Noemi Schweighöfer
Noemi Anneliese Schweighöfer | |
|---|---|
 Schweighöfer in 2014 | |
| Born | 28 July 1986 Veljestad, Steiermark, Acrea |
| Allegiance |  Acrea |
| Service/ | Acrean Air Force |
| Years of service | 2006-Present |
| Rank | Colonel |
| Unit | Jagdgeschwader 62 |
| Battles/wars | Zemplen War |
| Awards | see below |
Noemi Anneliese Schweighöfer is an Acrean officer and pilot best known for being a flying ace of the Zemplen War. Flying with Jagdgeschwader 62, she participated in numerous engagements, during which she was credited with 5 kills on Syaran aircraft. In addition to being a flying ace, she is well known as the first Acrean female ace, and is tied with Eracuran Great War ace Erich Rasmussen for the youngest fighter pilot to be credited with a kill in Acrean service.
Early life
Schweighöfer was born on 28 July 1987, in a hospital on Veljestad Air Station to Amalie Schweighöfer, a nurse, and Air Force Lieutenant General Mads Schweighöfer. Raised alongside two brothers in a military household, Schweighöfer participated extensively in aviation-related activities in her youth under the influence of her father. She joined a gliding club at the age of 11, and earned a civilian student pilot's license at the age of 15.
Military service
Schweighöfer applied for and was accepted into the Royal Air Force Academy at 16. At the Academy, Schweighöfer was selected for advance airmanship training, and began her basic pilot training at 18. She was commissioned into the Acrean Air Force as a 2nd Lieutenant with her basic flight certification in 2006, and had scored high enough to be qualified to attend fighter training.
In late 2006, Schweighöfer began fighter weapons school at Vadsø Air Station, and was assigned to the 103rd Training Squadron. Over the several-month long course, she performed well enough to attract the attention of several squadron commanders. Upon graduating fighter weapons school, Schweighöfer had second choice during assignment selection for her class and selected an opening to fly an EF 135 at Jagdgeschwader 62 based in Stavanger.
Schweighöfer joined the squadron in February 2007 flying an EF 135 Tranche III, assigned the aircraft number 62-44, and would serve as the wingman for Major Thor Neuer. Her time in the Draken would be short lived, however, as JG 62 had been selected as one of three squadrons who would the first to receive new EF 633 Triton fighters. The unit began transitioning training in August 2007, and assumed delivery of the new aircraft in March 2008.
Zemplen War
JG 62 was deployed in support of Acrean Forces Ruvelka prior to the arrival of ground troops, entering Ruvelka in February 2009 along with JG 57, an EF 135 squadron tasked with training Ruvelkan pilots on the airframe. The squadron entered combat almost immediately, being deployed primarily in the airspace above Army Group Centre where the highest concentration of fighting was taking place. Ruvelkan command saw the Tritons as a valuable asset, and determined that they would provide a distinct edge in the air war in that region.
Her first credited kill came on 16 June 2009. Schweighöfer's flight was vectored towards a flight of four Zephyr fighters, which had been picked up by Ruvelkan ground radar. Remaining undetected by the Syaran aircraft, each pilot was assigned a target, after which they simultaneously fired. Two of the missiles were successfully evaded, however two found their targets. Schweighöfer's first hit, striking the Zephyr piloted by Lt. Colonel Libarid Hovnatanian. The second kill was scored by flight lead Colonel Kalle Skavlan. The engagement made Schweighöfer the first Acrean pilot to shoot down a Zephyr.
The squadron participated primarily in routine combat air patrols over the next several months, serving as an intercept force and a deterrent in areas where CAF activity was particularly heavy. Over this period, Schweighöfer was credited with another three kills:
- AFGSF-5 Tartaruga, piloted by Senior Lieutenant Nikodemos Sarlo on 29 August 2009
- Strix, piloted by Captain Gero Krasimirov Strashilov on 3 December 2009
- Strix, piloted by Captain Ilarion Atsev on 14 February 2010
Her final credited kill came during Operation Homefront, on 8 July 2010. While providing air cover for a strike group of Ruvelkan AFASF-10s and AFSF-9s, the group was engaged by several Syaran fighters. Flying above the strike group and using them for radar cover, Schweighöfer's four-ship turned in to engage. After a short period of maneuvering, Schweighöfer fired a short-range missile and struck the Ceyx of Major Zoran Pašalić, shearing the rear fuselage off the aircraft and securing her fifth and final kill of the war, 11 days before the war ended.