Heinz Schmidt (pilot)

rdf:langString Heinz Schmidt (pilot)

rdf:langString Heinz Schmidt

rdf:langString Johnny

rdf:langString Heinz Schmidt

rdf:langString near Kotelva, Ukrainian SSR

rdf:langString Bad Homburg, Weimar Republic

rdf:langString Johnny

rdf:langString Aviation

rdf:langString Military of Germany

rdf:langString World War II

rdf:langString Biography

rdf:langString Hauptmann

rdf:langString Squadron Leader of 6./JG 52

rdf:langString Heinz Schmidt (20 April 1920 – 5 September 1943) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 173 enemy aircraft shot down in 712 combat missions. All of his victories were claimed over the Eastern Front. Born in Bad Homburg, Schmidt volunteered for military service in the Luftwaffe of Nazi Germany in 1938. Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing) in 1940. He flew his first combat missions in the Battle of Britain and claimed his first aerial victory in the opening phase of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Following his 51st aerial victory he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 August 1942 and the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 16 September 1942 after 102 victories. In July 1943, Schmidt was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of JG 52. Schmidt was posted as missing in action after aerial combat near Markor on 5 September 1943. It is believed that he was mistakenly shot down by Hungarian fighters operating in the same area. He was promoted to Hauptmann (captain) posthumously.