Helmut Schönfelder

Helmut Schönfelder
Born30 April 1914
Nienburg an der Weser
Died23 September 2003(2003-09-23) (aged 89)
Bad Schwalbach
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Branch Luftwaffe
Service years?-1945
RankOberfeldwebel
UnitJG 51
ConflictsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Helmut Schönfelder (30 April 1914 – 23 September 2003) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership. Schönfelder was credited with 56 aerial victories.

Career

Schönfelder was born on 30 April 1914 in Nienburg an der Weser in the Province of Hanover within the German Empire.[1]

With the Stabsstaffel

In early October 1942, II. Gruppe of JG 51 was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and sent to Jesau, near present-day Bagrationovsk, to Heiligenbeil, present-day Mamonovo, to be reequipped with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A. While undergoing training on this aircraft, the Gruppe received orders on 4 November to transfer to the Mediterranean theatre flying the Bf 109 again. 6. Staffel was exempt from this order, was detached from II. Gruppe, and continued its training on the Fw 190. In late November, 6. Staffel was renamed to Stabsstaffel (headquarters squadron) of JG 51 and placed under the command of Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber on 30 November.[2] Alternatively, the Stabsstaffel was also referred to as Geschwaderstabsstaffel z.b.V., roughly translating to fighter wing squadron for special deployment'. The abbreviation z. b. V. is German and stands for zur besonderen Verwendung (for special deployment).[3]

A training mission flown on 6 June 1944, resulted in forced landing at Biała Podlaska of his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A due to engine failure.[4] On 31 March 1945, Schönfelder was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes).[5]

