Strana 44
WNr. 611975, Stab II./JG 52, Neubiberg, Germany, May 1945
WNr. 611xx2, Jasta 5 der ROA, Deutsch Brod, Protektorat Böhmen und Mähren,
May 1945
The markings on this aircraft identify it as
the wingman of the commander of II./JG 52,
Maj. Wilhelm Batz. Batz was assigned to the
staff of II./JG 52 on the Eastern Front in February
1943. He achieved his first victory on March 11,
1943, and was appointed commander of 5./JG 52
in May. By March 1944, he had achieved his 100th
victory and was made commander of III./JG 52
in April. In early February 1945, he assumed
command of II./JG 52, which at the time was
fighting in Hungary. His final 237th victory was
recorded on April 16, 1945. Five days later, he was
awarded the Swords to the Knight’s Cross with
Oak Leaves. On May 8, 1945, Batz and his unit
flew into captivity, transferring from Zeltweg in
Austria to Bad Aibling in Bavaria, accompanied
by a formation of Thunderbolts during the final
leg of the journey. This particular aircraft was
photographed at Neubiberg airfield near Munich.
The pilot who flew this plane into captivity was
Uffz. Anton Kellmayer (3 victories) of 7./JG 52.
Jasta 5 of the Russian Liberation Army (ROA)
was stationed at the base in Deutsch Brod (now
Havlíčkův Brod) in occupied Bohemia at the
beginning of March 1945. Along with Ju 87D-5
dive bombers of Nachtschlachtstaffel 8 der ROA,
the Jasta 5 der ROA participated in the retreat
battles of German forces during the Battle of
Brno in April 1945. The unit was commanded by
Major Semyon Trofimovich Bychkov, a former
Soviet pilot. Flying Hurricane, Yak-7, and La-5
planes, he achieved 15 victories, completed
230 combat missions, and was awarded the
prestigious title of Hero of the Soviet Union.
While serving with the 482nd IAP, he was shot
down by flak and captured on December 10, 1943.
Initially cooperating with the Luftwaffe as ferry
pilot, he later took part in anti-partisan aerial
operations in the Baltic region and ultimately
became the commander of the Jasta 5 fighter
unit, nicknamed Oberst Kazakov. At the end of
the war, he surrendered to Americans but was
later handed over to the Soviets and executed
on November 4, 1946. This Bf 109, in the typical
camouflage pattern of machines produced at
the WNF factory, bore the ROA markings on the
tail in the form of a St. Andrew’s cross.
KITS 02/2025
INFO Eduard44
February 2025