Johann Schalk

Johann Schalk

Johann Schalk (center) and Theodor Rossiwall (right)
Born 19 September 1903(1903-09-19)
Krems, Lower Austria
Died 9 November 1987(1987-11-09) (aged 84)
Graz
Allegiance First Austrian Republic (to 1938)
Nazi Germany
Service/branch Bundesheer
Luftwaffe
Years of service 1922–1945
Rank Oberst
Unit ZG 26, NJG 3, NJG 4
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Johann (Hans) Schalk[Notes 1] (19 September 1903 – 9 November 1987) was a flying ace and high ranking officer in the German Luftwaffe during World War II. He is credited with 15 aerial victories, 4 of which on the Eastern front, claimed in 163 combat missions.[3]

Contents

Military career

Johann Schalk joined the Austrian Bundesheer in 1922 and as a Leutnant was trained to fly in 1928. He became a leader of a fighter squadron in August 1933 and was appointed commander of the Austrian Jagdgruppe 1 (1st fighter group).[3]

He was one of the best Austrian aerobatic pilots and gained experience at various delegations to Germany and Italy. After the Anschluss, the annexation of Austria and the integration of the Bundesheer into the German Wehrmacht, Schalk became Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of the IV./Jagdgeschwader 134 (4th group of fighter wing 134) on 1 August 1938. This unit was later renamed and became the nucleus of III./Zerstörergeschwader 26 (ZG 26—destroyer wing 26) on 1 May 1939.[3]

Schalk claimed five aerial victories during the Battle of France and six during the Battle of Britain, three of which were shot down by his wireless radio operator Unteroffizier Scheuplein. He was one of the first members of the Luftwaffe to receive the Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe and the first Zerstörer (destroyer) pilot to receive the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 11 September 1940 after nine aerial victories.[3]

Awards

Notes

  1. ^ First name is Johann according to Fellgiebel and Scherzer while Obermaier lists him as Hans.[1][2][3]

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b Fellgiebel 2000, p. 374.
  2. ^ a b Scherzer 2007, p. 656.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Obermaier 1989, p. 192.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 - 1945 (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 3-87341-065-6.
  • Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Miltaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
  • Weal, John (1999). Messerschmitt Bf 110 Zerstörer Aces of World War 2. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1855327538.

External links

Military offices
Preceded by
Oberstleutnant Joachim-Friedrich Huth		 Commander of Zerstörergeschwader 26
1 November 1940 – 29 September 1941		 Succeeded by
Oberstleutnant Karl Boehm-Tettelbach
Preceded by
—		 Commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 3
1 December 1941 – 1 August 1943		 Succeeded by
Oberst Helmut Lent
Preceded by
Oberst Karl Hentschel		 Commander of Jagdfliegerführer Deutsche Bucht
1 October 1943 – 1 December 1943		 Succeeded by
redesignated to Jagdfliegerführer 2