Heinrich Ehrler

Heinrich Ehrler
Nickname	Jäger von Murmansk (Hunter/Fighter of Murmansk)
Birth date	14 September 1917(1917-09-14)
Place of birth	Oberbalbach near Bad Mergentheim, Grand Duchy of Baden, German Empire
Death date	4 April 1945 (aged 27)
Place of death	⚔ Over Scharlibbe near Stendal, Free State of Prussia, German Reich
Allegiance	National Socialist Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1935–1945
Rank	Major
Unit	F/88 (Condor Legion) JG 77 JG 5 JG 7
Commands held	Jagdgeschwader 5 "Eismeer"
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Eastern Front Arctic convoys Petsamo–Kirkenes Offensive (Eismeerfront) Operation Catechism Air Defense of the Reich (Reichsluftverteidigung)
Awards	Iron Cross Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross

Heinrich "Hein" Ehrler (14 September 1917 – 4 April 1945) was a German officer of the Wehrmacht and fighter pilot (Jagdflieger) of the Luftwaffe, finally Major, flying ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves in World War II. On 4 April 1945, he claimed his last three victories by shooting down two Allied bombers and destroying a third by ramming with his damaged aircraft after having run out of ammunition, dying a hero's death.

Military career

From left to right: Eismeerjäger Walter Schuck, Franz Dörr, Heinrich Ehrler und "Jockel" Norz in front of a Bf 109 G-6, Petsamo, Finland, Juni 1944

Heinrich Ehrler was born in September 1917 as one of eight children of carpenter master Adam Ehrler from his father's first marriage in Oberbalbach, a picturesque town on the historic banks of the Tauber in what is now Baden-Württemberg. When he was still at school, he moved with his parents to Georgenstraße in Gernsheim (People's State of Hesse) before he became a professional soldier and only saw the Rhine city during his vacations. After actually training three years to be a butcher (apprenticeship as a Fleischer/Metzger), his interest in the military led him to join the army in October 1935, just after his 18th birthday. He joined the artillery troops and was trained as a gunner for artillery pieces. However, he saw a career opportunity in the newly founded Air Force and was transferred there in April 1936; his experience as an artilleryman led him to join one of the newly formed anti-aircraft (Flak) regiments.

War was being waged in southwest Europe, in Spain: Germany's intervention in the Spanish Civil War led to the founding of the Condor Legion, which was supposed to assist the nationalist troops. Ehrler was transferred to the 3rd company of Flakabteilung 88 (3. Kompanie/Flak-Abteilung 88; F/88), a unit that had been part of the Condor Legion from the start. He served there from November 1936 to August 1937 and gained valuable experience in modern warfare. After his return to Germany, he felt no desire to leave the troops, he remained with the Luftwaffe's anti-aircraft unit and was promoted to non-commissioned officer (Unteroffizier).

He joined the army in 1935 and served with a flak unit in the Spanish Civil War. In 1940 he began flying training. On completion of his training he was posted to 4./JG 77 operating from bases in Norway. He gained his first victory in May 1940 shooting down a RAF Blenheim bomber. 4./JG 77 was redesignated 4./JG 5 on 1 February 1941. Ehrler recorded his second victory on 19 February 1942 and was now operating over the Northern front from bases in Finland and northern Norway. He was to score a total of 11 victories with the unit before he was promoted to Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 5 on 22 August. Between January and September 1942, Ehrler recorded 54 victories. Leutnant Ehrler was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 4 September for 64 victories. On Saturday, 27 March 1943, Ehrler, in short order, downed five Russian Kittyhawks and Airacobras in aerial combat. While attempting to engage another Russian fighter his aircraft was hit by a 20mm cannon shell forcing his disengagement from the battle. He returned safely to base with slight wounds. On 1 June, he was named Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 5. On 6 June, he claimed four Russian-flown Hurricanes to record his 96th through 99th victories. He gained his 100th victory the next day. After recording his 112th victory on 2 August, he was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 265). He shot down eight enemy aircraft on 17 March 1944 to record his 124th to 131st victories. He bettered this effort on 25 May 1944 downing nine to record his 147th to 155th victories. On 1 August 1944 he was promoted to Kommodore of JG 5.

