{{short description|German World War II fighter pilot}} {{Use dmy dates|date=November 2019}} {{Use American English|date=September 2023}} {{Infobox military person |name=Emil Bitsch |birth_date={{birth date|1916|6|14|df=y}} |death_date={{death date and age|1944|3|15|1916|6|14|df=y}} |birth_place=Baden, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire |death_place=near Schijndel, German-occupied Netherlands |death_cause=Killed in action |burial_place=Ysselsteyn German war cemetery, Netherlands |image=File:Emil Bitsch.jpg |caption= |nickname=''Birth'' |allegiance={{flag|Nazi Germany}} |branch={{air force|Nazi Germany}} |service_years= |rank=''Hauptmann'' (captain) |commands=8./JG 3 |unit=JG 3 |battles={{hidden |''See battles'' |World War II *Operation Barbarossa *Eastern Front :*Battle of Stalingrad *Defense of the Reich {{KIA}} :*Second Raid on Schweinfurt |- |headerstyle=background:#dbdbdb |style=text-align:center; }} |awards=Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |other_work= }}
'''Emil Bitsch''' (14 June 1916 – 15 March 1944) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. He was one of the most successful pilots on the Eastern Front; being credited with 108 aerial victories. He claimed 104 over the Eastern Front and four four-engine bombers over the Western Front.{{sfn|Spick|1996|p=232}} He may have been the pilot that shot down Soviet female ace Yekaterina Budanova. Bitsch was killed in action against United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) fighters on 15 March 1944.
==Career== Bitsch was born on 14 June 1916 in Bad Griesbach in the Grand Duchy of Baden within the German Empire.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=89}}
World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. In July 1941, Bitsch served with III. ''Gruppe'' (3rd group) of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 3 (JG 3–3rd Fighter Wing), based on the Eastern Front and under the command of Walter Oesau.{{refn|On 1 December 1941, JG 3 was given the honorary name "Udet" following the suicide of World War I fighter pilot and Luftwaffe ''Generalleutnant'' Ernst Udet.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|2002|p=12}}|group="Note"}} The Wehrmacht had launched Operation Barbarossa, the invasion of the Soviet Union, on 22 June 1941. III. ''Gruppe'' supported Army Group South in its strategic goal towards the heavily populated and agricultural heartland of Ukraine, taking Kiev before continuing eastward over the steppes of southern USSR to the Volga with the aim of controlling the oil-rich Caucasus.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=105}}
Operating from an airfield at Lutsk, Bitsch claimed his first victory on 2 July over an Ilyushin Il-2.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|pp=111, 478}} He had a total of five victories by the end of the year. He claimed two Russian Yak-4 twin-engine fighters which were shot down on 24 June 1942 to claim his 9th and 10th victories. In July, he claimed 15 victories, including his 20th 'kill' which he shot down on 13 July. Bitsch recorded 18 victories in August, including his 30th victim shot down on 16 August; his score had risen to 40 on 28 August.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=89}} On 6 November, III. ''Gruppe'' was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and sent to Mannheim-Sandhofen Airfield for a period of rest and replenishment. The first elements of the ''Gruppe'' arrived by train in Mannheim on 8 December, the transfer was completed a week later. There, the personnel was sent on home leave.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=122}} The ''Gruppe'' received a full complement of 41 Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 aircraft and on 6 January 1942 was ordered to relocated to Sicily. On 13 January, 7. ''Staffel'' and elements of 8. and 9. ''Staffel'' boarded a train to Bari in southern Italy while the rest of III. ''Gruppe'' headed for Sciacca, Sicily. The relocation progressed until 26 January when new orders were received, ordering the ''Gruppe'' to return to Germany. At Jesau near Königsberg, present-day Kaliningrad in Russia, III. ''Gruppe'' began preparations for redeployment to the Eastern Front again.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|pp=150, 152}}
On 4 September 1942, ''Oberleutnant'' Bitsch was shot down by anti aircraft artillery northwest of Stalingrad. He bailed out of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 (''Werknummer'' 13325—factory number) and landed safely but suffered light injuries in the incident.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=452}} He later returned to combat duty and continued flying. Bitsch claimed his 50th aerial victory on 19 March 1943, this was also III. ''Gruppe''{{'}}s 1,600 aerial victory to date.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=204}} On 1 June 1943, Bitsch succeeded ''Oberleunant'' Franz Beyer who was transferred to IV. ''Gruppe'' as ''Staffelkapitän'' (squadron leader) of 8./JG 3.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=442}} In July, ''Oberleutnant'' Bitsch claimed 29 aerial victories. On 5 July, he became an "ace-in-a-day",{{sfn|Weal|2007|p=68}} including three Ilyushin Il-2 ground-attack aircraft on one mission.{{sfn|Bergström|2007|p=31}} On 19 July he shot a Yakovlev Yak-1 down on the Mius front, possibly flown by Soviet female ace Yekaterina Budanova.{{sfn|Robison|2016|p=118}} He recorded his 100th victory on 21 July 1943 over a Lavochkin La-5.{{sfn|Weal|2013|p=50}}{{sfn|Weal|2007|p=69}} He was the 46th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.{{sfn|Obermaier|1989|p=243}} III. ''Gruppe'' flew its last combat missions on the Eastern Front on 1 August 1943. The next day, the ''Gruppe'' was ordered to Chasiv Yar and then back to Germany where it was based at Münster-Handorf Airfield.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=214}}
