Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer family home in Calw 1940 |
When in 1939, young Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer began serving in the Luftwaffe, no one imagined that man just joined the Luftwaffe came the terror of the night sky over western Europe. - 'The Night Ghost of St Trond'.
Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer |
Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe |
German Cross in Gold |
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords |
Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds |
In May 1945 at Eggebek in Schleswig-Holstein district, Major Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer was taken as prisoner by British troops. In this same year, was released and returned to Cawl, where he started to work in the family wine business. He died 15th July, 1950, in an car accide. During the collision with a lorry, carrying gas cylinders, one of the bottles fell on the Schnaufer car and hit him in the head (the car had a sunroof). As a result, he died on the next day in a hospital.
Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer training at Guben |
Wolfgang Schnaufer at the Wolfsschanz Headquarters. |
Oberlieutnant Schnaufer , Kapitan of 12.NJG.1 delivers the final words at the graves |
Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer in the middle |
Schnaufer and his crew members, Rumpelhardt and Gansler ( this team was the only complete crew to be awarded the Knight's Cross in the entire Luftwaffe) |
HeinzWolfgang Schnaufer in conversation withOberleutnant Lent , Kommodor of NJG 3 |
Oberleutnant Schnaufer is greeted by Major Jabs of 1V./NJG 1 |
Members of the Royal Australian Air Force pose with Schnaufer's Bf 110G-4 (G9+BA, Stab/NJG 1) at Schleswig, Germany, shortly after the end of the war (19 June 1945) |
Text below is just copied from SWNS.com
"A tail wing from a German WW2 plane flown by the world’s deadliest pilot depicting all 121 enemies he shot down is up for auction.
The bullet-ridden section of the Messerschmitt is adorned with stencil paintings of the aircraft downed by Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer.
Schnaufer was a German Luftwaffe fighter pilot and the highest scoring fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare. The tail wing of his plane featured stencils of planes each representing one he shot down – and the date each was destroyed.
The ‘kill’ icons, consisting of small roundels and four-engine British bombers, take up the top half of the large aluminium wing, while the bottom half consists of a swastika.
The huge figure, which could have cost the allies around 500 lives, makes him the most deadly pilot in the history of aerial warfare.
Nicknamed ‘The Night Ghost of St Trond’, he is one of only 27 men awarded the Knights Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds.
His plane was finally shot down on March 30, 1945, but not while Schnaufer was flying it.
Bizarrely, Schnaufer, who survived the war, died on July 15, 1950 following a road accident while on a wine-buying trip in Bordeaux. He was just 28.
Wolfgang Lohmann, an expert on Luftwaffe aircraft and military-air historian, discovered the wing being used as a patch on a roof in the village of Hillegossen, Germany.
He offered the owner 70,000 deutschmarks in the 1970s and Lohmann has had the tail fin on display at his family home in Germany ever since.
It is now set to be sold by Dominic Winter Auctioneers Ltd in Cirencester, Glos., on May 15 and could fetch up to £20,000.
Chris Albury, a senior auctioneer, said: 'We have not had a Messerschmitt bell fin like this before. Obviously this one is more than any other – it is unique.'
'It makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up. It makes you feel very close to the Second World War.'
'We have put it up in the foyer in a low key fashion. It’s caused quite a few comments. So many people have relatives or ancestors with a connection in the Second World War.'
'I don’t think this is as controversial a piece as some Nazi memorabilia can be. If it was the other way around there wouldn’t be any controversy.'
