Jakob Norz

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. All his victories were claimed over the Soviet Air Forces in 332 combat missions.[1] 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.

Jakob Norz
Born	(1920-09-27)27 September 1920 Saulgrub, Kingdom of Bavaria, German Empire
Died	16 September 1944(1944-09-16) (aged 23) near Kirkenes, German-occupied Norway
Buried	German war cemetery at Pechenga
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1939–1944
Rank	Leutnant (second lieutenant)
Unit	JG 5
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

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./Jagdgeschwader 1 (11th Squadron of the 1st Fighter Wing) which was located in Norway. The unit was then relocated further north to the Eismeerfront (Ice Sea Front)—the area of operations nearest the Arctic Ocean—and redesignated to 8./Jagdgeschwader 5 (8th Squadron of the 5th Fighter Wing).[2]

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.[3]

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.[4] 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.[5]

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.[6] The Luostari airfield was struck by sixteen Il-2 and six P-40, protected by fourteen Yak-1 and six Hurricanes.[7] That day, Norz claimed two Il-2 ground attack aircraft, taking his total to 45 aerial victories.[8]

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.[9] Norz claimed three Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers and a Bell P-39 Airacobra destroyed on 17 August, taking his total to 103 aerial victories.[10] He was the 82nd Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.[11]

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.[12] He was buried with military honors at the German war cemetery at Pechenga.[13]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

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.[14]

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Norz an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.   This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Norz did not receive credit.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –[14]
1	15 May 1942	18:30	Hurricane	south of Ura-Guba[15]	48	29 February 1944	13:30	Yak-7	southwest of Murmansk[16]
2	10 August 1942	18:48	Hurricane[17]		49	29 February 1944	13:36	Yak-7	southwest of Murmansk[16]
3	2 September 1942	11:18	MiG-3[18]	vicinity of the Kola railroad	— [Note 3]	5 March 1944	13:35	Il-2[16]
4	5 September 1942	08:38	Hurricane[18]		50	5 March 1944	13:36	Il-2[16]
5	28 February 1943	16:03	P-40[19]		51	13 March 1944	13:37	Yak-7[16]	southeast of Vayda-Guba
6	28 February 1943	16:06	Pe-2[19]		52	13 March 1944	13:41	Yak-9[16]	southeast of Prummaki
7	1 March 1943	07:07	Il-2[19]	vicinity of Pechenga	53♠	17 March 1944	11:10	Il-2	north of Hamningberg[16]
8	5 March 1943	08:12	P-40[19]		54♠	17 March 1944	11:11	P-39	northeast of Hamningberg[16]
9	5 March 1943	12:05	Il-2[19]		55♠	17 March 1944	11:13	P-39	northeast of Hamningberg[16]
10	27 March 1943	14:27	P-39[20]		56♠	17 March 1944	15:39	P-39[21]	northeast of Pechenga
11	30 March 1943	10:45	P-40[20]		57♠	17 March 1944	15:40	P-39	north of Pechenga[21]
12	22 May 1943	19:45	Hurricane[22]		58	2 April 1944	04:49	Yak-7[21]
13	22 May 1943	21:40	Hurricane[22]		59	2 April 1944	04:51	Yak-7[21]
14	1 June 1943	03:46	P-39[22]		60	2 April 1944	04:53	Yak-9[21]
15	1 June 1943	03:49	P-39[22]		61	7 April 1944	10:31	Yak-9[23]
16	5 June 1943	04:02	Hurricane[22]		62♠	27 June 1944	16:46	Boston	north of Kirkenes[24]
17	5 June 1943	05:48	Hurricane[22]		63♠	27 June 1944	16:46	Boston	north of Kirkenes[24]
18	19 June 1943	16:27	Hurricane[25]		64♠	27 June 1944	16:47	Boston	north-northeast of Kirkenes[26]
19	27 June 1943	12:02	Hurricane	2 km (1.2 mi) east of Pummanki[25]	65♠	27 June 1944	17:02	Yak-9	southeast of Kirkenes[26]
20	27 June 1943	12:04	Hurricane	6 km (3.7 mi) northeast of Pummanki[25]	66♠	27 June 1944	17:10	Yak-9	northwest of Kirkenes[26]
21	29 June 1943	14:12	Pe-2	29 km (18 mi) northeast of Vardø[25]	67♠	28 June 1944	00:01	P-39	northeast of Kirkenes[26]
22	29 June 1943	14:13	Pe-2	30 km (19 mi) northeast of Vardø[25]	68♠	28 June 1944	00:03	P-39	west of Kirkenes[26]
23	29 June 1943	14:16	P-40	35 km (22 mi) northeast of Vardø[25]	69♠	28 June 1944	00:05	P-39	northeast of Kirkenes[26]
24	4 July 1943	22:01	Pe-2[27]		70♠	28 June 1944	00:13	P-39	north of Kirkenes[26]
25	4 July 1943	22:02	Pe-2[27]		71♠	28 June 1944	00:20	P-39	northeast of Kirkenes[26]
26	4 July 1943	22:05	Boston[27]		72♠	28 June 1944	03:50	Yak-9[26]
27	12 July 1943	01:00	P-39[27]		73♠	28 June 1944	03:58	Yak-9[26]
28	16 July 1943	00:55	P-39[27]		74♠	4 July 1944	18:59	Yak-9[26]
29	16 July 1943	01:05	P-39[27]		75♠	4 July 1944	19:09	Yak-9[28]
30	20 August 1943	11:30	Hurricane[29]		76♠	4 July 1944	19:15	Yak-9[28]
31	23 August 1943	04:56	Hampden[29]		77♠	4 July 1944	19:26	Yak-9[28]
32	23 August 1943	04:58	Pe-2[29]		78♠	4 July 1944	19:30	Yak-9[28]
33	6 September 1943	19:04	Boston[29]		79	9 July 1944	20:50	P-40[28]
34	6 September 1943	19:05	Boston[29]		80	9 July 1944	20:51	P-40[28]
35	6 September 1943	19:07	Boston[29]		81	9 July 1944	20:53	P-40[28]
36	14 September 1943	18:45	Hurricane[30]		82	9 July 1944	20:57	P-40[28]
37	20 September 1943	16:05	Pe-2[30]		83	17 July 1944	18:30	P-39[28]
38	23 September 1943	12:50	P-40[30]		84	17 July 1944	18:33	P-39[28]
39	23 September 1943	12:53	P-40[30]		85	17 July 1944	19:01	Boston[31]
40	23 September 1943	12:55	P-40[30]		86	17 July 1944	19:03	Boston[31]
41	24 September 1943	08:50	P-40[32]		87	17 July 1944	19:12	Boston	vicinity of Kirkenes[31]
42	24 September 1943	09:00	P-40[32]		88	21 July 1944	05:25	P-40[31]	southeast of Markur
43	6 November 1943	12:17	Pe-2[33]		89	22 July 1944	12:35	P-40[31]
44	25 November 1943	11:52	Il-2	5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Pechenga airfield[33]	90	22 July 1944	12:41	P-40[31]
45	25 November 1943	11:55	Il-2	40 km (25 mi) northwest of Pechenga airfield[33]	91	22 July 1944	12:42	P-40[31]
46	21 February 1944	14:21	P-39	west of Murmansk[34]	92	28 July 1944	12:56	P-39[35]
47	21 February 1944	14:24	P-39	vicinity of Murmansk[34]	93	28 July 1944	12:59	P-39[35]
– 11. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 5 –[36]
94♠	17 August 1944	09:48	P-39[35]		100♠	23 August 1944	12:39	Pe-2[37]
95♠	17 August 1944	09:54	Boston[35]		101♠	23 August 1944	12:40	Pe-2[37]
96♠	17 August 1944	09:55	Boston[35]		102♠	23 August 1944	12:40	Pe-2[37]
97♠	17 August 1944	09:56	Boston[35]		103♠	23 August 1944	16:38	P-39[37]
98♠	17 August 1944	09:58	Boston[35]		104	16 September 1944	11:56	Boston[37]	vicinity of Kirkenes
99♠	23 August 1944	12:10	Pe-2[37]

