Fought in : WW2
Fought for : Axis
Died : 14th March 2002


Awarded the Knights Cross of the Iron Cross
Knights
Cross

Karl Gratz was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Gratz flew more than 900 missions, scoring 138 aerial victories, of which 17 were scored on the Western Front.

Place of birth Wiener Neustadt
Place of death Leck
Allegiance Nazi Germany (to 1945)
West Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht)
Luftwaffe (Bundeswehr)
Years of service 1936–1945, –1970
Rank Leutnant (Wehrmacht)
Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Unit JG 52
Battles/wars World War II
Eastern Front
Western Front
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross


Latest Axis Aviation Artwork !
In early May 1941, in conditions of strict secrecy because the United States was not yet at war, seventeen pilots of the US Navy had arrived in Britain and been attached to Catalina squadrons of Coastal Command. These experienced PBY pilots were there to assist the Royal Air Force to become familiar with the Catalina, and also to gain operational experience for the US Navy. On 26th May 1941 Catalina Z of No.209 Sqn, commanded by Flying Officer Dennis Briggs RAF, with Ensign Leonard B Smith USN as co-pilot, joined the search for the Bismarck. At 1015 the aircraft was being flown in poor visibility at an altitude of 500ft when Ensign Smith sighted the Bismarck at a range of eight miles. The Catalina was flown towards the contact so that a positive identification could be made and emerged from the cloud only 500 yards from the German ship. The aircraft met a hail of anti-aircraft fire but was able to make its escape. As a result of the sighting report from Catalina Z the Bismarck was again engaged by ships and aircraft of the Royal Navy and was sunk at 1040 on 27th May 1941. Leonard Smith can be considered therefore, the first American to be directly involved in action in World War Two. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (American) for his actions.

The Aircraft That Found the Bismarck by Ivan Berryman.		 One of the all time great fighter aces, Adolf Galland is depicted flying Bf 109E-4/N of Stab/JG26 in September 1940. Galland flew 705 combat missions during World War Two and was credited with a final tally of 104 aerial victories. He survived the war and died peacefully in February 1996.

Tribute to Generalleutnant Adolf Galland by Ivan Berryman.		 Walter Briegleb is shown in his Ju88 G.7 4R+BR as he stalks his prey - on this occasion a Lancaster. Flying below their target, his crew would aim upward firing cannon at the inner wing of the bomber, igniting the fuel tanks. For the bomber crews, they were very much defenceless against this type of attack, and often had no idea of the presence of an enemy aircraft in the dark.

Tribute to Walter Briegleb by Ivan Berryman.		 The attack by Leutnant Walter Briegleb and his crew on Lancaster Mk.III ND960 DX-I of No.57 Sqn early on 22nd May 1944. Flying Me110 with codes D5+BV with his crew of Feldwebel Walter Bräunlich and Bordfunker Feldwebel Brandt, Briegleb flew undetected beneath the bomber and used the deadly 'Schräge Musik' - upward firing cannon - to hit the fuel tanks in the port wing between the fuselage and inner engine. Pulling away, he watched the aircraft burn and could see both gunners in their turrets but no return fire came. He wondered why none of the crew escaped by parachute with the bomber doomed - it disintegrated in the air over the coast of the island of Fyn, Denmark, impacting near Emtekær at 00:44hrs.<br><br><center>All of the crew were killed :<br>Flight Lieutenant Arthur Richards (Pilot)<br>Flying Officer William Woodall (Navigator)<br>Pilot Officer Athur Bugden (Flight Engineer)<br>Sergeant Thomas Edwards (Wireless Operator)<br>Flying Officer George Ferguson (Air Bomber)<br>Sergeant Harold Griffiths (Air Gunner)<br>Sergeant Cyril Woodmass (Air Gunner)

The Hunted and the Hunter by Ivan Berryman.

Karl Gratz

Squadrons for : Karl Gratz
A list of all squadrons known to have been served with by Karl Gratz. A profile page is available by clicking the squadron name.
SquadronInfo

JG2


Country : Germany
Founded : 1st May 1939
'Ace of Hearts'

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG2		JG2

Jagdgeschwader 2 was formed from parts of Jagdgeschwader 131 Richthofen on 1 May 1939 in Döberitz and its first commander was Oberst Robert Ritter von Greim. At the outbreak of the war JG 2 was tasked with defence of the Reich and based in the Berlin area under Luftgaukommando III. Stab and II. Gruppe were equipped with the Bf 109E and were located at Döberitz with 10.(N) staffel flying the Bf 109D in Straussberg.

