during the polish campaign, he saw service in the army before transferring to the "luftwaffe" and undergoing fighter pilot training in 1940. schieß was posted to the "geschwaderstab" (headquarters) of jagdgeschwader 53, based on the channel front in march 1941, then served, from december 1941, as "geschwader adjutant". staying there for nearly two years, he established a close friendship with the "geschwaderkommodore" (wing commander) günther freiherr von maltzahn.