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Wolfgang Ewald

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Wolfgang Ewald
Born26 March 1911
Hamburg
Died24 February 1995(1995-02-24) (aged 83)
Leonberg
Allegiance Nazi Germany (to 1945)
 West Germany
Service / branch
Years of service1935–45
1956–?
RankMajor (Wehrmacht)
Oberstleutnant (Bundeswehr)
Unit
CommandsI./JG 52
III./JG 3
Battles / warsSpanish Civil War
World War II
AwardsSpanish Cross with Swords
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.

Early life and career

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Ewald was born on 26 March 1911 in Hamburg, at the time a sovereign state of the German Empire.[1] In 1938, Ewald volunteered for service with the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. Flying with 2. Staffel (2nd squadron) of Jagdgruppe 88 (J/88—88th Fighter Group), Ewald claimed a Polikarpov I-16 fighter shot down on 13 June.[2] He was later awarded the Spanish Cross with Swords (Spanienkreuz mit Schwertern) on 14 April 1939 for his service in the Spanish Civil War.[3]

On 1 November 1938, I. Gruppe (1st group) of Jagdgeschwader 433 (JG 433—433rd Fighter Wing) was formed at the Ingolstadt-Manching Airfield, 60 kilometers (37 miles) north of Munich. Initially the Gruppe was placed under the command of Hauptmann Dietrich Graf von Pfeil und Klein-Ellguth and equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1 fighter aircraft. That day, Ewald was appointed Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of the Gruppe's 2. Staffel. On 1 May 1939, the Gruppe was renamed and became I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52—52nd Fighter Wing).[4]

World War II

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I./JG 52 insignia

On 18 August 1940, known as The Hardest Day, twelve Bf 109s from 2. Staffel of JG 52, 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.[5] On 26 August, Ewald was appointed Gruppenkommandeur (group commander) of I. Gruppe of JG 52. He succeeded Hauptmann Siegfried von Eschwege who was transferred.[6] On 24 May 1941, Ewald was posted to the staff of Jagdfliegerführer 2. Command of I. Gruppe of JG 52 was passed on to Oberleutnant Karl-Heinz Leesmann.[7]

On 23 July 1942, Ewald was given command as Gruppenkommandeur 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.[8] Ewald was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) on 9 December 1942.[9]

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.[10] 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.[11] Ewald was taken prisoner of war and was held until 1949.

Summary of career

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Aerial victory claims

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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.[12] 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.[13]

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 4932". The Luftwaffe grid map (Jägermeldenetz) covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about 360 square miles (930 km2). These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3 km × 4 km (1.9 mi × 2.5 mi) in size.[14]