10.(N) Staffel was one of the first night fighter units formed in the Luftwaffe. Later this staffel was expanded into IV.(N) Gruppe. This Gruppe gained the Luftwaffe’s first night kill over the RAF Bomber Command on the night of 25/26 on April 1940 when Ofw Förster shot down a Handley Page Hampden.

The unit saw little combat until the Western offensive against France and the Low Countries from 10 May 1940 onwards. During the campaign against France, JG 2 was tasked with escorting raids and defending German airspace to the south of Heinz Guderian's Panzer forces which were encircling the French and the British Expeditionary Force further north. Leutnant Helmut Wick, who later became part of a trio of outstanding aces (including Adolf Galland from Jagdgeschwader 26 (JG 26) and Werner Mölders from Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51)) in the Battle of Britain, attained his first and the Geschwader's second kill on 22 November 1939, a French Curtiss Hawk Model 75. The first victory for the JG 2 was scored by Oberfeldwebel Kley (3. Staffel) at the same day.

JG 2 took part in the Battle of Britain, operating Bf 109Es over the South Coast of England and the English Channel from bases in Cherbourg and Normandy. Major Helmut Wick emerged as one of the Battle’s top Luftwaffe aces, claiming 31 kills for a personal total of 56, before being killed (MIA) in action versus Spitfires of No. 609 Squadron in November 1940. Wick was seen to bail out successfully but was not found by German Air/Sea Rescue attempts. The Spitfire who dispatched him was immediately shot down by Oberleutnant Rudolf Pflanz. Ofw. Schnell, Ofw. Machold and Olt. Hans Assi Hahn also claimed heavily during this period, with 16 kills each. Some 42 JG 2 pilots were killed or made POW during the battle.

JG52


Country : Germany
'Ace of Hearts'

Click the name above to see prints featuring aircraft of JG52		JG52

The most successful Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II, with a claim total of more than 10,000 victories over enemy aircraft. It was home to the top three scoring Experten of the Luftwaffe, Erich Hartmann, Gerhard Barkhorn and Günther Rall. The unit flew the various marks of the Messerschmitt Bf 109 exclusively through the war.

