In 1941 Oblt. Hans-Hermann Schmidt was posted to 1,(Z)/JG 5 flying the Bf 110 "Zerstörer", Destroyer or heavy fighter. During the summer of 1942 he was posted to 13.(Z)/JG 5 where he mostly flew ground-attack missions.

On 22 August, Hptm. Schmidt flew his last combat mission as a "Zerstörer" pilot. A week later he was on his way to Grove, Denmark and ending up posted to Ergänzungs-Jagdgruppe West at Cazaux in France.

Then in early 1943 Hptm. Schmidt was started to train on the Bf 109. And in September 1943 he was sent back to the Northern Eastern polar front and JG 5 as the new Staffelkapitän of 9. Staffeln. While flying in this Staffel he would claim his first Abschuss on 20 September 1943, a VVS Boston. Three more claims would follow; two P-40s and an Il-2 downed on 25 November 1943.

During this period III./JG 5 was hampered with bad wether with snow storms and heavy snowfall. It was not until 3 January was able to fly their next missions, a mission that took them to the area around Murmansk. Here the Gruppe would engage in a dog-fight with some Yaks, shooting down on of them for an own loss of two machines. In one of the afternoon mission this day a Pe-2 was also claimed shot down.

On 11 January started with an VVS attack of Il-2s and their escort although no interceptions was launched. However in the afternoon Hptm. Schmitd with his Staffeln to fly eye reconnaissance over the west coast of Fisherman's Peninsula for a situation reconnaissance for a planned Army and Navy operation in that area.

This flight would turned out to be Schmidt last combat mission as he would be downed by Soviet anti-aircraft fire northwest of Eina-Guba over the Rybachiy Peninsula. His Bf 109 G-2 "Yellow 10" received engine damage and he was forced to make a belly-landing in enemy held territory.

Schmidt then tried to evade capture and to reach the German lines, but unfortunately was caught in a winter storm. Struggling to the west towards his own lines in high winds in minus 20 degree Celsius temperatures he became totally exhausted and finally plagued by hallucinations. After collapsing he was soon captured by a Russian patrol and taken to Rybachi for interrogation.

It's interesting to note that this "Yellow 10" was recovered by the Soviets one year later and taken to Subkowa for evaluation. Note the White winter camouflage