As part of JG 51 operating near Tunis, Schultz scored his first western victory on 1 December, downing a Spitfire. In December, the Gruppe was very successful over the new American pilots - claiming 50 victories while losing only two of their own. But as in Russia, in 1943, the superior numbers soon made their impact.^[1] In August, orders transferred II./JG 51 to Munich to retrain as a specialist anti-bomber unit.^[2]

With Romania's surrender to Soviet forces in late August, and its subsequent declaration of war against Germany, II./JG 51 retreated to Yugoslavia. Left as final air-cover for the army retreating out of Greece, 6./JG 51 reportedly engaged their former allies in Romanian-flown Bf 109s.^[3] Schultz was reportedly credited with 73 aerial victories in about 820 combat missions.^{[citation needed]}

Awards[edit]

• Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (3 November 1941)^[4]
• German Cross in Gold on 24 September 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the II./Jagdgeschwader 51^[5]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 March 1943 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 4./Jagdgeschwader 51^[6][7]