Siegfried Schnell

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Siegfried Schnell (23 January 1916 – 25 February 1944) was a German military aviator who served in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was credited with 93—that is, 93 aerial combat encounters resulting in the destruction of the enemy aircraft—claimed in an unknown number of combat missions. He had three victories on the Eastern Front and 90 over the Western Allies, including 12 four-engine bombers.

Born in Zielenzig, Schnell joined the Luftwaffe in 1936. At the start of World war II, he served with Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen". He claimed his first aerial victory on 14 May 1940 during the Battle of France. On 7 November, he claimed his 20th aerial victory for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. On 1 July 1941, he was made a Staffelkapitän (squadron leader). He claimed his 45th aerial victory on 9 July for which he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, it was Germany's highest military decoration at the time of its presentation to Schnell.Template:Refn

On 1 May 1943, Schnell was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) which was fighting in Defense of the Reich. On 1 February 1944, he was given command of IV. Gruppe of JG 54, based near Leningrad on the Eastern Front. Schnell was killed in action on 25 February 1944 during the Soviet Narva offensive when he was shot down by an opposing fighter near Narva, Estonia.

Early life and career

Schnell was born on 23 January 1916 in Zielenzig, at the time in the Province of Brandenburg of the German Empire.Template:Sfn A keen glider-pilot, he joined the Luftwaffe in 1936, and by the start of the war in 1939, he was a Feldwebel serving with 4. Staffel (4th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen", named after the World War I fighter ace Manfred von Richthofen, under the command of Oberleutnant Hans "Assi" Hahn.Template:Sfn[Note 1] The Staffel was subordinated to II. Gruppe (2nd group) which had been created on 15 December 1939 at Zerbst and placed under the command of Hauptmann Wolfgang Schellmann. The unit was formed from elements of both I. Gruppe of JG 2 and I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). The Gruppe was officially declared operational on 15 January 1940.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn

World War II

At the start of the Battle of France, II. Gruppe of JG 2 was deployed on the northern sector of Army Group B and had been ordered to an airfield at Hamminkeln on 11 May. Initially subordinated to the IV. Fliegerkorps (4th Air Corps), the Gruppe flew fighter escort missions on the first three days of the campaign for Lehrgeschwader 1 (LG 1—1st Demonstration Wing), Kampfgeschwader 27 (KG 27—27th Bomber Wing) and Sturzkampfgeschwader 3 (StG 3—3rd Dive Bomber Wing) attacking targets in the Netherlands. On 14 May, II. Gruppe was ordered to Peer in Belgium where the Gruppe was placed under the command of the Stab of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing).Template:Sfn That day, Schnell claimed his first aerial victory, a French Bloch 152 fighter.Template:Sfn

Following the Armistice of 22 June 1940, combat operation concluded on 25 June.Template:Sfn On 27 June, II. Gruppe was ordered to Beaumont-le-Roger, patrolling the English Channel and participated in the occupation of Guernsey on 1 July.Template:Sfn Schnell claimed his first aerial victory during the Battle of Britain on 29 July when he shot down a Bristol Blenheim bomber northwest of Le Havre.Template:Sfn On 7 November, off the Isle of Wight, as operations were slowing down and recently commissioned as a Leutnant (on 1 November), he claimed his 20th aerial victory. For this feat he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Script error: No such module "Lang".) on 9 November.Template:Sfn

Squadron leader

The focus of the airwar shifted in the next year to the Eastern Front, however Schnell stayed with JG 2 defending the West. On 1 July 1941, he was appointed as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 9. Staffel of JG 2. He succeeded Oberleutnant Carl-Hans Röders who was killed in action on 23 June.Template:Sfn On 3 July, III. Gruppe moved to St. Pol-Brias where it would be based for more than four months. That day, Schnell claimed a Supermarine Spitfire fighter shot down east of Gravelines, his first aerial victory as Staffelkapitän. The following day, he was credited with four further Spitfires shot down.Template:Sfn

