Berthold Korts

Berthold Korts

Berthold Korts
Note that the Knight's Cross at his neck is a photomontage
Born (1912-05-21)21 May 1912
Karlsruhe
Died 29 August 1943(1943-08-29) (aged 31)
near Charkow
Allegiance  Nazi Germany
Service/branch  Luftwaffe
Rank Leutnant
Unit JG 52
Commands held 9./JG 52
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Berthold Korts (21 May 1912 – 29 August 1943) was a World War II Luftwaffe fighter ace and was credited with 113 aerial victories—that is, 113 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Berthold Korts military career began with the artillery before he began his pilot training in the summer of 1940.[Note 1] Holding the rank of Feldwebel, he was transferred to 9th Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front as in June 1942.[Note 2] In spring of 1943 he served with the Stab of III./JG 52. Promoted to an officers rank and Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) he led the 9th Staffel of JG 52 as of 11 May 1943. Over the Kuban bridgehead he achieved his 23rd–26th aerial victory on 15 April 1943, 36th–40th on 27 May 1943 and the 50th on 2 June 1943. The 75th aerial victory was claimed on 3 August 1943 and the century mark was reached on 17 August 1943 — 39 aerial victories in month of August. He was the 50th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[1] He received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on the day he went missing in action.[2]

Korts and his wingman Unteroffizier Hans-Otto Müller were last seen in combat with Soviet P-39 Airacobra fighters on 29 August 1943.[2]

Awards

Notes

  1. ↑ Flight training in the Luftwaffe progressed through the levels A1, A2 and B1, B2, referred to as A/B flight training. A training included theoretical and practical training in aerobatics, navigation, long-distance flights and dead-stick landings. The B courses included high-altitude flights, instrument flights, night landings and training to handle the aircraft in difficult situations.
  2. ↑ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  3. ↑ According to Scherzer on 23 August 1943.[2]

References

Citations

  1. ↑ Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
  2. 1 2 3 Obermaier 1989, p. 150.
  3. ↑ Patzwall 2008, p. 123.
  4. ↑ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 247.
  5. ↑ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 270.
  6. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 467.

Bibliography

  • 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. 
  • 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. 
  • 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. 
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