===Defense of the Reich and death=== thumb|right|upright=1.4|Combat box of a 12-plane B-17 squadron. Three such boxes completed a 36-plane group box. {{ordered list |1=Lead Element |2=High Element |3=Low Element |4=Low Low Element}} III. ''Gruppe'' arrived in Münster-Handorf on 3 August where it was placed under the command of ''Major'' Walther Dahl.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=265}} Dahl had been appointed ''Gruppenkommandeur'' (group commander) on 20 July 1943.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=442}} The ''Gruppe'' immediately began preparations for Defense of the Reich ({{lang|de|Reichsverteidigung}}) missions and was subordinated to Fighter Leader for the Holland area ({{lang|de|Jagdfliegerführer Holland}}).{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=265}} Bitsch was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross ({{lang|de|Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes}}) on 29 August after 104 victories claimed on the Eastern Front.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=107}} On 25 August, III. ''Gruppe'' was ordered to relocate to Bad Wörishofen in southern Germany.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=271}} On 1 October, the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) attacked German aircraft production, approaching from the south, targeting the ''Wiener Neustadt Flugzeugwerke'' (WNF) in Wiener Neustadt and other targets at Friedrichshafen. At 12:30, III. ''Gruppe'' was scrambled. Approximately one hour later, the ''Gruppe'' intercepted the flight of 50 to 60 Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers and 25 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers. In aerial combat which in parts was fought in Swiss airspace, III. ''Gruppe'', without loss, claimed four aerial victories and three ''Herausschüsse'' (separation shots–a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from its combat box and which the Luftwaffe counted as an aerial victory).{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|pp=274–275}} In this engagement, Bitsch claimed the destruction of a B-17 which was shot down at 13:44.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=501}}
On 14 October, the USAAF Eighth Air Force (USAAF) launched the second Schweinfurt raid, attacking the vital ball bearing factories at Schweinfurt. In total, 291 B-17s from the 1st and 3rd Air Division, escorted by two fighter groups, were sent on the mission. The USAAF suffered heavy losses that day. III. ''Gruppe'' claimed eighteen aerial victories and ''Herausschüsse'' that day.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|pp=276–277}} A B-17 destroyed at 14:45 was credited to Bitsch.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=501}} On 19 December, the Fifteenth Air Force targeted the railroad transportation infrastructure at Insbruck as well as Messerschmitt aircraft manufacturing sites at Augsburg. III. ''Gruppe'' intercepted the bombers near Insbruck and claimed eight aerial victories, among them, a B-17 shot down by Bitsch.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|pp=279, 501}}
Because the weather conditions at Bad Wörishofen rendered the airfield unserviceable, III. ''Gruppe'' was ordered to relocate to Leipheim on 18 February 1944.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=282}} Bitsch claimed his 108th and last aerial victory on 23 February during the USAAF "Big Week" operation.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|pp=284, 502}} On 15 March 1944, 344 heavy bombers of 2nd and 3rd Air Division, escorted by 588 fighter aircraft, attacked German aircraft manufacturing at Braunschweig. At 10:57, 20 aircraft from III. ''Gruppe'' took off at Leipheim and were initially ordered to Wiesbaden-Erbenheim. While the flight was still airborne, the ''Gruppe'' received further instructions and were vectored to intercept the USAAF bombers on their return from the target area. In the vicinity of Volkel in North Brabant, Netherlands, III. ''Gruppe'' came under attack of approximately 20 to 30 Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters. In this engagement, III. ''Gruppe'' lost six Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 fighters for one aerial victory claimed.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=292}} That day, Bitsch was shot down and killed in action by a P-47 of the 352d Fighter Group in his Bf 109 G-6 (''Werknummer'' 161139) {{Convert|4|km|mi|abbr=off|sp=us}} west of Schijndel.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|pp=292, 459}}{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=107}} Bitsch was succeeded by ''Oberleutnant'' Raimund Koch as commander of 8. ''Staffel''.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Bock|2018|p=337}}
==Post-war== thumb|right|German War Cemetery Ysselsteyn – Emil Bitsch Bitsch is buried at the German war cemetery at Ysselsteyn (in the Netherlands). The crash site was rediscovered in 1994 by Thijs Hellings, a researcher of the World War II airwar from Schijndel. With help from the landowner, remains of the plane were recovered including the radio, armored glass, the compass and many other small items.{{sfn|Milanetti|2013|pp=253–254}}
