Wolfgang Ewald
| Wolfgang Ewald | |
|---|---|
| Born |
26 March 1911 Hamburg |
| Died |
24 February 1995 (aged 83) Leonberg |
| Allegiance |
.svg.png){kind=small} Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
| Service/branch |
Army (?–1935) Luftwaffe (1935–45) German Air Force |
| Years of service |
1935–45 1956–? |
| Rank |
Major (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr) |
| Unit |
Condor Legion JG 3 JG 52 |
| Commands held |
I./JG 52 III./JG 3 |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Wolfgang Ewald (26 March 1911 – 24 February 1995) was a Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.
One of the most enduring actions Ewald took part in was a strafing attack on RAF Manston during the Battle of Britain. The attack took place on 18 August 1940, known as The Hardest Day. Three fighters were destroyed, and six were damaged in the attack. Wolfgang Ewald was shot down by Soviet flak in July 1943 during the Battle of Kursk. He was taken prisoner and was held until 1949. During his career was credited with 78 aerial victories, 1 in the Spanish Civil War, 1 on the Western Front and 76 on the Eastern Front.
Awards
- Aviator badge
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (21 September 1942)
- Iron Cross (1939)
- 2nd Class
- 1st Class
- German Cross in Gold on 3 October 1942 as Hauptmann in the III./Jagdgeschwader 3[1]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 December 1942 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"[2]
References
Citations
Bibliography
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer (2000) [1986]. Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939–1945 — Die Inhaber der höchsten Auszeichnung des Zweiten Weltkrieges aller Wehrmachtteile [The Bearers of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939–1945 — The Owners of the Highest Award of the Second World War of all Wehrmacht Branches] (in German). Friedberg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas. ISBN 978-3-7909-0284-6.
- Obermaier, Ernst (1989). Die Ritterkreuzträger der Luftwaffe Jagdflieger 1939 – 1945 [The Knight's Cross Bearers of the Luftwaffe Fighter Force 1939 – 1945] (in German). Mainz, Germany: Verlag Dieter Hoffmann. ISBN 978-3-87341-065-7.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. and Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941–1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II. Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 3-931533-45-X.
- Scherzer, Veit (2007). Die Ritterkreuzträger 1939–1945 Die Inhaber des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939 von Heer, Luftwaffe, Kriegsmarine, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm sowie mit Deutschland verbündeter Streitkräfte nach den Unterlagen des Bundesarchives [The Knight's Cross Bearers 1939–1945 The Holders of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 by Army, Air Force, Navy, Waffen-SS, Volkssturm and Allied Forces with Germany According to the Documents of the Federal Archives] (in German). Jena, Germany: Scherzers Militaer-Verlag. ISBN 978-3-938845-17-2.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
External links
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Hauptmann Siegfried von Eschwege |
Commander of I. Jagdgeschwader 52 27 August 1940 – 24 May 1941 |
Succeeded by Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Leesmann |
| Preceded by Major Karl-Heinz Greisert |
Commander of III. Jagdgeschwader 3 23 July 1942 – 20 July 1943 |
Succeeded by Major Walther Dahl |