Hermann Schleinhege

Hermann Schleinhege (21 February 1916 – 11 March 2014) was a German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Schleinhege was credited with 97 aerial victories, all on the Eastern Front.

Hermann Schleinhege
Born(1916-02-21)21 February 1916
Essen, Kingdom of Prussia
Died11 March 2014(2014-03-11) (aged 98)
Soest, Germany
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branchBalkenkreuz (Iron Cross) Luftwaffe
Years of service1936–45
RankLeutnant (second lieutenant)
UnitJG 54
Battles/warsWorld War II
AwardsKnight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Spouse(s)Margret née Höber

Career

Schleinhege was born on 21 February 1916 in Essen in the Rhine Province of the German Empire.[1] He joined the Luftwaffe before the war and upon completing his training, in February 1941, served as a flight instructor. In April 1942, he was transferred as an Unteroffizier to 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 Grünherz (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing), at the time stationed near Leningrad. On 15 May, Schleinhege damaged his Messerschmitt Bf 109 F-4 (Werknummer 8618—factory number) during takeoff at Lyuban.[2]

With the Geschwaderstab of JG 54

After Schleinhege's transfer to the Geschwaderstab (headquarters flight) of JG 54, he began flying as wingman to the unit commanders, including Hannes Trautloft, Hubertus von Bonin (78 victories) and Anton Mader (86 victories), gaining valuable experience. Flying with the Geschwaderstab, he crashed Focke-Wulf Fw 58 Weihe B-1 (Werknummer 3576) near Oryol on 9 July.[3] By the end of the year when they were based in Orsha with Army Group Centre, his score stood at 32 aerial victories.

Schleinhege was awarded the German Cross in Gold (Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 20 March 1944, and scored his 37th victory on 4 April. Upon completing officer training, the newly commissioned Leutnant Schleinhege was transferred to 4./JG 54 in Estonia, he claimed his 50th on 17 September. On 9 October, now based out of Riga, he shot down two Bell P-39 Airacobras and two Il-2 ground attack aircraft.

Squadron leader

In August 1944, Schleinhege temporarily assumed command of 4. Staffel of JG 54 after its former commander. Hauptmann Franz Eisenach had been transferred. On 1 September, the Staffel was redesignated and became 7. Staffel of JG 54. Later that month, he command of 7. Staffel was given to Leutnant Gerhard Thyben.[4] At the end of November 1944, he was promoted to Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 8. Staffel of JG 54,[5] remaining in this position until the end of World War II.[6] By the end of the year, with his squadron based in Libau supporting the troops in the isolated Courland Pocket, his score had climbed to 81.

Schleinhege was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 28 January 1945, for 84 victories.[7] He and his pilots covered the naval evacuation of the pocket. Based firstly from Libau until March, then from Heiligenbeil, near Königsberg, until the end of the war. His last flight was on 8 May 1945 when he squeezed his two mechanics into his (nominally) single-seater Fw 190 and flew to Kiel to surrender to the British troops.[8]

