# Berthold Korts

Berthold Korts (21 May 1912 – presumably 29 August 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 113 aerial victories—that is, 113 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in an unknown combat missions. He was "ace-in-a-day" four times, shooting down five or more aircraft on a single day.
Born in Karlsruhe, Korts was trained as a fighter pilot and posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52–52nd Fighter Wing) in June 1942. Fighting on the Eastern Front, he claimed his first aerial victory on 6 August 1942 during Case Blue, the German strategic 1942 summer offensive in southern Russia. In July 1943, he was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel (9th squadron) of JG 52. On 17 August, Korts claimed his 100th aerial victory. A little more than a week later, on 29 August, he was awarded Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, the highest award in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. That day, Korts and his wingman went missing in action following combat near Amvrosiivka.

## Career

Korts was born on 21 May 1912 in Karlsruhe, at the time in what was the Grand Duchy of Baden of the German Empire. His military career began with the artillery before he started his pilot training in the summer of 1940. In June 1942, holding the rank of Feldwebel, he was transferred to 9. Staffel (9th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) on the Eastern Front. At the time, this squadron was under the command of Hauptmann Hermann Graf and one of three squadrons subordinated to the III. Gruppe (3rd group) of JG 52 commanded by Major Hubertus von Bonin. On 28 June, German forces had launched Case Blue, the strategic summer offensive in southern Russia. On 7 July, Army Group A began their advance towards the oil fields in the Caucasus.
In early August 1942, III. Gruppe was based at an airfield near the Yegorlyk River, approximately 60 kilometers (37 miles) west-southwest of Salsk. The Gruppe supported the 1st Panzer Army in its advance towards Maykop and Grozny. There, Korts claimed his first aerial victory over a Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3 fighter on 6 August. On 10 August, III. Gruppe was moved to Armavir and 9. Staffel was ordered to a makeshift airfield at Plastunowskaja where it supported the attack of the 17th Army across the Kuban River on Novorossiysk. The next day, Korts claimed two Douglas A-20 Havoc, also referred to as "Boston" bombers, shot down.
On 27 August, III. Gruppe reached an airfield named Gonschtakowka located north-northeast of Mozdok on the Terek. On 19 September, III. Gruppe reached an airfield named Soldatskaya, west of Mozdok. The Gruppe would remain here until 1 January 1943 but would also use airfields at Mozdok and Digora. There Korts, who flew with the Gruppenstab (headquarters unit) of III. Gruppe, shot down a Yakovlev Yak-1 fighter on 30 September, his tenth aerial victory. On 28 November, he claimed "Boston" bomber destroyed, his 21st aerial victory and last in 1942.

### Kuban bridgehead and Kursk

The Gruppe was moved to the combat area of the Kuban bridgehead on 1 April 1943 where it was based at an airfield at Taman. Operating from Taman until 2 July, III. Gruppe also flew missions from Kerch on 12 May, from Sarabuz and Saky on 14 May, Zürichtal, present-day Solote Pole, a village near the urban settlement Kirovske on 23 May, and Yevpatoria on 25/26 June. Korts became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time on 26 May, claiming four Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers and a Soviet-flown Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down. The following day, he again claimed five aerial victories, making him an "ace-in-a-day" for the second time.
In preparation for Operation Citadel, III. Gruppe was relocated to the central sector of the Eastern Front. The Gruppe first moved to Zaporizhzhia and then to Ugrim on 3 July. There, under the command of Luftflotte 4, they supported Army Group South fighting on the southern flank of the salient. On 5 July, the first day of the Battle of Kursk, Hauptmann Günther Rall replaced von Bonin as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe. That day, Korts claimed three LaGG-3 fighters and an Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft. This includes a claim over a Soviet fighter shot down near Oboyan. A week later, Korts was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 12 July 1943. That day, Soviet forces launched Operation Kutuzov and advanced towards Orel from the north and east. Two days later, III. Gruppe was ordered to an airfield at Sowjetzki just north of Orel near the Oka river. There, Korts claimed four aerial victories, one on 16 July, two on 17 July, and one 18 July. On 20 July, the Gruppe moved to Ivanovka near Bryansk where it was subordinated to Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing).