Known Victory Claims - Karl Gratz

DATE

PILOT

UNIT

JG

CLAIMED

LOCATION

TIME

FRONT

14/05/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52MiG-110km SE Stary Saltov: 2500m12.14Eastern Front
26/05/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52MiG-15km NE Izyum9.36Eastern Front
26/05/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52MiG-13km E. Izyum9.4Eastern Front
04/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52MiG-144 442: 300m13.43Eastern Front
04/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52I-16 Rata44 472: 1300m16.53Eastern Front
08/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG-344 417: 2300m12.44Eastern Front
09/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52MiG-144 442: 1800m14.01Eastern Front
17/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52I-16 Rata54 362: 600m14.3Eastern Front
22/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG-344 671: 1200m8.35Eastern Front
22/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52MiG-144 672: 1400m8.4Eastern Front
25/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52I-16 Rata44 762: 50m16.24Eastern Front
27/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG-344 613: 1600m12.35Eastern Front
27/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52Boston44 442: 1200m14.58Eastern Front
27/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52Boston44 651: 800m15.06Eastern Front
27/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG-344 483: 1000m15.08Eastern Front
28/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52Boston44 614: 2000m12.27Eastern Front
28/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52Boston44 642: 1600m12.31Eastern Front
28/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52Boston44 654L: 600m12.32Eastern Front
28/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52Boston44 812: 1200m16.08Eastern Front
28/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG-344 563: 1800m16.03Eastern Front
29/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG-344 614: 2000m7.58Eastern Front
29/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG-344 563: 1200m8.04Eastern Front
30/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG-344 614: 1300m16.03Eastern Front
30/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG-344 644: 1200m16.05Eastern Front
30/09/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG-344 651: 1000m16.09Eastern Front
02/10/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52I-16 Rata34 282: 300m13.48Eastern Front
02/10/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52I-16 Rata34 423: 300m13.53Eastern Front
04/10/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52Boston44 842: 800m15.07Eastern Front
04/10/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52Boston44 721: 1400m14.58Eastern Front
04/10/1942Uffz. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG-344 264: 500m15.01Eastern Front
12/03/1943Fw. Karl Gratz11JG 2B-1720km NW Fécamp: 2000m13.05Western Front
04/04/1943Fw. Karl Gratz11JG 2Spitfire80km N. Caen: 2000m13.28Western Front
04/04/1943Fw. Karl Gratz11JG 2Spitfire80km N. Caen: 2000m13.32Western Front
05/04/1943Fw. Karl Gratz11JG 2Spitfire80km N. Ostend: 7500m16.02Western Front
27/07/1943Ofw. Karl Gratz11JG 2Spitfire25km E. Caen b. Dozulé: 8000m18.35Western Front
16/08/1943Ofw. Karl Gratz11JG 2B-179km SE Bretigny: 6000m11.45Western Front
19/04/1944Fhj.Ofw. Karl Gratz8JG 52Curtiss P-4035 453: 300m17.2Eastern Front
22/04/1944Fhj.Ofw. Karl Gratz8JG 52Airacobra25 469: 4000m17.14Eastern Front
22/04/1944Fhj.Ofw. Karl Gratz8JG 52Il-2mH.35 482: 1000m17.3Eastern Front
23/04/1944Fhj.Fw. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG35 474: 1500m10.1Eastern Front
24/04/1944Fhj.Fw. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG35 452: 3000m9.16Eastern Front
24/04/1944Fhj.Fw. Karl Gratz8JG 52Il-2mH.35 432: 200m15.23Eastern Front
24/04/1944Fhj.Fw. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG35 454: 1200m15.36Eastern Front
24/04/1944Fhj.Fw. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG35 454: 1200m15.36Eastern Front
25/04/1944Fhj.Ofw. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG35 411: 800m7.44Eastern Front
05/05/1944Fhj.Ofw. Karl Gratz8JG 52Airacobra35 433: 1500m10.42Eastern Front
06/05/1944Fhj.Ofw. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG35 442: 600m13.02Eastern Front
21/05/1944Fhj.Ofw. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG68 884: 500m5.32Eastern Front
21/05/1944Fhj.Ofw. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG68 853: tiefst.5.38Eastern Front
22/05/1944Fhj.Ofw. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG78 741: 500m6.42Eastern Front
22/05/1944Fhj.Ofw. Karl Gratz8JG 52Airacobra78 342: 2500m10.5Eastern Front
24/05/1944Fhj.Ofw. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG78 712: tiefst.6.34Eastern Front
30/05/1944Fhj.Ofw. Karl Gratz8JG 52P-278 522: tiefst.7.14Eastern Front
30/05/1944Fhj.Ofw. Karl Gratz8JG 52Il-2mH.78 673: 3000m15.1Eastern Front
12/06/1944Ltn. Karl Gratz8JG 52LaGG78 860: 1000m17.34Eastern Front
22/06/1944Ltn. Karl Gratz5JG 52LaGG68 832: 1000m14.08Eastern Front
27/06/1944Ltn. Karl Gratz8JG 52Boston85 233: 1500m19.39Eastern Front
16/07/1944Ltn. Karl Gratz8JG 52Airacobra50 328: 1500m8.28Eastern Front
16/07/1944Ltn. Karl Gratz8JG 52Airacobra50 362: 1200m8.31Eastern Front
16/07/1944Ltn. Karl Gratz8JG 52Pe-250 366: 1200m8.45Eastern Front
20/07/1944Ltn. Karl Gratz8JG 52Airacobra32 835: 500m9.31Eastern Front
22/08/1944Ltn. Karl Gratz8JG 52Airacobra11 415: 3000m9.16Eastern Front
24/10/1944Ltn. Karl GratzStabJG 52LaGG25 373: 200m15.38Eastern Front
26/10/1944Ltn. Karl GratzStabJG 52Il-2mH.25 543: tiefflug11Eastern Front
26/10/1944Ltn. Karl GratzStabJG 52Il-2mH.25 477: tiefflug11Eastern Front

Known Claims : 65

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