Heinz Ebeling

Heinz Ebeling (2 January 1918 – 30 November 1987) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator and fighter ace during World War II.

He is credited with 18 aerial victories achieved in 163 combat missions, all of which claimed over the Western Allies during the Battle of France and Battle of Britain.

Born in Karlsruhe, Ebeling grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany.

He joined the military service of the Luftwaffe where he was trained as a fighter pilot.

Ebeling was born 2 January 1918 in Karlsruhe, at the time in the Grand Duchy of Baden as part of the German Empire.

Following flight training, he was posted to 8.

Staffel (9th squadron) of JG 26.

This unit was then converted to a fighter-bomber unit.

Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) in December 1939.

Staffel (8th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) in December 1939.

At the time, 8.

Staffel was commanded by Oberleutnant Eduard Neumann.

The squadron was subordinated to III.

Gruppe (3rd group) which was headed by Major Ernst Freiherr von Berg, and was under the overall command of Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) Oberst Eduard Ritter von Schleich.

Based at Essen-Mülheim Aifield, the unit was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 and E-3 and patrolled western German border during the "Phoney War".

World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland.

Flying with this wing, Ebeling claimed his first aerial victory on 17 May 1940 over a French Air Force fighter aircraft.

In August 1940, he was appointed squadron leader of 9.

Ebeling was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 5 November 1940.

That day, he collided with his wingman over England and was taken prisoner of war.

During the Battle of France on 17 May 1940, Ebeling claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down a Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighter near Grammont, Geraardsbergen in Dutch pronunciation.

His opponent may have been a misidentified Hawker Hurricane from the Royal Air Force (RAF) No. 17 Squadron or No. 245 Squadron, which each lost an aircraft in combat near Brussels.

On 28 May, during the Battle of Dunkirk, II.

and III.

Gruppe engaged in combat with Hurricane fighters from the Biggin Hill Wing near Ostend.

Fighter pilots from the two units claimed seven aerial victories in this encounter.

This figure includes a Hurricane fighter from either No. 213, No. 229 or No. 242 Squadron shot down northwest of Ostend.

RAF units lost six Hurricane fighters in this battle.

On 9 June, German forces had breached the French defenses at the Somme-Aisne.

That day, Ebeling claimed a M.S.406 shot down near Rouen.

The aircraft was probably a Caudron C.714 from GC I/145 (Groupe de Chasse) which lost seven aircraft.

By the end of the French campaign, he had claimed 5 victories.

During the initial stages of the Battle of Britain against the RAF, Ebeling shot down 10 British fighters in August 1940, including three victories on 12 August and two more on 15 August.

On 22 August, the command hierarchy in JG 26 changed.

Hauptmann Adolf Galland, who had commanded III.

Gruppe, was appointed Geschwaderkommodore (wing commander) of JG 26.

In consequence, Hauptmann Gerhard Schöpfel, who had led 9.

Staffel until then, succeeded Galland as Gruppenkommandeur of III.

Gruppe and Ebeling was given command of 9.

Ebeling died on 30 November 1987 in Austria.