### Squadron leader and missing in action

Promoted to an officer's rank, Korts was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel (9th squadron), also referred to as the Karaya-Staffel of JG 52, on 27 July 1943. He replaced Oberleutnant Rudolf Trepte who had temporarily led the Staffel after Hauptmann Ernst Ehrenberg had been killed in action on 10 May. At the time, III. Gruppe was based at Ivanovka near Bryansk and engaged in the fighting near Orel during Operation Kutuzov. On 28 July, the Bryansk Front, supported by ground attack aircraft, attacked the German forces at Oryol. During the course of the day, Korts claimed a LaGG-3 fighter shot down west of Bolkhov. The following day, he claimed another LaGG-3 fighter destroyed. On 2 August, III. Gruppe moved to an airfield at Warwarowka, located south of Belgorod, where they stayed for three days. There, Korts claimed a total of fifteen aerial victories, including his 75th aerial victory on 3 August. On 4 August, strong Soviet forces breached the right defensive flank of the 4th Panzer Army. In defense of this attack, III. Gruppe was engaged in combat near Tomarovka, northwest of Belgorod. In total, the Gruppe claimed 42 aerial victories that day, including nine of which by Korts. This made him an "ace-in-a-day" for the third time.
On 5 August, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Kharkov-Rogan airfield, southeast of Kharkov. Flying from this airfield, Korts claimed five aerial victories until III. Gruppe was ordered to Kharkov-Waitschenko, southeast of Kharkov-Rogan, on 11 August. He claimed two LaGG-3 fighters shot down on 14 August, the day the Gruppe relocated to Pereshchepyne. Flying from Pereshchepyne, Korts reached the century mark on 17 August 1943 when he shot down two LaGG-3 fighters in the vicinity of Izium. He was the 50th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. The following day, he claimed another LaGG-3 fighter before the Gruppe moved to Mikhaylovka. On 19 August, Korts became an "ace-in-a-day" for the fourth time, claiming three LaGG-3 fighters and two Il-2 ground-attack aircraft destroyed. On 23 August, III. Gruppe was ordered to an airfield at Makeyevka while Korts and his wingman Unteroffizier Hans-Otto Müller were sent to Kramatorsk for two days to liaise with a Romanian fighter unit there.
Korts and his unit received the announcement that he had been awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 29 August, the day he went missing in action. Flying Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 15899—factory number), he and his wingman Müller in Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 15869) were last seen in combat with Soviet P-39 Airacobra fighters in the vicinity of Amvrosiivka. He was succeeded by Erich Hartmann as Staffelkapitän of 9. Staffel.