Schleinhege survived the war, and in three years flew 484 combat missions, all on the Eastern Front and all with JG 54. He ended with 97 confirmed victories and a number more unconfirmed, including 54 Il-2 and Pe-2 bombers.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Schleinhege was credited with 97 aerial victories.[9] Obermaier also lists him with 97 aerial victories.[1] Spick however lists him with 96 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number combat missions, all of which on the Eastern Front.[10] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 94 aerial victory claims, plus five further unconfirmed claims.[11]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 35 Ost 28734". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[12]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Schleinhege 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 54 –[5]
Eastern Front — 1 May 1942 – 3 February 1943
1 9 August 1942 11:05 R-5 west of Chrenowaja[13] 4?[Note 1] 26 August 1942
—
 Il-2[15]
2?[Note 1] 14 August 1942
—
 Yak-1[16]  ?[Note 2] 7 January 1943 09:22 LaGG-3
3?[Note 1] 26 August 1942
—
 I-16[15]
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[5]
Eastern Front — 4 February – March 1943
5 11 February 1943 08:55 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 28734[18]
40 km (25 mi) west-northwest of Ostashkov		 7 7 March 1943 09:23 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 18274[19]
25 km (16 mi) southeast of Staraya Russa
6 27 February 1943 12:33 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 18483[20]
45 km (28 mi) west-southwest of Demyansk
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[14]
Eastern Front — June – 31 December 1943
8 1 June 1943 04:56 Yak-1 PQ 36 Ost 10292[21]
30 km (19 mi) southwest of Volkhov		 20 2 August 1943 13:03 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10183[21]
east of Mga
9 8 June 1943 16:04 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 20181[21]
southwest of Volkhov		 21 4 August 1943 06:33 P-39 PQ 36 Ost 10153[21]
southeast of Shlisselburg
10 18 June 1943 06:22 Yak-1 PQ 36 Ost 21851[21]
30 km (19 mi) northeast of Volkhov		 22?[Note 1] 19 August 1943
—
 Yak-1[21]
11 18 June 1943 06:27 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 21761[21]
15 km (9.3 mi) northwest of Volkhov		 23?[Note 1] 19 August 1943
—
 Il-2[21]
12 23 June 1943 20:02 LaGG-3 PQ 36 Ost 11743[21]
Lake Ladoga		 24 11 October 1943 09:10 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 06164[21]
13 13 July 1943 11:44 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54167[21]
25 km (16 mi) south of Sukhinichi		 25 12 October 1943 13:36 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 15544[21]
south of Lenin
14 14 July 1943 14:07 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 54474[21]
25 km (16 mi) west-northwest of Bolkhov		 26 12 October 1943 13:55 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 15574[21]
northeast of Gorki
15 17 July 1943 08:05 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 63567[21]
10 km (6.2 mi) southwest of Maloarkhangelsk		 27 14 October 1943 14:46 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 15553[21]
20 km (12 mi) northeast of Gorki
16 17 July 1943 13:08 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 54642[21]
25 km (16 mi) west-southwest of Bolkhov		 28 17 October 1943 09:47 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 06321[21]
—
?[Note 1]		 18 July 1943 07:02 LaGG-3[21] 29 5 November 1943 10:28 Yak-1 PQ 35 Ost 06182[21]
17 18 July 1943 07:18 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 64879[21]
25 km (16 mi) south of Mtsensk		 30 5 November 1943 10:50 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 06321[21]
18 31 July 1943 11:10 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10154[21]
southeast of Shlisselburg		 31 30 November 1943 12:07 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 05461[21]
19 2 August 1943 12:37 Il-2 PQ 36 Ost 10156[21]
southeast of Shlisselburg		 32 30 November 1943 12:11 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 05481[21]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[22]
Eastern Front — 1 January – April 1944
33 12 February 1944 14:47 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 06794[23]
—
 3 April 1944
—
 unknown
34 26 February 1944 15:58 Il-2 vicinity of Lake Peipus
—
 3 April 1944
—
 unknown
—
 28 March 1944
—
 Pe-2
—
 3 April 1944
—
 unknown
35 3 April 1944 09:55 LaGG-3 PQ 25 Ost 88391[23]
10 km (6.2 mi) southeast of Selo		 37 4 April 1944 17:52 Yak-9 west of Lake Peipus
36 3 April 1944 12:15 Il-2 20 km (12 mi) southwest of Selo
– 7. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[24]
Eastern Front — August – November 1944
38 16 August 1944 13:08 Pe-2 56 28 September 1944 11:40 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 47291[25]
30 km (19 mi) south of Mālpils
39 17 August 1944 12:04 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 79582[26]
west of Lake Peipus		 57 28 September 1944 11:48 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 47236[25]
south of Mālpils
40 17 August 1944 12:14 Yak-9 58 30 September 1944 12:35 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 57144[27]
25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Mālpils
41 23 August 1944 15:02 Yak-9 20 km (12 mi) south of Dorpat 59 9 October 1944 13:34 P-39 30 km (19 mi) west-southwest of Telšiai
42 23 August 1944 15:30 Il-2 west of Dorpat 60 9 October 1944 15:45 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 17688[27]
55 km (34 mi) east-southeast of Liepāja
43 25 August 1944 17:15 La-5 50 km (31 mi) north of Jēkabpils 61 9 October 1944 16:05 Il-2 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Liepāja
44 5 September 1944 17:30 Pe-2 50 km (31 mi) north of Jēkabpils 62 9 October 1944 16:07 Il-2 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Liepāja
45 15 September 1944 11:56 Il-2 Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda 63 10 October 1944 08:25 Pe-2 30 km (19 mi) east-southeast of Palanga
46 15 September 1944 11:57 Il-2 Gulf of Finland, north of Kunda 64 14 October 1944 14:00+ P-39 40 km (25 mi) northeast of Polanga
47 15 September 1944 14:03 Yak-9 PQ 26 Ost 60315[28]
northwest of Kunda		 65 16 October 1944 15:01 Il-2 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Liepāja
48 17 September 1944 09:25 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 68146[28]
north of Walk		 66 16 October 1944 15:27 Il-2 40 km (25 mi) east of Liepāja
49 18 September 1944 18:14 Yak-9 40 km (25 mi) southeast of Mālpils 67 17 October 1944 13:22 Il-2 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Liepāja
50 18 September 1944 18:15 Yak-9 35 km (22 mi) southeast of Mālpils 68 17 October 1944 13:42 Il-2 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Liepāja
51 19 September 1944 15:31 Il-2 55 km (34 mi) north of Dorpat 69 27 October 1944 09:43 Il-2 30 km (19 mi) southeast of Liepāja
52 19 September 1944 15:32 Il-2 southeast of Paide 70 27 October 1944 11:36 Pe-2 20 km (12 mi) north of Polanga
53 23 September 1944 12:38 Yak-9 south of Jēkabpils 71 30 October 1944 12:12 Pe-2
54 24 September 1944 11:25 La-5 15 km (9.3 mi) north-northwest of Valmiera 72 19 November 1944 17:30 Il-2 40 km (25 mi) east of Liepāja
55 28 September 1944 11:39 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 47266[25]
45 km (28 mi) east-southeast of Riga
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 54 –[29]
Eastern Front — December 1944 – 8 May 1945
73 14 December 1944 12:32 Il-2[30] 86 29 January 1945 12:17 Il-2 Courland area
74 15 December 1944 10:50+ Pe-2 87 29 January 1945 12:28 Yak-3 Courland area
75 15 December 1944 10:58 Pe-2[30] 88 6 February 1945 09:38 Il-2 Courland area
76 21 December 1944 10:17 Pe-2[30] 89 21 February 1945 12:23 Il-2 Cīrava
77 22 December 1944 14:22 Il-2[30] 90 21 February 1945 12:32 Pe-2 Cīrava
78 23 December 1944 08:58 Pe-2[30] 91 21 February 1945 12:52 Pe-2 Cīrava
—
 23 December 1944
—
 unknown 92 23 February 1945 16:05 Pe-2 Cīrava
79 26 December 1944 12:28 Il-2[30] 93 23 February 1945 16:06 Pe-2 Cīrava
80 27 December 1944 12:58?[Note 3] P-39[31] 94 17 March 1945 16:43 Il-2 Courland area
81 29 December 1944 10:43?[Note 4] Yak-3[31] 95 26 March 1945 08:47 Il-2 Courland area
82 29 December 1944 13:00 Il-2[31] 96 26 March 1945 09:20 Il-2 Courland area
83 20 January 1945 10:53 Il-2 Courland area 97 9 April 1945 15:20 Pe-2 Courland area
84 26 January 1945 10:23 Il-2 Courland area 98 9 April 1945 19:21 Yak-3 Courland area
85 26 January 1945 13:24 Il-2 Courland area

