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Paul Billik (27 March 1891 – 8 March 1926) was a German World War I flying ace credited with 31 victories. He was killed in a flying accident while pioneering civil aviation.
In 1911, he joined the 157th Infantry Regiment of the 12th Division and was based in Brzeg. He was promoted to the rank of corporal, over the next two years. He was still in this regiment when World War I started, and he went into battle with them. In November 1915, he received a commission, apparently on the battlefield, which suggests uncommon courage and ability. In May 1916, he transferred to the Fliegertruppe for aviation training.
On 30 April, he downed a Sopwith Pup for his first victory; his victim was Royal Naval Air Service ace Flying Officer John Joseph Malone.Franks 2005, p. 17. Billik downed three more opposing fighters before being transferred, with number four being on 3 July 1917. Billik was rewarded with the Iron Cross First Class.
He was reassigned the following day. His new unit was the Prussian Jagdstaffel 7, commanded by Josef Jacobs. With them, he flew a Fokker Dr.IJasta 7 page on The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta7.php and scored once in August, twice in September, was wounded on 7 October, and claimed victory number eight on 12 December.
As the year turned, Billik was appointed to command newly formed Prussian Jagdstaffel 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's Pfalz D.IIIs.Franks 2004, p. 31. Note: Though this source names 9 January 1918 as the date Billik assumed his new command, Above the Lines names 28 December 1917. 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", to Bersée to support 6 Armee.
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.
On 28 March, he shot down Captain John Lightfoot Trollope of No. 43 Squadron RAF, who survived as a prisoner of war but had to have his left hand amputated.Trollope's page at The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/trollope.phpShores 2001, p. 87.
On 19 May, in a dogfight where the Germans were outnumbered, he downed ace Major Albert Desbrisay Carter of No. 19 Squadron RAF, who survived as a prisoner of war.Franks 2002, p. 24. Billik was slightly wounded in the encounter.
On 1 June 1918, he shot the wing off British ace Captain William Cairnes' Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5a,Cairnes page at The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/ireland/cairnes.php sending it plummeting earthward in a high-speed spin; Cairnes (of No. 74 Squadron) did not survive.
On 8 July, Billik killed ace Captain Arthur Claydon of No. 32 Squadron RAF.Claydon's page on The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/claydon.php It was about this time that Jagdstaffel 52 finally upgraded to Fokker D.VIIs and Dr.Is.
On 25 July, Billik was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Royal House Order of Hohenzollern.
On 10 August 1918, in a swirling confused dogfight, Billik was shot down and taken as a prisoner. He had been recommended for a Pour le Merite when 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.
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 SE5as and two Dolphins. Conversely, he shot down only six bombers among his 31 score; all modern well-armed craft.
Flying service
Billik trained with Fliegerersatz-Abteilung 4. From January through 26 March 1917, he flew defensive patrols with Schutzstaffel 4, and he trained to fly single seat fighter aircraft.Franks et al 1993, p. 74. On 1 April 1917 he joined the Prussian Jagdstaffel 12, which was later commanded by Oberleutnant Adolf Ritter von Tutschek.The Jasta 12 page on The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/services/germany/jasta/jasta12.php He was assigned an Albatros fighter to fly, which he personalized with his good luck insignia of a pre-Nazi swastika. Der Flieger-Album
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Post war
Billik went into civil aviation after the war. He died in a landing accident in Staaken, Berlin, while piloting one of the world's first passenger aircraft, the Junkers F.13.Billik's page on The Aerodrome website http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/billik.php Retrieved 18 December 2012.
Decorations and awards
Inline citations
Categories: 1891 Births, 1926 Deaths, People From Opava District, Military Personnel From The Province Of Silesia, Luftstreitkräfte Personnel, German World War I Flying Aces, Recipients Of The Iron Cross , 1st Class, Victims Of Aviation Accidents Or Incidents In 1926, Aviators Killed In Aviation Accidents Or Incidents In Germany
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