## Summary of career
### Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Korts was credited with 113 aerial victories. Authors Obermaier and Spick also list Korts with 113 aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 108 aerial victory claims, all of which claimed on the Eastern Front. The authors Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock indicate that additional five aerial victories have been claimed by Korts, two of which end of June or early July 1943, and further three on 5 August 1943.
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 0516". 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 km$^2$). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.
Chronicle of aerial victories :
| This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Korts 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 ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman. ||||||||||
| Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location | Claim | Date | Time | Type | Location |
| – Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 – Eastern Front – 29 April 1942 – 3 February 1943 ||||||||||
| 1 | 6 August 1942 | 15:20 | LaGG-3 | PQ 0516 | 12 | 19 October 1942 | 07:39 | Yak-1? | PQ 44421 |
| 2 | 14 August 1942 | 09:50 | Boston | PQ 3425 | 13 | 30 October 1942 | 15:30 | LaGG-3 | PQ 44744 |
| 3 | 14 August 1942 | 10:10 | Boston | PQ 3587 | 14 | 31 October 1942 | 13:50 | LaGG-3 | PQ 44783 |
| 4 | 23 August 1942 | 11:47 | Boston | PQ 54363 | 15 | 2 November 1942 | 12:53 | LaGG-3 | PQ 44872 |
| 5 | 2 September 1942 | 12:10 | LaGG-3 | PQ 4445 | 16 | 17 November 1942 | 14:10 | Il-2 | PQ 44752, south of Salugardan |
| 6 | 2 September 1942 | 15:02 | Boston | PQ 44421 | 17 | 24 November 1942 | 08:44 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34437 south of Salugardan |
| 7 | 6 September 1942 | 17:08 | Boston | PQ 44471 | 18 | 27 November 1942 | 13:47 | Il-2 | PQ 44752, south of Salugardan |
| 8 | 7 September 1942 | 17:05 | I-153 | PQ 44357 | 19 | 27 November 1942 | 13:50 | LaGG-3 | PQ 44731 |
| 9 | 10 September 1942 | 16:45 | LaGG-3 | PQ 44454, south of Mozdok | 20 | 28 November 1942 | 10:25 | Il-2 | PQ 44761 |
| 10 | 30 September 1942 | 16:02 | Yak-1 | PQ 44613 | 21 | 28 November 1942 | 13:55 | Boston | PQ 44733 |
| 11 | 11 October 1942 | 10:34 | Boston | PQ 44724 east of Elkhotovo | 22 | 9 January 1943 | 12:30 | Boston | PQ 15491 |
| – Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 – Eastern Front – 4 February – May 1943 ||||||||||
| 23 | 15 April 1943 | 12:02 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 85113, 25 km (16 mi) east of Krymskaya vicinity of Aberbijewka | 36♠ | 26 May 1943 | 13:46 | Pe-2 | PQ 34 Ost 75333 over sea, southwest of Lobanovo |
| 24 | 15 April 1943 | 12:06? | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 85151, northeastern edge of Abinskaja vicinity of Beregowoj | 37♠ | 26 May 1943 | 17:43 | Pe-2 | PQ 34 Ost 75292 east of Neberdshajewskaja |
| 25 | 15 April 1943 | 15:03 | I-153 | PQ 34 Ost 85143, southeast of Krymskaya | 38♠ | 26 May 1943 | 17:45 | Pe-2 | PQ 34 Ost 85143, south-southeast of Krymskaya southeast of Krymsk |
| 26 | 15 April 1943 | 15:05 | I-16 | PQ 34 Ost 85142, 1 km (0.62 mi) west of Beregowoj vicinity of Beregowoj | 39♠ | 26 May 1943 | 17:48 | Pe-2 | PQ 34 Ost 85141, southeast of Krymskaya east of Krymsk |
| 27 | 21 April 1943 | 08:57 | LaGG-3? | PQ 34 Ost 75464 Black Sea, 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Kabardinka | 40♠ | 26 May 1943 | 18:05 | Spitfire | PQ 34 Ost 76894 vicinity of Kijewakoje |
| 28 | 21 April 1943 | 09:20 | LaGG-3? | PQ 34 Ost 75433 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Novorossiysk | 41♠ | 27 May 1943 | 10:37 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 85224 northwest of Georgiyeafipskaya |
| 29 | 23 April 1943 | 11:53 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 75434 vicinity of Kabardinka | 42♠ | 27 May 1943 | 14:12 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 75232, north of Krymskaya north of Krymsk |
| ? | 28 April 1943 | 16:51 | LaGG | Black Sea, south of Gelendzhik | 43♠ | 27 May 1943 | 18:00 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 76874, north of Krymskaya vicinity of Kijewakoje |
| 30 | 29 April 1943 | 13:04 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 76894 vicinity of Kijewakoje | 44♠ | 27 May 1943 | 18:09 | B-25 | PQ 34 Ost 75234 vicinity of Krymsk |
| 31 | 3 May 1943 | 16:59 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 85181 northeast of Usun | 45♠ | 27 May 1943 | 18:11 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 75232, north of Krymskaya north of Krymsk |
| 32 | 8 May 1943 | 11:18 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 85134 northwest of Nowo-Petrowskij | 46 | 28 May 1943 | 18:00 | B-25 | PQ 34 Ost 75232, north of Krymskaya north of Krymsk |
| 33 | 8 May 1943 | 11:22 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 75264, southwest of Krymskaya east of Nowo-Bakanskoja | 47 | 29 May 1943 | 18:00 | B-25 | PQ 34 Ost 75232, north of Krymskaya north of Krymsk |
| 34 | 8 May 1943 | 15:25 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 85141, southeast of Krymskaya east of Krymsk | 48 | 29 May 1943 | 18:01 | B-25 | PQ 34 Ost 75271 vicinity of Natuchajewskaja |
| 35 | 15 May 1943 | 11:12 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 85113, east of Krymskaya east of Krymsk | | | | | |
| – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 – Eastern Front – 4 February – May 1943 ||||||||||
| 49 | 1 June 1943 | 07:00 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 86741, northeast of Kijewskoje vicinity of Trojzkaja | 53 | 4 June 1943 | 17:52 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 85753 vicinity of Abinsk |
| 50? | 1 June 1943 | 07:01 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 86741, northeast of Kijewskoje | 54 | 10 June 1943 | 14:35 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 66891 over sea, south of Wennlowka |
| 51 | 1 June 1943 | 09:34 | Spitfire | PQ 34 Ost 75262 south of Krymsk | 55 | 10 June 1943 | 14:40 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 66291 Black Sea, southwest of Anapa |
| 52 | 4 June 1943 | 07:29 | La-5 | PQ 34 Ost 75232, north of Krymskaya north of Krymsk | 56 | 10 June 1943 | 14:43 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 65432 vicinity of Anapa |
| According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Korts' aerial victories numbered 57 and 58 were claimed either end of June or early July. These claims are not documented by Mathews and Foreman. ||||||||||
| 59 | 4 July 1943 | 15:12 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61172 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Krasnyi Lyman | 65 | 8 July 1943 | 14:14 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 62871 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Prokhorovka |
| 60 | 5 July 1943 | 05:25 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 52773 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Oboyan | 66 | 8 July 1943 | 17:57 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 61243 vicinity of Lutschki |
