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Dietrich Schmidt (pilot)

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German Luftwaffe pilot (1919–2002)
Dietrich Schmidt
Born27 June 1919
Karlsruhe
Died6 March 2002(2002-03-06) (aged 82)
Hofheim
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service / branchLuftwaffe
Years of service?–1945
RankHauptmann
UnitNJG 1
Battles / warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Dietrich Schmidt (27 June 1919 – 6 March 2002) was a Luftwaffe night fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Night fighter career

A map of part of the Kammhuber Line. The 'belt' and night fighter 'boxes' are shown.

Following the 1939 aerial Battle of the Heligoland Bight, bombing missions by the Royal Air Force (RAF) shifted to the cover of darkness, initiating the Defence of the Reich campaign. By mid-1940, Generalmajor (Brigadier General) Josef Kammhuber had established a night air defense system dubbed the Kammhuber Line. It consisted of a series of control sectors equipped with radars and searchlights and an associated night fighter. Each sector, named a Himmelbett (canopy bed), would direct the night fighter into visual range with target bombers. In 1941, the Luftwaffe started equipping night fighters with airborne radar such as the Lichtenstein radar. This airborne radar did not come into general use until early 1942.

Oberleutnant Schmidt was initially posted to 8./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing) in September 1941, based at Twente in the Netherlands. He claimed his first victory on the night of 24/25 March 1943, a Handley Page Halifax bomber over Enkhuizen. On 15 June 1943 Schmidt was appointed Staffelkapitän of 8./NJG 1, having claimed five victories by this time.

On the night of 1/2 January 1944, he claimed an Avro Lancaster bomber shot down near Ramsel for his 10th victory. On the night of 14/15 January 1944, Schmidt claimed his 12th aerial victory. The RAF had targeted Braunschweig with 498 bombers that night. Schmidt was credited with the destruction of Lancaster ND357 from No. 156 Squadron.

He claimed three victories in a single night on 3/4 May, 22/23 May, and 28/29 July. Schmidt was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 27 July for 32 victories. Schmidt transferred as Staffelkapitän to 9./NJG 1 in December 1944. He added five further victories to raise his victory total to 43 by the end of the war. Schmidt was then interned by British troops at Schleswig-Holstein, and released in August 1945.

He attended Heidelberg University obtaining a doctorate in Chemistry, married and fathered three children. Schmidt retired in 1984.

Dietrich Schmidt was credited with 43 victories in 171 missions. All his victories were recorded at night.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Author Spick lists him with 39 aerial victories, claimed in 171 combat missions. Foreman, Parry and Mathews, authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 43 nocturnal victory claims. Mathews and Foreman also published Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, listing Schmidt with 40 aerial victories, plus one further unconfirmed claim.

Chronicle of aerial victories

  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed in Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945 and in Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims.

Claim Date Time Type Location Serial No./Squadron No.
– 8. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –
1 25 March 1943 01:36 Halifax northeast of Enkhuizen
2 5 May 1943 01:15 Lancaster Nordhorn
3? 5 May 1943 02:16? Wellington
4 14 May 1943 03:44 Lancaster 6 km (3.7 mi) southwest of Rühlertwist Lancaster "DX-X"/No. 57 Squadron
5 13 June 1943 01:30 Lancaster 1 km (0.62 mi) west of Ahaus
6 20 October 1943 20:45 Lancaster
7 3 November 1943 19:46 Halifax east of Sint-Truiden
8? 26 November 1943 22:54 Lancaster Emlichheim
9 16 December 1943 18:45 Lancaster west of Cloppenburg
10 2 January 1944 01:58 Lancaster Ramsel
11 14 January 1944 05:36 Mosquito vicinity of Kleve Mosquito DZ440//No. 109 Squadron
12 14 January 1944 20:35 Lancaster Kolhorn Lancaster ND357/No. 156 Squadron
13 16 March 1944 00:56 Lancaster 1 km (0.62 mi) southeast of Langweiler
14 18 March 1944 22:35 Halifax Kaiserslautern
15 22 March 1944 22:36 Halifax north-northwest of Paderborn-Minden
16 24 March 1944 23:04 Lancaster Erfurt
17? 24 March 1944 23:04 Lancaster Gotha
18 31 March 1944 00:49 Halifax north of Würzburg
19 23 April 1944 00:21 Lancaster south of Laon
20 23 April 1944 00:26 Lancaster southwest of Laon Stirling EH842/No. 218 Squadron
21 27 April 1944 00:47 four-engined bomber Dijon Lancaster LL919/No. 619 Squadron
22 4 May 1944 00:03 Lancaster southwest of Saint-Dizier
23 4 May 1944 00:19 Lancaster west of Saint-Dizier
24 4 May 1944 00:46 Lancaster south-southwest of Romilly-sur-Seine
25 22 May 1944 02:01 Lancaster south of Amsterdam
26 23 May 1944 00:42 Lancaster 5 km (3.1 mi) north of Ibbenbüren
27 23 May 1944 03:13 Lancaster North Sea
28 23 May 1944 03:48 four-engined bomber North Sea
29 13 June 1944 01:24 Lancaster north of Venlo
30 21 July 1944 01:16 Lancaster 50 km (31 mi) west of Duisburg
31 21 July 1944 01:41 Lancaster 30 km (19 mi) northwest of Volkel
32 29 July 1944 01:11 Halifax west of Hamburg
33 29 July 1944 01:37 Halifax north of Bruchsal
34 29 July 1944 01:50 four-engined bomber 10 km (6.2 mi) northwest of Helgoland
35 13 August 1944 00:47 Lancaster 50 km (31 mi) south of Braunschweig
36 23 September 1944 23:31 Lancaster southern edge of Zuiderzee
37 6 December 1944 20:14 Lancaster northwest of Twente
38 18 December 1944 06:36 four-engined bomber west of Duisburg
– 9. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –
39 15 January 1945? 21:15 Lancaster northeast of Frankfurt-an-der-Oder
40 21 February 1945 01:10 Lancaster
41 21 February 1945 23:18 Lancaster 10 km (6.2 mi) west of Venlo
42 21 February 1945 23:25 Lancaster 25 km (16 mi) southwest of Goch
43 22 March 1945 04:00 Lancaster Cologne