'It just happens to be a German aircraft. This is history – this is real. The fact that he had to shoot down 120 planes is just part of the story.' "
Oblt. Heinz-W. Schnaufer Staffelkapitän of 12./NJG 1 is showing his 47th victory bar on the rudder of his Bf 110 G, at St. Trond in February 1944. |
During his service in Luftwaffe, received the following designations:
- Ehrenpokal - Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (26 July 1943)
- Deutsches Kreuz in Gold - German Cross in Gold (16 August 1943)
- Ritterkreuz - Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (31 December 1943)
- Eichenlaub - Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves (24 June 1944)
- Schwertern - Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords (30 July 1944)
- Brillanten - Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds (16 October 1944)
List of 121 'kills' achieve by Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer:
- 2/6/1942 1:55 Halifax II./NJG 1 Grez-Doiceau Halifax II (W1064) “MP-J” of 76 Sqn, RAF flown by Sgt TRA West, 2 killed
- 1/8/1942 2:47 Wellington II./NJG 1 1km SW Loon-op-Zand Wellington IC (DV439) of 25 OTU, RAF
- 1/8/1942 3:17 Wellington II./NJG 1 Huldenberg Wellington IC (DV552) “UJ-N” of 27 OTU, RAF, 6 killed
- 1/8/1942 3:45 Whitley II./NJG 1 Gilly Whitley V (BD347) of 24 OTU, RAF flown by P/O G Silva, 1 killed, 3 evaded
- 25/8/1942 2:54 Wellington II./NJG 1 1km E Loonbeek Wellington III (BJ651) “JN-M” of 150 Sqn, RAF
- 29/8/1942 1:16 Halifax II./NJG 1 1km E E Tombeek Halifax II (W7809) of 78 Sqn, RAF flown by Sgt JAB Marshall
- 21/12/1942 23:53 Lancaster II./NJG 1 Poelkapelle Lancaster I (R5914) of 106 Sqn, RAF flown by Sgt JD Brinkhurst, 3 killed, 4 POW
- 14/5/1943 2:14 Stirling II./NJG 1 Heerlen Stirling I (R9242) “BU-O” of 214 Sqn, RAF, flown by Sgt RM Gibney, 4 killed, 3 POW
- 14/5/1943 3:07 Halifax II./NJG 1 Near Blanden Halifax II (JB873) “EY-J” of 78 Sqn, RAF flown by Sgt G Dane, 2 killed, 5 POW, 1 evaded
- 30/5/1943 0:48 Stirling II./NJG 1 S Baelen Stirling III (BF565) “HA-H” of 218 Sqn, RAF
- 30/5/1943 1:43 Halifax II./NJG 1 Budingen Halifax II (DT804) “TL-C” of 35 Sqn, RAF
- 30/5/1943 2:22 Stirling II./NJG 1 1km E Fl.Pl. Diest-Schaffen Stirling III (BK688) “HA-A” of 218 Sqn, RAF flown by F/Sgt WAM Davis, 6 killed
- 22/6/1943 1:33 Stirling II./NJG 1 Langdorp Stirling III (BK712) “HA-D” of 218 Sqn, RAF flown by P/O W Shillinglaw, 8 killed
- 25/6/1943 2:58 Wellington II./NJG 1 Hamme-Mille
- 29/6/1943 1:25 Lancaster II./NJG 1 Solwaster Lancaster III (LM323) “OF-U” of 97 Sqn, RAF
- 29/6/1943 1:45 Halifax II./NJG 1 Wandre Halifax V (DK137) “NP-R” of 76 Sqn, RAF
- 29/6/1943 1:55 Halifax II./NJG 1 Near Vottem Halifax II (HR812) “TL-F” of 35 Sqn, RAF
- 4/7/1943 0:48 Wellington II./NJG 1 1km N Averbode Wellington X (HE980) of 196 Sqn, RAF
- 4/7/1943 1:01 Stirling II./NJG 1 W Geebets Stirling III (BF530) “OJ-B” of 149 Sqn, RAF
- 9/7/1943 2:33 Lancaster II./NJG 1 Near Grobbendonk Lancaster III (ED663) of 49 Sqn, RAF
- 11/8/1943 0:32 Lancaster II./NJG 1 S Hähnlein