WWII

During the first months of World War II, Ehrler continued to serve in anti-aircraft defense; specifically with the 1st Company of the 502nd Reserve Anti-Aircraft Division. The Luftwaffe units that repeatedly appeared in reports around the world also inspired Ehrler and so in January 1940 he applied to be transferred to training to become a flight crew. He passed the necessary aptitude test and also the medical examination, after which he was selected for pilot training and was able to start flying in February. On 1 July 1940, he was promoted to Feldwebel, he completed training in November 1940.

Ehrler proved to be extremely talented during training, both on the ground and in the air. His success was doubly rewarded; So he was granted his wish to fly a single-seat fighter and he showed great potential through his mature and reliable manner, his experience in Spain and his previous service experience in a completely different branch of the air force. On New Year's Day 1941, shortly after completing his pilot training, he was commissioned as Leutnant (2nd Lieutenant) and Kriegsoffizier. In February 1941, the newly trained and promoted Lieutenant Ehrler was transferred to his first combat unit: Jagdgeschwader 77, equipped with Bf 109 E and stationed in Norway.

JG 77 had already made a name for itself in the Poland campaign as well as Operation Weserübung and was led and trained by some of the most experienced pilots, among them Kurt Ubben. Ehrler, in the 4th Squadron, shot down his first opponent – a Bristol Beaufort – in May 1941 or 2 September 1941 (southwest of Stavanger), depending on the source. He continued to take part in operations to prevent attacks on ships by the Royal Air Force, flew escort for German bombers against British ships in the North Sea and thereby gained further experience, which earned Ehrler the appointment as swarm leader.

In January 1942, JG 5 “Eismeer” was formed from parts of JG 77. This fighter wing was supposed to guarantee a constant presence of German fighters over Scandinavia. Ehrler was one of the pilots who were transferred to the new unit, 4./JG 77 was now 4./JG 5. They were deployed across several airfields from Norway to Finland and used against British and Soviet forces. Beginning in February 1942, Ehrler and his comrades regularly fought against the enemy's air forces and the steady increase in his number of kills increased Ehrler's reputation among the military. With 11 aerial victories, he was promoted to Oberleutnant (first lieutenant) in July 1942 (with rank seniority from 1 February 1942) and given command of his own squadron, the 6. Staffel/JG 5, on 20 July 1942.

Ehrler was able to record a breathtaking 53 more kills in the following two months, which earned him the coveted Knight's Cross on 4 September 1942 (the award ceremony was led by Generaloberst Hans-Jürgen Stumpff). On 27 March 1943, he shot down 5 enemy aircraft in a single engagement; these were Soviet P-39s and P-40s. It would be his first time becoming "ace in a day". Ehrler himself was wounded during the fight by P-40s (hit in a hand and a leg). On 1 June 1943 (with rank seniortiy from 1 May 1943), Ehrler was promoted to Hauptmann (Captain) and given command of III./JG 5 (as such, he is the youngest commodore of the Luftwaffe), which was stationed at Petsamo and Kirkenes. During this time, Ehrler fell in love with the Bf 109 G and scored his 100th kill with it on 7 June 1943 shortly after taking command. Luftwaffe war correspondent (Kriegsberichterstatter) Walter Henkels (1906–1987) wrote about the young ace in 1943:

"His face had two very deep wrinkles. He had a sharp, angular face. That's what an aviator looked like, that's what a person looked like who had shot down more than 100 opponents in bitter and turbulent air battles."

On 21 June 1943, he was missing in action after his Bf 109 G-2 R6 "Yellow 12" brought down by anti-aircraft artillery vic Kowd-See. He returned uninjured on the same day having been rescued by an Ar 196 A-4 (BB+YB) of the Seenotdienst (maritime distress service of the Luftwaffe). In August 1943, after 112 victories, he was awarded the Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross. On 17 March 1944, he shot down eight planes in just one day; on 25/26 May 1944, there were even nine, which brought his number of kills to 155. On 30 May 1944, after a collision on landing his Bf 109 G-6 at Petsamo, he was wounded again. On 1 August 1944, he was promoted to Major and given command of the entire JG 5, which he had already commanded as deputy leader since May 1944 (concurrently Jagdfliegerführer Norwegen or leader of the fighter pilots in Norway). For someone who had fought his way up the Luftwaffe, it seemed as if nothing could go wrong, for the highly decorated and much admired hero of Göring's elite fighter order. But all that would soon change.

