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Paul Billik

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Paul Billik
Born(1891-03-27)27 March 1891
Haatsch,Province of Silesia,German Empire(nowCzech Republic)
Died8 March 1926(1926-03-08)(aged 34)
Berlin, Germany
Buried
Unknown
AllegianceGermany
Service/branchInfantry, Air Service
Years of service1911–1918
RankLeutnant
Unit157th Infantry Regiment;
Fliegerersatz-Abteilung 4;
Schutzstaffel 4;
Jagdstaffel 12;
Jagdstaffel 7;
Jadgstaffel 52
Commands heldJadgstaffel 52
AwardsHouse Order of Hohenzollern;
Iron Cross

Paul Billik(27 March 1891 – 8 March 1926) was a German World War Ifighter acecredited with 31 victories. He was killed in a flying accident while pioneering civil aviation.

His life before aviation[edit]

Billik was born on 27 March 1891 inHaatschin the Silesian region of what was then Germany,[1]and is now the Czech Republic. He attended school in Ratibor (Racibórz) until 1910.[citation needed]

In 1911, he joined the 157th Infantry Regiment of the12th Divisionand was based in Brzeg. He was promoted up to the rank of corporal during the next two years. He was still in this regiment when World War I started, and he went into battle with it. In November 1915, he received a commission, apparently on the battlefield, which suggests uncommon courage and ability.[citation needed]In May 1916, he transferred to theFliegertruppefor aviation training.[1]

Flying service[edit]

See also:Aerial victory standards of World War IandList of aerial victories of Paul Billik

Billik trained withFliegerersatz-Abteilung 4.From January through 26 March 1917 he flew defensive patrols withSchutzstaffel 4,and he trained to fly single seatfighter aircraft.[2]On 1 April 1917 he joined the PrussianJagdstaffel 12,which was soon commanded by OberleutnantAdolf Ritter von Tutschek.[3]He was assigned anAlbatrosfighter to fly, which he personalized with his good luck insignia of a pre-Naziswastika.[4]

On 30 April, he downed aSopwith Pupfor his first victory; his victim wasRoyal Naval Air ServiceaceFlight Sub-LieutenantJohn Joseph Malone.[5]Billik downed three more opposing fighters before being transferred, with number four being on 3 July 1917. Billik was rewarded with theIron CrossFirst Class.[2]

He was reassigned the following day. His new unit was the PrussianJagdstaffel 7,commanded byJosef Jacobs.With them, he flew aFokker Dr.I[6]and scored once in August, twice in September, was wounded on 7 October, and claimed victory number eight on 12 December.[2]

As the year turned, Billik was appointed to command newly formed PrussianJagdstaffel 52.Although most of his pilots were recent graduates of aviation training, he brought with him four pilots from his old unit, along with an aircraft color scheme of black fuselages for the Jasta'sPfalz D.IIIs.[2][7]The Pfalz was an underperforming airplane, but Billik was shrewd enough to modify tactics to minimise its limitations. On 7 February 1918, Billik led his new unit, by now nicknamed the "Black Squadron", toBerséeto support6 Armee.[1][2]

Beginning on 9 March 1918, he began a five-month accumulation of successes. Scoring one or two victories per day, without the three, four, five, or six plane multiple victories of some other aces, he ran up a tally of 23 with his squadron, including successes over four British aces.[2]

On 28 March, he shot down CaptainJohn Lightfoot TrollopeofNo. 43 Squadron RAF,who survived as a prisoner of war but had to have his left hand amputated.[8][9]

On 19 May, in a dogfight where the Germans were outnumbered, he downed ace MajorAlbert Desbrisay CarterofNo. 19 Squadron RAF,who survived as a prisoner of war.[10]Billik was slightly wounded in the encounter.[citation needed]

On 1 June 1918, he shot the wing off British ace Captain William Cairnes'Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a,[11]sending it plummeting earthward in a high-speed spin; Cairnes (of No. 74 Squadron) did not survive.[citation needed]

On 8 July, Billik killed ace CaptainArthur ClaydonofNo. 32 Squadron RAF.[12]It was about this time thatJagdstaffel 52finally upgraded toFokker D.VIIsand Dr.Is.[citation needed]

On 25 July, Billik was awarded the Knight's Cross of theRoyal House Order of Hohenzollern.[2]

On 10 August 1918, in a swirling confused dogfight, Billik was shot down and taken prisoner. He had been recommended for aPour le Meritewhen his score sheet reached 20 victories. This award was Germany's highest decoration for valor, and one very seldom awarded to men from humble origin or from the non-commissioned ranks. His capture prevented the honor.[7]

In evaluating Billik's achievements as a fighter ace, he triumphed over few opponents in inferior airplanes, and many in superior ones. An Albatros or a Pfalz was considered a poorer combat aircraft than the Sopwith Camel, SE5a or Dolphin, yet Billik shot down nine Camels, seven SE5a's and two Dolphins. Conversely, he shot down only six bombers among his 31 score; all modern well-armed craft.[citation needed]

Post war[edit]

Billik went into civil aviation after the war. He died in a landing accident inStaaken,Berlin, while piloting one of the world's first passenger liners, theJunkers F.13.[13]

Decorations and awards[edit]

Inline citations[edit]

  1. ^abcVanWyngarden 2006, p. 67.
  2. ^abcdefghFranks et al 1993, p. 74.
  3. ^The Jasta 12 page on The Aerodrome websitehttp:// theaerodrome /services/germany/jasta/jasta12.php
  4. ^Der Flieger-Albumwebsitehttps://translate.google /translate?hl=en&sl=de&u=http:// flieger-album.de/geschichte/portraits/portraitpaulbillik.php&sa=X&oi=translate&resnum=7&ct=result&prev=/search%3Fq%3Dpaul%2Bbillik%26hl%3Den%26client%3Dfirefox-a%26channel%3Ds%26rls%3Dorg.mozilla:en-US:official%26hs%3DMuw%26sa%3DG
  5. ^Franks 2005, p. 17.
  6. ^Jasta 7 page on The Aerodrome websitehttp:// theaerodrome /services/germany/jasta/jasta7.php
  7. ^abFranks 2004, p. 31. Note: Though this source names 9 January 1918 as the date Billik assumed his new command,Above the Linesnames 28 December 1917.
  8. ^Trollope's page at The Aerodrome websitehttp:// theaerodrome /aces/england/trollope.php
  9. ^Shores 2001, p. 87.
  10. ^Franks 2002, p. 24.
  11. ^Cairnes page at The Aerodrome websitehttp:// theaerodrome /aces/ireland/cairnes.php
  12. ^Claydon's page on The Aerodrome websitehttp:// theaerodrome /aces/england/claydon.php
  13. ^Billik's page on The Aerodrome websitehttp:// theaerodrome /aces/germany/billik.phpRetrieved 18 December 2012.

References[edit]

  • Franks, Norman;Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell.Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918.Grub Street, 1993.ISBN978-0-948817-73-1.
  • —Dolphin and Snipe Aces of World War 1.Norman Franks. Osprey Publishing, 2002.ISBN978-1-84176-317-0.
  • —Fokker D VII Aces of World War 1: Part 2Osprey Publishing, 2004.ISBN9781841767291.
  • —Sopwith Pup Aces of World War 1Osprey Publishing, 2005.ISBN9781841768861.
  • Shores, Christopher.British and Empire Aces of World War I.Osprey Publishing, 2001.ISBN978-1-84176-377-4.
  • VanWyngarden, Greg.Pfalz Scout Aces of World War 1.Osprey Publishing,2006.ISBN978-1-84176-998-1.
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