Clemens Graf von Schönborn-Wiesentheid (3 April 1905 – 30 August 1944) was a German Air Force officer who commanded Air Command Arad and ''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 77 (StG 77—77th Dive Bomber Wing) during the

Axis An axis (plural ''axes'') is an imaginary line around which an object rotates or is symmetrical. Axis may also refer to: Mathematics * Axis of rotation: see rotation around a fixed axis * Axis (mathematics), a designator for a Cartesian-coordinat ...

-led invasion of Yugoslavia during

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. He was killed in a flying accident at Sofia, Bulgaria on 30 August 1944. He was planning to attend a General Staff meeting when his aircraft crashed for unknown reasons.

Career

In 1934, Schönborn-Wiesentheid volunteered for service in the ''Heer'' (German Army) in 1934 and transferred to the

Luftwaffe The ''Luftwaffe'' () was the aerial-warfare branch of the German ''Wehrmacht'' before and during World War II. Germany's military air arms during World War I, the ''Luftstreitkräfte'' of the Imperial Army and the '' Marine-Fliegerabtei ...

a year later. In March 1936, Schönborn-Wiesentheid was appointed ''

Staffelkapitän ''Staffelkapitän'' is a position (not a rank) in flying units ( ''Staffel'') of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a ''Staffelkapitän'' is of '' Oberstleutnant'' or ''Major'' rank. In the ...

'' (squadron leader) of 4. '' Staffel'' (4th squadron) of ''Jagdgeschwader'' 132 "Richthofen" (JG 132—132nd Fighter Wing), succeeding ''Major''

Theo Osterkamp Theodor "Theo" Osterkamp (15 April 1892 – 2 January 1975) was a German fighter pilot during World War I and World War II. A flying ace, he achieved 32 victories in World War I. In World War II, he led ''Jagdgeschwader'' 51 up to the Battle of B ...

who was transferred. On 28 August 1937, he transferred command of 4. ''Staffel'' to ''Oberleutnant'' Günther Reinecke. Schönborn-Wiesentheid was then appointed '' Gruppenkommandeur'' (group commander) of II. '' Gruppe'' of ''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 165 (StG 165—165th Dive Bomber Wing). On 16 April 1940, Schönborn-Wiesentheid succeeded ''Hauptmann'' Ernst Ott as ''Gruppenkommandeur'' of III. ''Gruppe'' of ''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 2 (StG 2—2nd Dive Bomber Wing). He held this position until 15 June 1940 when he transferred command of the ''Gruppe'' to ''Hauptmann'' Heinrich Brücker. Schönborn-Wiesentheid was killed in a flying accident when his

Fieseler Fi 156 Storch The Fieseler Fi 156 ''Storch'' (, " stork") was a German liaison aircraft built by Fieseler before and during World War II. Production continued in other countries into the 1950s for the private market. It was notable for its excellent short fi ...

liaison aircraft crashed east of

Sofia Sofia ( ; bg, София, Sofiya, ) is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria. It is situated in the Sofia Valley at the foot of the Vitosha mountain in the western parts of the country. The city is built west of the Iskar river, and h ...

, Bulgaria on 30 August 1944. He was buried in the German war cemetery section of the

Central Sofia Cemetery The Central Sofia Cemetery ( bg, Централни софийски гробища, ''Tsentralni sofiyski grobishta'') or the Orlandovtsi Cemetery ("Орландовци") is the main cemetery in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. The cemetery has ...

Awards

* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 21 July 1940 as ''Major'' and ''Geschwaderkommodore'' of ''Sturzkampfgeschwader'' 77

References

Citations

Bibliography

* * * * * * * * {{DEFAULTSORT:Schonborn-Wiesentheid, Clemens Graf von 1905 births 1944 deaths Burials at Central Sofia Cemetery Military personnel from Munich Luftwaffe pilots German World War II pilots Recipients of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross Victims of aviation accidents or incidents in Bulgaria