Soon after, he shot down nine Spitfires in just two days (8 – 9 July) to reach his 45th victory and was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Script error: No such module "Lang".), at the time being one of the top pilots in JG 2.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn He continued to score consistently as the Royal Air Force (RAF) mounted heavier strikes into France, and temporarily held command of III. Gruppe from 9 December 1941 to the following 28 January while Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) Hans "Assi" Hahn was on leave. Schnell claimed a Handley Page Hampden bomber during Operation Donnerkeil. The objective of this operation was to give the German battleships Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". and Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". and the heavy cruiser Script error: No such module "WPSHIPS utilities".Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". fighter protection in the breakout from Brest to Germany. The Channel Dash operation (11–13 February 1942) by the Kriegsmarine was codenamed Operation Cerberus by the Germans. In support of this, the Luftwaffe, formulated an air superiority plan dubbed Operation Donnerkeil for the protection of the three German capital ships.Template:Sfn Over the Dieppe Raid on 19 August 1942, he shot down five Spitfires to reach his 70th victory, making him an "ace-in-a-day" for the second time.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Schnell was promoted to Hauptmann of the Reserves on 1 February 1943.Template:Sfn

Group commander

After that his scoring rate slowed down as he focussed more on administration and command, and he led his unit in the changeover onto the new Focke-Wulf Fw 190—a very rugged dogfighter. In a misguided idea by High Command to rotate the fighter Gruppen between Western and Eastern Fronts, III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 (JG 54—54th Fighter Wing) was transferred from the Eastern Front back to Germany for Defence of the Reich. Hauptmann Schnell, was given command of the unit on 1 May 1943 to train and lead the pilots in high-altitude interception rather than the low-level brawling they were used to on the Eastern Front. He had taken command of the Gruppe from Major Reinhard Seiler who was transferred.Template:Sfn Command of his former 9. Staffel of JG 2 had already been passed on to Oberleutnant Josef Wurmheller on 1 April.Template:Sfn On 11 January 1944, III. Gruppe defended against a raid flown by the United States Army Air Forces resulting in eleven Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers shot down,Template:Sfn including three by Schnell.Template:Sfn

On 1 February 1944, he was given command of IV. Gruppe of JG 54, based near Leningrad, and he arrived on 11 February. He replaced Hauptmann Rudolf Sinner.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn As mentioned above, command transfers between fronts were rare, given the markedly different combat conditions, and unfortunately Schnell was not lucky to be able to adapt quickly enough. After less than a month and three further aerial victories,Template:Sfn he was shot down and killed in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 411675—factory number) over the Russian offensive for Narva on 25 February 1944.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Posthumously, he was promoted to Major of the Reserves.Template:Sfn He was succeeded by Hauptmann Gerhard Koall as commander of IV. Gruppe of JG 54.Template:Sfn

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

According to Spick and Zabecki, Schnell was credited with 93 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number combat missions. This figure includes 23 aerial victories during the Battle of France and Britain, further 64 aerial victories over the Western Front and six more on the Eastern Front.Template:SfnTemplate:Sfn Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 83 aerial victory claims, plus two further unconfirmed claims. All of his aerial victories were claimed over the Western Allies and includes ten four-engined bombers.Template:Sfn

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 05 Ost 1176". The Luftwaffe grid map (Script error: No such module "Lang".) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about Script error: No such module "convert".. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area Script error: No such module "convert". in size.Template:Sfn

