He is the only pilot with over ten victories known to have scored a strike rate higher than 1:1, having achieved more combat kills than his missions flown.

The combat area was predominantly in the east and southeast of Leningrad where Soviet forces had created a corridor to the city in Operation Iskra.

[7] On 14 February, weather conditions over Leningrad improved and air operations picked up again resulting in 19 aerial victories plus a tethered balloon claimed by I. Gruppe.

[9] On 23 February, Soviet forces launched an attack south of Leningrad as part of Operation Polyarnaya Zvezda.

By nightfall, the Gruppe reported 32 Soviet aircraft destroyed, including another Il-2 claimed by Scheel in the vicinity of Mga, southeast of Leningrad.

[10] In late March, Soviet forces continued to pressure the 18th Army while in parallel an attack at Novgorod was launched.

[12] After a period of bad weather, I. Gruppe flew several missions to the east and southeast of Leningrad on 3 April, reporting ten aerial victories.

Additionally, 11 Fw 190s were sent on a ground attack mission against anti-aircraft artillery and infantry positions southeast of Woronowo as well as the train station at Lebjashje where some damage was inflicted.

[17] The weather continued to impact flight operations for both sides and on 1 May, Scheel was the only pilot of I. Gruppe to claim an aerial victory (his 13th), an La-5.

Scrambling from Soltsy airfield, I. Gruppe intercepted a flight of Il-2 ground attack aircraft on their mission to bomb and strafe the airfield at Rjelbitzi, located 26 kilometers (16 miles) north of Dno and 15 kilometers (9.3 miles) west-southwest of Soltsy on the northern bank of the Shelon.

[21] On 5 June, I. Gruppe flew combat air patrols in the area of Volkhov and escort missions for KG 53 attacking the locks at Novaya Ladoga.

[2] In early July, I. Gruppe of JG 54 was ordered to move to Oryol, in the southern sector of Army Group Centre, where it fought in Operation Citadel which initiated the Battle of Kursk.

That day, I. Gruppe claimed 59 aerial victories, including eight by Scheel in the vicinity of Maloarkhangelsk, making him an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time.

[30] On 8 July, I. Gruppe flew fighter escort missions for StG 1 as well as a number of combat air patrols in the vicinity of Ponyri.

Although Luftwaffe fighters maintained local air superiority over the combat area of the 9th Army, German ground forces were hard pressed by a Soviet armor attack.

I. Gruppe flew escort missions and combat air patrols over Maloarkhangelsk resulting in 24 aerial victories claimed.

[34][35] On 12 July the Soviets launched Operation Kutuzov, their counter-offensive upon the Oryol salient, which threatened the flank and rear of the 9th Army.

In support of German forces near Novosil and Mtsensk, I. Gruppe claimed ten victories, including an Il-2 ground attack aircraft by Scheel.

[39] On the morning of 16 July 1943, flying Fw 190 A-5 (Werknummer 710002—factory number) on his second combat mission of the day, he shot down two Yak-9 fighters taking his total to 71.

[43] According to Spick, Scheel, of all Luftwaffe fighter pilots, flew the fewest combat missions per aerial victory claimed.

[16][45][41] Reports of his fate vary, Weal states that he was killed in the crash and subsequent explosion,[46] while Obermaier indicates that he may have bailed out at 200 meters (660 feet) and landed behind enemy lines.

[2] According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Scheel was credited with 71 aerial victories claimed in 70 combat missions, making it the highest kill-to-mission ratio.