Heinz Ebeling
Encyclopedia
Heinz Ebeling was a Luftwaffe
Staffelkapitän
and flying ace
during World War II
.
Heinz Ebeling was born 2 January 1918 in Karlsruhe
. As a lieutenant he was posted to 8 Staffel, JG 26 in December 1939.
His first claim was a French Morane 406
shot down over Gramont on 17 May 1940. By the end of the French campaign, he had 5 victories. During the initial stages of the Battle of Britain
, Ebeling shot down 10 British fighters in August 1940, including three victories on 12 August and two more on 15 August. Oberleutnant Ebeling was made Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 26 on 22 August 1940. On 31 August Ebeling shot down a Hawker Hurricane
North of London, although his Bf 109 'Emil' was itself damaged in the radiator. Ebeling managed to nurse the damaged aircraft as far as the Channel where he bailed out and was rescued by German air-sea rescue
seaplane. Returning to combat later the same day, Ebeling shot down 2 more Hurricanes.
After claiming 3 further victories in September 1940, 9./Jagdgeschwader 26
(JG 26) were converted to a 'Jabo' fighter bomber role. Ebeling led the Staffel on many fighter-bomber missions over England.
On 5 November 1940 Ebeling collided with his wingman Fbw. Braun over Dungeness, both pilots becoming prisoners for the rest of the war. Ebeling was awarded the Ritterkreuz on this day for 18 victories in 163 missions.
Ebeling died on 30 November 1987 at Obsteig in Tirol.
Luftwaffe
Luftwaffe is a generic German term for an air force. It is also the official name for two of the four historic German air forces, the Wehrmacht air arm founded in 1935 and disbanded in 1946; and the current Bundeswehr air arm founded in 1956....
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän
Staffelkapitän is a position in flying units of the German Luftwaffe that is the equivalent of RAF/USAF Squadron Commander. Usually today a Staffelkapitän is of Oberstleutnant or Major rank....
and flying ace
Flying ace
A flying ace or fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down several enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The actual number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an "ace" has varied, but is usually considered to be five or more...
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Heinz Ebeling was born 2 January 1918 in Karlsruhe
Karlsruhe
The City of Karlsruhe is a city in the southwest of Germany, in the state of Baden-Württemberg, located near the French-German border.Karlsruhe was founded in 1715 as Karlsruhe Palace, when Germany was a series of principalities and city states...
. As a lieutenant he was posted to 8 Staffel, JG 26 in December 1939.
His first claim was a French Morane 406
Morane-Saulnier M.S.406
The M.S.406 was a French Armée de l'Air fighter aircraft built by Morane-Saulnier starting in 1938. Numerically it was France's most important fighter during the opening stages of World War II....
shot down over Gramont on 17 May 1940. By the end of the French campaign, he had 5 victories. During the initial stages of the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
, Ebeling shot down 10 British fighters in August 1940, including three victories on 12 August and two more on 15 August. Oberleutnant Ebeling was made Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 26 on 22 August 1940. On 31 August Ebeling shot down a Hawker Hurricane
Hawker Hurricane
The Hawker Hurricane is a British single-seat fighter aircraft that was designed and predominantly built by Hawker Aircraft Ltd for the Royal Air Force...
North of London, although his Bf 109 'Emil' was itself damaged in the radiator. Ebeling managed to nurse the damaged aircraft as far as the Channel where he bailed out and was rescued by German air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue
Air-sea rescue is the coordinated search and rescue of the survivors of emergency water landings as well as people who have survived the loss of their sea-going vessel. ASR can involve a wide variety of resources including seaplanes, helicopters, submarines, rescue boats and ships...
seaplane. Returning to combat later the same day, Ebeling shot down 2 more Hurricanes.
After claiming 3 further victories in September 1940, 9./Jagdgeschwader 26
Jagdgeschwader 26
Jagdgeschwader 26 Schlageter was a Luftwaffe fighter-wing of World War II. It operated mainly in Western Europe against Great Britain, France the United States but also saw service against Russia. It was named after Albert Leo Schlageter, a World War I veteran and Freikorps member arrested and...
(JG 26) were converted to a 'Jabo' fighter bomber role. Ebeling led the Staffel on many fighter-bomber missions over England.
On 5 November 1940 Ebeling collided with his wingman Fbw. Braun over Dungeness, both pilots becoming prisoners for the rest of the war. Ebeling was awarded the Ritterkreuz on this day for 18 victories in 163 missions.
Ebeling died on 30 November 1987 at Obsteig in Tirol.