Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer - targeted by the RAF?

[kennethklee]

While perusing the Luftwaffe website Piloten Bunker, I found the following passage in the entry of Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer:


Quote from Piloten Bunker (www.pilotenbunker.de)>nachtjager>Schnaufer, Heinz-Wolfgang

Although air fights took place at night and only little information crossed The Canal the successful night fighter became more and more known to the British. This attention had it's summit when in spring 1945 the British Bomber Corps in fair admiration congratulated the famous night fighter ace to his 23rd birthday via the soldier broadcasting service Calais. In RAF Schnaufer was already respectfully called Nightghost of St. Trond (St.Truiden) according to his home base.

Nevertheless Royal Air Force naturally tried undiminished to switch off the dangerous enemy. Specially built up night fight squadrons consisting of experienced elite staffs were sent into Schnaufer's operation area. Among those pilots who were hunting him there were such successful British night fight aces as Branse Burbridge (16 victories) and Bob Braham (29 victories).


[The website did not provide a direct URL to this quote, only for the website in general. I hope the nomenclature above is clear enough to easily direct readers to the quote.]


I had read a similar claim in Toliver and Constable's venerable Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe, but had discounted it as hyperbole. I have difficulty believing an air force would target a specific fighter pilot, however successful he or she is. I consider this different than targeting a general or admiral (i.e., Yamamoto) or another notable global leader. However, seeing similar accounts of Schnaufer being targeted in two seemingly disparate sources made me consider this possibility, however fanciful:

1. Is there historical documentation that the RAF sent nightfighter units specifically to shoot down Schnaufer?

2. Would the RAF, USAAF, Luftwaffe, or another air force or army send combat units to find and kill a specific fighter pilot or another notable soldier?

Thanks for reading and any input.
Kenneth