Chronicle of aerial victories
<templatestyles src="Legend/styles.css" />
  This and the ♠ (Ace of spades) indicates those aerial victories which made Schnell an "ace-in-a-day", a term which designates a fighter pilot who has shot down five or more airplanes in a single day.
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  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Schnell did not receive credit.
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  This along with the * (asterisk) indicates an Herausschuss (separation shot)—a severely damaged heavy bomber forced to separate from his combat box which was counted as an aerial victory.
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  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –Template:Sfn
Battle of France — 11 May – 25 June 1940
1?Template:Refn 3 June 1940
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		French fighter ÉpernayTemplate:Sfn 2?[Note 2] 3 June 1940
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		French fighter ÉpernayTemplate:Sfn
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –Template:Sfn
At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 21 June 1941
3 29 July 1940 13:20 Blenheim northwest of Le HavreTemplate:Sfn
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Schnell claimed his fourth aerial victory on either 4 or 16 August 1940.Template:Sfn This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.Template:Sfn
5 30 August 1940 17:50 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 7 September 1940 17:38 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
6 2 September 1940 18:00 HurricaneTemplate:Sfn 8 September 1940 13:15 HurricaneTemplate:Sfn
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Schnell claimed two aerial victories on either 7 or 8 September 1940, one of which may be unconfirmed.Template:Sfn These claims are not listed by Mathews and Foreman.Template:Sfn
11 11 September 1940 17:05 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 17 7 October 1940 13:42 Spitfire SouthamptonTemplate:Sfn
12 11 September 1940 17:12 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 18 6 November 1940 13:40 Spitfire east of SouthamptonTemplate:Sfn
13 30 September 1940 17:55 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn north of the Isle of Portland 19 7 November 1940 15:30 Hurricane south of the Isle of WightTemplate:Sfn
14 30 September 1940 18:00 HurricaneTemplate:Sfn north of the Isle of Portland 20 21 June 1941 16:48 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn west of Le Touquet
15 7 October 1940 17:55 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 21 21 June 1941 16:49 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn west of Le Touquet
16 7 October 1940 13:39 Spitfire SouthamptonTemplate:Sfn
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –Template:Sfn
On the Western Front — 22–30 June 1941
22 22 June 1941 16:20 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn Saint-Omer-Gravelines 27 25 June 1941 16:32 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn Saint-Omer-Gravelines
23 23 June 1941 20:19 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn Pas-de-Calais 28 25 June 1941 16:40 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn Saint-Omer-Gravelines
24 23 June 1941 20:20 BlenheimTemplate:Sfn Pas-de-Calais 29 26 June 1941?Template:Refn 11:42 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn Hazebrouck-Gravelines
25 23 June 1941 20:22 BlenheimTemplate:Sfn Pas-de-Calais 30 27 June 1941 21:30 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn Lille-Gravelines
26 24 June 1941 20:44 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn Gravelines-Ramsgate 31 27 June 1941 21:32 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn Lille-Gravelines
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –Template:Sfn
On the Western Front — 1 July – 31 December 1941
32 3 July 1941 15:40 Spitfire east of GravelinesTemplate:Sfn 45♠ 9 July 1941 16:22 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
33 4 July 1941 15:05 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 46 1 September 1941 19:22 Blenheim CherbourgTemplate:Sfn
34 4 July 1941 15:07 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 47 4 September 1941 16:03 Whirlwind north of CherbourgTemplate:Sfn
35 4 July 1941 15:15 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 48 4 September 1941 16:05 Whirlwind north of CherbourgTemplate:Sfn
36 4 July 1941 16:43 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 49 4 September 1941 16:07 Hurricane north of CherbourgTemplate:Sfn
37 6 July 1941 14:40 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 50 18 September 1941 17:37 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
38 8 July 1941 06:45 Spitfire southwest of BerguesTemplate:Sfn 51 18 September 1941 17:40 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
39 8 July 1941 15:45?Template:Refn SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 52 12 October 1941 17:10 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
