Joachim Schlichting

Joachim Schlichting (1 February 1914 – 7 July 1982) was a German aviator in the Luftwaffe during the Spanish Civil War and World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany.

Joachim Schlichting
Born	1 February 1914 Kassel, Germany
Died	7 July 1982 (aged 68) Basel, Switzerland
Allegiance	Nazi Germany  West Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe  German Air Force
Years of service	–1972
Rank	Major (Wehrmacht) Oberst (Bundeswehr)
Unit	Condor Legion; JG 27
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain
Awards	Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Relations	Erhard Milch (father in law)

Career

Joachim Schlichting joined the pre-war Luftwaffe, and served with the Condor Legion from 6 September 1937 to 28 May 1938 during the Spanish Civil War. He was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds upon his return on 6 June 1938. Schlichting joined the Lehrgeschwader 2 in November 1938, with which he took part in the Invasion of Poland in September 1939.

On 1 November 1939 he was transferred as Geschwader Adjutant of the newly formed Jagdgeschwader 27 under Geschwaderkommodore Max Ibel. He was promoted again on 1 February 1940, to lead I./Jagdgeschwader 1 as Gruppenkommandeur. In the campaign against France he shot down a Bristol Blenheim on 12 May and a LeO 45 on 6 June. At the end of the campaign (on 5 July) the unit was redesignated III./JG 27. In the Battle of Britain he claimed his 8th victory (a Spitfire of 152 Squadron ; S/L P. Devitt returned to base, damaged) over Portland on 25 July 1940.

Schlichting was shot down on 6 September 1940 and was taken prisoner by the British forces. The presentation of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was made over a year later on 31 October 1941 in British captivity.[1] His 8 victories came in over 100 combat missions. After World war II he joined the Bundeswehr of the Federal Republic of Germany and served as the Chief of Staff of the 5. Luftwaffendivision (5th Air Division of the Bundeswehr) in 1963.

Awards

• Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds (6 June 1939)
• Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 14 December 1940 Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./JG 27[2]

Notes

References

Citations

1. Weal 2003, p. 40.
2. Scherzer 2007, p. 665.

Bibliography

• 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.
• Forsyth, Robert (2011). Aces of the Legion Condor. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-347-8.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• Weal, John (2003). Jagdgeschwader 27 'Afrika'. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-84176-538-4.
• Weal, John (1996). Bf109D/E Aces 1939-41. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Limited. ISBN 1-85532-487-3.