Johann Schmid

For the Austrian footballer, see Johann Schmid (footballer).

Johann Schmid
Born13 January 1911
Gainfarn, Baden bei Wien, Austria-Hungary
Died6 November 1941 (1941-11-07) (aged 30)
English Channel
Cause of deathKilled in action
Allegiance
Service / branch
Years of service1933–1941
RankMajor (Wehrmacht)
UnitJG 2, JG 26
Commands8./JG 26
Battles / wars
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Johann Schmid (13 January 1911 – 6 November 1941) was an Austrian-born Luftwaffe military aviator during the World War II, a fighter ace listed with 45 enemy aircraft shot down. A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.[1] All of his aerial victories were claimed over Western Front of World War II.

Born in Gainfarn, Schmid joined the Austrian Air Force in 1933 and subsequently transferred to the Luftwaffe following the Anschluss in 1938. He then served with "Condor Legion" in the latter stages of the Spanish Civil War. Following his return, he was posted Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing). Flying with this unit, Schmid claimed his first aerial victory on 14 May 1940 during the Battle of France. Later that year, he served as an instructor and was then posted to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) in July 1940. Following his 24th aerial victory claimed, Schmid was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 August 1941 and appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 8. Staffel of JG 26. He was killed in action on 6 November 1941 when he was shot down over the English Channel. Posthumously, he was promoted to Major (major).

Career

Schmid was born on 13 January 1911 in Gainfarn, in the Baden bei Wien region of Austria.[2] He joined the Austrian Air Force in 1933. After the Anschluss, the annexation of the Federal State of Austria into Nazi Germany, in 1938 he was drafted into the Luftwaffe as an Oberfeldwebel and flew with the "Condor Legion" in the latter stages of the Spanish Civil War. Upon his return, he was transferred to the 1. Staffel (1st squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing), a squadron of I. Gruppe (1st group).[3]

Battle of France and Britain

At the start of the Battle of France, I. Gruppe of JG 2 supported Army Group A in its advance through the Ardennes towards the Meuse river. On 14 May, the Gruppe moved to an airfield near Bastogne. That day, Schmid claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down a Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighter.[4] On 18 May, Schmid claimed a Westland Lysander army cooperation aircraft shot down near Beauvais. Following the German advance northwest, the Gruppe moved to an airfield at Beaulieu that day. The next day, he was credited with the destruction of a Hawker Hurricane fighter near Cambrai. On 20 May, I. Gruppe was relocated to Signy-le-Petit where they were deployed on the northern front of Army Group A. That evening, Schmid shot down a Curtiss P-36 Hawk fighter near Péronne.[5]

On 20 September 1940, Schmid claimed his ninth aerial victory, a Spitfire fighter shot down south of London.[6] He was then transferred and served as an instructor.[7]

With Jagdgeschwader 26

Following his assignment as an instructor, Schmid joined Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) on 10 July 1941. There, he was assigned to the Geschwaderstab (headquarters unit) by Oberstleutnant Adolf Galland, the Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander).[8] JG 26 was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a martyr cultivated by the Nazi Party.[9] At the time, the Geschwaderstab was based at Audembert near the English Channel.[10] Schmid claimed his first aerial victory with JG 26 on 22 July. That day, Royal Air Force (RAF) Fighter Command attacked the Saint-Omer airfield with Supermarine Spitfire fighters from No. 308 Polish Fighter Squadron.[11] The following day, the RAF flew an evening "Circus" mission with six Bristol Blenheim bombers to Mazingarbe escorted by Spitfire fighters. The Geschwaderstab, led by Galland, intercepted the escorting fighters and Schmid claimed a Spitfire shot down.[12]

On 3 August, the RAF flew a series of anti shipping attacks. Defending against these attacks, Schmid claimed a Spitfire destroyed.[12] Sarkar suggested that his opponent may have been RAF pilot Flight Lieutenant Eric Lock from No. 611 Squadron.[13] Lock, flying Spitfire Mk V W3257, was reported by his own side as shot down by anti-aircraft fire on 3 August 1941 near Boulogne, but whose crash site was not ascertained. Sarkar, who cross referenced Lock's disappearance with Luftwaffe combat claims for the same day, discovered that while Lock's Spitfire was the only RAF plane lost that day, Schmid reported having shot down a Spitfire into the sea near Calais.[14] In reality, Lock was lost in the morning of the 3 August.[15] Schmid claimed his victory in the early evening at 18:32.[16]

