- Heinz Schmidt
Infobox Military Person
name=Heinz Schmidt
born=birth date|1920|4|20|df=y
died=dda|1943|9|5|1920|4|20|df=y
caption=
nickname="Johnny"
placeofbirth=Bad Homburg
placeofdeath=near Markor, southern Russia
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi GermanyNazi Germany
branch=Luftwaffe
serviceyears=1938-1943
rank=Hauptmann
commands=6./JG 52
unit=JG 52
battles=World War II
*Battle of Britain
*Operation Barbarossa
*Eastern Front
awards=Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
laterwork=Heinz Schmidt (
20 April 1920 –5 September 1943 ) was a German formerLuftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves duringWorld War II .Biography
Heinz Schmidt was born on
20 April 1920 inBad Homburg and joined the Luftwaffe on10 November 1938 . After he completed his basic training and fighter pilot training he was assigned to the 2nd Staffel of the "Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe" inMerseburg .From here he was posted to 4./
JG 52 in August 1940. JG 52 at that time was engaged in theBattle of Britain . For a short time Schmidt was acting "Staffelführer " of 5./JG 52 but returned to the 4. Staffel and was promoted to "Feldwebel " on1 April 1941 . Beginning in June 1941 Schmidt participated inOperation Barbarossa on the Eastern Front. He was promoted to "Oberfeldwebel " on27 August 1941 . Schmidt crash landed behind Russian lines in October 1941. He returned to the German lines six days later.Promoted to "
Leutnant " on1 February 1942 , he received theEhrenpokal der Luftwaffe on6 July 1942 , followed by his promotion to "Oberleutnant " on1 August 1942 .He was awarded the
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for 51 aerial victories on23 August 1942 . Within only three more weeks he was able to claim an addition 51 victories, for which he was honored with the Oak Leaves to the Knight's Cross.In February 1943 he was again shot down behind Russian lines but returned after a two-day trek across the frozen Sea of Azov minus one fur-lined flying boot and with a smashed shoulder.Weal 2004, p.99.] He was put in command of 6./JG 52 on
16 September 1943 .Heinz Schmidt is posted as
missing in action after aerial combat near Markor on5 September 1943 . He was reportedly shot down in error by a Hungarian fighter. He is credited with 173 aerial victories achieved in 712 combat missions and was posthumously promoted to "Hauptmann ".ummary of career
Decorations
Dates of rank
References
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
* Weal, John. "Aviation Elite Units - Jagdgeschwader 52 The Experten". Osprey Publishing Limited, 2004. ISBN 1-84176-786-7
* http://www.aufhimmelzuhause.com/id42.htm
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