==Summary of career== ===Aerial victory claims=== According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Bitsch was credited with 108 aerial victories.{{sfn|Zabecki|2019|p=330}} Mathews and Foreman, authors of ''Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims'', researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 106 aerial victory claims. This figure includes 105 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and one four-engined bomber on the Western Front.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|pp=107–109}}
Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = ''Planquadrat''), for example "PQ 34 Ost 7546". The Luftwaffe grid map ({{lang|de|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 {{Convert|360|sqmi|sqkm}}. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area {{Convert|3|x|4|km|mi|abbr=on|sp=us}} in size.{{sfn|''Planquadrat''}}
{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders collapsible" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; border: none; text-align:right; width: 100%;" |- ! colspan="10" | Chronicle of aerial victories |- | colspan="10" style="text-align: left;" | {{legend|#fbec5d;|This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Bitsch an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day. |border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#C0EFBA|This along with the * (asterisk) indicates an ''Herausschuss'' (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from his combat box which was counted as an aerial victory.|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} {{legend|#faecc8|This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.|border=1px solid #AAAAAA}} |- !scope="col"| Claim !scope="col"| Date !scope="col"| Time !scope="col" width="100px"| Type !scope="col"| Location !scope="col" style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | Claim !scope="col"| Date !scope="col"| Time !scope="col" width="100px"| Type !scope="col"| Location |- ! colspan="10" | – 8. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 3 –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=107}}<br /><small>Operation Barbarossa – 22 June – 5 December 1941</small> |- | 1 | 2 July 1941 | 12:28 | V-11 (Il-2){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=140}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 4 | 3 October 1941 | 14:42 | V-11 (Il-2){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=148}} | |- | 2 | 10 July 1941 | 14:45 | I-16 | {{Convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Sabelotschje{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=140}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 5 | 5 October 1941 | 14:38 | SB-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=148}} | |- | 3 | 20 September 1941 | 17:06 | Pe-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=147}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 6 | 5 November 1941 | 11:55 | I-61 (MiG-3){{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2003|p=149}} | |- ! colspan="10" | – 8. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 3 "Udet" –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=108}}<br /><small>Eastern Front – 10 February 1942 – 14 April 1942</small> |- | 7 | 26 February 1942 | 14:33 | I-301 (LaGG-3) | south of Staraya Russa{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=33}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 9 | 19 March 1942 | 08:57 | I-61 (MiG-3) | {{Convert|30|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Staraya Russa{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=35}} |- | 8 | 15 March 1942 | 12:58 | Pe-2 | {{Convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Demyansk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2005|p=35}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="12" | – 8. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 3 "Udet" –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=108}}<br /><small>Eastern Front – 19 May – 13 August 1942</small> |- | 10 | 24 June 1942 | 18:12 | Yak-4 | northeast of Shchigry{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=215}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 21 | 13 July 1942 | 09:58 | R-10{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=217}} | |- | 11 | 24 June 1942 | 18:17 | Yak-4 | northeast of Stary Tschenoissinowo{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=215}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 22 | 26 July 1942 | 16:15 | LaGG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=219}} | |- | 12 | 2 July 1942 | 07:00 | MiG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=216}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 23 | 26 July 1942 | 16:18 | LaGG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=219}} | |- | 13 | 2 July 1942 | 12:10 | Boston{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=216}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 24 | 28 July 1942 | 13:13 | LaGG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=219}} | |- | 14 | 2 July 1942 | 12:13 | Boston{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=216}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 25 | 31 July 1942 | 11:05 | Pe-2 | southeast of Kalach{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=219}} |- | 15 | 3 July 1942 | 19:25 | Il-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=216}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 26 | 31 July 1942 | 11:42 | Il-2 | west of Kletskaya{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=219}} |- | 16 | 3 July 1942 | 19:26 | Il-2{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=216}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 