Chronicle of aerial victories
  This and the – (dash) indicates unconfirmed aerial victory claims for which Ewald did not receive credit.
  This and the ? (question mark) indicates information discrepancies listed by Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike, Bock, Mathews and Foreman.
Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location
Spanish Civil War
– 2. Staffel of Jagdgruppe 88 –[3]
Spanish Civil War — June 1938
1 13 June 1938
—
 I-16
World War II
– Stab I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52 –[3]
Action at the Channel and over England — 26 August – 30 October 1940
—
 2 September 1940 18:25 Spitfire[15] 1 27 September 1940 13:30 Hurricane[16]
– Stab of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[17]
Eastern Front — 19 May – June 1942
2 20 May 1942 03:49 R-Z[18]?[Note 1] 7 12 June 1942 10:42 Pe-2 east of Artemivka[18]
25 km (16 mi) south-southeast of Bely Kolodez
3 20 May 1942 03:51 R-Z[18]?[Note 1] 8?[Note 2] 13 June 1942
—
 LaGG-3[18]
4?[Note 2] 28 May 1942
—
 MiG-1[18] 9 22 June 1942 04:00 LaGG-3[18]
5?[Note 2] 12 June 1942 10:30 Pe-2 northeast of Dwuretschnaja[18] 10 22 June 1942 10:15 Pe-2[18]
6 12 June 1942 10:35 MiG-1 15 km (9.3 mi) northeast of Dwuretschnaja[18]
25 km (16 mi) north-northeast of Kupiansk 		11 24 June 1942 15:20 Pe-2[18]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[13]
Eastern Front — June 1942 – 3 February 1943
12 28 June 1942 12:05 LaGG-3[19] 35 14 September 1942 09:45 Yak-1 Stalingrad[20]
13 28 June 1942 19:09 Pe-2[19] 36 18 September 1942 17:00 Il-2 east of Stalingrad[21]
14 1 July 1942 17:26 LaGG-3 15 km (9.3 mi) east of Stary Oskol[19] 37 18 September 1942 17:07 Yak-1 northeast of Kotluban train station[21]
15 9 July 1942 19:27 Il-2 Voronezh[22] 38 1 October 1942 06:25 Il-2 northeast of Kotluban train station[21]
16 17 July 1942 19:03 MiG-3[23] 39 1 October 1942 06:30 Il-2 south of Iwanowka train station[21]
17 24 July 1942 11:25 MiG-1[23] 40 17 October 1942 09:12 Yak-1 northeast of Stalingrad[24]
18 31 July 1942 11:40 Yak-1 north of Peselasowski[25] 41 25 October 1942 10:12 Il-2 Stalingrad[24]
19 6 August 1942 10:55 Pe-2 north of Aksay[26] 42 25 October 1942 14:32 Il-2 Stalingrad[24]
20 6 August 1942 10:58 Pe-2 north of Aksay[26] 43 25 October 1942 14:36 Il-2 Beketovka[24]
21 13 August 1942 17:43 MiG-3 east of Kalach[26] 44 26 October 1942 11:15 Il-2 southeast of Stalingrad[24]
22 19 August 1942 10:50 LaGG-3 PQ 40821[26] 45 26 October 1942 14:00 Il-2 west of Sarepta[24]
23 23 August 1942 05:40 LaGG-3 north of Popiwskaja[27] 46 26 October 1942 14:04 Il-2 west of Sarepta[24]
24 23 August 1942 05:55 LaGG-3 southwest of Leninsk[27] 47 26 October 1942 14:07 Il-2 southwest of Sarepta[24]
25 24 August 1942 17:30 Hurricane north of Leninsk[27] 48 2 November 1942 10:14 Yak-1 Akhtuba[24]
26 25 August 1942 11:05 LaGG-3 Stalingrad[27] 49 2 November 1942 12:54 MiG-1 Akhtuba[24]
27 30 August 1942 09:25?[Note 3] Hurricane north-northwest of Stalingrad[28] 50 10 November 1942 13:50?[Note 4] MiG-3 south of Dubovka[30]
28 31 August 1942 17:15 Pe-2 north of Sarepta[28] 51 1 December 1942 09:02 MiG-3 15 km (9.3 mi) north of Tshir railroad station[30]
29 31 August 1942 17:23 LaGG-3 northeast of Leninsk[28] 52 2 December 1942 10:02 Il-2 PQ 4932[30]
south of Borodajewka
30 1 September 1942 10:48 Il-2 west of Stalingrad[28] 53 2 December 1942 10:15 Il-2 PQ 4912[30]
31 4 September 1942 15:40 Yak-1 southwest of Stalingrad[31] 54 8 December 1942 09:55 P-40 PQ 3961[30]
32 7 September 1942 15:52 Il-2 north of Kotluban train station[31] 55 8 December 1942 10:00 P-40 PQ 3942[30]
33 9 September 1942 10:38 Il-2 Prudki[20] 56 8 December 1942 10:12 P-40 PQ 2943[30]
34 10 September 1942 11:20 Pe-2 south of Kalach[20] 57 8 December 1942 13:07 Boston PQ 3915[30]
– Stab III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3 "Udet" –[29]
Eastern Front — 4 February – 14 July 1943
58 16 March 1943 14:15 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 7041, west of Kamenka[32]
According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Ewald claimed aerial victories 59 to 63 while commanding a German/Romanian fighter group in April 1943.[11] These five claims are not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[29]
64 2 May 1943 15:10 MiG-3[33] 69 8 July 1943 10:12 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 62763, west of Dmitriyevskoye[34]
20 km (12 mi) southeast of Oboyan
65 5 July 1943 03:50 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 61119, west of Werchopenje[35] 70 8 July 1943 18:42 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 6279, northeast of Tomarovka[34]
66 5 July 1943 07:28 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 61681, west of Volchansk[35] 71 9 July 1943 09:27 LaGG-3 PQ 35 Ost 62824, Rshawa train station[34]
30 km (19 mi) east of Oboyan
—
[Note 5] 		5 July 1943
—
 Il-2[35] 72 11 July 1943 13:32 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 6287, Bogorodizoje[36]
67 7 July 1943 03:50 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 6167, southeast of Belgorod[34]
—
 14 July 1943
—
 Il-2[36]
68 7 July 1943 10:42 MiG-3 PQ 35 Ost 6278, Bogorodizoje[34]