40♠ 9 July 1941 13:57 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 53 12 October 1941 17:15 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
41♠ 9 July 1941 13:59 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 54 8 November 1941 15:32 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
42♠ 9 July 1941 14:05 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 55 8 November 1941 15:35 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
43♠ 9 July 1941 16:10 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 56 8 November 1941 15:37 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
44♠ 9 July 1941 16:20 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –Template:Sfn
On the Western Front — 1 January – 31 December 1942
57 3 June 1942 15:27 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 66♠ 19 August 1942 11:38 Spitfire west of Le TréportTemplate:Sfn
58 3 June 1942 15:29 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 67♠ 19 August 1942 12:06 Spitfire northeast of SecquevilleTemplate:Sfn
59 3 June 1942 15:34 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 68♠ 19 August 1942 15:32 Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". northwest of DieppeTemplate:Sfn
60 3 June 1942 15:36 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 69♠ 19 August 1942 15:34 Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". northwest of DieppeTemplate:Sfn
61 4 June 1942 12:48 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 70♠ 19 August 1942 15:42 Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". northwest of DieppeTemplate:Sfn
62 4 June 1942 12:58 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn 71 8 November 1942 12:13 Spitfire PQ 05 Ost 1176Template:Sfn
63 6 June 1942 17:14 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn Cherbourg-Cap Lévi 72 23 November 1942 13:46 B-17 southwest of Belle ÎleTemplate:Sfn
64 6 June 1942 17:16 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn Cherbourg-Cap Lévi 73 23 November 1942 11:52 B-17 southwest of Île de GroixTemplate:Sfn
65 26 June 1942 17:43 SpitfireTemplate:Sfn Fécamp-Étretat
– 9. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 2 "Richthofen" –Template:Sfn
On the Western Front — 1 January – 1 April 1943
74 3 January 1943 11:42 B-17 PQ 14 West 4869Template:Sfn
Script error: No such module "convert". southwest of Saint-Nazaire 		75 3 January 1943 11:47 B-17 PQ 14 West 3877Template:Sfn
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Template:Sfn
Defense of the Reich — 1 May – 31 December 1943
76 21 May 1943 12:38?Template:Refn B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/74/1/1Template:Sfn
Script error: No such module "convert". southeast of Jever 		82 27 July 1943 20:12 Spitfire Script error: No such module "convert". west of ZandvoortTemplate:Sfn
77 21 May 1943 12:52?Template:Refn B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/75/7/2Template:Sfn 83 27 July 1943 20:22 Typhoon Script error: No such module "convert". west of HaarlemTemplate:Sfn
78 13 June 1943 09:30 B-17 PreetzTemplate:Sfn 84 30 July 1943 10:18 B-17* PQ 05 Ost S/HM-9Template:Sfn
north of Arnhem
79 25 July 1943 15:04 Spitfire north of AmsterdamTemplate:Sfn
Script error: No such module "convert". north of Broek 		85 30 July 1943 10:37 P-47 PQ 05 Ost S/JK-7Template:Sfn
southwest of Dordrecht
80 25 July 1943 15:07 Typhoon Script error: No such module "convert". west of BergenTemplate:Sfn
northwest of IJmuiden 		86 9 October 1943 14:27 B-17 PQ 05 Ost S/PF-1Template:Sfn
81 25 July 1943 20:12 Typhoon Script error: No such module "convert". west of ZandvoortTemplate:Sfn
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 54 –Template:Sfn
Defense of the Reich — 1 January – 11 February 1944
87 11 January 1944 12:00 B-17Template:Sfn
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		11 January 1944
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		B-17Template:Sfn
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		11 January 1944
—
Script error: No such module "Check for unknown parameters". 		B-17Template:Sfn

Awards

Notes

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  1. ↑ For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations see Organisation of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  2. ↑ Cite error: Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".Script error: No such module "Namespace detect".

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References

Citations

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Bibliography

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  • Sundin, Claes & Bergström. Christer (1997). Luftwaffe Fighter Aircraft in Profile. Altglen, PA: Schiffer Military History. Template:ISBN including colour profiles of aircraft (#27 & #32)
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  • Weal, John (1996). Bf109D/E Aces 1939-41. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Limited. Template:ISBN.
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Template:Knight's Cross recipients of JG 2 Template:Subject bar

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