| 61 | 5 July 1943 | 11:37 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61181 vicinity west of Krasnyi Lyman | 67 | 16 July 1943 | 17:11 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 63362 25 km (16 mi) north-northwest of Maloarkhangelsk |
| 62 | 5 July 1943 | 12:11 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61182 vicinity west of Krasnyi Lyman | 68 | 17 July 1943 | 05:10 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 54751 vicinity of Khotynets |
| 63 | 5 July 1943 | 18:20 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 61424 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Belgorod | 69 | 17 July 1943 | 19:28 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 54494 west of Zubkovo |
| 64 | 6 July 1943 | 12:13 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61233 25 km (16 mi) east of Prokhorovka | 70 | 18 July 1943 | 14:28 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 54624 |
| – 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 – Eastern Front – 27 July – 29 August 1943 ||||||||||
| 71 | 28 July 1943 | 14:06 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 54662 west of Bolkhov | 93 | 7 August 1943 | 17:40 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 61562 20 km (12 mi) south-southwest of Belgorod |
| 72 | 1 August 1943 | 14:04 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 64541 vicinity of Telchje | 94 | 9 August 1943 | 16:20 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 61841 25 km (16 mi) northeast of Kharkiv |
| 73 | 3 August 1943 | 14:26 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 61273 20 km (12 mi) north-northeast of Belgorod | 95 | 10 August 1943 | 09:20 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 61731 25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Kharkiv |
| 74 | 3 August 1943 | 14:56 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61224 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Prokhorovka | 96 | 14 August 1943 | 12:30 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 51811 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Bohodukhiv |
| 75 | 3 August 1943 | 15:02 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 61193 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Krasnyi Lyman | 97 | 14 August 1943 | 12:32 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 51811 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Bohodukhiv |
| 76 | 3 August 1943 | 18:35 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61473 5 km (3.1 mi) south of Belgorod | 98 | 15 August 1943 | 06:23 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 70723 vicinity of Izium |
| 77♠ | 4 August 1943 | 05:05 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61332, northwest of Belgorod 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Tomarovka | 99 | 17 August 1943 | 05:25 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 70754 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Izium |
| 78♠ | 4 August 1943 | 07:40 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61332, northwest of Belgorod 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Tomarovka | 100 | 17 August 1943 | 05:25 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 70754 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Izium |
| 79♠ | 4 August 1943 | 12:44 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61354 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Tomarovka | 101 | 18 August 1943 | 05:55 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 70752 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Izium |
| 80♠ | 4 August 1943 | 12:52 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61324 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Krasnyi Lyman | 102♠ | 19 August 1943 | 10:08 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 88282, west of Kuybyshev 5 km (3.1 mi) southeast of Jalisawehino |
| 81♠ | 4 August 1943 | 13:06 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 61414 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Belgorod | 103♠ | 19 August 1943 | 10:09 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 88263 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Maryniwka |
| 82♠ | 4 August 1943 | 16:10 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61482 15 km (9.3 mi) southeast of Belgorod | 104♠ | 19 August 1943 | 13:40 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 88274 15 km (9.3 mi) west-northwest of Jalisawehino |
| 83♠ | 4 August 1943 | 18:39 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61354 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Tomarovka | 105♠ | 19 August 1943 | 16:37 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 88161 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Kuteinykove |
| 84♠ | 4 August 1943 | 18:40 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61323 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Krasnyi Lyman | 106♠ | 19 August 1943 | 16:37 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 88162 10 km (6.2 mi) northeast of Kuteinykove |
| 85♠ | 4 August 1943 | 18:53 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61354 15 km (9.3 mi) west of Tomarovka | 107 | 20 August 1943 | 06:10 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 88262 vicinity of Jalisawehino |
| 86 | 5 August 1943 | 07:02 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61352 10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Belgorod | 108 | 20 August 1943 | 15:58 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 88262 vicinity of Jalisawehino |
| 87 | 5 August 1943 | 09:40 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 61443 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Belgorod | 109 | 21 August 1943 | 14:58 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 88291, west of Kuybyshev 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Jalisawehino |
| 88? | 5 August 1943 | — | LaGG-3 | | 110 | 22 August 1943 | 13:58 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 88281 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Jalisawehino |
| 89? | 5 August 1943 | — | LaGG-3 | | 111 | 22 August 1943 | 18:12 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 88422 20 km (12 mi) south of Jalisawehino |
| 90? | 5 August 1943 | — | LaGG-3 | | 112 | 22 August 1943 | 18:14 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 88422 20 km (12 mi) south of Jalisawehino |
| 91 | 6 August 1943 | 16:04 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 61441 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Belgorod | 113 | 23 August 1943 | 06:07 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 34 Ost 88252, Marinowka 25 km (16 mi) east-northeast of Kuteinykove |
| 92 | 7 August 1943 | 17:40 | Il-2 m.H. | PQ 35 Ost 61534 15 km (9.3 mi) southwest of Belgorod | | | | | |

### Awards

* Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
* Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 1 February 1943 as Feldwebel and pilot
* German Cross in Gold on 12 July 1943 as Leutnant in the Stab III./Jagdgeschwader 52
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 August 1943 as Leutnant and pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 52