Wolfgang Schellmann


Wolfgang Schellmann was a German pilot during World War II. He commanded JG 2 and JG 27. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Schellmann was credited with 25 victories in over 150 combat missions. He recorded 12 victories during the Spanish Civil War. Of his 13 victories recorded during World War II, 12 were claimed over the Western Front and one over the Eastern Front.

Career

Wolfgang Schellmann started his combat training as one of the select few German pilots at the Lipetsk fighter-pilot school in the Soviet Union. After his return and upon the official announcement of the new Luftwaffe, he was given command of the new 2./JG 135 squadron, in March 1935. Two years later, on 19 December 1937, Oberleutnant Schellmann took over command of the 1st Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88, in the "Condor Legion", fighting in the Spanish Civil War. Over the next year he became one of the leading aces in the theatre with 12 victories, second only to Werner Mölders.
Upon his return to Germany he was awarded the Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds and promoted to Hauptmann. He then served on the Stab flight of the newly formed IV. Gruppe of the Jagdgeschwader 132, gaining command experience. Over the next year, it was renamed I./JG 331, then finally I./JG 77. At the outbreak of war in September 1939, he led this unit in the invasion of Poland, then afterward took up an administrative post for a short term, in the headquarters of Luftflotte 2.
On 15 December 1939, Schellmann was appointed commander the newly formed II./Jagdgeschwader 2. During the Battle of Britain, on 3 September he was promoted to commander of JG 2.
On 18 September, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross for his 23 victories. The presentation was made by Göring at the headquarters of the Netherlands, General der Flieger Friedrich Christiansen, at Wassenaar near The Hague on 19 September.
A month later he made way for Helmut Wick and moved to take command of JG 27. Promoted to Major, he led this wing during the invasion of the Balkans in Spring 1941, scoring a 24th victory in Greece, before the unit was pulled out, to central Poland in June, to prepare for the invasion of the Soviet Union.
On 22 June 1941, Schellmann was probably the highest profile German casualty of the opening day of Operation Barbarossa. Schellmann's Messerschmitt Bf 109-E was rammed by an I-153 Chayka piloted by Lt Kuzmin near Grodno. Kuzmin was killed in the collision but Schellmann managed to bail out over Soviet territory but was never seen again. It was believed that while attempting to make his way back to German lines he was captured and later killed by NKVD troops.
Schellmann scored 25 victories in 150 missions, and was posthumously promoted to Oberstleutnant.

Awards