Rudolf Schoenert

Rudolf Schoenert (27 July 1911 – 30 November 1985) was the seventh highest scoring night fighter flying ace in the German Luftwaffe during World War II. He was also a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

Rudolf Schoenert
Born	(1911-07-27)27 July 1911 Glogau, Silesia
Died	30 November 1985(1985-11-30) (aged 74) province Manitoba, Canada
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1933–45
Rank	Major of the Reserves
Commands held	4./NJG 2, Nachtjagdgruppe 10
Battles/wars	World War II Defense of the Reich
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

Early life and career

Schoenert was born on 27 July 1911 in Glogau in the Province of Silesia, a province of the German Kingdom of Prussia, today it is Głogów in Poland. On 22 May 1933, he started flight training as a civil pilot with the Deutsche Verkehrsfliegerschule (German Air Transport School) in Braunschweig. From 4 December 1936 to 26 February 1937, he received his recruit training. On 1 April 1937, Schoenert started working as a civil flight instructor.[1]

World War II

After five years in the Merchant Navy, Schoenert began flight training in 1933 and went on to fly commercial aircraft for Lufthansa. He was commissioned as a Leutnant in the Luftwaffe's Reserve in 1938 and in June 1941 joined 4./Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 (NJG 1—1st Night Fighter Wing) at Bergen in northern Holland. He was credited with his first aerial victory on the night of 8/9 July 1941 when he claimed an Armstrong Whitworth Whitley bomber shot down at 02:51 60 kilometres (37 miles) northwest of Vlieland.[2] His total stood at 22 by 25 July 1942 and he was awarded the Knight's Cross.

Schoenert is recognised as the instigator of upward-firing armament in German night fighter aircraft, which he introduced into his own Dornier Do 17 in 1942. The concept, dubbed Schräge Musik (Jazz Music), was initially rejected by Helmut Lent and Werner Streib. Oberfeldwebel Paul Mahle, an armourer attached to II./Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 (NJG 5—5th Night Fighter Wing) at Parchim, worked closely with Rudolf Schoenert and built his own working prototype of Schräge Musik, which was soon fitted to all of the Gruppe's aircraft.

Schoenert claimed the first aerial victory with Schräge Musik in May 1943.[3] By August he was flying with Nachtjagdgeschwader 100 (NJG 100—100th Night Fighter Wing) over the Eastern Front, where he claimed to have shot down 30 Soviet aircraft by early 1944. While there, he utilised a Junkers Ju 87D-5 "Stuka" dive-bomber with the configuration in an effort to target the slow-flying Soviet biplane fighter-bombers.[4]

On 11 April 1944, Schoenert was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub), the 450th soldier to receive this distinction. The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Berghof, Hitler's residence in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps, on 5 May 1944.[5]

Schoenert and Leutnant Karl Schnörrer, Oberst Gordon Gollob, Major Georg Christl, Hauptmann Heinz Strüning, Major Josef Fözö formed the guard of honor at Walter Nowotny funeral at the Zentralfriedhof in Vienna. Nowotny had been killed in action on 8 November 1944. The eulogy was delivered by Generalleutnant Adolf Galland and Generaloberst Otto Deßloch.[6]

During a sortie east of the Elbe on 27 April 1945, an electrical fault rendered Schonert's radar unserviceable and his Junkers Ju 88G was shot down by a Royal Air Force (RAF) de Havilland Mosquito. He survived and was rescued by German troops.

Schoenert survived the war. Schoenert's radio and wireless operator was usually Oberfeldwebel Johannes Richter.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims

Schoenert was credited with 65 aerial victories claimed in 376 combat missions, including 35 Soviet aircraft on the Eastern Front.[7]