Awards

Notes
  1. This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[14]
  2. This claim is not listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock.[17]
  3. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed after 12:00.[29]
  4. According to Mathews and Foreman claimed after 12:30.[29]
  5. According to Obermaier on 2 October 1943.[1]
  6. According to Scherzer as Leutnant of the Reserves.[35]

References

Citations
  1. Obermaier 1989, p. 196.
  2. Prien et al. 2006, p. 159.
  3. Prien et al. 2012, p. 79.
  4. Prien et al. 2022, p. 471.
  5. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1127.
  6. Scutts 1992, p. 98.
  7. Weal 1995, p. 82.
  8. Weal 2001, p. 118.
  9. Zabecki 2014, p. 1614.
  10. Spick 1996, p. 234.
  11. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1127–1129.
  12. Planquadrat.
  13. Prien et al. 2006, p. 147.
  14. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1127–1128.
  15. Prien et al. 2006, p. 151.
  16. Prien et al. 2006, p. 148.
  17. Prien et al. 2006, p. 157.
  18. Prien et al. 2012, p. 268.
  19. Prien et al. 2012, p. 270.
  20. Prien et al. 2012, p. 269.
  21. Prien et al. 2012, p. 78.
  22. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1128.
  23. Prien et al. 2022, p. 309.
  24. Mathews & Foreman 2015, pp. 1128–1129.
  25. Prien et al. 2022, p. 484.
  26. Prien et al. 2022, p. 482.
  27. Prien et al. 2022, p. 485.
  28. Prien et al. 2022, p. 483.
  29. Mathews & Foreman 2015, p. 1129.
  30. Prien et al. 2022, p. 487.
  31. Prien et al. 2022, p. 488.
  32. Patzwall 2008, p. 180.
  33. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 408.
  34. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 378.
  35. Scherzer 2007, p. 664.

Bibliography
  • Bergström, Christer. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 28 January 2021.
  • 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.
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