27 | 7 August 1942 | 17:40 | Pe-2 | southwest of Stalingrad{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=220}} |- | 17 | 4 July 1942 | 17:16 | Boston{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=216}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 28 | 7 August 1942 | 17:41 | Pe-2 | {{Convert|40|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Stalingrad{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=220}} |- | 18 | 4 July 1942 | 17:17 | Boston{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=216}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 29 | 12 August 1942 | 18:00 | LaGG-3 | southeast of Kalach |- | 19 | 5 July 1942 | 06:20 | Yak-4{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=217}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 30 | 13 August 1942 | 09:35 | MiG-3 | north of Pasow{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=220}} |- | 20 | 5 July 1942 | 06:22 | Yak-4{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=217}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="12" | – 9. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 3 "Udet" –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=108}}<br /><small>Eastern Front – 16 August 1942 – 3 February 1943</small> |- | 31 | 16 August 1942 | 09:35 | MiG-3 | {{Convert|5|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Jagowo{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=220}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 40 | 28 August 1942 | 17:00 | LaGG-3 | northeast of Stalingrad{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=222}} |- | 32 | 19 August 1942 | 17:50 | Il-2 | southeast of Katschalinskaya{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=220}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 41 | 28 August 1942 | 17:20 | Il-2 | east of Stalingrad{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=222}} |- | 33 | 19 August 1942 | 17:55 | R-5 | southeast of Katschalinskaya{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=220}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 42 | 29 August 1942 | 06:05 | LaGG-3 | northwest of Dubovka{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=222}} |- | 34 | 20 August 1942 | 16:22 | Pe-2 | south-southwest of Rajgorod{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=220}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 43 | 30 August 1942 | 16:50 | Il-2 | west of Sarepta{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=222}} |- | 35 | 20 August 1942 | 16:26 | Pe-2 | west of Lake Svetlija{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=220}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 44 | 31 August 1942 | 10:45 | Il-2 | east of Sarepta{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=222}} |- | 36 | 21 August 1942 | 17:40 | LaGG-3 | east of Stalingrad{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=221}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 45 | 2 September 1942 | 17:10 | Pe-2 | {{Convert|21|km|mi|abbr=on}} northeast of Stalingrad{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=222}} |- | 37 | 25 August 1942 | 05:30 | R-5 | Stalingrad{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=221}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 46 | 2 September 1942 | 17:11 | Pe-2 | {{Convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} northeast of Stalingrad{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=222}} |- | 38 | 27 August 1942 | 05:25 | I-16 | Akhtuba{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=221}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 47 | 4 September 1942 | 06:55 | Il-2 | {{Convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}} west of Stalingrad{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=223}} |- | 39 | 27 August 1942 | 15:20 | LaGG-3 | north-northwest of Akhtuba{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2006|p=221}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="12" | – 8. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 3 "Udet" –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=108}}<br /><small>Eastern Front – 4 February – March 1943</small> |- | 48 | 9 March 1943 | 11:35 | Yak-1 | Petrovsky{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=127}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | ?{{refn|This claim is listed by Mathews and Foreman as Bitsch's 50th aerial victory.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=108}} It is also listed by Prien and Stemmer in their 1996 history of III. ''Gruppe'' of JG 3 "Udet" as his 50th claim.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=496}} However, this claim is not listed in the 2008 edition of "The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/II—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1943" by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=127}}|group="Note"}} | 16 March 1943 | 15:15 | style="background:#faecc8" | La-5?{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=496}}{{refn|According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Yakovlev Yak-4.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=108}}|group="Note"}} | |- | 49 | 9 March 1943 | 11:37 | Yak-1 | southwest of Petrovsky{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=127}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="12" | – 9. