Lt. Hans Schmid, I/ZG52
 

Gentlemen: Some time ago Larry Hickey made an inquiry about this pilot. I offer the following for discussion. Theo Boiten and Gerhard Aders,in their respective works on nightfighters, make mention of a Hptm. Hans "Schmidt"(Boiten) or "schmied"(Aders) as having survived the war with a score of 16 night... and 15 day victories as a Zerstorer pilot. He apparently served with NJG3 and NJG100. Allowing for variations in spelling of a very popular name, I would be tempted to suggest that this may be the Lt. Hans Schmid of I/ZG52-II/ZG2 of 1940. I know of no other pilot by that name who is known to have scored at least 13 victories, or more as Larry suggests, as a Zerstorer pilot. Furthermore, and excepting that pilots often were transferred, 1/ZG52 had become 4/ZG2 and subsequently 4/NJG3 in Sept.1940. Can anyone comment further on this? Dean

Re: Lt. Hans Schmid, I/ZG52
 

In our database we have several guys named "Hans Schmid" Only one seems to come close to what you want:

SCHMID, Hans. 05.44 Oblt., Staka 1./NJG 100.

That's all we have on this guy, for the present, apart from a vague reference in Battle France, Then and Now by Cornwell (a most excellent book!) on page 379 which states that a Lt. Schmid of I./ZG 52 might have seen combat with 601 Sqdn. on 27 May 1940 over Diksmuide.
A troll through the Tony Woods claims and losses lists might also be revealing.

Good luck!

LdZ
DGS

Re: Lt. Hans Schmid, I/ZG52
 

Thanks for your response Doug. I find it a little puzzling that a pilot with this number of "day" claims on bf110's, and who appears to have done equally well on nightfighters, seems to have slipped through the cracks, as far as surviving documentation is concerned. I am aware of Peter Cornwell's reference to Lt. Hans Schmid in "then and now", as well as mention in Peter and John Vasco's excellent "Zerstorer", but then the fellow seems to disappear. Although a long shot, I thought it might stimulate some discussion as to his activities later in the war. Thanks again. Dean