Chronicle of aerial victories
This and the ? (question mark) indicates that the aerial victory claim is not listed by Foreman, Matthews and Parry, authors of Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939 – 1945.
Claim	Date	Time	Type	Location	Serial No./Squadron No.
– 4. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 1 –
1	9 July 1941	02:51	Whitley[2]	60 km (37 mi) northwest of Vlieland
2	9 July 1941	03:40	Whitley[8]	55 km (34 mi) northwest of Vlieland
3	17 July 1941	00:50	Wellington[8]	5 km (3.1 mi) west of Lemmer
4	4 August 1941	00:14	Wellington[9]	southwest of Stavoren
5	2 September 1941	23:34	Wellington[10]	15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Wangerooge
6	31 October 1941	21:37	Halifax[11]	north of Wangerooge
7	31 October 1941	22:05	Halifax[11]	15 km (9.3 mi) north of Langeoog
– 5. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –
8	1/2 November 1941	—	Hampden[11]
9	5/6 November 1941	—	Hampden[11]
10	30 November 1941	20:52	Whitley[12]	10 km (6.2 mi) west of Aurich
11	10 January 1942	23:15	Wellington[13]	17 km (11 mi) northwest of Langeoog
12	14 January 1942	20:50	Manchester[13]	5 km (3.1 mi) southwest of Jever
13	26 January 1942	20:56	Whitley[13]
– 4. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –
14	28 March 1942	23:21	Halifax[14]
15	26 April 1942	00:24	Wellington[15]	25 km (16 mi) southwest of Helgoland
16	18 May 1942	00:24	Stirling[16]	15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Leeuwarden
17	7 June 1942	02:27	Wellington[17]	Borkum
18	20 June 1942	01:49	Wellington[18]	west of Emden
19	23 June 1942	01:17	Wellington[18]	northwest of Baltrum
20	23 June 1942	02:07	Stirling[18]	north of Aurich
– 5. Staffel of Nachtjagdgeschwader 2 –
21	20 July 1942	02:51	Halifax[19]	near Borkum
22	26/27 July 1942	—	Halifax[20]
23	29 July 1942	03:28	Wellington[20]
– Stab II. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 –
24	30 March 1943	01:30	Lancaster[21]	northwest of Rerik
25	21 April 1943	02:23	Lancaster[22]	Hafen Gjetser
26	2 August 1943	02:23	Halifax[23]	Russia
– Stab I. Gruppe of Nachtjagdgeschwader 100 –
27	16 August 1943	22:08	TB-7[24]	Russia
28	16 August 1943	23:36	R-5[24]	Russia
29	16 August 1943	23:56	R-5[24]	Russia
30	27 August 1943	20:20	TB-7[25]	Krotovko
31	31 August 1943	22:01	Mitchell[26]	Russia
32	31 August 1943	22:21	Mitchell[26]	Russia
33	31 August 1943	22:37	Mitchell[26]	Russia
34	31 August 1943	23:00	Mitchell[26]	Russia
35	3 September 1943	22:34	Mitchell[27]	Poltava
36	6 September 1943	21:03	R-5[28]	Russia
37	7 September 1943	20:58	DB-3[28]	east of Slobodka
38	7 September 1943	21:48	DB-3[28]	Brünischlschi
39	7 September 1943	22:17	PS-84[28]	Grischany
40	7 September 1943	22:29	PS-84[28]	Mischaly
41	20 September 1943	23:27	DB-3[29]	Kislyaki
42	20 September 1943	23:57	DB-3[29]	west Mirgorod
43?
44	11 October 1943	20:54	PS-84[30]	north of Charvovo
45	11 October 1943	21:00	PS-84[30]	southeast of Sapolye
46	11 October 1943	21:37	PS-84[30]	north of Alexejevo
47	12 October 1943	22:43	U-2[31]	southeast of Alexandroka
48	13 October 1943	01:07	DB-3[31]	Babinovitski
49	13 October 1943	17:46	DB-3[31]	Berseja
50	13 October 1943	21:24	DB-3[31]	Russia
51	14 October 1943	18:21	DB-3[31]	west of Demenino
52	14 October 1943	18:26	DB-3[31]	west of Demenino
53	14 October 1943	18:37	DB-3[31]	west of Demenino
54	14 October 1943	20:56	DB-3[31]	Naravoki
55	15 October 1943	20:17	PS-84[31]	Haschuki
56	27 October 1943	19:37	DB-3[32]	Warafina
57	27 October 1943	22:37	R-5[32]	Russia
– Stab of Nachtjagdgruppe 10 –
59	15 February 1944	21:08	Halifax[33]	north-northwest of Berlin
60	20 February 1944	04:33	Halifax[34]	6–10 km (3.7–6.2 mi) southwest of Leipzig

Awards

• Iron Cross (1939)
  • 2nd Class (10 July 1941)[35]
  • 1st Class (22 July 1941)[35]
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe) on 5 January 1942[7]
• German Cross in Gold on 18 May 1942 as Oberleutnant in the 4./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2[36]
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 25 July 1942 as Oberleutnant of the Reserves and Staffelkapitän of the 4./Nachtjagdgeschwader 2[37][38]
  • 450th Oak Leaves on 11 April 1944 as Major of the Reserves and commander of Nachtjagdgruppe 10[37][39]

References

Citations

1. Stockert 2007, p. 108.
2. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 24.
3. Hinchliffe 1998, p. 122.
4. Aders 1978, p. 139.
5. Stockert 2007, p. 109.
6. Held 1998, p. 157.
7. Obermaier 1989, p. 64.
8. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 25.
9. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 28.
10. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 30.
11. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 32.
12. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 33.
13. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 34.
14. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 37.
15. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 38.
16. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 40.
17. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 44.
18. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 46.
19. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 50.
20. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 51.
21. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 72.
22. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 76.
23. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 100.
24. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 102.
25. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 107.
26. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 109.
27. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 110.
28. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 112.
29. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 114.
30. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 121.
31. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 122.
32. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 125.
33. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 148.
34. Foreman, Matthews & Parry 2004, p. 150.
35. Thomas 1998, p. 278.
36. Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 420.
37. Scherzer 2007, p. 680.
38. Fellgiebel 2000, pp. 386, 503.
39. Fellgiebel 2000, p. 81.

Bibliography

• Aders, Gebhard (1978). History of the German Night Fighter Force, 1917–1945. London: Janes. ISBN 0-354-01247-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Foreman, John; Matthews, Johannes; Parry, Simon (2004). Luftwaffe Night Fighter Claims 1939–1945. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-0-9538061-4-0.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Held, Werner (1998). Der Jagdflieger Walter Nowotny Bilder und Dokumente [The Fighter Pilot Walter Nowotny Images and Documents] (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-87943-979-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Hinchliffe, Peter (1998). Luftkrieg bei Nacht 1939–1945 [Air War at Night 1939–1945] (in German). Stuttgart, Germany: Motorbuch Verlag. ISBN 978-3-613-01861-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Patzwall, Klaus D.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Stockert, Peter (2007). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 5 [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 5] (in German). Bad Friedrichshall, Germany: Friedrichshaller Rundblick. OCLC 76072662.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)
• Thomas, Franz (1998). Die Eichenlaubträger 1939–1945 Band 2: L–Z [The Oak Leaves Bearers 1939–1945 Volume 2: L–Z] (in German). Osnabrück, Germany: Biblio-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-7648-2300-9.CS1 maint: ref=harv (link)

Military offices
Preceded by Oberstleutnant Walter Borchers	Commander of Nachtjagdgeschwader 5 5 March 1945 – May 1945	Succeeded by none