Lt Heinz Schmidt (II./JG52, RK+EL) - two strange cases 15.Jan.43 and 17.Feb.43

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello!

Question about Lt Heinz Schmidt (RK+EL). According to JFV 12/2 and to Berndt Barbas (volume about II./JG52), he had a trouble on 15.Jan.43 due to motor failure over sea in LQu2751, Bf109G WNr14556.
But LQu.2751 is E of Salsk (and E of airfield Gigant where II./JG52 based at that moment). It is in steppe far from any sea (according to Barbas it was Azov Sea, and the pilot bailed out).

The documentary data are as follows:
Seenotdienst on 17.Feb.1943 [the difference is more than a month] received a message that Heinz Schmidt bailed out from the burning Bf109 in LQu.5770 [NW corner of Azov Sea]. The search lasted until 22.Feb. when it became known that he was in the hospital in Melitopol (he reached it on foot on ice).
It seems the cases of 15.Jan.43 and 17.Feb.43 have mixed into one version.

According to GQM return, 15.Jan.43 WNr14556 crashed due to motor failure but pilot not mentioned. It seems the case 17.Feb.43 is missing at all.

Another problem is what did the pilot do in the burning plane in the NW corner of Azov Sea in the rear ~135 km from his base (Kerch at that moment) and 250+ km from the frontline? WIA in action and lost the orientation? Or it was a transit flight?

Best regards,
Andrey

[Russell]

Hi Andrey

Indeed an interesting case. Steinhoff's book on his activities in Sicily mentions in passing that Jonny Schmidt was lost over the sea of Azov walked out and when he reached the coast was sheltered by locals until he was rescued. That would tend to corroborate the events you describe and the Seenot report. There are no dates in Steinhoff's book for the episode.


Regards


Russell

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Thank you, Russell!

Originally Posted by Russell

Steinhoff's book on his activities in Sicily mentions in passing that Jonny Schmidt was lost over the sea of Azov walked out and when he reached the coast was sheltered by locals until he was rescued.

Obviously this is exactly about the February case.

Kind regards,
Andrey

[Andrei Demjanko]

Hello

I can be completely wide of the mark, as "that is a country heretofore unknown to me".

It seems that the incident on 17 February related to the loss of Ar 66 of 13.(Slow.)/J.G. 52 on the same day. The aircraft crash-landed on the ice off Golubitzkaja, SO corner of the Sea of Azov.
What if J.G. 52 flew a search for Slovak pilots over the Sea of Azov? It could explain the position were Schmidt was lost.
Such search most probably was flown by German pilots (including Schmidt) in liasion or some other second-line aircraft, which would explain that there is no corresponding Bf 109 loss on this date. Was there any loss of German second-line aircraft (Bf 108, Ar 66, Go 145 and the like) in this area?

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Andrei,

Bf109 ("Me109") was directly mentioned in the message.
As for Ar66 landed in the frozen sea, it was certainly the work for Seenotdienst. But this case not mentioned in Seenot diary. It means that any help wasn't required (the pilots returned quickly or so).

I wonder if Lt Schmidt was mentioned in NVM in the case in question.

Best regards,
Andrey

[Frans A]

Andrey,
In my database for Bf 109:
14556 100% 4./JG 52 43-01-15 Gigant (R) Uffz. Hans Ellendt
Hans Ellendt survived the war as Lt.
Frans A

[kaki3152]

From the book "Seaplanes over the Black Sea" by J.L. Roba and C. Craciuniou p. 57
" The same day [Feb 17], it is reported that Lt. Heinz SCHMIDT of 4./JG52 had to parachute from his Bf109G-2 (WNr. 14556). The young pilot is a Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves holder...But on 22nd, one heard that Lt. SCHMIDT lies in the Melitopol Lazarett. The brave young officer walked alone on the ice and snow with only one boot.With half frozen arm and splitters [sic] in the shoulder , he could join the German lines again."

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Frans,

what is the source about Ellendt as a pilot of 14556 on 15.Jan.43?

Best regards,
Andrey

[Andrey Kuznetsov]

Hello Kaki,

I read "Seaplanes over the Black Sea" too and noticed the words about splitters in the shoulder. Interesting what it means - combat wounds or not.

Best regards,
Andrey

[Spanferkel]

I am a bit late to this thread but I have Schmidt's original entire wartime service record and recall seeing something from this incident. So here it is the transcript (confirming the February Schmidt a/c loss).

Schmidt dictated this entire event to Oberarzt Dr. Stefaner with Kriegslazerett I/606 Melitopol. Rather interesting series of events that got him back to his lines only to be killed later that fall.

Hope this clears up the mystery.

Cheers
Jeremy