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 3 "Udet" –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=216}}<br /><small>Eastern Front – March – April 1943</small> |- | 50 | 19 March 1943 | 10:38 | Il-2 | {{Convert|3|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Stary{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=128}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 55 | 23 April 1943 | 09:15 | P-39 | PQ 34 Ost 7546, Kabardinka{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=128}} |- | 51 | 20 March 1943 | 08:45 | LaGG-3 | {{Convert|10|km|mi|abbr=on}} southwest of Rostov-on-Don{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=128}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 56 | 27 April 1943 | 04:45 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 8812, southeast of Makiivka{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}} |- | 52 | 23 March 1943 | 15:46 | Il-2 | {{Convert|12|km|mi|abbr=on}} east of Chuhuiv{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=128}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 57 | 27 April 1943 | 04:50 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 8823, southeast of Makiivka{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}} |- | 53 | 25 March 1943 | 13:50 | LaGG-3 | {{Convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Rostov-on-Don{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=128}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 58 | 27 April 1943 | 04:52 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 8979, east of Makiivka{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}} |- | 54 | 20 April 1943 | 08:35 | LaGG-3{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=128}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 59 | 29 April 1943 | 09:20 | R-5 | PQ 34 Ost 9868, south of Massalskoje{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}} |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?{{refn|This claim is listed by Mathews and Foreman as Bitsch's 56th aerial victory.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=108}} However, this claim is not listed in the 2008 edition of "The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/II—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1943" by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}}|group="Note"}} | 20 April 1943 | 11:05 | Il-2 | {{Convert|2|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Novorossiysk | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="12" | – 8. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 3 "Udet" –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=109}}<br /><small>Eastern Front – 4 February – 1 August 1943</small> |- | style="background:#faecc8" | 60?<ref group="Note" name="not listed"/> | 2 May 1943 | 06:05 | LaGG-3 | east of Starobilsk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 83 | 8 July 1943 | 05:57 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 6123, southeast of Prokhorovka{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=132}} |- | 61 | 6 May 1943 | 18:10 | Il-2 | southeast of Slavyansk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 84 | 8 July 1943 | 13:02 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 6127, north of Belgorod{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=132}} |- | 62 | 6 May 1943 | 18:13 | Il-2 | east of Krasnyi Lyman{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 85 | 8 July 1943 | 13:12 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 6124, north of Belgorod{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=132}} |- | 63 | 9 May 1943 | 06:55 | LaGG-3 | Bataysk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 86 | 11 July 1943 | 13:35 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 6124, southeast of Werchopenje{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | 64 | 9 May 1943 | 16:10 | Pe-2 | northeast of Krasnyi Lyman{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 87 | 11 July 1943 | 13:35 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 6124, southeast of Werchopenje{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | 65 | 12 May 1943 | 05:05 | Il-2 | southwest of Izium{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 88 | 13 July 1943 | 05:39 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 6287, west of Prokhorovka{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | 66 | 14 May 1943 | 17:35 | Il-2 | east of Pribodnoje{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 89 | 13 July 1943 | 05:41 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 6288, west of Prokhorovka{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | 67 | 24 May 1943 | 07:14 | I-16 | west of Bataysk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 90 | 15 July 1943 | 18:10 | Pe-2 | PQ 35 Ost 7072, Izium{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | 68 | 24 May 1943 | 07:17 | I-16 | west of Bataysk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=129}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 91 | 16 July 1943 | 04:57 | La-5 | east of Izium{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | 69 | 10 June 1943 | 08:45 | La-5 | north of Starobilsk-Ost{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=130}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 92 | 16 July 1943 | 18:25 | Yak-1 | PQ 34 Ost 89142{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | 70 | 11 June 1943 | 11:01 | La-5 | east of Pokrowskoje{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=130}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 93 | 17 July 1943 | 10:25 | Il-2 | {{Convert|8|km|mi|abbr=on}} south of Izium{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | 71 | 13 June 1943 | 04:05 | LaGG-3 | southeast of