Awards

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Notes

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  1. ^ a b According to Mathews and Foreman claimed as a Polikarpov R-5.[3]
  2. ^ a b c This claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[3]
  3. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 08:42.[3]
  4. ^ According to Mathews and Foreman claimed at 08:42.[29]
  5. ^ This unconfirmed claim is not listed by Mathews and Foreman.[29]

References

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Citations

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  1. ^ Obermaier 1989, p. 109.
  2. ^ Forsyth 2011, p. 95.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 296.
  4. ^ Prien et al. 2000, p. 221.
  5. ^ Weal 2004, p. 30.
  6. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 129.
  7. ^ Prien et al. 2003, p. 63.
  8. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 211.
  9. ^ Schreier 1990, p. 176.
  10. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 137.
  11. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 124.
  12. ^ Spick 1996, p. 236.
  13. ^ a b Mathews & Foreman 2014, pp. 296–297.
  14. ^ Planquadrat.
  15. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 135.
  16. ^ Prien et al. 2002, p. 138.
  17. ^ Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 1014.
  18. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2006, p. 38.
  19. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 216.
  20. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2006, p. 224.
  21. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 225.
  22. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 217.
  23. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 218.
  24. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Prien et al. 2006, p. 226.
  25. ^ Prien et al. 2006, p. 219.
  26. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 220.
  27. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 221.
  28. ^ a b c d Prien et al. 2006, p. 222.
  29. ^ a b c d Mathews & Foreman 2014, p. 297.
  30. ^ a b c d e f g h Prien et al. 2006, p. 227.
  31. ^ a b Prien et al. 2006, p. 223.
  32. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 128.
  33. ^ Prien et al. 2012, p. 129.
  34. ^ a b c d e Prien et al. 2012, p. 132.
  35. ^ a b c Prien et al. 2012, p. 131.
  36. ^ a b Prien et al. 2012, p. 133.
  37. ^ Dixon 2023, p. 293.
  38. ^ Patzwall 2008, p. 74.
  39. ^ Patzwall & Scherzer 2001, p. 107.
  40. ^ Fellgiebel 2000, p. 176.
  41. ^ Scherzer 2007, p. 300.

Bibliography

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  • Bergström, Christer [in Swedish]. "Bergström Black Cross/Red Star website". Identifying a Luftwaffe Planquadrat. Archived from the original on 22 December 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2024.
  • 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.
  • Forsyth, Robert (2011). Aces of the Legion Condor. Aircraft of the Aces. Vol. 99. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing. ISBN 978-1-84908-347-8.
  • 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 (2000). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 1—Vorkriegszeit und Einsatz über Polen—1934 bis 1939 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 1—Pre-War Period and Action over Poland—1934 to 1939] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-54-0.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2002). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 4/II—Einsatz am Kanal und über England—26.6.1940 bis 21.6.1941 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 4/II—Action at the Channel and over England—26 June 1940 to 21 June 1941] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-64-9.
  • Prien, Jochen; Stemmer, Gerhard; Rodeike, Peter; Bock, Winfried (2003). Die Jagdfliegerverbände der Deutschen Luftwaffe 1934 bis 1945—Teil 5—Heimatverteidigung—10. Mai 1940 bis 31 Dezember 1941—Einsatz im Mittelmeerraum—Oktober 1940 bis November 1941—Einsatz im Westen—22. Juni bis 31. Dezember 1941—Die Ergänzungsjagdgruppen—Einsatz 1941 bis zur Auflösung Anfang 1942 [The Fighter Units of the German Air Force 1934 to 1945—Part 5—Defense of the Reich—10 May 1940 to 31 December 1941—Action in the Mediterranean Theater—October 1940 to November 1941—Action in the West—22 June to 31 December 1941—The Supplementary Fighter Groups—Action from 1941 until their Breakup in Early 1942] (in German). Eutin, Germany: Struve-Druck. ISBN 978-3-923457-68-7.
  • 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.
Military offices
Preceded by
Hauptmann Siegfried von Eschwege
 Commander of I. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 52
27 August 1940 – 24 May 1941 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Commander of III. Gruppe of Jagdgeschwader 3
23 July 1942 – 20 July 1943 		Succeeded by
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