The Sinking of the Tirpitz

On 12 November 1944, Avro Lancaster bombers of 9 and 617 Squadrons (Royal Air Force) raided the Tirpitz (Schlachtschiff „Tirpitz“) in Tromsö fjord (Operation Catechism). The command and control center at Bardufoss was informed shortly before 08:00 that three Lancasters had been sighted at 07:39 in the vicinity of Mosjøen heading east. At 08:18 the Luftwaffe fighter control center was informed which issued an air alarm for the area of Bodø. At 08:34 further four Lancasters were reported but plotted in the wrong Planquadrat (PQ—grid reference) of the Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz). Due to this error, neither Ehrler nor Franz Dörr were informed of the approaching bombers.

That day, Ehrler had preemptively ordered 9. Staffel of JG 5 at Bardufoss airfield on three-minute readiness while the Kommandostaffel was still undergoing training and had been placed on 15-minute readiness. Ehrler, who had planned to fly to Alta, entered his command post at 08:50, unaware of the unfolding events. As he was just about to leave the command post, Tirpitz signaled that they heard aircraft engine noise of unknown origin and altitude, Tirpitz did not report approaching enemy bombers. At 09:18, Ehrler ordered cockpit readiness for 9. Staffel and placed the Kommandostaffel on three-minute readiness. The situation remained unclear for Ehrler until 09:21–09:23 when a second aircraft noise message arrived. He then at 09:23 sounded the alarm and scrambled 9. Staffel. In parallel, Dörr who was alarmed by the fighters taking off, arrived at the command post and took charge of the Kommandostaffel. Ehrler was airborne at 09:25 while takeoff of 9. Staffel was delayed by five minutes due to a landing Junkers Ju 52. Adding to the confusion, when the British aircraft were detected by the German air defence staff at Tromsø, they asked the airfield command if any fighter aircraft were ready for takeoff. The question was affirmed, but the JG 5 staff thought the enquiry concerned the flight to Alta. The naval officers on board Tirpitz were notified Erhler was airborne before the British began their attack at 09:38. Dörr, who was in the command post and waited until further information became available, led the Kommandostaffel and took off at 09:36 heading for Tromsø. According to Forsgren, Dörr may have intercepted and shot down an unidentified aircraft 20 kilometres (12 miles) northeast of Bardufoss that day. This aircraft may have been a Soviet Supermarine Spitfire aerial reconnaissance aircraft.

Kommodore Major Ehrler, together with fighters from the 9. Staffel of the III. Gruppe under Franz Dörr, scrambled to intercept at the head of a formation of JG 5 Bf 109 G's, but the fighters would come too late. After takeoff, the German fighters were directed north-east towards Alta, but then it was reported that the bombers had turned to Bodø to the south-west. Confusion spread and it was reported that the bombers were going to a completely different target: Håkøya. The intercept mission failed. Only after landing did Ehrler learn the true extent of the disaster: The Tirpitz was sunk with the loss of a thousand sailors.

From a military historical point of view it is clear that Ehrler and his pilots did not know that the Tirpitz had been moved to Håkøya, which was reported to the British by Norwegen partisans. The fighters were deprived of any opportunity to intercept the enemy fighter planes in time by the instructions of the flight control on the ground, which was also not sufficiently informed by the Kriegsmarine for reasons of secrecy, which ultimately contributed to the success of the British bomber mission. Ehrler was court martialed during the trial before the Reichskriegsgericht on 17, 18 and 20 December 1944 and sentenced to three years fortress imprisonment (Festungshaft), suspended until the end of the war, and stripped of his command.