Schmid claimed three Spitfire fighters shot down on 7 August likely from No. 12 Group's Digby Wing. That day, the RAF flew "Circus" No. 67 targeting Saint-Omer airfield with six Blenheim bombers escorted by twelve fighter squadrons.[17] Before noon on 9 August, Schmid and his wingman Unteroffizier Heinz Richter, claimed two Spitfires from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) No. 452 Squadron. Later that day, Schmid claimed two further Spitfires shot down defending against a "Rodeo" attack by No. 11 Group.[18] The following day, a German freighter came under attack from three Blenheim bombers which took off from RAF Manston at 12:50. The Geschwaderstab intercepted the RAF bombers and escort fighters north of Gravelines. In the resulting aerial combat, Schmid claimed two Hurricane fighters from No. 242 Squadron and a Spitfire, the Spitfire managed to return.[19] On 12 August, Schmid shot down a Spitfire fighter from either No. 19 or No. 152 Squadron. That day, Bomber Command attacked Cologne, supported by a number of diversionary missions.[20]

On 19 August, the RAF flew "Circus" No. 81, the mission which also dropped a spare set of artificial legs for Wing Commander Douglas Bader at Saint-Omer airfield. The primary target of the operation was Béthune. Defending against this attack, Schmid claimed a Blenheim bomber which was shot down northwest of Dunkirk and belonged to No. 18 Squadron. That evening, the RAF flew "Circus" No. 82 to Hazebrouck and Schmid shot down a Spitfire fighter belonging to No. 222 Squadron from this attack force, taking his total to 24 aerial victory claims.[21] For this, he was decorated with the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 21 August 1941 and promoted to Hauptmann (captain).[22]

Squadron leader and death

Along with his promotion, Schmid was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 8. Staffel of JG 26, replacing Oberleutnant Hans-Jürgen Westphal who had been injured. 8. Staffel was subordinated to III. Gruppe and at the time commanded by Hauptmann Gerhard Schöpfel and based at Ligescourt.[23] On 4 September, he claimed three Spitfires shot down. In total, he was credited with eleven aerial victories in September, with the exception of a Blenheim bomber shot down on 27 September, all of which were Spitfire fighters.[24]

On 6 November 1941, he led the whole III. Gruppe into combat against a dozen Spitfires. In this encounter, he claimed a Spitfire shot down.[25] His opponent may have been Sergeant B.M. Geissman of No. 452 Squadron RAAF.[26] Schmid was circling low over the crash site when the wing of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 7211—factory number) hit the water in a position 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) northwest of Calais.[27] The aircraft immediately disintegrated and sank, taking Schmid with it.[26] Following his death, he was replaced by Oberleutnant Karl Borris as commander of 8. Staffel.[28] Posthumously, he was promoted to Major (major).[29]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Obermaier, Schmid was credited with 45 victories in 137 missions, all over the Western Front.[2] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces: Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 40 aerial victory claims, plus five further unconfirmed claims, all of which were claimed on the Western Front.[30]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Schmid did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Caldwell, Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[31]
Battle of France — 10 May – 25 June 1940
1 14 May 1940 10:10 M.S.406 Frésnois[32]
Frésnois 15 km (9.3 mi) north-northeast of Montmédy 		5 26 May 1940 17:03 Spitfire southwest of Calais[33]
2 18 May 1940 07:15 Lysander Beauvais[32] 6 30 May 1940 18:05 Potez 63 Ducy[33]
3 19 May 1940 12:57 Hurricane Cambrai[34] 7 5 June 1940 13:10 MB.150 Connantre[33]
4 20 May 1940 18:35 Hawk 75 Péronne[34]
– 1. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –[31]
Action at the Channel and over England — 26 June – September 1940
8 28 July 1940 10:35 Blenheim 40 km (25 mi) northwest of Le Havre[35] 9 20 September 1940 12:10 Spitfire south of London[6]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[30]
Action on the Western Front — 10 July – 20 August 1941
10 22 July 1941 19:00 Spitfire[36] 18 9 August 1941 17:45 Spitfire Gravelines[36]
11 23 July 1941 20:15 Spitfire[36] Bruges[37] 19 10 August 1941 13:00 Hurricane north of Gravelines[36]
12 3 August 1941 18:32 Spitfire[36] 20 10 August 1941 13:01 Hurricane north of Gravelines[36]
13?[Note 1] 7 August 1941 11:20 Spitfire Campagne[36] 21?[Note 1] 10 August 1941 13:03 Spitfire north of Gravelines[36]
14 7 August 1941 11:30 Spitfire southeast of Calais[36]
southwest of Calais 		22?[Note 1] 12 August 1941 13:22 Spitfire northwest of Vlissingen[36]
15 7 August 1941 17:43 Spitfire north of Ardres[36]
Saint-Omer-Ardes 		23?[Note 1] 19 August 1941 12:25 Blenheim northwest of Dunkirk[38]
16 9 August 1941 11:25 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) east of Saint-Omer[36] 24 19 August 1941 19:55 Spitfire west of Rubrouck[38]
east of Saint-Omer
17 9 August 1941 17:44 Spitfire Gravelines[36]
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" –[39]
Action on the Western Front — 21 August – 6 November 1941
25 26 August 1941 19:40 Blenheim[40] 36 27 September 1941 15:35 Spitfire[25]
26 27 August 1941 08:30 Spitfire 25 km (16 mi) north of Calais[40] 37 27 September 1941 15:50 Blenheim[25]
27 4 September 1941 17:20 Spitfire[40] 38 1 October 1941 17:37 Spitfire Dover[25]
28 4 September 1941 17:35 Spitfire[40] 39 2 October 1941 18:42 Spitfire[25] Pas-de-Calais
29 4 September 1941 17:50 Spitfire[40] 40 3 October 1941 15:52 Spitfire 20 km (12 mi) north of Ostend[25]
30 7 September 1941 17:20 Spitfire[40]
—
?[Note 2] 		13 October 1941 14:35 Spitfire[25] Boulogne
31 18 September 1941 16:00 Spitfire[40]
—
?[Note 3] 		13 October 1941
—
 Spitfire Boulogne
32 20 September 1941 16:45 Spitfire[25]
—
?[Note 2] 		21 October 1941 13:00 Spitfire[25]
33 21 September 1941 16:10 Spitfire[25]
—
 27 October 1941 15:05 Spitfire Calais[25]
34 21 September 1941 16:15 Spitfire[25]
—
?[Note 2] 		6 November 1941 15:48 Spitfire 10 km (6.2 mi) north of Calais[25]
35 27 September 1941 15:23 Spitfire[25]