- 28/8/1943 3:59 Halifax 12./NJG 1 Jemeppe sur Sambre Halifax II (JB835) “DY-X” of 102 Sqn, RAF
- 31/8/1943 22:41 Halifax 12./NJG 1 2km SE Kuinre Halifax II (HR878) “TL-J” of 35 Sqn, RAF
- 24 31/8/1943 3:53 Wellington 12./NJG 1 Near Lozen Wellington X (HE988) “AS-U” of 166 Sqn, RAF
- 24/8/1943 0:09 Halifax 12./NJG 1 Near Eschede Halifax II (JD379) “KN-M” of 77 Sqn, RAF flown by P/O A Massie, 3 killed, 4 POW
- 23/9/1943 23:00 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 5km S Kirchheimbolanden Stirling III (EJ104) “HA-G” of 218 Sqn, RAF
- 27/9/1943 23:31 Halifax 12./NJG 1 Near Stemmen
- 3/10/1943 21:50 Halifax 12./NJG 1 Near Lande Halifax II (HR728) “LK-D” of 51 Sqn, RAF
- 9/10/1943 1:13 Halifax 12./NJG 1 Near Schwaförden Halifax II (HR945) “NP-Y” of 158 Sqn, RAF flown by Sgt DCR Cater, 7 POW
- 9/10/1943 1:42 Viermot 12./NJG 1 Near Holtensen
- 18/10/1943 20:25 Halifax 12./NJG 1 Near Negenborn Lancaster III (DV230) “SR-T” of 101 Sqn, RAF, 9 killed
- 20/10/1943 19:13 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 Near Gieten Lancaster III (JB175) “MG-A” of 7 Sqn, RAF, 7 killed
- 20/10/1943 19:25 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 Near Harrenstätte Lancaster III (JB348) “LQ-R” of 405 Sqn, RAF, 6 killed, 1 POW
- 22/10/1943 21:40 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 Near Dransfeld Lancaster III (JB320) “DX-X” of 57 Sqn, RAF
- 23/11/1943 18:50 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 2km NW Ter Apel Lancaster III (JA939) “LQ-C” of 405 Sqn, RAF, 6 killed, 1 POW
- 23/11/1943 19:00 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 Lorup Lancaster III (JB537) “PH-N” of 12 Sqn, RAF, 6 killed, 1 POW
- 16/12/1943 18:01 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 Near Follega Lancaster III (JA853) “MG-L” of 7 Sqn, RAF flown by W/O WA Watson, 7 killed
- 16/12/1943 18:12 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 3km NW Lemmer Lancaster I (DV300) “SR-W” of 101 Sqn, RAF flown by F/Lt R MacFarlane, 8 killed
- 16/12/1943 18:23 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 SW Wolvega Lancaster III (JB545) “EA-O” of 49 Sqn, RAF flown by P/O G Ratcliffe, 7 killed
- 16/12/1943 18:41 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 2km SW Wirdum Lancaster II (DS831) “QO-N” of 432 Sqn, RAF, flown by F/O WC Fisher, 5 killed, 2 POW
- 29/12/1943 18:50 Halifax 12./NJG 1 3km NE Meppel Halifax II (JD314) “ZA-X” of 10 Sqn, RAF, 7 killed
- 29/12/1943 19:45 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 Near Wietmarschen Lancaster II (DS718) “EQ-R” of 408 Sqn, RAF, flown by F/Lt WT Wilton, 7 killed
- 27/1/1944 19:45 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 Near Essen Lancaster III (JB283) “PH-W” of 12 Sqn, RAF
- 30/1/1944 22:15 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 W Amsterdam
- 15/2/1944 22:58 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 Off Texel Lancaster III (ND363) “PM-A” of 103 Sqn, RAF
- 15/2/1944 23:19 Viermot 12./NJG 1 Near Hoorn Lancaster II (LL689) “KO-P” of 115 Sqn, RAF
