Helmut Schönfelder
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Helmut Schönfelder | |
|---|---|
| Born | 30 April 1914 |
| Died | 23 September 2003 (aged 89) |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany |
| Branch |  Luftwaffe |
| Service years | ?-1945 |
| Rank | Oberfeldwebel |
| Unit | JG 51 |
| Conflicts | World War II |
| Awards | Knight'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, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Schönfelder was credited with 56 aerial victories.
With the Stabsstaffel
Schönfelder was born on 30 April 1914 in Nienburg an der Weser in the Province of Hanover within the German Empire.[1]
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 Gruppe of JG 51 was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and sent to Jesau, near present-day Bagrationovsk, to Heiligenbeil, present-day Mamonovo, to be reequipped with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A.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]
