Carl-August von Schoenebeck

Major General Carl-August von Schoenebeck (1898–1989) began his career in the Baden Leib-Grenadier Regiment in 1915. He transferred to the Luftstreitkräfte in 1916. After training, he served with the artillery cooperation unit FA (A) 203. His subsequent service in fighters (e. g. Jasta 11 earned him credit for eight confirmed aerial victories and a number of decorations, as well as the command of Jasta 33 while still a leutnant.

Postwar, he tried a trans-Atlantic flight to Chile in 1924. From 1930 to 1935, he was a test pilot. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1934. In 1938, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and posted as air attaché to Yugoslavia. He became air attaché to Bulgaria in 1939, and held this position until after his promotion to major general in 1943. He was held as a prisoner of war from 1945 through the end of the war, and then illegally held until 1948, despite never having been suspected of or charged with war crimes.

He earned a multi-engine license to enter competition in 1954. He learned hang gliding at the age of 77, in 1975. He died on 4 September 1989 in Munich.

Biography

Through World War I Carl-August von Schoenebeck was born in Bernstadt, Silesia, German Empire on 19 January 1898. He enlisted in the Baden Leib Grenadier Regiment in 1915. He transferred to the Luftstreitkräfte in 1916 and underwent pilot's training with Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 3 in Gotha. After training, he was assigned to fly a two-seater on artillery direction missions with Flieger-Abteilung (Artillerie) (Flier Detachment (Artillery)) 203. Although there is no mention of fighter conversion training, Schoenebeck joined a fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 11, on 7 July 1917.

His first victory was a notable one. On 27 July 1917, he shot down Sopwith Triplane number N5492, which had been used to score 23 victories (most by Raymond Collishaw), and killing Flight Sub-Lieutenant G. Roach of No. 10 Squadron RNAS. Four days later, he shot down a Royal Aircraft Factory RE.8 from No. 4 Squadron RFC over Frezenberg. It would not be until 3 September that he tallied another victory, when he shot down another Triplane at Hollebeke, Belgium.

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