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.

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.

"Charlie" Gratz was posted in autumn 1941 to 8.

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.

In January 1942, III.

Gruppe was ordered to move from Taganrog to an airfield at Kharkov and was subordinated to IV. Fliegerkorps.

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.

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.

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.

During the day, the Gruppe claimed 42 aerial victories, including three Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-1 fighters by Gratz.

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.

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.

During the following days, III.

Gruppe continued to fly missions in support of the Army.

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.

On 20 May, III.

Gruppe moved to an airfield at Barwenkowa, approximately 40 km 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.

During this combat, Gratz claimed four aerial victories on 26 May over two LaGG-3s and two MiG-1s.

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.

Gratz was released from captivity in 1949, joined the Bundeswehr and served in Jagdbombergeschwader 33 (JaBoG 33—Fighter-Bomber Wing 33).

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.

He retired in 1970 holding the rank of Oberstleutnant (lieutenant colonel).

Gratz died on 14 March 2002 in Leck.

Staffel (10th squadron) of JG 52.

He surrendered to United States Army forces and was turned over to the Red Army.