officer, on 1 August Schilling was promoted to Oberleutnant, and a month later he was promoted to Staffelkapitän (Squadron Leader) of 9./JG 54 in September 1943. On 20 February 1944, the 8th Air Force started its Big Week against the Reich's industry. By now Schilling had added a further four victories, including three four-engined bombers. During the week III./JG 54 was heavily engaged, suffering considerable losses but inflicting only light damage on the bomber formations. On the first day, February 20, he was seriously injured over Dehnsen/Alfeld while flying Bf 109 G-6 "Yellow 1" (Werknummer 440141 — factory number) but made a successful forced-landing. After his recovery, he was transferred back to the Eastern Front, as Staffelkapitän of 5./JG 54, on 4 May 1944. With the siege of Leningrad finally lifted, they were now based in Estonia. In June II./JG 54 was transferred across to Finland as combat support over the Karelian isthmus as the Soviets launched an attack to try and knock Finland out of the war. By July, they were back in Estonia with intense air activity, as another Soviet offensive aimed to turn the flanks of Army Group North either end of Lake Peipus. Then, on 22 August, he was finally transferred back to the Reich, as a fighter-instructor in 1./Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe Ost (renamed 1./ErgJG Nord on 1 September. On 15 January 1945 he was made Staffelkapitän of the training unit 4./EJG 1,(renamed 10./EJG 1 in April 1945) where he served till the war's end. Wilhelm Schilling was credited with 50 victories (plus 13 more unconfirmed) in 538 missions, 41 of them on the Eastern Front. Summary of career Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Schilling was credited with 63 aerial victories. Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class 1st Class Wound Badge in Black or Silver Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (1 July 1942) German Cross in Gold on 4 August 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the III./Jagdgeschwader 54 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 10 October 1942 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 9./Jagdgeschwader 54 Notes References Citations Bibliography Barbas, Bernd (1985). Planes of the Luftwaffe Fighter Aces Vol II. Kookaburra Technical Publishing. , with picture p. 163 Bergström. Christer; Dikov, Andrey; Antipov, Vlad (2006). Black Cross, Red Star Vol 3. Eagle Editions Ltd , with picture p. 235 Patzwall K.D., Der Ehrenpokal für besondere