Starobilsk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=130}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 94 | 19 July 1943 | 05:35 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 7087, southeast of Izium{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | 72 | 13 June 1943 | 04:15 | LaGG-3 | east of Starobilsk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=130}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 95 | 19 July 1943 | 05:42 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 7085, southeast of Izium{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | 73 | 15 June 1943 | 17:34 | LaGG-3 | north of Starobilsk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=130}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 96 | 19 July 1943 | 05:45 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 7068, northeast of Izium{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | 74 | 2 July 1943 | 09:40 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 7922, southeast of Sslawjansk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=131}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 97 | 19 July 1943 | 12:10 | Yak-1 | PQ 35 Ost 9814{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | style="background:#fbec5d;" | 75♠ | 5 July 1943 | style="background:#faecc8" | 03:21?{{Refn|According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 07:47.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=109}}|group="Note"}} | Il-2 | east of Belgorod{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=131}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 98 | 20 July 1943 | 04:15 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 7075, Izium{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | style="background:#fbec5d;" | 76♠ | 5 July 1943 | 03:25 | Il-2 | east of Belgorod{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=131}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 99 | 20 July 1943 | 04:20 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 7072, Izium{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | style="background:#fbec5d;" | 77♠ | 5 July 1943 | 07:42 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 61184, west of Volchansk{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=131}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 100 | 21 July 1943 | 14:14 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 7913, northwest of Sslawjank{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=133}} |- | style="background:#fbec5d;" | 78♠ | 5 July 1943 | 07:51 | Il-2 | northwest of Prokhorovka{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=131}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 101 | 31 July 1943 | 05:35 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 8826{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=134}} |- | style="background:#fbec5d;" | 79♠ | 5 July 1943 | 12:35 | LaGG-3 | PQ 35 Ost 6133, southeast of Prokhorovka{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=131}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 102 | 31 July 1943 | 05:55 | LaGG-3 | PQ 34 Ost 8823{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=134}} |- | style="background:#fbec5d;" | 80♠ | 5 July 1943 | 16:40 | Il-5 | PQ 35 Ost 6149, southeast of Belgorod{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=131}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 103 | 1 August 1943 | 10:30 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 8822{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=134}} |- | 81 | 7 July 1943 | 04:15 | Il-2 | PQ 35 Ost 6162, southeast of Belgorod{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=132}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 104 | 1 August 1943 | 10:32 | Il-2 | PQ 34 Ost 8825{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=134}} |- | 82 | 7 July 1943 | 17:15 | La-5 | PQ 35 Ost 6127, east of Jakowlewo{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2012|p=132}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |- ! colspan="10" | – 8. ''Staffel'' of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 3 "Udet" –{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|p=109}}<br /><small>Defense of the Reich – 8 August 1943 – 15 March 1944</small> |- | style="background:#faecc8" | ?{{refn|This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.{{sfn|Mathews|Foreman|2014|pp=501–502}}|group="Note"|name="not listed"}}{{refn|This claim is also not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2008|p=329}}|group="Note"}} | 1 October 1943 | 13:44 | B-17{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=501}} | | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | 107 | 19 December 1943 | 12:28 | B-17{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=501}} | PQ 04 Ost S/KC{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2008|p=329}} |- | style="background:#faecc8" | 105?<ref group="Note" name="not listed"/> | 14 October 1943 | 14:45 | B-17{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=501}} | southeast of Schweinfurt{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2008|p=329}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey; background:#faecc8" | 108?<ref group="Note" name="not listed"/> | 23 February 1944 | {{Center|—}} | B-24{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=502}} | |- | style="background:#faecc8" | 106?<ref group="Note" name="not listed"/>{{refn|This claim is also not listed by Prien and Stemmer.{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|1996|p=501}}|group="Note"}} | 14 October 1943 | 14:55 | style="background:#C0EFBA" | B-17* | north of Arnstein{{sfn|Prien|Stemmer|Rodeike|Bock|2008|p=329}} | style="border-left: 3px solid grey;" | | | | | |}
