Leo Schuhmacher

Leo Schuhmacher
Born 13 November 1914(1914-11-13)
Wiesental
Died 13 February 1997(1997-02-13) (aged 82)
Bruchsal
Allegiance Nazi Germany
Service/branch Luftwaffe
Rank Leutnant
Unit ZG 76, JG 1, JV 44
Battles/wars World War II
Awards Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Leo Schuhmacher (13 November 1914 – 13 February 1997) was a Luftwaffe flying ace of World War II. Schuhmacher was credited with 23 aerial victories, including 10 four engined bombers, claimed in roughly 250 combat missions.[1]

Schuhmacher claimed is first 4 aerial victories as an Oberfeldwebel in the 2./Zerstörergeschwader 76 in Norway. He served as a flight instructor from September 1940. He was transferred to the II./Jagdgeschwader 1 in the fall of 1943 fighting in the Defense of the Reich. Here he flew as wingman of Heinrich Bär. Schuhmacher had claimed 15 aerial victories by June 1944 and received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross after 22 victories. He transferred to Jagdverband 44 in March 1945 and claimed a final victory flying the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter.[1]

On 26 April 1945 twelve Me 262 of JV 44 led by former General der Jagdflieger Adolf Galland took off to engage B-26 Marauders of the 17th Bombardment Group. Leo Schuhmacher flew his only sortie with JV 44 against B-26s that day. His cannons malfunctioned and was forced to fly through the B-26 formation without firing a shot.[2]

Awards

References

Citations
  1. ^ a b Obermaier 1989, p. 201.
  2. ^ Forsyth 2008, pp. 87–88.
  3. ^ Weal 1996, p. 55.
  4. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 688.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945 (in German). Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2008). Jagdverband 44 Squadron of Experten. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84603-294-3.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2011). Luftwaffe Viermot Aces 1942–45. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-438-3.
  • 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 (1996). Focke-Wulf Fw 190 Aces of the Western Front. Osprey Publishing. ISBN 1-85532-595-0.