Awards

Notes

  1. For a list of Luftwaffe night fighter aces see List of German World War II night fighter aces.
  2. ^ This claim is not listed in Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims.
  3. According to Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, this claim was unconfirmed while Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945 confirm this claim.
  4. According to the website Aircrew Remembered, this claim should be attributed to Otto Fries.
  5. According to Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims on 16 January 1945.

References

Citations

  1. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 9.
  2. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 27.
  3. ^ Bowman 2016, p. 13.
  4. Spick 1996, p. 240.
  5. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, pp. 72–244.
  6. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1137.
  7. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 72.
  8. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 78.
  9. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 79.
  10. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 80.
  11. "Lancaster DX-X".
  12. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 85.
  13. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 123.
  14. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 125.
  15. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 130.
  16. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 132.
  17. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 137.
  18. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 140.
  19. Bowman 2016, p. 12.
  20. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 141.
  21. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 155.
  22. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 156.
  23. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 157.
  24. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 158.
  25. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 161.
  26. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 168.
  27. Wilson 2008.
  28. "Stirling III EH842 HA-M".
  29. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 170.
  30. Bowman 2016, p. 60.
  31. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 173.
  32. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 174.
  33. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 178.
  34. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 179.
  35. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 187.
  36. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 202.
  37. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 203.
  38. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 205.
  39. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 206.
  40. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 208.
  41. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 218.
  42. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 225.
  43. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 226.
  44. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 230.
  45. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 236.
  46. ^ Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 237.
  47. Foreman, Mathews & Parry 2004, p. 244.
  48. Patzwall 2008, p. 182.
  49. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 411.
  50. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 309.
  51. Scherzer 2007, p. 668.

Bibliography

  • Bowman, Martin (2016). German Night Fighters Versus Bomber Command 1943–1945. Barnsley, South Yorkshire: Pen and Sword Aviation. ISBN 978-1-4738-4979-2.
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) . 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.
  • Foreman, John; Mathews, Johannes; Parry, Simon (2004). Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939–1945. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-0-9538061-4-0.
  • MacLean, French L (2007). Luftwaffe Efficiency & Promotion Reports: For the Knight's Cross Winners. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Military History. ISBN 978-0-7643-2657-8.
  • 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.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941–1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
  • Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
  • Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Wilson, Kevin (2008). Men Of Air: The Doomed Youth Of Bomber Command. Hachette UK. ISBN 978-0-297-85704-4.
  • Youngs, Kelvin. "23/24.04.1944 No. 218 Squadron Stirling III EH842 HA-M Sq/Ldr. Poulter". Aircrew Remembered. Retrieved 20 September 2019.
  • "Britischer Bomber stürzte am 14. Mai 1943 nahe Twist ab" [British Bomber Crashes on 14 May 1943 near Twist]. Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung (in German). 6 April 2008. Retrieved 20 September 2019.

External links

German World War II night fighter flying aces with 30+ aerial claims
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