But his comrades of the fighter wing gathered evidence, and one of the squadron leaders of JG 5, Walter Schuck, appealed on Ehrler's behalf. The loyalty of his men paid off: After further investigations, Ehrler was acquitted and the withdrawal of the medals and decorations was reversed. His return to the war front was nevertheless described as a "rehabilitation opportunity".

Fighter ace

Fighter ace Ehrler achieved a total of 208 (another source states 209) aerial victories (Luftsiege), including seven four-engined bombers, over the course of over 400 combat missions (Feindflüge).

Ace in a day

On 27 March 1943, then again on 13 April 1943, 17 March 1944, 11 May 1944, 25/26 May 1944 (within 24 hours) and 17 July 1944, Heinrich Ehrler, Luftwaffe fighter pilot on the Eastern and Western Front, became a six-time ace in a day, with five, six, seven/eight, five, nine and five victories, respectively.

Vindication and Death

On 27 February 1945, his friend squadron commander Major Theodor Weissenberger brought him to the newly formed Fighter Wing 7 (Jagdgeschwader 7), which was equipped with the Me 262 jet fighter, for probation at the front. The conversion to the jet fighter proved not always easy and time-consuming, but the Reich ran out of time. From 21 to 24 March 1945, Ehrler, as a member of the squadron staff, shot down five Allied bombers, three B-17s and two B-24s, as well as a possible P-51 HSS on 31 March 1945, making him also a jet flying ace.

On 4 April 1945, Ehrler shot down two bombers (Boeing B-17 Flying Fortresses, other sources state Consolidated B-24 Liberators from the 338th Bombardment Group) of the USAAF in vicinity of Berlin, was out of ammunition and rammed another B-24 bomber (B-24H-30-FO 42-95298 „Trouble in Mind“), his 208th, other sources state 209th aerial victory. It is difficult to imagine what was going through Ehrler's head as he turned his jet fighter Me 262 A-1 "Green 2" and passed through the heavy bombardment fire back into the formation of enemy bombers. His last words over the radio to Weissenberger while another friend, Walter Schuck, was listening, were:

"Theo, this is Heinrich. Just shot down two bombers. I'm out of ammo, going to ram now. Goodbye, see you in Valhalla!”

„Theo, hier Heinrich. Habe gerade zwei Bomber abgeschossen. Ich habe keine Munition mehr, werde jetzt rammen. Auf Wiedersehen, seh' dich in Walhall!“

Major Heinrich Ehrler rests in the war cemetery or Kriegsgräberstätte (honor part or Ehrenteil) in Stendal municipal cemetery (Sankt Georgen Friedhof); Final burial location: Plot 1, Field 2, Row 1. His name is also listed on the monument for the fallen in the Gernsheim cemetery.

Awards, decorations and honours

Awards and decorations

• Medal for the Campaign (Spain) of 1936−1939 (Spanische Feldzugsmedaille)
• Spanish Order of Military Merit (Orden del Mérito Militar)
• Spanish Cross in Bronze with Swords (Spanienkreuz)
• Pilot's Badge (Flugzeugführerabzeichen)
• Iron Cross (1939), 2nd and 1st Class
  • 2nd Class on 19 September 1941
  • 1st Class on 21 January 1942
• Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe (Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg) on 20 July 1942
• Eastern Front Medal
• Finnish Order of the Cross of Liberty, 2nd Class with Swords
• Wound Badge (Verwundetenabzeichen 1939) in Black
• Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold
• German Cross in Gold on 18 March 1943 as Leutnant and pilot in the 6. Staffel/Jagdgeschwader 5
• Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
  • Knight's Cross on 4 September 1942 as Leutnant (Kr.O.) and pilot in the 6. Staffel/II. Gruppe/Jagdgeschwader 5
  • Oak Leaves on 2 August 1943 (265th Award) as Hauptmann (Kr.O.) and Commander of the III. Gruppe/Jagdgeschwader 5

Honours

• Honorary citizen of the city of Gernsheim around the turn of the year 1942/1943
  • His brother Wilhelm "Willi" and Heinrich's fiancée were guests during the celebration.

External links

• Major Heinrich Ehrler, War Thunder
• White 2, flown by Leutnant Heinrich Ehrler, 4./JG 5. Alakurti/Finland, late April 1942