- 15/2/1944 23:33 Viermot 12./NJG 1 Wattenmeer Lancaster I (W4272) “GJ-C” of 622 Sqn, RAF
- 22/3/1944 23:10 Lancaster 12./NJG 1 Halle Lancaster III (LM430) “WS-B” of 9 Sqn, RAF
- 25/3/1944 00:12 Viermot 12./NJG 1 Neuwarendorf
- 25/3/1944 00:21 Viermot 12./NJG 1 Neuwarendorf Lancaster I (HK539) “UM-A2” of 626 Sqn, RAF
- 25/3/1944 00:41 Viermot 12./NJG 1 Near Varssefeld
- 11/4/1944 23:15 Lancaster IV./NJG 1 Near Beerse Lancaster III (ND389) “OL-A” of 83 Sqn, RAF
- 11/4/1944 23:25 Lancaster IV./NJG 1 2km N St Lenaerts Lancaster I (LL899) “EA-P” of 49 Sqn, RAF flown by F/Lt DJ Bacon, 7 killed
- 25/4/1944 02:03 Lancaster IV./NJG 1 Near Alken Lancaster I (HK542) “KO-J” of 115 Sqn, RAF
- 25/4/1944 02:28 Lancaster IV./NJG 1 3km N Mechelen Lancaster II (DS734) “KO-Y” of 115 Sqn, RAF
- 25/4/1944 02:30 Halifax IV./NJG 1 Antwerp area Halifax III (LW622) “DT-R” of 192 Sqn, RAF
- 25/4/1944 02:40 Halifax IV./NJG 1 LG 35
- 27/4/1944 02:05 Lancaster IV./NJG 1 1km S Achtmaal Lancaster III (JB307) “GT-H” of 156 Sqn, RAF
- 27/4/1944 02:18 Viermot IV./NJG 1 LG 38 Lancaster II (DS719) “LQ-U” of 408 Sqn, RAF
- 28/4/1944 01:30 Halifax IV./NJG 1 8km N Aubel Halifax V (LL258) “WL-W” of 434 Sqn, RAF
- 28/4/1944 01:40 Lancaster IV./NJG 1 Verviers Halifax III (MZ588) “QO-W” of 432 Sqn, RAF
- 9/5/1944 03:34 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Near Grand-Reng Halifax III (LW594) “QO-G” of 432 Sqn, RAF flown by P/O SA Hawkins, 3 killed, 2 POW, 2 evaded
- 13/5/1944 00:44 Halifax IV./NJG 1 Londerzeel Halifax III (LK883) “OW-E” of 426 Sqn, RAF flown by F/O JH Black
- 13/5/1944 00:46 Lancaster IV./NJG 1 5km ENE Hasselt Halifax III (HX334) “NP-C” of 158 Sqn, RAF
- 13/5/1944 00:48 Halifax IV./NJG 1 Hoogstraaten Halifax III (LV919) “HD-O” of 466 Sqn, RAF
- 22/5/1944 01:34 Lancaster IV./NJG 1 3km S Mol
- 22/5/1944 01:51 Lancaster IV./NJG 1 3km NW Tongerooge Lancaster (DV309) “BQ-S” of 550 Sqn, RAF flown by W/C J Harris
- 23/5/1944 01:23 Lancaster IV./NJG 1 Near Neepelt Lancaster I (ME690) “AA-Z” of 75 Sqn, RAF
- 23/5/1944 01:36 Lancaster IV./NJG 1 Near Brecht Lancaster I (ME670) “HW-Q” of 100 Sqn, RAF
- 25/5/1944 01:15 Viermot IV./NJG 1 3km NW Eindhoven Halifax III (LK885) “MH-Z” of 51 Sqn, RAF
- 25/5/1944 01:18 Viermot IV./NJG 1 2km NNW Tilburg Halifax III (LW653) “NP-T” of 158 Sqn, RAF
- 25/5/1944 01:22 Viermot IV./NJG 1 1.5km W Goirle Halifax III (MZ622) “MP-L” of 76 Sqn, RAF
- 25/5/1944 01:25 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Dongen-Tilburg Halifax III (LW124) “AL-N” of 429 Sqn, RAF
- 25/5/1944 01:29 Viermot IV./NJG 1 7km SW Tilburg
- 13/6/1944 00:27 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Avennes les Auvert Lancaster II (DS772) “EQ-T” of 408 Sqn, RAF
- 13/6/1944 00:31 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Cambrai a/f Lancaster II (DS726) “EQ-Y” of 408 Sqn, RAF
- 13/6/1944 00:34 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Tilloy Lancaster II (DS688) “EQ-R” of 408 Sqn, RAF
- 16/6/1944 01:00 Viermot IV./NJG 1 N Arras
- 17/6/1944 01:54 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Dreumel
