Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer - The Spectre of Sint Truiden

**Aptrgangr** · #1 (**permalink**) Tuesday, September 4th, 2007

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Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer - The Spectre of Sint Truiden

During WW II the night fighter corps represented the newest and probably the most modern branch of the service in the world. Only a handful of "knights of night" had been honoured with the swords. As well as colonel lieutenant Lent, the young Swabian Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer was the only one who achieved the way to the 27 highest decorated soldiers of the war. In winter 1939 Schnaufer became volunteer of Luftwaffe. In the beginning he was destined for the anti air artillery. Because of his mental and physical fitness he was chosen to receive the training as a night fighter. After a hard and full apprenticeship in November 1941 he became as lieutenant he was ordered to the youngest arm corps of Wehrmacht - the night fighter weapon. Together with some of the later most successful pilots he did his duty in first night fight squadron at Western Front.

On 2nd June 1942 the energy loaded, sympathetic officer could achieve his first night fight victory. After a few further sorties as he already achieved 5 air victories he was granted with the Iron Cross of 1st class. After some months of duty the young lieutenant was nominated technical officer of 2nd group. At those times night fight was a special challenge which could only be faced by absolutely motivated and trained pilots. In the dark of the night one could only rely on board instruments, radio contact to ground radar and ones intuition. The connection between the night fight pilots and the day fight squadrons were the heavily armed and in huge numbers appearing allied bombers. During the big night offensives of the British in 1943 Schnaufer with his Messerschmitt Me - 110, always attacking brave and clever, could report further successes. His qualities as a leader made him take over 12th squadron in August 1943, in winter two months before his 21st birthday he became wing commander. In the night to 16th December he had shot down three British Lancasters on 1 sortie. Since July the pilot was bearer of the German Cross in gold and was also granted with a Cup of honour. On 31 December 1943, after 42 night fight victories, Schnaufer entered this circle of officers who were bearers of the Knight's Cross in addition to the Iron Cross. Remarkable is, that the brave night fighter was he last later bearer of Brilliants, who was granted this way.

Schnaufer in his Messerschmitt Bf (Me)-110 ready to take off for another night sortie

As the so-called "Schräge Musik" "dire music" was introduced to the troop, Schnaufer personally rejected this new weapon system contrary to the great squadron successes.
He was a real direct gunner, who perfectly controlled the ambush out of the lower six-o'clock-position, and flight tactically he obtained everything possible out of the according situation. His combat successes were based on his first class attacking tactics on one hand, his phenomenal night sight ability on the other. Further he was a fearless attacker. Schnaufer was very fond of the new board radar SN-2-FuG-227 that reacted on the impulses of the enemy board instruments. In the beginning the British were completely puzzled about the suddenly increasing casualties and thought it was due to a stronger German anti-aircraft defence. Only as they got hold of an undamaged Ju - 88 with this board radar the riddle was solved. Oftenly Schnaufer shot down between three and five (!) enemies on one night sortie. Within five nights in a row the exception talent once defeated twenty 4-engine-bombers. Schnaufer was offered training to change to the modern Heinkel He-219 "Uhu" early 1944, which he rejected. He felt very well in his good old Me-110 and he never regretted his decision.

A real " lucky pig" for Hptm.Schnaufer after his "Schwerter"(Swords) ceremony.
Total left Hptm.Drewes, total right the wounded Major Rotter.

A special stimulation for the night fighters was the known fact hat he night bombardments of the British were mostly flown against dense domestic town quarters. Every bomber shot down probably saved lives of dozens of women and children!
More and more often the night fight squadron 1, lead by bearer of the Swords - Major Streib -were confronted by gigantic flocks of bombers, sometimes up to 800 (!) machines. In this fight David against Goliath, Schnaufer and his comrades achieved great successes. On 24th May 1944 Schnaufer could shoot down 5 British bombers within 14 minutes only during a fight against such a big unit. More than one time he made such a bomb attack give up, by shooting down one of the "path finders" or the "master of ceremonies". In May he took over group IV as 22 years old captain (01.05.44). Meanwhile Hans-Joachim Jabs (50 victories) well known bearer of the Oak Foliage, himself only 26 years old, was new squadron commodore.
In the night of 25th May Schnaufers' board radio operator could report 5 air victories within 15 minutes. As his pilot had reached 84 confirmed air victories, Luftwaffe had its 156th bearer of Oak Foliage. At this point of time Schnaufer was 2nd successful night fighter of Luftwaffe after Helmut Lent (Sayn-Wittgenstein had died already).
A little later he received his 84th swords in addition to Knight's Cross with Oak Foliage.