===Awards=== * Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class{{sfn|Dixon|2023|p=31}} * Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 31 August 1942 as ''Leutnant'' and pilot{{sfn|Patzwall|2008|p=52}} * German Cross in Gold on 19 October 1942 as a ''Leutnant'' in the I./''Jagdgeschwader'' 3{{sfn|Patzwall|Scherzer|2001|p=44}} * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 29 August 1943 as an ''Oberleutnant'' (war officer) and ''Staffelkapitän'' of the 8./''Jagdgeschwader'' 3 "Udet"{{sfn|Scherzer|2007|p=223}}{{sfn|Fellgiebel|2000|p=134}}
==Notes== {{Reflist|group="Note"}}
==References==
===Citations=== {{Reflist|25em}}
===Bibliography=== {{Refbegin|30em}} * {{Cite book |last=Bergström |first=Christer |author-link=:sv:Christer Bergström |year=2007 |title=Kursk—The Final Air Battle: July 1943 |location=Hersham, Surrey |publisher=Classic Publications |isbn=978-1-903223-88-8 }} * {{Cite web |last=Bergström |first=Christer |author-link=:sv:Christer Bergström |work=Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat |title= Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website |url= http://www.bergstrombooks.elknet.pl/bc-rs/planquadrat.htm |access-date=29 March 2019 |ref={{sfnRef|''Planquadrat''}} }} * {{Cite book |last=Dixon |first=Jeremy |year=2023 |title=Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945 |location=Barnsley |publisher=Pen and Sword Books |isbn=978-1-39903-073-1 }} * {{Cite book |last=Fellgiebel |first=Walther-Peer |author-link=:de:Walther-Peer Fellgiebel |year=2000 |orig-year=1986 |title=Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile |trans-title=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 |language=de |location=Friedberg, Germany |publisher=Podzun-Pallas |isbn=978-3-7909-0284-6 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Mathews |first1=Andrew Johannes |last2=Foreman |first2=John |year=2014 |title=Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims – Volume 1 A–F |location=Walton on Thames |publisher=Red Kite |isbn=978-1-906592-18-9 }} * {{Cite book |last=Milanetti |first=Gian Piero |year=2013 |title=Soviet Airwomen of the Great Patriotic War - A pictorial history |location=Rome, Italy |publisher=Istituto Bibliografico Napoleone |isbn=978-88-7565-146-6 }} * {{Cite book |last=Obermaier |first=Ernst |year=1989 |title=Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 |trans-title=The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945 |language=de |location=Mainz, Germany |publisher=Verlag Dieter Hoffmann |isbn=978-3-87341-065-7 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Patzwall |first1=Klaus D. |last2=Scherzer |first2=Veit |year=2001 |title=Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II |trans-title=The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2 |language=de |location=Norderstedt, Germany |publisher=Verlag Klaus D. 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German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-77-9 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Prien |first1=Jochen |last2=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Rodeike |first3=Peter |last4=Bock |first4=Winfried |year=2008 |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 10/II—Reichsverteidigung—1.1. bis 31.12.1943 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 10/II—Defense of the Reich—1 January to 31 December 1943 |language=de |location=Eutin, Germany |publisher=Struve-Druck |isbn=978-3-923457-85-4 }} * {{Cite book |last1=Prien |first1=Jochen |last2=Stemmer |first2=Gerhard |last3=Rodeike |first3=Peter |last4=Bock |first4=Winfried |year=2012 |title=Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/I—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 |trans-title=The Fighter Units of the German 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Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives |trans-title=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 |language=de |location=Jena, Germany |publisher=Scherzers Militaer-Verlag |isbn=978-3-938845-17-2 }} * {{Cite book |last=Spick |first=Mike |year=1996 |title=Luftwaffe Fighter Aces |location=New York |publisher=Ivy Books |isbn=978-0-8041-1696-1 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/luftwaffefighter00mike }} * {{Cite book |last=Weal |first=John |year=2007 |title=More Bf 109 Aces of the Russian Front |series=Aircraft of the Aces |volume=76 |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1-84603-177-9 }} * {{Cite book |last=Weal |first=John |year=2013 |title=Aces of Jagdgeschwader 3 'Udet' |series=Aircraft of the Aces |volume=116 |location=Oxford, UK |publisher=Osprey Publishing |isbn=978-1-78096-298-6 }} * {{Cite book |editor-last=Zabecki |editor-first=David T. |editor-link=David T. Zabecki |year=2019 |title=The German War Machine in World War II |location=Santa Barbara, California |publisher=ABC-Clio |isbn=978-1-44-086918-1 }} {{Refend}}
{{Top German World War II Aces}} {{Knight's Cross recipients of JG 3}} {{Subject bar | portal1=Aviation | portal2=Biography }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bitsch, Emil}} Category:1916 births Category:1944 deaths Category:Luftwaffe pilots Category:German World War II flying aces Category:Luftwaffe personnel killed in World War II Category:Recipients of the Gold German Cross Category:Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Category:Burials at Ysselsteyn German war cemetery Category:Military personnel from Baden-Württemberg Category:People from the Republic of Baden