Leo Schuhmacher

Leo Schuhmacher
Born	(1914-11-13)13 November 1914 Wiesental (Waghäusel)
Died	Bruchsal
Allegiance	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.

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.

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.

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.

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 1 March 1944 as pilot and Leutnant in the II./JG 1