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). Last mentioned was specialised on shooting down German aces - so Heinz Vinke (54 victories) and August Geiger (53 victories) both bearer of Oak Foliage were defeated. But also these killer commandos could not take up his stand. In autumn 1944 Nightghost was in top form and was mentioned for his efficiency in report of Wehrmacht by name.

During a few sorties following one after the other against big bomber units over Central and Southern Germany the young group commander achieved repeatedly multiple air victories. On 16h October he had his100th night air victory confirmed, 275 days only (!) after the first step of Knight's Cross he was granted with Brilliants in addition to Knight's Cross with Oak Foliage and Swords as 21st soldier, 12th member of Luftwaffe and 2nd night fighter of Wehrmacht. This highest decoration of bravery did not honour his success but also the success of the entire branch of the service, which had accomplished great during the past months.

Major Schnaufer presents his victory markings

Board radio operator flying officer Rumpelhardt and board gunner staff sergeant Gänsler were granted with the Knight's Cross because of their big share of Schnaufer's successes. This way the staff became one of the highest decorated of Luftwaffe.
Before Gänsler was transferred to Schnaufer's staff he has been flying together with the successful night fighter Ludwig Becker (bearer of Oak Foliage, died February 1943) and should take part in 115 air victories all in all until end of war. Accordingly Rumpelhardt had at the end of war over 100 air victories on his account as well.
After the investiture of Brilliants, Schnaufer had disregarded anenemy flight prohibition several times. This is why supreme command of Luftwaffe withdrew this order.

Rumpelhardt - Schnaufer - Gänseler

On 1st December 1944 was promoted major with barely 22 years (!) the youngest squadron commodore of Luftwaffe. He took over night fight squadron 4 based in Northern Germany. The group- and squadron commanders were mostly older than their
commodore was. In spring 1945 Schnaufer flew again at the head of his men against he British night bomber units getting stronger and stronger. Parts of the squadron flew additionally far distance sorties over England in order to hit the bombers again before landing. In the fight against the 4-engine night bombers the young commodore stayed still successful although RAF night escort fighters became superior all the time.

On 01.02.1945 Schnaufer could set up a new personal record with 9 air victories over heavy Lancaster bombers. Still in March Schnaufer tested the new Dornier Do-335 under combat conditions, hope for big successes were put in this machine. Short before end of war the squadron was drawn to night battle sorties at Weser River.

When major Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer led his squadron into British captivity on 8h May 1945 the glide path of his Me-110G, which was exhibited in Hyde Park in London later, showed unbelievable 121 shot down beams which he achieved in only 164 combat sorties! Schnaufer stayed only a few months in captivity of war. He was given open admiration from his former enemies. Because of his unbelievable successes he was examined and questioned by British doctors several times regarding stimulating drugs (Laktal-B). The victory forces simply could not explain the to such an extent successful accomplishment of such exhausting night sorties!

After the war the active young man built up his family business to a big enterprise and founded further subsidiaries. On a business trip in Southern France Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer got severely injured in a traffic accident, which was caused by somebody else on 13th July 1950, two days later the 28-year-old died in a French hospital.
Thousands of grief guests attended the funeral at his hometown Calw.
Later a street was called after the greatest son of the town. As expression of their respect to the former enemy the Royal Air Force exhibited Schnaufer's Messerschmitt Me-110 in Museum of London as well as in the Military Museum of Canberra, where one can still today admire the 121 air victory marks.

Messerschmitt Bf 110C 5./NJG 1, Sint-Truiden (Belgium), Summer 1942

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4, 12./NJG 1, Sint-Truiden (Belgium), Feb. 1944

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 , IV./NJG 1, Sint-Truiden (Belgium), Oct. 1944

Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4, NJG 4 Sleswig (Germany), March 1945

Major Heinz Wolfgang Schnaufer

geb. / born :

16.02.1922 in Calw/Württemberg

†

15.07.1950 bei Bordeaux

Einsätze / Missions:

2300 Starts / 164 Feindflüge

Luftsiege / Victories: