JG 77, Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert passed away

[Juha]

Sad news indeed.
and thanks FalkeEins for the fitting obituary of the outstanding pilot

Juha

[Tom Semenza]

Falkeeins,

In the bio you state that Reinert studied medicine on his retirement from the Bundesluftwaffe in 1972. He would have been 53 years old at the time. In the US medical school and residency for gynecology would have taken about seven or eight years, which would have put him in his early 60s when he began practicing. I suppose this is not impossible but it seems incredible nonetheless.

Tom

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Tom

I believe that I am the one to blame for that misunderstanding. At the time that I sent what I had on Reinert to Neil the information that I had stated that he studied and practiced medicine following retirement. However, new information makes clear that he studied medicine in the post-war interim before his entry into the Bundesluftwaffe and that he opened his clinic following his retirement from the Bundesluftwaffe. I hope that this helps.

Horrido!

Leo

[FalkeEins]

thanks guys - the sources were indeed a little contradictory - "Pierre Martin" in 'Avions' magazine doesn't mention the Bundesluftwaffe at all. Post-war Reinert was "quickly released from a period of detention" and became a medical student, completing an arduous course of study under difficult circumstances before meeting and marrying an opera singer ...it would be interesting to know how/why the change of career came about as I don't have any specific info on his post-war air force service ..

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

Neil, many thanks for confirming that he did study to become a doctor post-war. Indeed, the sources are rather vague and contradictory as the source that mentions his medical career does not once mention his Bundesluftwaffe career although it too mentioned that he married an opera singer! Obviously this source was based upon the Avions article mentioned by you. However, he certainly did serve in the Bundesluftwaffe from 1 April 1956 when he joined with rank of Major until 30 September 1972 when he retired with rank of Oberstleutnant. Why the career change remains a mystery to me as well.

Horrido!

Leo

[RolandF]

Concerning the fact that as a gynaecologist you would have had a hard job with the Bundesluftwaffe at that time I presume he worked there as a military surgeon...

Cheers

Roland

[KrisJG3]

Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert (2 Februari 1919 - 5 September 2007)
Ritterkreuz (1 Juli 1942) : Unteroffizier dan Flugzeugführer 4./JG 77
Eichenlaub #131 (6 Oktober 1942) : Feldwebel dan Flugzeugführer 4./JG 77
Schwerter #130 (1 Februari 1945) : Oberleutnant dan Staffelkapitän 14./JG 27
Pangkat terakhir: Hauptmann

Source: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-tye9LMnzPN...ing%2Bace2.jpg

[knusel]

Good morning,

did Ernst-Wilhelm Reinert fly the Macchi M.C.205 in October-December 1943 ?

Cheers,

Michael

[Bookman]

Additionally, often at our reunions, we had Italian veterans. When i showed one fellow (Giovanni Collovini, nicknamed Toscannini!), one of my photos of a rudimentary german marked Macchi, he claimed he also flew with his colleagues such marked aircraft for a short while before Italian marked aircraft were again available.

[knusel]

Hello bookman,

according to that website
http://ww2.dk/oob/bestand/jagd/biijg77.html
II./JG77 was fully equipped with the Macchi M.C.205 from October until December 1943.
Three of Reinert's claims are in this time frame: 22,10.43 - 6,11.43 - 7,12.43

Michael