RIP Group-Captain Schultz
Thank you for your service to King and Country.
Posted on 11/20/2011 10:28:26 AM PST by albertabound
Rayne Shultz 1922-2011: Canadian war ace shot down three German bombers in one night in 1943
BY ANDREW DUFFY, THE OTTAWA CITIZEN NOVEMBER 20, 2011
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Canadian war ace Rayne ‘Joe’ Schultz shot down three German bombers in one night in 1943 and went on to serve 37 years in the Royal Canadian Air Force, retiring as a Group Captain. He died on Remembrance Day, 2011, at age 88. Flying Officer Rayne “Joe” Schultz began the night that would define his war at a poker game — winning money for a change.
It made him reluctant to climb into his de Havilland Mosquito to launch another night patrol over the North Sea. But the moon was full on Dec. 10, 1943, which usually meant the Luftwaffe would be active: German bombers liked to take advantage of the added visibility.
Within minutes of taking to the air, Schultz and his navigator, Vern Williams, were directed toward a stream of bombers. Schultz shot down the first he encountered, then quickly came upon another. He fired at close range, exploding the plane’s bomb load, the fallout from which almost took out Schultz’s plane.
Williams then identified a third bomber, and Schultz began a 12,000-foot, descending battle. His instrument panel and port engine were destroyed by German gunners, but Schultz pressed the attack. Williams would describe its final moments to a Canadian Press reporter days later: “Rayne’s last burst of ammunition, the last we had, ganged him into the sea, and we pulled up just in time to miss going in ourselves.”
(Excerpt) Read more at ottawacitizen.com ...
Rest in Peace, heroic ally.
My Uncle, rest in peace Joe.
Albert, Thank you for posting this. RIP Group Captain Schultz
RIP Group-Captain Schultz
Thank you for your service to King and Country.
Congratulations for having such a brave uncle!
Great pilot, the Mosquito through it’s many variants was an awesome aircraft.
Thanks for posting.
Alas, these MSM articles are always notoriously dumbed down for the dumbed down MSM public.
You can go on to the WW2 aircraft research forums and, in time, probably find not only the make, model, staffel, werk#, markings, camoflauge and bombload of every aircraft he shot down, but probably also the names of the pilots and crew and what happened to them. And if there is any known aircraft wreckage, where that might be too.
This is a great biography. Thanks for the ping.
Although he flew with some of the best, today he flies with only the best. Hail and Farewell brave pilot.
What a story. Condolences to you and your family.
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