Karl "Charly" Willius

Aces of the Luftwaffe lists the 50 victories of “Charly” Willius in 371 missions. On July 30, 1943 he is credited with downing a B-26 of the 386 Bomb Group northwest of Antwerp.

On 8 April 1944, Willius made a head-on attack against a formation of USAAF B-24 four-engine bombers. His target dropped out of formation in flames and became his 50th, and last, victory. The Fw 190s climbed back into the sun following their attack. As they were reforming, USAAF P-47 fighters bounced them. Willius’ Fw 190 A-8 (W.Nr. 170 009) “Black 5” was seen to spin into the ground and explode. His body was not recovered until 1967, buried in his aircraft in a Dutch polder. Willius was awarded a posthumous Ritterkreuz on 9 June and promotion to the rank of Oberleutnant.