Joachim Schlichting

From Infogalactic: the planetary knowledge core
Jump to: navigation, search
Joachim Schlichting
Born (1914-02-01)1 February 1914
Kassel, Germany
Died Script error: The function "death_date_and_age" does not exist.
Basel, Switzerland
Allegiance  Nazi Germany (to 1945)
 West Germany
Service/branch Balkenkreuz.svg Luftwaffe (Wehrmacht)
Bundeswehr Kreuz.svg Luftwaffe (Bundeswehr)
Years of service –1972
Rank Major (Wehrmacht)
Oberst (Bundeswehr)
Unit Condor Legion
Commands held I./JG 1, III./JG 27
Battles/wars Spanish Civil War

World War II

Awards Spanienkreuz in Gold mit Schwertern und Brillanten
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations Erhard Milch (father in law)

Major Joachim Schlichting (1 February 1914 – 7 July 1982) was a German Spanish Civil War and World War II Luftwaffe Ace and a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes). The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Career

Joachim Schlichting joined the pre-war Luftwaffe, and as a Oberleutnant was Staffelkapitän of 2. Staffel, Jagdgruppe 88 of the Condor Legion from 6 September 1937 to 28 May 1938, while on his tour of duty in Spain.[1] During that time he scored 5 victories (all over I-16 fighters) and was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds upon his return on 6 June 1938.[2] Promoted to Hauptmann, on 1 July he was appointed Staffelkapitän of the specialist 2(leJ)/LehrGeschwader Greifswald (the single-engine fighter squadron of the air-force testing unit). Renamed 2(J)/Lehrgeschwader 2 in November 1938, he led the unit in the Polish campaign when war started in September 1939.

On 1 November 1939 he was transferred as Geschwader Adjutant of the newly formed Jagdgeschwader 27 under Geschwaderkommodore Max Ibel. He was promoted again on 1 February 1940, to lead I./Jagdgeschwader 1 as Gruppenkommandeur. In the campaign against France he shot down a Bristol Blenheim on 12 May and a LeO 45 on 6 June. At the end of the campaign (on 5 July) the unit was redesignated III./JG 27. In the Battle of Britain he claimed his 8th victory (a Spitfire of 152 Squadron ; S/L P. Devitt returned to base, damaged) over Portland on 25 July 1940.

Schlichting was shot down flying Bf 109E (Werknummer 1380 — factory number) by Flight Lieutenant Witold Urbanowicz of No. 303 Polish Fighter Squadron off the coast of Shoeburyness, Essex on 6 September 1940.[Notes 1] Although badly burned, Schlichting escaped by parachute and was held as prisoner of war for the duration of the war.[4]

The presentation of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) was made over a year later on 31 October 1941 in British captivity.[5] It recognised his outstanding commitment as a leader to his duties as fighter escort to the bombers, at the expense of personal success in air combat. Schlichting was promoted from Hauptmann to Major on 1 November 1941, while in captivity in England.

His 8 victories came in over 100 combat missions. After World war II he joined the Bundeswehr of the Federal Republic of Germany and served as the Chief of Staff of the 5. Luftwaffendivision (5th Air Division of the Bundeswehr) in 1963.

Awards

Victories

No Date Time Unit & Airfield Location / Planquad Claimed Aircraft Source / Comments[7]
1 23 September 1937  ? 2./J 88 - ? Spain I-16 -
2 29 November 1937  ? 2./J 88 - ? Spain I-16 -
3 7 February 1938  ? 2./J 88 - ? Spain I-16 -
4 21 February 1938  ? 2./J 88 - ? Spain I-16 -
5 10 March 1938  ? 2./J 88 - ? Spain I-16 -
6 12 May 1940 10:40 I./JG 1 - Gymnich Maastricht area Blenheim OKL & Prien/Bock
7 6 June 1940  ? I./JG 1 - Guise Roye LeO 451 OKL & Prien/Bock
8 25 July 1940 12:20 III./JG 27 - Carquebut S of Portland Spitfire C.2036/II Anerk Nr10; OKL

Notes

  1. Internet based sources credit Witold Urbanowicz with the aerial victory.[3]

References

Citations

  1. Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries website.
  2. Aces of the Luftwaffe website.
  3. Witold Urbanowicz @ World War 2 Awards
  4. Luftwaffe Officer Career Summaries website.
  5. Weal 2003, p. 40.
  6. Scherzer 2007, p. 665.
  7. Aces of the Luftwaffe website.

Bibliography

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  • Weal, John (2003). Jagdgeschwader 27 'Afrika'. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-84176-538-4.
  • Weal, John (1996). Bf109D/E Aces 1939-41. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-85532-487-3.

External links

  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Retrieved 29 December 2012
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Retrieved 7 January 2013
  • Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. Retrieved 7 January 2013
Military offices
Preceded by
Oberleutnant Günther Lützow
Squadron Leader of 2.J/88
6 September 1937 – 28 May 1938
Succeeded by
unknown
Preceded by
Fritz Schleif
Squadron Leader of 2(le.J)/LG Greifswald
1 July 1938 – 1 November 1938
Succeeded by
renamed 2.(J)/LG 2
Preceded by
new
Squadron Leader of 2.(J)/LG 2
1 November 1938 – 1 November 1939
Succeeded by
Oberleutnant Friedrich von Wangerov
Preceded by
Major Bernhard Woldenga
Group Commander of I./JG 1
13 February 1940 – 5 July 1940
Succeeded by
renamed III./JG 27
Preceded by
new
Group Commander of III./JG 27
5 July 1940 – 6 September 1940
Succeeded by
Hptm Max Dobislav