Georg Schentke
Encyclopedia
Georg Schentke was a German
Luftwaffe
ace
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
during World War II
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Feldwebel Schentke served with 9./JG 3 from March 1940. He participated in the Battle of France
, where he earned his first victory. Schentke also served during the Battle of Britain
claiming 3 more victories.
He next took part in Operation Barbarossa
, during 1941, flying wingman to Major Walter Oesau
After 34 victories, Oberfeldwebel Schentke received the Ritterkreuz
in September 1941.
In late July 1942, after 71 confirmed victories, Schentke was transferred to Ergänzungsgruppe Süd, as an instructor, and promoted to Lieutenant.
Returning to JG 3, by late 1942 Schentke was part of the volunteer Platzschutzstaffel defence Staffel which defended the besieged 6th Army airfields near Stalingrad. With only 2 or 3 Bf 109's serviceable in the last 6 weeks of the siege the unit claimed some 130 Soviet aircraft shot down.
On 25 December 1942 Schentke shot down a Soviet Il-2 but debris damaged his his Bf 109G-2 forcing him to bail out over Soviet positions. That was the last time he was seen. He was posthumously promoted to Oberleutnant.
During his career he was credited with 90 aerial victories, 4 over the Western Front and 86 over the Eastern Front, including at least 15 Il-2 Sturmoviks.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
Feldwebel Schentke served with 9./JG 3 from March 1940. He participated in the Battle of France
Battle of France
In the Second World War, the Battle of France was the German invasion of France and the Low Countries, beginning on 10 May 1940, which ended the Phoney War. The battle consisted of two main operations. In the first, Fall Gelb , German armoured units pushed through the Ardennes, to cut off and...
, where he earned his first victory. Schentke also served during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
claiming 3 more victories.
He next took part in Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa
Operation Barbarossa was the code name for Germany's invasion of the Soviet Union during World War II that began on 22 June 1941. Over 4.5 million troops of the Axis powers invaded the USSR along a front., the largest invasion in the history of warfare...
, during 1941, flying wingman to Major Walter Oesau
Walter Oesau
Walter "Gulle" Oesau was a German World War II fighter ace who served in the Luftwaffe from 1934 until his death in 1944...
After 34 victories, Oberfeldwebel Schentke received the Ritterkreuz
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross
The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
in September 1941.
In late July 1942, after 71 confirmed victories, Schentke was transferred to Ergänzungsgruppe Süd, as an instructor, and promoted to Lieutenant.
Returning to JG 3, by late 1942 Schentke was part of the volunteer Platzschutzstaffel defence Staffel which defended the besieged 6th Army airfields near Stalingrad. With only 2 or 3 Bf 109's serviceable in the last 6 weeks of the siege the unit claimed some 130 Soviet aircraft shot down.
On 25 December 1942 Schentke shot down a Soviet Il-2 but debris damaged his his Bf 109G-2 forcing him to bail out over Soviet positions. That was the last time he was seen. He was posthumously promoted to Oberleutnant.
During his career he was credited with 90 aerial victories, 4 over the Western Front and 86 over the Eastern Front, including at least 15 Il-2 Sturmoviks.
Awards
- FlugzeugführerabzeichenAviator BadgeAn Aviator Badge is an insignia used in most of the world’s militaries to designate those who have received training and qualification in military aviation...
- Front Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeFront Flying Clasp of the LuftwaffeThe Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe was awarded in Bronze, Silver, and Gold with upgrade possible to include diamonds. Pennants suspended from the clasp indicated the number of missions obtained in a given type of aircraft...
- Iron CrossIron CrossThe Iron Cross is a cross symbol typically in black with a white or silver outline that originated after 1219 when the Kingdom of Jerusalem granted the Teutonic Order the right to combine the Teutonic Black Cross placed above a silver Cross of Jerusalem....
(1939)- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- Eastern Front MedalEastern Front MedalThe Eastern Front Medal, , more commonly known as the Ostmedaille was instituted on May 26, 1942 to mark service on the German Eastern Front during the period November 15, 1941 to April 15, 1942...
- German CrossGerman CrossThe German Cross was instituted by Adolf Hitler on 17 November 1941 as an award ranking higher than the Iron Cross First Class but below the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross respectively ranking higher than the War Merit Cross First Class with Swords but below the Knight's Cross of the War Merit...
in Gold (24 September 1942) - Knight's Cross of the Iron CrossKnight's Cross of the Iron CrossThe Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was a grade of the 1939 version of the 1813 created Iron Cross . The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was the highest award of Germany to recognize extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership during World War II...
- Knight's Cross on 4 September 1941 as OberfeldwebelFeldwebelFeldwebel is a German military rank which has existed since at least the 18th century with usage as a title dating to the Middle Ages. The word Feldwebel is usually translated as sergeant being rated OR-6 in the NATO rank comparison scale, equivalent to the British Army Sergeant and the US Army...
and Flugzeugführer in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 3
- Knight's Cross on 4 September 1941 as Oberfeldwebel