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ a b c d According to Mathews and Foreman, this claim is unconfirmed.[30]
  2. ^ a b c According to Mathews and Foreman, this claim is confirmed.[30]
  3. ^ This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[25]
  4. ^ According to Scherzer as pilot in the Stab/Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter".[42]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Spick 1996, pp. 3–4.
  2. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 196.
  3. ^ Goss 2020, p. 11.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2001, pp. 92, 100.
  5. ^ Prien et al. 2001, pp. 92, 100–101.
  6. ^ a b Prien et al. 2002, p. 102.
  7. ^ Goss 2020, p. 12.
  8. ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 149.
  9. ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 3.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 494.
  11. ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 155–156.
  12. ^ a b Caldwell 1996, p. 156.
  13. ^ Sarkar 2010, p. 36.
  14. ^ Shropshire Star, p. 18.
  15. ^ Franks 2008, p. 132.
  16. ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 161.
  17. ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 160–161.
  18. ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 161–163.
  19. ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 164.
  20. ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 164–165.
  21. ^ Caldwell 1996, pp. 167–168.
  22. ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 169.
  23. ^ Prien et al. 2003, pp. 544–545.
  24. ^ a b Dixon 2023, p. 112.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o Prien et al. 2003, p. 550.
  26. ^ a b Weal 1999, p. 24.
  27. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 553.
  28. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 544.
  29. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 113.
  30. ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1135–1136.
  31. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1135.
  32. ^ a b Prien et al. 2001, p. 100.
  33. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2001, p. 102.
  34. ^ a b Prien et al. 2001, p. 101.
  35. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 101.
  36. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Prien et al. 2003, p. 501.
  37. ^ Caldwell 1996, p. 157.
  38. ^ a b Prien et al. 2003, p. 502.
  39. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1136.
  40. ^ a b c d e f g Prien et al. 2003, p. 549.
  41. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 380.
  42. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 668.

Bibliography

  • Caldwell, Donald L. (1996). The JG 26 War Diary: Volume One 1939–1942. London, UK: Grubstreet. ISBN 978-1-898697-52-7.
  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
  • Franks, Norman (2008) [1997]. Royal Air Force Fighter Command Losses of the Second World War: Volume 1, Operational Losses Aircraft and Crews 1939–1941. Midland Publishing. ISBN 978-1-85780-286-3.
  • Goss, Chris (2020). Luftwaffe Aces in the Battle of Britain. Air World. ISBN 978-1-5267-5424-0.
  • Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2015). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 4 S–Z. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-21-9.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2001). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945 Teil 3—Einsatz in Dänemark und Norwegen 9.4. bis 30.11.1940—Der Feldzug im Westen 10.5. bis 25.6.1940 [Fighter Pilot Association of the German Luftwaffe 1934 to 1945 Part 3—Assignments in Denmark and Norway 9 April to 30 November 1940—The campaign in the West 10 May to 25 June 1940] (in German). Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-61-8.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/I—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/I—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-63-2.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • Sarkar, Dilip (2010). How the Spitfire Won the Battle of Britain. Amberley Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84868-868-1.
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  • "True hero of the skies". Shropshire Star. 13 July 2015. ISSN 1747-1885.
Military offices
Preceded by
Oberleutnant Hans-Jürgen Wastphal
 Squadron Leader of 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 26
22 August 1941 – 6 November 1941 		Succeeded by
Oberleutnant Karl Borris