Leo Schuhmacher

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Leo Schuhmacher
Born (1914-11-13)13 November 1914
Wiesental (Waghäusel)
Died 13 February 1997(1997-02-13) (aged 82)
Bruchsal
Allegiance Nazi Germany 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.[2]

Schuhmacher claimed his 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.[2]

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 he was forced to fly through the B-26 formation without firing a shot.[3]

Major Heinrich Bär (center) on 21 February 1944 inspecting his 184th aerial victory "Miss Ouachita" a Boeing B-17F of 91st Bomb Group. Bär is wearing his favourite US leather flying jacket, his wingman Warrant Officer (Oberfeldwebel) Leo Schuhmacher is standing to his right.[1]

Awards

References

Citations
  1. ↑ Weal 1996, p. 55.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Obermaier 1989, p. 201.
  3. ↑ Forsyth 2008, pp. 87–88.
  4. ↑ Scherzer 2007, p. 688.
Bibliography
  • Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000). Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 – Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtsteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6. 
  • 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1941 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7. 
  • 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 [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (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.


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