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.
Wolfgang Ewald | |
|---|---|
| Born | 26 March 1911 Hamburg |
| Died | 24 February 1995 (aged 83) Leonberg |
| Allegiance |  Nazi Germany (to 1945) West Germany |
| Service/ |
|
| Years of service | 1935–45 1956–? |
| Rank | Major (Wehrmacht) Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr) |
| Unit | |
| Commands held | I./JG 52 III./JG 3 |
| Battles/wars | Spanish Civil War World War II |
| Awards | Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross |
Career edit
On 18 August 1940, known as The Hardest Day, twelve Messerschmitt Bf 109s from 2. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing), led by Ewald, attacked RAF fighters out in the open at RAF Manston. After two passes, the Germans claimed ten fighters and three Bristol Blenheim bombers destroyed. In fact, just two No. 266 Squadron Supermarine Spitfire fighters were destroyed with another six Hawker Hurricane fighters damaged but repairable. A single Hurricane was also destroyed.[1]
On 23 July 1942, Ewald was given command as Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" (JG 3—3rd Fighter Wing). He replaced Major Karl-Heinz Greisert who was killed in action the day before.[2] Ewald was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 9 December 1942.[3]
On 14 July 1943 during the Battle of Kursk, Ewald was shot down in his Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 20220—factory number) by Soviet flak 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Belgorod.[4] He was temporarily replaced by Hauptmann Leo Eggers and Hauptmann Karl-Heinz Langer before command of III. Gruppe was officially given to Hauptmann Walther Dahl on 20 July.[5] Ewald was taken prisoner of war and was held until 1949.
Summary of career edit
Aerial victory claims edit
According to Spick, Ewald was credited with 78 aerial victories claimed in an unknown number combat missions. This figure includes one aerial victory during the Spanish Civil War, two during the Battle of France and Britain and further 75 aerial victories on the Eastern Front.[6] Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found documentation for 65 aerial victory claims, plus two further unconfirmed claims. This number includes one claim during the Spanish Civil War, one over the Western Allies, and 63 on the Eastern Front.[7]
Awards edit
- Aviator badge
- Spanish Cross in Gold with Swords (14 April 1939)[8]
- Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe
- Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class[9]
- Honour Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 21 September 1942 as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur[10]
- German Cross in Gold on 3 October 1942 as Hauptmann in the III./Jagdgeschwader 3[11]
- Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 December 1942 as Major and Gruppenkommandeur of the III./Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet"[12][13]
References edit
Citations edit
- ^ Weal 2004, p. 30.
- ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 211.
- ^ Schreier 1990, p. 176.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 137.
- ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 124.
- ^ Spick 1996, p. 236.
- ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 296–297.
- ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 296.
- ^ Dixon 2023, p. 293.
- ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 74.
- ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 107.
- ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 176.
- ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 300.
Bibliography edit
- Dixon, Jeremy (2023). Day Fighter Aces of the Luftwaffe: Knight's Cross Holders 1939–1942. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-52677-864-2.
- Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer [in German] (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.
- Mathews, Andrew Johannes; Foreman, John (2014). Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims — Volume 1 A–F. Walton on Thames: Red Kite. ISBN 978-1-906592-18-9.
- 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.; Scherzer, Veit (2001). Das Deutsche Kreuz 1941 – 1945 Geschichte und Inhaber Band II [The German Cross 1941 – 1945 History and Recipients Volume 2] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-45-8.
- Patzwall, Klaus D. (2008). Der Ehrenpokal für besondere Leistung im Luftkrieg [The Honor Goblet for Outstanding Achievement in the Air War] (in German). Norderstedt, Germany: Verlag Klaus D. Patzwall. ISBN 978-3-931533-08-3.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2006). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 9/II—Vom Sommerfeldzug 1942 bis zur Niederlage von Stalingrad—1.5.1942 bis 3.2.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 9/II—From the 1942 Summer Campaign to the Defeat at Stalingrad—1 May 1942 to 3 February 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-77-9.
- Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2012). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 12/I—Einsatz im Osten—4.2. bis 31.12.1943 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 12/I—Action in the East—4 February to 31 December 1943] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Buchverlag Rogge. ISBN 978-3-942943-02-4.
- 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.
- Schreier, Hans (1990). JG 52 Das erfolgreichste Jagdgeschwader des 2. Weltkriegs [JG 52 The Most Successful Fighter Wing of World War II] (in German). Berg am See: K. Vowinckel. ISBN 978-3-921655-66-5.
- Spick, Mike (1996). Luftwaffe Fighter Aces. New York: Ivy Books. ISBN 978-0-8041-1696-1.
- Weal, John (2004). Jagdgeschwader 52: The Experten. Aviation Elite Units. Vol. 15. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84176-786-4.
