Paul Billik (1891-1926) was a German fighter ace First World War credited with 31 confirmed aerial victories. He achieved his first four aerial victories while serving with Jagdstaffel 12. Following his transfer to Jagdstaffel 7, he downed an additional four enemy aircraft, concluding 1917 with a total of eight victories. Promoted to command Jagdstaffel 52 on 28 December 1917, Billik scored 23 further aerial victories as the squadron's leader, until he was shot down and taken prisoner on 10 August 1918.[1]
The victory list
editPaul Billik's victories are reported in chronological order, which is not necessarily the order or dates the victories were confirmed by headquarters.
| No. | Date | Time | Foe | Unit | Location | Remarks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 30 April 1917 | 1810 hours | Sopwith Pup | No. 3 Naval Squadron RNAS | Roumaucourt | Ace John Joseph Malone KIA.[2] 3 Naval became 203 Squadron RAF. |
| 2 | 12 May 1917 | 2020 hours | SPAD S.VII | No. 19 Squadron RFC | Izel, France | |
| 3 | 29 June 1917 | 0910 hurs | Nieuport 17 | No. 29 Squadron RFC | Plouvain, France | |
| 4 | 3 July 1917 | 1920 hours | Nieuport 17 | No. 60 Squadron RFC | Lagnicourt, France | |
| 5 | 18 August 1917 | 0910 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 4 Naval Squadron RNAS | East of Diksmuide (Dixmude), Belgium | 4 Naval became 204 Squadron RAF. |
| 6 | 3 September 1917 | 0825 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 45 Squadron RFC | Diksmuide, Belgium | |
| 7 | 6 September 1917 | SPAD S.VII | No. 23 Squadron RFC | Schaapbalie | ||
| 8 | 12 December 1917 | 1630 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 10 Naval Squadron RNAS | Diksmuide, Belgium | 10 Naval became 210 Squadron RAF. |
| 9 | 9 March 1918 | 1704 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | No. 40 Squadron RFC | East of Dourges, France | |
| 10 | 9 March 1918 | 1710 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | No. 40 Squadron RFC | Noyelle | |
| 11 | 28 March 1918 | 0950 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 4 Squadron AFC | Fampoux, France | |
| 12 | 28 March 1918 | 1000 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 43 Squadron RFC | Sailly, France | |
| 13 | 7 April 1918 | 1110 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 208 Squadron RAF | East of Hulluch, France | 208 Squadron formerly 8 Naval Squadron RNAS |
| 14 | 3 May 1918 | 1400 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 46 Squadron RAF | Estaires, France | |
| Unconfirmed | 3 May 1918 | 1800 hours | Sopwith Camel | Vieille-Chapelle, France | ||
| 15 | 3 May 1918 | 1830 hours | Sopwith Dolphin | No. 19 Squadron RAF | North of La Bassée, France | |
| 16 | 9 May 1918 | 1255 hours | Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8 | No. 2 Squadron RAF | Neuve-Chapelle, France | |
| 17 | 19 May 1918 | 1110 hours | Sopwith Dolphin | No. 19 Squadron RAF | Wingles, France | Notable ace Albert Desbrisay Carter POW[3] |
| 18 | 28 May 1918 | 0850 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | No. 41 Squadron RAF | Lacon [where?] | |
| 19 | 1 June 1918 | 1740 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | No. 74 Squadron RAF | East of Merville, France | Ace William Jameson Cairnes KIA[4] |
| 20 | 24 June 1918 | 0820 hours | Bristol F.2 Fighter | No. 62 Squadron RAF | South of Mérignies, France | |
| 21 | 25 June 1918 | 1826 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | No. 1 Squadron RAF | Doulieu, France | |
| 22 | 7 July 1918 | 0720 hours | Airco DH.9 | No. 206 Squadron RAF | Sailly-sur-la-Lys, France | 206 Squadron formerly 6 Naval Squadron RNAS |
| 23 | 8 July 1918 | 0830 hours | Bristol F.2 Fighter | No. 62 Squadron RAF | Lergies [where?] | |
| 24 | 8 July 1918 | 0850 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | No. 32 Squadron RAF | Annœullin | Ace Arthur Claydon KIA[5] |
| 25 | 20 July 1918 | 1100 hours | Airco DH.9 | No. 103 Squadron RAF | Warneton, France | |
| 26 | 22 July 1918 | 1730 hours | Airco DH.4 | No. 18 Squadron RAF | Sante [where?] | |
| 27 | 25 July 1918 | 0840 hours | Sopwith Camel | No. 203 Squadron RAF | Givenchy [where?] | 203 Squadron formerly 3 Naval Squadron RNAS |
| 28 | 3 August 1918 | 1940 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8 | No. 16 Squadron RAF | Vimy, France | |
| 29 | 8 August 1918 | 1445 hours | Airco DH.9 | Biaches, France | ||
| 30 | 9 August 1918 | 1105 hours | Airco DH.4 | Baucourt | ||
| 31 | 9 August 1918 | 1240 hours | Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a | Herleville, France |
This list is complete for entries, though obviously not for all details. Background data was abstracted from Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1, p. 74; and The Aerodrome webpage on Paul Billik [1]. Added facts are individually cited. Abbreviations were expanded by the editor creating this list.
Endnotes
edit- ^ Franks, Bailey & Guest (1993), p. 74.
- ^ Franks, Guest & Shores (2008), p. 254.
- ^ Franks, Guest & Shores (2008), p. 99.
- ^ Franks, Guest & Shores (2008), p. 94.
- ^ Franks, Guest & Shores (2008), p. 107.
References
edit- Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank; Guest, Russell (1993). Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. London UK: Grub Street Publishing. ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.
- Franks, Norman; Guest, Russell; Shores, Christopher (2008). Above the Trenches: A Complete Record of the Fighter Aces and Units of the British Empire Air Forces 1915-1920. London: Grub Street. ISBN 978-0-948817-19-9.