Schlichtung was born on 1 February 1914 in
Kassel, at the time in the
Province of Hesse-Nassau, a
province of the
Kingdom of Prussia within the
German Empire. He joined the pre-war Luftwaffe, and served with the
Condor Legion during the
Spanish Civil War. There, he served as
Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 2.
Staffel of
Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group) from 6 September 1937 to 28 May 1938. For his service in Spain, he was awarded the
Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords and Diamonds () upon his return on 6 June 1938. Schlichting joined the
Lehrgeschwader 2 in November 1938, with which he took part in the
Invasion of Poland in September 1939. On 1 November 1939, Schlichting was transferred and made
Geschwaderadjutant, the
adjutant of the newly formed
Jagdgeschwader 27 (JG 27—27th Fighter Wing) under
Geschwaderkommodore Max Ibel. He was promoted again on 1 February 1940, to lead I./
Jagdgeschwader 1 as
Gruppenkommandeur. In the campaign against France he shot down a
Bristol Blenheim on 12 May and a
LeO 45 on 6 June. At the end of the campaign (on 5 July) the unit was redesignated III./JG 27. In the
Battle of Britain he claimed his 8th victory (a Spitfire of 152 Squadron; S/L P. Devitt returned to base, damaged) over Portland on 25 July 1940. On 6 September 1940, Schlichting was shot down in his
Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 (
Werknummer 1380—factory number) near
Shoeburyness. He was flying a bomber escort mission attacking
Thameshaven when his aircraft experienced engine problems. Forced to turn back, he came under attack by
Royal Air Force (RAF) fighters from either
No. 41 or
No. 222 Squadron. He baled out near the
Shoeburyness artillery ranges and was taken prisoner by the British forces. The presentation of the
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross () was made over a year later on 31 October 1941 in British captivity. In late November, he was promoted to
Major (major). His 8 victories came in over 100 combat missions. After World war II he joined the
Bundeswehr of the
Federal Republic of Germany and served as the Chief of Staff of the
5. Luftwaffendivision (5th Air Division of the Bundeswehr) in 1963. ==Summary of career==