1. Max Stotz was an Austrian Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with shooting down 189 enemy aircraft claimed in more than 700 combat missions.
18 Facts About Max Stotz
1. 2.
Max Stotz flew his first combat missions in the Invasion of Poland and claimed his first aerial victory during the "Phoney War" period on the Western Front.
3.
In early August 1943, Max Stotz was appointed Staffelkapitan of the 5.
4.
Max Stotz was posted as missing in action after aerial combat near Vitebsk on 19 August 1943.
5.
Max Stotz was born on 13 February 1912 in Mannsworth, at the time in Austria-Hungary.
6.
Max Stotz was the son of a farmer and joined the military service in the Austrian Army on 7 April 1933.
7.
Max Stotz initially served as a Gebirgsjager with Alpenjager-Regiment 11 in Klagenfurt.
8.
From 24 November 1936 to 5 May 1938, Max Stotz served with Flieger-Regiment 1 at Wiener Neustadt.
9.
That day, Max Stotz claimed the destruction of a Curtiss P-36 Hawk fighter west of Epernay.
10.
Three days later, Max Stotz claimed his last aerial victory on the Western Front over a Blenheim bomber south of Rotterdam.
11.
Max Stotz was awarded the Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 20 September 1940.
12.
The next day, Max Stotz claimed his first aerial victory in this theater of operations over a Tupolev SB-2 bomber in the vicinity of Ostrov.
13.
On 29 October 1942, Max Stotz was credited with his 100th aerial victory.
14.
Max Stotz was the 29th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.
15.
Max Stotz was the 137th member of the German armed forces to be so honored.
16.
On 30 December 1942, Max Stotz claimed 10 aerial victories, bringing his total to 129.
17.
Max Stotz was promoted to Oberleutnant on 1 February 1943.
18.
Max Stotz was last seen drifting down over Soviet held territory.