Jakob Norz

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Jakob Norz
Jakob Norz.jpg
Born(1920-09-27)27 September 1920
Saulgrub, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Died16 September 1944(1944-09-16) (aged 23)
near Kirkenes, German-occupied Norway
Buried
German war cemetery at Pechenga
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1939–1944
RankLeutnant (second lieutenant)
UnitJG 5
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Jakob Norz (20 October 1920 – 16 September 1944) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. Norz is listed with 117 aerial victories—that is, 117 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft.[1] All his victories were claimed over the Soviet Air Forces in 332 combat missions. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Norz was killed on 16 September 1944 in a forced landing following combat with a large formation of Soviet aircraft attacking Kirkenes.

Career[]

Norz was born on 20 October 1920 in Saulgrub in Free State of Bavaria within the Weimar Republic. Holding the rank of Unteroffizier (non-commissioned officer) he served with the I./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 (2nd Night Fighter Wing) since late 1941.[Note 1] With this unit he flew night fighter missions against England and convoy escort missions over the Mediterranean Sea. He was briefly transferred as a day time fighter pilot to Jagdgeschwader 51 (51st Fighter Wing) operating on the Eastern Front in early 1942. Shortly afterwards, he was posted to the 11. Staffel (11th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 1 (JG 1—1st Fighter Wing) which was located in Norway.[2] On 21 March, the squadron was re-designated 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 (JG 5—5th Fighter Wing).[3] On 20 April, 8. Staffel moved to an airfield at Petsamo, present-day Pechenga in Murmansk Oblast, Russia on the Eismeerfront (Ice Sea Front)—the area of operations nearest the Arctic Ocean.[4]

War on the Arctic Front[]

Operating in this northern theatre of operations, Norz claimed his first five aerial victories by the end of 1942. He was presented with the Iron Cross 1st Class (Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) by Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff on account of his II. and III. Gruppe visit at Pechenga on 19 June.[5]

Area of operations.

Following victorious combat with two Ilyushin Il-2 "Shturmovik" southwest Eyna Guba on 5 March 1943 he made a forced landing of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 13108—factory number) on a frozen lake in no man's land.[6] He returned to a German held position after an eight-hour walk in high snow. Norz claimed his 17th and 18th aerial victory on 4 June 1943.

JG 5 flew multiple missions from Pechenga and Kirkenes in protection of a German convoy on 14 September. At 17:03, a Rotte of Bf 109 G-2s sighted and reported an enemy formation consisting of Douglas A-20 Havoc, also known as Boston bombers, Ilyushin Il-2 ground attack aircraft, as well as Bell P-39 Airacobra and Hawker Hurricane fighters. At 18:15, 9. Staffel was scrambled at Pechenga and 5. Staffel at Svartnes. A bit later further Bf 109s from 4., 7. and 5. Staffel took off. The Germans intercepted the Soviet formation east of Ekkerøy over the Varangerfjord. In this aerial engagement, Norz claimed the destruction of Hurricane fighter.[7]

On 25 November, following ten days of relative quiet, the Soviet Air Forces conducted a coordinated attack on Titovka, and the airfields Høybuktmoen at Kirkenes and Luostari near Pechenga. Titovka is attacked by sixteen Il-2s and six Curtiss P-40 Warhawk, escorted by six Yakovlev Yak-1 and four Yakovlev Yak-9. Høybuktmoen was hit by twelve Petlyakov Pe-2 escorted by twelve Bell P-39 Airacobra and six Yak-9.[8] The Luostari airfield was struck by sixteen Il-2 and six P-40, protected by fourteen Yak-1 and six Hurricanes.[9] That day, Norz claimed two Il-2 ground attack aircraft, taking his total to 45 aerial victories.[10]

On 17 March 1944, Norz became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time, claiming five Soviet fighters shot down. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 26 March 1944 following his 74th aerial victory. During aerial combat on 4 July, he claimed five Yakovlev Yak-9 fighters shot down, taking his total to 78.[11] Norz claimed three Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers and a Bell P-39 Airacobra destroyed on 17 August, taking his total to 103 aerial victories.[12] He was the 82nd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[13]

Walter Schuck, a wartime friend of Jakob Norz, witnessed Norz's final flight on 16 September 1944. According to Schuck, Norz attacked and shot down a Douglas Boston but was hit in the engine by the defensive fire from the Boston.[Note 2] Norz reported that his cabin was filling with smoke. Schuck urged Norz to bale out but Norz decided to fly back to base to avoid capture by the Russians. Schuck broke off further combat and escorted Norz back to base. Norz, intoxicated by the smoke, reported that his elevator seized and that he could not trim the aircraft. Already too low for bailing out, Norz attempted a crash landing in the tundra. The Bf 109 G-6 "yellow 8" (Werknummer 412 199—factory number) struck a rock and disintegrated, killing Norz.[14] He was buried with military honors at the German war cemetery at Pechenga.[15]

Summary of career[]

Aerial victory claims[]