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 13 September 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot[38]
• German Cross in Gold on 17 October 1943 as Feldwebel in the 8./Jagdgeschwader 5[39]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 26 March 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 5[40][Note 4]

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. This claim is not listed by Matthews and Foreman.[14]
4. According to Scherzer as pilot in the III./Jagdgeschwader 5.[41]

References

Citations

1. Spick 1996, p. 231.
2. Obermaier 1989, p. 175.
3. Mombeek 2003, p. 199.
4. Mombeek 2011, p. 227.
5. Mombeek 2010, p. 68.
6. Mombeek 2010, p. 91.
7. Mombeek 2010, p. 93.
8. Mombeek 2010, p. 95.
9. Weal 2016, p. 97.
10. Weal 2016, p. 99.
11. Obermaier 1989, p. 243.
12. Schuck 2007, pp. 171–172.
13. Weal 2016, p. 100.
14. Matthews & Foreman 2015, pp. 920–922.
15. Mombeek 2011, p. 260.
16. Mombeek 2011, p. 279.
17. Mombeek 2011, p. 264.
18. Mombeek 2011, p. 265.
19. Mombeek 2011, p. 268.
20. Mombeek 2011, p. 269.
21. Mombeek 2011, p. 280.
22. Mombeek 2011, p. 270.
23. Mombeek 2011, p. 281.
24. Mombeek 2011, p. 286.
25. Mombeek 2011, p. 271.
26. Mombeek 2011, p. 287.
27. Mombeek 2011, p. 272.
28. Mombeek 2011, p. 288.
29. Mombeek 2011, p. 273.
30. Mombeek 2011, p. 274.
31. Mombeek 2011, p. 289.
32. Mombeek 2011, p. 275.
33. Mombeek 2011, p. 276.
34. Mombeek 2011, p. 278.
35. Mombeek 2011, p. 290.
36. Matthews & Foreman 2015, p. 922.
37. Mombeek 2011, p. 291.
38. Patzwall 2008, p. 155.
39. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 333.
40. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 326.
41. Scherzer 2007, p. 572.

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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Mombeek, Eric (2003). Eismeerjäger—Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5—Band 2 [Fighters in the Artic Sea—The History of the 5th Fighter Wing—Volume 2]. Linkebeek, Belgium: ASBL, La Porte d'Hoves. ISBN 978-2-9600236-4-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Mombeek, Eric (2010). Eismeerjäger—Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5—Band 3 [Fighters in the Artic Sea—The History of the 5th Fighter Wing—Volume 3]. Linkebeek, Belgium: ASBL, La Porte d'Hoves. ISBN 978-2-930546-02-5.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Mombeek, Eric (2011). Eismeerjäger—Zur Geschichte des Jagdgeschwaders 5—Band 4 [Fighters in the Artic Sea—The History of the 5th Fighter Wing—Volume 4]. Linkebeek, Belgium: ASBL, La Porte d'Hoves. ISBN 978-2-930546-05-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• 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.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Weal, John (2016). Arctic Bf 109 and Bf 110 Aces. London, UK: Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1-78200-799-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

External links

• Kjell Sørensen. "Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 Gåsvatnet Finnmark". flyvrak—World War II Aircraft wreck sites in Norway & other countries. Retrieved 6 March 2012.