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Schönfelder was credited with 56 aerial victories.[6] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that he claimed 56 aerial victories, all of which on the Eastern Front.[7]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Schönfelder did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Balke, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[8]
Operation Barbarossa — October – 5 December 1941
1 27 October 1941 14:15 DB-3 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Mtsensk[9] 2 28 November 1941 11:10 I-16 3 km (1.9 mi) southeast of Kashira[10]
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[8]
Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942
3 13 January 1942 14:49 I-16 southwest of Yukhnov[11] 6 7 March 1942 08:07 I-61?[Note 1] 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Krassilina[12]
4 13 January 1942 14:52 I-16 45 km (28 mi) southwest of Yukhnov[11] 7 8 March 1942 09:50 Pe-2 1 km (0.62 mi) north of Meshchovsk[12]
5 7 March 1942 08:05 I-61?[Note 1] 30 km (19 mi) northeast of Krassilina[12]
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[8]
Eastern Front — 1 May – 7 October 1942
8 1 May 1942 06:35 MiG-3 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Mtsensk[13] 10 26 September 1942 15:12 LaGG-3 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Rzhev[14]
9 25 August 1942 10:28 LaGG-3 12 km (7.5 mi) west of Belyov[15]
– Stabsstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –[8]
Eastern Front — October – 31 December 1943
11 3 October 1943 16:35 MiG-3 163 km (101 mi) north-northeast of Yelsk[16] 13 28 October 1943 14:56 Boston 22 km (14 mi) west-northwest of Loyew[16]
12 23 October 1943 13:20 LaGG-3 42 km (26 mi) northeast of Orsha[16]
– Stabsstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 December 1944
14 10 January 1944 13:02 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 93536, 13 km (8.1 mi) east of Azarychy[17]
30 km (19 mi) south of Parychy 		29 4 August 1944 08:05 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 36614, 27 km (17 mi) east-northeast of Raseiniai[18]
—
[Note 2] 		10 January 1944
—
 Yak-9[19] 30 4 August 1944 11:40 La-5 PQ 25 Ost498, 12 km (7.5 mi) south-southwest of Vilkaviškis[18]
15 23 June 1944 09:40 LaGG-3 PQ 25 Ost 96823, 31 km (19 mi) north-northeast of Orsha[19]
55 km (34 mi) west-northwest of Maklok 		31 4 August 1944 12:15 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 25633, 18 km (11 mi) south-southwest of Vilkaviškis[20]
16 23 June 1944 16:58 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 96548, 24 km (15 mi) southeast of Ulla[19] 32 5 August 1944 12:15 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 35318, 5 km (3.1 mi) northeast of Vilkaviškis[20]
17 24 June 1944 09:40?[Note 3] Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 05442, 20 km (12 mi) northeast of Orsha[19]
30 km (19 mi) north of Gorki 		33 10 September 1944 10:31 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 36159, 10 km (6.2 mi) south of Schaulen[20]
18 24 June 1944 18:15 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 96852, 27 km (17 mi) west of Vitebsk[19]
20 km (12 mi) west of Kamary 		34 14 September 1944 14:52 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 29197, 3 km (1.9 mi) north of Varnai[20]
19 26 June 1944 14:45 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 05357, 18 km (11 mi) northwest of Orsha[18] 35 16 September 1944 09:50 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 27543, 16 km (9.9 mi) northwest of Moschaiken[20]
20 8 July 1944 08:40 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 62123, 25 km (16 mi) southeast of Baranowitschi[18]
25 km (16 mi) north of Kursk 		36 18 September 1944 17:21 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 26118, 12 km (7.5 mi) southwest of Telsche[20]
21 16 July 1944 07:12 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 41369[18] 37 1 October 1944 09:36 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 16326, 5 km (3.1 mi) northwest of Vainode[20]
22 20 July 1944 07:40 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 32836, 5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Ljuboml[18] 38 10 October 1944 09:52 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 16328, 9 km (5.6 mi) southeast of Memel[20]
23 22 July 1944 12:32 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 32872, 10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Chełm[18] 39 10 October 1944 11:24 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 16334, 13 km (8.1 mi) east of Memel[20]
24 22 July 1944 12:45 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 32737, 11 km (6.8 mi) west-northwest of Chełm[18] 40 18 October 1944 16:20 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 25284, 12 km (7.5 mi) east-northeast of Schlossberg[20]
25 22 July 1944 12:48 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 32731, 13 km (8.1 mi) northwest of Chełm[18] 41 26 October 1944 14:37 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 25581, 23 km (14 mi) east-northeast of Gołdap[20]
26 26 July 1944 10:58 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 24764, 12 km (7.5 mi) east of Byalistok[18] 42?[Note 4] 27 December 1944 12:54 Yak-9 9 km (5.6 mi) northwest of Dobeln[20]
27 30 July 1944 10:35 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 23734, 5 km (3.1 mi) east of Siedlce[18] 43?[Note 4] 27 December 1944 13:08 Yak-9 8 km (5.0 mi) east of Tukums[20]
28 2 August 1944 11:15 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 35371, 13 km (8.1 mi) south of Vilkaviškis[18]

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Polikarpov I-16 fighter.[8]
  2. ^ This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[8]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 12:40.[8]
  4. ^ a b This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[21]

References

Citations

  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 200.
  2. ^ Prien et al. 2006, pp. 247, 249.
  3. ^ Aders & Held 1993, p. 123.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 263.
  5. ^ Weal 2006, p. 123.
  6. ^ Zabecki 2014, p. 1618.
  7. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1166–1167.
  8. ^ a b c d e f g Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1166.
  9. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 286.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 287.
  11. ^ a b Prien et al. 2005, p. 93.
  12. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2005, p. 95.
  13. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 295.
  14. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 305.
  15. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 304.
  16. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 427.
  17. ^ Prien et al. 2022, p. 259.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Prien et al. 2022, p. 261.
  19. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2022, p. 260.
  20. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Prien et al. 2022, p. 262.
  21. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1167.
  22. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 214.
  23. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 186.
  24. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 422.
  25. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 387.
  26. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 680.

Bibliography

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  • Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1943–1945. Barnsley: Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-39903-073-1.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 6/I—Unternehmen "BARBAROSSA"—Einsatz im Osten—22.6. bis 5.12.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 6/I—Operation "BARBAROSSA"—Action in the East—22 June to 5 December 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-69-4.
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