According to Obermaier and Spick, Norz was credited with 117 aerial victories claimed in 332 combat missions, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[2][16] Matthews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 104 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front.[17]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 36 Ost 3079". 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 × 4 km in size.[18]

Awards[]

Notes[]

  1. ^ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  2. ^ According to Obermaier following combat with an Ilyushin Il-2 "Shturmovik".[2]
  3. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f This claim is neither listed by Mombeek nor by Matthews and Foreman.[24][25]
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[30]
  5. ^ According to Mombeek, Matthews and Foreman claimed at 07:07.[31][32]
  6. ^ According to Mombeek, Matthews and Foreman claimed at 14:27.[32][35]
  7. ^ This claim is not listed by Matthews and Foreman.[17]
  8. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the III./Jagdgeschwader 5.[61]

References[]

Citations[]

  1. ^ Stennman & Keskinen 2015, p. 24.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c Obermaier 1989, p. 175.
  3. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 103.
  4. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 169.
  5. ^ Mombeek 2003, p. 199.
  6. ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 227.
  7. ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 68.
  8. ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 91.
  9. ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 93.
  10. ^ Mombeek 2010, p. 95.
  11. ^ Weal 2016, p. 97.
  12. ^ Weal 2016, p. 99.
  13. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  14. ^ Schuck 2007, pp. 171–172.
  15. ^ Weal 2016, p. 100.
  16. ^ Spick 1996, p. 231.
  17. ^ Jump up to: a b c Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 920–922.
  18. ^ Planquadrat.
  19. ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 260.
  20. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 475.
  21. ^ Jump up to: a b Mombeek 2011, p. 265.
  22. ^ Jump up to: a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 480.
  23. ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 264.
  24. ^ Mombeek 2011, pp. 266–267, 274–275.
  25. ^ Jump up to: a b Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 920–921.
  26. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 481.
  27. ^ Jump up to: a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 309.
  28. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Mombeek 2011, p. 272.
  29. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k Prien et al. 2012, p. 312.
  30. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Prien et al. 2012, p. 310.
  31. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Mombeek 2011, p. 268.
  32. ^ Jump up to: a b Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 920.
  33. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Mombeek 2011, p. 273.
  34. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 313.
  35. ^ Jump up to: a b c Mombeek 2011, p. 269.
  36. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Mombeek 2011, p. 270.
  37. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2012, p. 311.
  38. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Mombeek 2011, p. 274.
  39. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Prien et al. 2012, p. 314.
  40. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Mombeek 2011, p. 271.
  41. ^ Jump up to: a b Mombeek 2011, p. 275.
  42. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Prien et al. 2012, p. 315.
  43. ^ Mombeek 2011, pp. 275–276.
  44. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 921.
  45. ^ Jump up to: a b c Mombeek 2011, p. 276.
  46. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 921–922.
  47. ^ Jump up to: a b Mombeek 2011, p. 278.
  48. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j k Mombeek 2011, p. 287.
  49. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i Mombeek 2011, p. 279.
  50. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g h i j Mombeek 2011, p. 288.
  51. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e Mombeek 2011, p. 280.
  52. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Mombeek 2011, p. 289.
  53. ^ Mombeek 2011, p. 281.
  54. ^ Jump up to: a b Mombeek 2011, p. 286.
  55. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Mombeek 2011, p. 290.
  56. ^ Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 922.
  57. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f Mombeek 2011, p. 291.
  58. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 155.
  59. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 333.
  60. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 326.
  61. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 572.

Bibliography[]

  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 2 December 2020.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Matthews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 3 M–R. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-20-2.
  • Mombeek, Eric (2003). Eismeerjäger—Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5—Band 2 [Fighters in the Arctic Sea—The History of the 5th Fighter Wing—Volume 2]. Linkebeek, Belgium: ASBL, La Porte d'Hoves. ISBN 978-2-9600236-4-0.
  • Mombeek, Eric (2010). Eismeerjäger—Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5—Band 3 [Fighters in the Arctic Sea—The History of the 5th Fighter Wing—Volume 3]. Linkebeek, Belgium: ASBL, La Porte d'Hoves. ISBN 978-2-930546-02-5.
  • Mombeek, Eric (2011). Eismeerjäger—Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5—Band 4 [Fighters in the Arctic Sea—The History of the 5th Fighter Wing—Volume 4]. Linkebeek, Belgium: ASBL, La Porte d'Hoves. ISBN 978-2-930546-05-6.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • 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.
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  • Schuck, Walter (2007). Abschuss! Von der Me 109 zur Me 262 Erinnerungen an die Luftkämpfe beim Jagdgeschwader 5 und 7 [Victory! From the Me 109 to the Me 262 Memories of the Dogfights with Fighter Wing 5 and 7] (in German). Aachen, Germany: Helios Verlags- und Buchvertriebsgesellschaft. ISBN 978-3-938208-44-1.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Stennman, Kari; Keskinen, Kalevi (2015). Luftwaffe over Finland. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-78438-155-4.
  • Weal, John (2016). Arctic Bf 109 and Bf 110 Aces. London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78200-799-9.

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