Hans Ehlers

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Hans Ehlers
15 July 1914 – 27 December 1944
Place of birth	Hennstedt, Germany
Place of death	Mayen, France
Allegiance	Nazi Germany
Service/branch	Luftwaffe
Years of service	1939–1943
Rank	Hauptmann
Unit	Condor Legion, JG 3, JG 1
Commands held	I./JG 1
Battles/wars	Spanish Civil War World War II Battle of France Battle of Britain North African Campaign
Awards	Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (17 October 1943) Ritterkreuz (9 June 1944)

Hans Ehlers (15 July 1914 – 27 December 1944) was a former German Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross during World War II. Hans Ehlers was credited with 55 victories, in addition with some unconfirmed victories in Normandy campaign.

[edit] Military career

Ehlers was a member of the groundstaff of the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. Unteroffizier Ehlers was serving with 2./JG 3 during the Battle of France. On 18 May 1940, He recorded his first victories when he claimed two RAF fighters shot down over Valenciennes. He in turn, was shot down by RAF Hawker Hurricane fighters of No. 56 Squadron on the same day and crash-landed his Bf 109 E-1 south of Valenciennes and was listed as missing. However, Ehlers managed to escape and return to his own lines to rejoin. During the Battle of Britain, Ehlers added a further two victories.

Leutnant Ehlers was appointed Staffelkapitän of 2./JG 1 on 1 October 1943. On 24 October 1943, Ehlers was presented the German Cross in Gold by Hermann Göring. On 11 November 1943, Oberleutnant Ehlers became Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 1. Hauptmann Ehlers became Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 1. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944 for 52 victories. On 27 December 1944, Ehlers led off 18 Fw 190s on a mission to cover ground troops in the Dinant-Rochefort area. Near Mayen, he encountered P-51 Mustangs of the USAAF 364th Fighter Group and was shot down in his Fw 190 A-8. Hans Ehlers was credited with 55 victories. His final score may well be higher if his successes during the Normandy campaign were counted.

[edit] Awards

German Cross in Gold (17 October 1943)
Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (9 June 1944)

[edit] References

Aces of the Luftwaffe. Hans Ehlers. Retrieved on 19 February 2008.
Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945. Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.