- 17/6/1944 02:04 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Berkel Halifax III (NA524) “KN-F” of 77 Sqn, RAF
- 22/6/1944 01:25 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Valkenswaard Lancaster III (LM582) “KM-Q” of 44 Sqn, RAF
- 22/,354252522252526/1944 01:30 Viermot IV./NJG 1 2km S Meeuven Lancaster I (ME683) “EM-W” of 207 Sqn, RAF
- 22/6/1944 01:36 Viermot IV./NJG 1 5km S Opoerteren Lancaster III (LM434) “KM-F” of 44 Sqn, RAF
- 22/6/1944 02:05 Viermot IV./NJG 1 6km S Hamont Lancaster I (ME843) “LE-U” of 630 Sqn, RAF
- 21/7/1944 01:40 Lancaster IV./NJG 1 1.5km N Boxtel Lancaster I (LM183) “WP-L” of 90 Sqn, RAF
- 21/7/1944 01:51 Viermot IV./NJG 1 8km N Breda
- 29/7/1944 01:38 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Pforzheim Lancaster I (ME856) “PO-T” of 467 Sqn, RAF
- 29/7/1944 01:50 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Eutingen
- 29/7/1944 01:57 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Malmsheim Lancaster I (ME778) “ZN-O” of 106 Sqn, RAF
- 13/8/1944 00:48 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Wasserliesch
- 13/8/1944 01:09 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Werbomont Lancaster III (ND694) “F2-R” of 635 Sqn, RAF
- 13/8/1944 01:15 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Gouvy
- 13/8/1944 01:19 Viermot IV./NJG 1 3km W Mons
- 12/9/1944 23:07 Viermot IV./NJG 1 Gemünden area
- 23/9/1944 22:56 Viermot IV./NJG 1 JP-HP
- 23/9/1944 23:10 Viermot IV./NJG 1 JO
- 23/9/1944 23:15 Viermot IV./NJG 1 HO-JO
- 23/9/1944 23:25 Viermot IV./NJG 1 JN-HN
- 9/10/1944 20:32 Viermot IV./NJG 1 S Bochum
- 9/10/1944 20:55 Viermot IV./NJG 1 NE Bocholt
- 6/11/1944 20:55 Viermot IV./NJG 1 KP-IP
- 6/11/1944 19:34 Viermot IV./NJG 1 KP-IP
- 6/11/1944 19:41 Viermot IV./NJG 1 KP-IP
- 21/11/1944 19:05 Viermot Stab/NJG 4 KP
- 21/11/1944 19:11 Viermot Stab/NJG 4 KP
- 12/12/1944 20:00 Viermot Stab/NJG 4 MO-LO
- 3/2/1945 21:09 Viermot Stab/NJG 4 LO
- 21/2/1945 01:53 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 MM-MN
- 21/2/1945 01:58 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 MM
- 21/2/1945 20:44 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 HQ-HP
- 21/2/1945 20:48 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 HP-HO
- 21/2/1945 20:51 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 HP-HO
- 21/2/1945 20:55 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 HP-HO
- 21.2.1945 20:58 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 IO-JN
- 21.2.1945 21:00 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 JN-KM
- 21.2.1945 21:03 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 KM-KL
- 3.3.1945 21:55 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 HQ
- 3.3.1945 22:04 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 HQ
- 7.3.1945 20:41 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 LR-MR
- 7.3.1945 20:47 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 LS-MS
- 7.3.1945 21:56 Lancaster Stab/NJG 4 GC-HC
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