Eduard Ritter von Schleich
| Eduard Ritter von Schleich | |
|---|---|
Schleich wearing his Pour le Mérite on his neck.
|
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| Nickname(s) | "The Black Knight" |
| Born |
9 August 1888 Munich |
| Died | 15 November 1947 (aged 59) Dießen am Ammersee, Bavaria |
| Allegiance | German Empire |
| Service/branch | Infantry, Luftstreitkräfte, Luftwaffe |
| Years of service | 1909–1919, 1935–1944 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit | FA 2, Jasta 21, 32, JG IV, JGR 8, SS 28 |
| Awards | Pour le Mérite, Iron Cross 1st & 2nd Class, Knight's Cross of the Military Order of Max-Joseph |
Eduard-Maria Joseph Ritter von Schleich (August 9, 1888 – November 15, 1947), born Schleich, was a high scoring Bavarian flying ace of the First World War. He was credited with 35 aerial victories at the end of the war. During the Second World War he served in the Luftwaffe as a general.
Born in Munich, Bavaria, the son of an artist, Schleich's family soon moved to the spa city of Bad Tölz. After he left school Schleich decided to enroll in the Bavarian Army's cadet program and in 1909 was commissioned into the 11th Bavarian Infantry Regiment. Before the outbreak of the First World War, Schleich was plagued by medical problems and was released from active duty. He volunteered again and on 25 August 1914 was badly wounded in the Battle of Lorraine.
While Schleich was recovering from his wounds of August 1914 he decided to volunteer for the Royal Bavarian Air Service and was accepted for training as an observer. After service with FEA 1 on two-seaters, he applied for pilot training and qualified in September 1915. In October 1915 he joined FA 2b, and in January 1916, during an observation flight, Schleich was wounded in the arm by an exploding anti-aircraft shell. Instead of returning to base, while still in the air he had his crewman bandage his wound and then completed his assignment. He was decorated with the Iron Cross First Class for this action. The wound meant he did not see further active service until September, when he assumed command of Fliegerschule 1. He joined Jasta 21 in May 1917 and commanded the unit from June onwards. Prior to his leadership, Jasta 21 had a lacklustre combat record and low morale, but under Schleich within a month the Jasta had downed 36 enemy aircraft, 19 of them credited to Schleich personally.
When Leutnant Erich Limpert, his best friend on the Jasta, was killed in a dogfight, Schleich ordered his plane to be painted all black. This black plane soon led to Schleich being dubbed 'The Black Knight'.
Ongoing Prussian and Bavarian political arguments over a non-Prussian commanding a Prussian fighter unit caused a new Bavarian Jasta to be formed, and in October 1917 Schleich was reassigned to command Jasta 32, with his tally of kills then at 25.
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