Helmut Schönfelder

Helmut Schönfelder (30 April 1914 – 23 September 2003) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross, and its variants were the highest awards in the military and paramilitary forces of Nazi Germany during World War II. Schönfelder was credited with 56 aerial victories.

Career Schönfelder was born on 30 April 1914 in Nienburg an der Weser in the Province of Hanover within the German Empire.

With the Stabsstaffel In early October 1942, II. Gruppe of JG 51 was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and sent to Jesau, near present-day Bagrationovsk, to Heiligenbeil, present-day Mamonovo, to be reequipped with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A. While undergoing training on this aircraft, the Gruppe received orders on 4 November to transfer to the Mediterranean theatre flying the Bf 109 again. 6. Staffel was exempt from this order, was detached from II. Gruppe, and continued its training on the Fw 190. In late November, 6. Staffel was renamed to Stabsstaffel (headquarters squadron) of JG 51 and placed under the command of Diethelm von Eichel-Streiber on 30 November. Alternatively, the Stabsstaffel was also referred to as Geschwaderstabsstaffel z.b.V., roughly translating to fighter wing squadron for special deployment'. The abbreviation z. b. V. is German and stands for zur besonderen Verwendung (for special deployment).

A training mission flown on 6 June 1944, resulted in forced landing at Biała Podlaska of his Focke-Wulf Fw 190 A due to engine failure. On 31 March 1945, Schönfelder was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross .

Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Schönfelder was credited with 56 aerial victories. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces – Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and state that he claimed 56 aerial victories, all of which on the Eastern Front.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –Operation Barbarossa — October – 5 December 1941 1 27 October 1941 14:15 DB-3 northeast of Mtsensk 2 28 November 1941 11:10 I-16 southeast of Kashira – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –Eastern Front — 6 December 1941 – 30 April 1942 3 13 January 1942 14:49 I-16 southwest of Yukhnov 6 7 March 1942 08:07 I-61? northeast of Krassilina 4 13 January 1942 14:52 I-16 southwest of Yukhnov 7 8 March 1942 09:50 Pe-2 north of Meshchovsk 5 7 March 1942 08:05 I-61? northeast of Krassilina – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –Eastern Front — 1 May – 7 October 1942 8 1 May 1942 06:35 MiG-3 northeast of Mtsensk 10 26 September 1942 15:12 LaGG-3 north of Rzhev 9 25 August 1942 10:28 LaGG-3 west of Belyov – Stabsstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –Eastern Front — October – 31 December 1943 11 3 October 1943 16:35 MiG-3 north-northeast of Yelsk 13 28 October 1943 14:56 Boston west-northwest of Loyew 12 23 October 1943 13:20 LaGG-3 northeast of Orsha – Stabsstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –Eastern Front — 1 January – 31 December 1944 14 10 January 1944 13:02 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 93536, east of Azarychy south of Parychy 29 4 August 1944 08:05 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 36614, east-northeast of Raseiniai 10 January 1944 Yak-9 30 4 August 1944 11:40 La-5 PQ 25 Ost498, south-southwest of Vilkaviškis 15 23 June 1944 09:40 LaGG-3 PQ 25 Ost 96823, north-northeast of Orsha west-northwest of Maklok 31 4 August 1944 12:15 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 25633, south-southwest of Vilkaviškis 16 23 June 1944 16:58 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 96548, southeast of Ulla 32 5 August 1944 12:15 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 35318, northeast of Vilkaviškis 17 24 June 1944 09:40? Yak-7 PQ 35 Ost 05442, northeast of Orsha north of Gorki 33 10 September 1944 10:31 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 36159, south of Schaulen 18 24 June 1944 18:15 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 96852, west of Vitebsk west of Kamary 34 14 September 1944 14:52 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 29197, north of Varnai 19 26 June 1944 14:45 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 05357, northwest of Orsha 35 16 September 1944 09:50 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 27543, northwest of Moschaiken 20 8 July 1944 08:40 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 62123, southeast of Baranowitschi north of Kursk 36 18 September 1944 17:21 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 26118, southwest of Telsche 21 16 July 1944 07:12 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 41369 37 1 October 1944 09:36 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 16326, northwest of Vainode 22 20 July 1944 07:40 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 32836, southwest of Ljuboml 38 10 October 1944 09:52 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 16328, southeast of Memel 23 22 July 1944 12:32 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 32872, southeast of Chełm 39 10 October 1944 11:24 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 16334, east of Memel 24 22 July 1944 12:45 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 32737, west-northwest of Chełm 40 18 October 1944 16:20 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 25284, east-northeast of Schlossberg 25 22 July 1944 12:48 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 32731, northwest of Chełm 41 26 October 1944 14:37 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 25581, east-northeast of Gołdap 26 26 July 1944 10:58 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 24764, east of Byalistok 42? 27 December 1944 12:54 Yak-9 northwest of Dobeln 27 30 July 1944 10:35 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 23734, east of Siedlce 43? 27 December 1944 13:08 Yak-9 east of Tukums 28 2 August 1944 11:15 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 35371, south of Vilkaviškis

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 19 June 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot German Cross in Gold on 1 January 1945 as Oberfeldwebel in the Stabstaffel/Jagdgeschwader 51 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 31 March 1945 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the Stabstaffel/Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"