Karl Willius

Karl-Heinz "Charly" Willius (5 November 1919 – 8 April 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II.

He is credited with 50 aerial victories achieved in 371 combat missions.

This figure includes 17 aerial victories on the Eastern Front, and further 33 victories over the Western Allies, including 11 four-engined bombers.

Born in Mainz-Kostheim, Willius grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany.

He joined the military service in the Luftwaffe and was trained as a fighter pilot.

Willius was born on 5 November 1919 in Mainz-Kostheim.

Following pilot training, Obergefreiter Willius was posted to 2.

Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 20 (JG 20—20th Fighter Wing).

At the time, this squadron was initially commanded by Oberleutnant Albrecht Freiherr von Minnigerode and then by Oberleutnant Fritz Stendel.

The Staffel was subordinated to I. Gruppe (1st group) of JG 20 which was commanded by Hauptmann Hannes Trautloft.

Staffel (2nd squadron) of JG 26.

Flying with this wing, Willius claimed his first aerial victory on 18 August 1940 on the Western Front over a Royal Air Force fighter aircraft.

Following the Armistice of 22 June 1940, I. Gruppe of JG 20 was officially integrated into JG 51, becoming its III.

Gruppe on 4 July.

In consequence, Willius became a member of the 8.

Staffel.

Willius claimed his first aerial victory on 18 August during the Battle of Britain.

That day, III.

Gruppe flew fighter escort missions for dive bomber and bomber units bombing various targets in Southern England.

The Gruppe claimed nine aerial victories over Royal Air Force (RAF) fighters, including a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down by Willius over Ramsgate.

In July 1941, he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing).

Unteroffizier Willius participated in the invasion of Russia in June 1941, and claimed his second victory on the opening day of Operation Barbarossa, when he downed a SB-2 bomber.

On 14 July 1941, on request by Oberstleutnant Adolf Galland, who had asked for fighter pilots with experience, Willius was transferred to I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing).

At the time of his posting to JG 26, I. Gruppe was commanded by Hauptmann Johannes Seifert, and 3.

Staffel, to which Willius was assigned, was headed by Oberleutnant Walter Otte.

He claimed his first victory at the English Channel on 8 December, a Spitfire shot down 10 km west of Boulogne

On 17 May 1942, he may have been the pilot that downed the Spitfire Vb of No. 91 Squadron RAF flown by Flight Lieutenant Patrick Peter Coleman "Paddy" Barthropp who bailed out and was taken prisoner.

The RAF's major operation of the day was "Ramrod" Nr.

33, attacking the docks at Boulogne, escorted by the Hornchurch Wing and Kenley Wing.

He was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 15 October 1942 for 22 aerial victories.

Elements of JG 26 were moved to the Eastern Front in early 1943 where Willius claimed nine Soviet aircraft destroyed.

His unit redeployed to the Western Front in June 1943.

In November 1943, he was appointed squadron leader of 2.

On 16 January 1943, Feldwebel Willius was transferred, serving as an instructor with a fighter pilot school.

Following his tour as an instructor, Willius returned to 3.

He was killed in action on 8 April 1944, shot down by a United States Army Air Forces fighter.

Posthumously, Willius was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944.

Following flight training, he served with Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) during the Battle of France, Battle of Britain and Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.

The Gruppe was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E and fought in the Battle of France under the control of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing).

On 13 July Willius claimed two DB-3 bombers shot down for his 10th and 11th victories.