Wilhelm Batz on 7.Dec.1943 and Franz Kurowski

[Johannes]

Hi Andrey

I worked with Bernd Barbas on JG 52's claims, but not losses. Bernd purchased his JG 52 losses from somebody, they seem not to have included this particular action. But I do have the Luftwaffe losses on micro film, which does cover this period, and can tell you Batz does not appear on them at all, unfortunately I don't have losses for 1944 just 1939-1943 and 1945. If a pilot wrecks his aircraft say on landing but is unharmed, they will record the aircraft lose, but not mention normally the pilot. In this case they record no losses for 7th December 1943 for the whole of JG 52.
Can't answer where he was, if on leave he should still remain recorded as Staffelkapitän. He was awarded the DKiG on 28th January 1944........at the end of this dry period, perhaps he was on leave and was decorated whilst away from the front, or upon his return, and he began to score again a few days later!

Kind Regards

Johannes