Emil Bitsch

Who was Emil Bitsch?

Emil Bitsch 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—that is, 108 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of an enemy aircraft. He claimed 104 victories over the Eastern Front and four more over the Western front. He is one of two pilots credited with shooting down the Soviet female ace Katya Budanova. Bitsch was killed in action with United States Army Air Forces fighters on 15 March 1944.