Johann Schmid (theologian)

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. 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 "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 "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 (squadron leader) of 8. 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. 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 and flew with the " Condor Legion" in the latter stages of the Spanish Civil War. Upon his return, he was transferred to the 1. (1st squadron) of "Richthofen" (JG 2—2nd Fighter Wing), a squadron of I. (1st group).

Battle of France and Britain

At the start of the Battle of France, I. of JG 2 supported Army Group A in its advance through the Ardennes towards the Meuse river. On 14 May, the 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. On 18 May, Schmid claimed a Westland Lysander army cooperation aircraft shot down near Beauvais. Following the German advance northwest, the 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. 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.

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

With 26

Following his assignment as an instructor, Schmid joined "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) on 10 July 1941. There, he was assigned to the (headquarters unit) by Adolf Galland, the (wing commander). JG 26 was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a martyr cultivated by the Nazi Party. At the time, the was based at Audembert near the English Channel. 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. The following day, the RAF flew an evening "Circus" mission with six Bristol Blenheim bombers to Mazingarbe escorted by Spitfire fighters. The , led by Galland, intercepted the escorting fighters and Schmid claimed a Spitfire shot down.

On 3 August, the RAF flew a series of anti shipping attacks. Defending against these attacks, Schmid claimed a Spitfire destroyed. Sarkar suggested that his opponent may have been RAF pilot Flight Lieutenant Eric Lock from No. 611 Squadron. 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. In reality, Lock was lost in the morning of the 3 August. Schmid claimed his victory in the early evening at 18:32.

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. Before noon on 9 August, Schmid and his wingman 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. The following day, a German freighter came under attack from three Blenheim bombers which took off from RAF Manston at 12:50. The 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. 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.

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

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