34 Facts About Heinrich Ehrler

Heinrich Ehrler was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and wing commander during World War II.

Heinrich Ehrler joined the military service in the Wehrmacht in 1935, initially serving with the artillery and anti-aircraft artillery.

Heinrich Ehrler participated in the Spanish Civil War and following the outbreak of World War II transferred to the Jagdwaffe.

Heinrich Ehrler's sentence was later commuted and his loss of rank rescinded, and in February 1945 he was transferred to Jagdgeschwader 7.

Heinrich Ehrler was born on 14 September 1917 in Oberbalbach, today part of Lauda-Konigshofen, in the district of Tauberbischofsheim of the Grand Duchy of Baden.

Heinrich Ehrler was one of eight children of a laborer.

Heinrich Ehrler initially served with the 7th battery of Artillerie-Regiment 25 in Ludwigsburg, a regiment of the 25th Infantry Division.

Heinrich Ehrler then transferred to the Luftwaffe where he served with Flak-Regiment 8 from 7 April to 1 November 1936.

From 2 November 1936 to 15 August 1937, Heinrich Ehrler served with the 3.

Heinrich Ehrler, who was still serving with the anti-aircraft artillery, requested transfer to the fighter force of the Luftwaffe on 3 January 1940.

Heinrich Ehrler led a patrol of three aircraft of 4.

In combat near the Kirov Railway on 9 January 1943, Heinrich Ehrler claimed two Lavochkin-Gorbunov-Gudkov LaGG-3s and a Hurricane shot down.

Heinrich Ehrler was promoted to Oberleutnant on 1 February 1943.

On 1 May 1943, Heinrich Ehrler was promoted to Hauptmann.

On 8 June 1943, Heinrich Ehrler was credited with his 100th aerial victory.

Heinrich Ehrler was the 40th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.

Heinrich Ehrler claimed aerial victories 113 to 115 on 18 August 1943.

Heinrich Ehrler took off at 14:10 from Pontsalenjoki, heading north where he claimed two P-40s destroyed.

Later that day, Heinrich Ehrler shot down a Lavochkin La-5 northeast of Loukhi airfield.

On 1 September 1943, Heinrich Ehrler was unofficially appointed Gruppenkommandeur of III.

That day, Heinrich Ehrler claimed two P-40s and two Il-2 ground attack aircraft, taking his total to 120 aerial victories.

Heinrich Ehrler increased his total number of aerial victories to 124 that day after he claimed a P-40 at 13:35 followed by a P-39 and an Il-2 shortly after.

Heinrich Ehrler claimed four victories in this engagement which took his total to 150 aerial victories.

Heinrich Ehrler, who had planned to fly to Alta, entered his command post at 08:50, unaware of the unfolding events.

Heinrich Ehrler was already airborne when he realized that his radio transmitter was not working.

At 09:42, Heinrich Ehrler reached the vicinity of Storsteinnes when he observed to his left a distant mushroom-shaped cloud and anti-artillery bursts.

Heinrich Ehrler then decided to head towards the smoke before heading west, hoping to cut off the bombers.

Heinrich Ehrler searched the coast heading northeast and southwest, and then to Malnes and to the vicinity of Heia before finally flying to Alta.

The court believed that Heinrich Ehrler abandoned his command post to claim his 200th aerial victory thus disobeying a direct order from the Reichsmarschall which demanded that such a mission should have been led from the ground.

Heinrich Ehrler had been recommended for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords prior to the loss of Tirpitz, but the award was not approved.

Heinrich Ehrler was not helped by persistent rumours that he was on unofficial leave with a girlfriend in Oslo as nearly a thousand sailors died.

Heinrich Ehrler was reassigned to a Messerschmitt Me 262 fighter squadron in Germany.

In one account presented by Forsyth, Heinrich Ehrler was shot down by a P-51 northeast of Scharlibbe.

The authors Morgan and Weal concur with the events presented by Boehme, while Heaton, Mathews and Foreman are more in line with Forsyth, stating Heinrich Ehrler was killed in action on 4 April 1945.