Hans Ehlers (officer)

Hans Ehlers (15 July 1914 – 27 December 1944) was a former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Hans Ehlers was credited with 55 victories.

Military career
Ehlers was a member of the groundstaff of the Condor Legion during the Spanish Civil War. Unteroffizier Ehlers was serving with 2./JG 3 during the Battle of France. On 18 May 1940, he recorded his first victories when he claimed two RAF fighters shot down over Valenciennes. He in turn, was shot down by RAF Hawker Hurricane fighters of No. 56 Squadron RAF on the same day and crash-landed his Bf 109 E-1 south of Valenciennes and was listed as missing. However, Ehlers managed to escape and return to his own lines to rejoin. During the Battle of Britain, Ehlers added a further two victories.

Leutnant Ehlers was appointed Staffelkapitän of 2./JG 1 on 1 October 1943. On 8 October, he and two other pilots of 2./JG 1 spontaneously executed an unprecedented maneuver by ramming B-17s that were returning westward from a raid against shipyards and factories in Bremen and Vegesack. All three Luftwaffe pilots survived, while all three of their targets were destroyed. This was the only significant ramming attack by Luftwaffe pilots until nearly the end of the war in 1945.

On 24 October 1943, Ehlers was presented the German Cross in Gold by Hermann Göring. On 11 November 1943, Oberleutnant Ehlers became Staffelkapitän of 3./JG 1. Hauptmann Ehlers became Gruppenkommandeur of I./JG 1. He was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944 for 52 victories. On 27 December 1944, Ehlers led off 18 Fw 190s on a mission to cover ground troops in the Dinant-Rochefort area. Near Mayen, he encountered P-51 Mustangs of the USAAF 364th Fighter Group and was shot down in his Fw 190 A-8. Hans Ehlers was credited with 55 victories.

Awards
Ehlers was nominated for the posthumous Oak Leaves to his Knight's Cross. This nomination was not approved.
 * Spanish Cross in Silver with Swords (6 June 1939)
 * German Cross in Gold on 24 October 1943 as Leutnant in the II./JG 1
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 9 June 1944 as Oberleutnant and Staffelkapitän of the 3./JG 1 "Oesau"