Oblt. Wolfgang Ernst

[Eagle0025]

Hello All,

I'm seeking biographical information and references for Ernst. He served with 9./JG77 where he was shot down on 6 July 44 by my good friend Bob Milliken near Montmerrei, France. Ernst was injured during his bailout (broken arm), but recuperated to go onto flying with other units such as III./JG53. It is my understanding he survived the war and passed away in the 1970s. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Regards, Gary Koch (474th FG Association Chief Historian)

[Adriano Baumgartner]

Hello Gary,

I do have the 3 volumes of JG 53 work by PRIEN, but back home...some 400 km away. I can have a look at it when I will be back in a month. I do suggest for you to contact directly Mr. PRIEN, who is a member of this Forum. He may have something for you.
Good luck and have a nice week.
Adriano

[Doug Stankey]

Here is what we have in our files concerning this fellow:

ERNST, Wolfgang.
(DOB: 01.05.22).
12.12.42 Lt., appt Staka 9./JG 77 (to 06.44).
12.04.43 Lt., awarded Ehrenpokal.
01.07.43 promo to Oblt.
17.10.43 Oblt., awarded DKG, III./JG 77.
01.06.44 Oblt., Staka 9./JG 77, appt Staka 4./JG 1 (to 06.07.44 WIA).
01.08.44 promo to Hptm. Hptm., Staka 7./JG 52.
01.45 Hptm., appt acting Kdr. I./JG 53 (to 02.45).
02.45 trf to Stab III./JG 53.
04.45 Hptm., appt acting Kdr. III./JG 53 (to 02.05.45).

I am sure that others can list his claims and other details.

HLdZ
DGS

[Peglar]

Gary, i send you two Fotos of Ernst.

Greetings from Germany

[thenelm]

Claims as documented so far:

Lname, Fname, Rank, Date, Staffel, Gruppe, JG, Claimed, Location, Time, ClaimNo, Unit_Cl, Einsatzflug, RLM, Prim_Source, Conf_No, Sec_Source, Notes
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 01-Jul-41, 8., III., JG 77, I-153, -, 17.50, 1., 112, , yes, Prien/Bock, , ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 01-Jul-41, 8., III., JG 77, I-153, -, 17.55, 2., 114, , yes, Prien/Bock, , ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 04-Jul-41, 8., III., JG 77, Pe-2, -, 16.10, 3., 133, , yes, Prien/Bock, , ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 07-Jul-41, 8., III., JG 77, ZKB-19, PlQu. 971: [nördlich Tighina], 11.45, 4., 151, , yes, Prien/Bock, , ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 25-Jul-41, 8., III., JG 77, I-153, -, 19.43, 5., 197, , yes, Prien/Bock, , ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 26-Sep-41, 8., III., JG 77, V-11, -, 11.27, 6., 382, , yes, Prien/Bock, , ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 28-Sep-41, 8., III., JG 77, MiG-3, -, 12.55, 7., 399, , yes, Prien/Bock, , ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 29-Sep-41, 8., III., JG 77, RZ, PlQu. 36 24, 13.00, 8., 404, , yes, Prien/Bock, , ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 11-Oct-41, 8., III., JG 77, MiG-3, -, 14.10, 9., 455, , yes, Prien/Bock, , ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 24-Nov-41, 8., III., JG 77, MiG-3, -, -, 10., 532, , yes, Prien/Bock, , ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 10-Sep-42, 8., III., JG 77, LaGG-3, PlQu. 10 191: 3500m, 16.35, 11., 769, , yes, C.2032/II, Anerk: Nr. 199, Prien/Bock,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 10-Sep-42, 8., III., JG 77, LaGG-3, PlQu. 10 282: 2500m, 16.40, 12., 770, , yes, C.2032/II, Anerk: Nr. 200, Prien/Bock,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 12-Sep-42, 8., III., JG 77, LaGG-3, PlQu. 20 144: 2000m, 08.45, 13., 775, , yes, C.2032/II, Anerk: Nr. 203, Prien/Bock,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 12-Sep-42, 8., III., JG 77, Il-2, PlQu. 10 512: 10-20m, 18.42, 14., 780, , yes, C.2032/II, Anerk: Nr. 205, Prien/Bock,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 10-Jan-43, 9., III., JG 77, Spitfire, -, -, 16., -, , yes, Prien: JG 77 Lists f. 2424, , ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 14-Jan-43, 9., III., JG 77, P-40E, PlQu. 42 282: 3000m, 11.25, ., -, , yes, C.2031/II, Anerk: ASM, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 14-Jan-43, 9., III., JG 77, P-40E, PlQu. 52 312: 3500m, 11.10, ., -, , yes, C.2031/II, Anerk: Nr. 278, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 31-Jan-43, 4., II., JG 77, P-38, PlQu. 94 111: 150m, 12.55, 17., -, , yes, C.2031/II, Anerk: Nr. 279, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 31-Jan-43, 4., II., JG 77, P-40 *, -, 12.55, 18., -, , yes, Prien: JG 77 Lists f. 2425, , , *Date uncertain
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 02-Feb-43, 9., III., JG 77, Kittyhawk, PlQu. 95 381: 800m [Raum Sened], 08.30, 19., -, , yes, C.2027/I, Anerk: Nr. 283, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 08-Feb-43, 9., III., JG 77, P-38, 20km westlich Djebel Mannsour: 1500m, 12.47, 20., -, , yes, C.2027/I, Anerk: Nr. 258, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 15-Feb-43, 9., III., JG 77, Spitfire, PlQu. 86 862: 100m, 07.50, 21., -, , yes, C.2027/I, Anerk: Nr. 286, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 26-Feb-43, 9., III., JG 77, Kittyhawk, PlQu. 04 194: 200m, 08.40, 22., -, , yes, C.2027/I, VNE:ASM, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 18-Jun-43, 9., III., JG 77, Mitchell, PlQu. 92 85: 800m, 10.08, 23., -, , yes, C.2027/I, Anerk: Nr. -, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 24-Jun-43, 9., III., JG 77, P-38F, PlQu. 81 72/04 Ost: 200m, 10.03, 24., -, , yes, C.2027/I, Anerk: Nr. -, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Oblt., 30-Jul-43, 9., III., JG 77, P-40E, 50km südwestlich Oristano: 100m [Sardinien], 10.10, 25., -, , yes, C.2027/I, Anerk: Nr.i.O., ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Oblt., 28-Aug-43, Stab III., III., JG 77, Kittyhawk, 29km östlich Iolesias: 2000m, 10.06, ., -, , yes, C.2031/II, Anerk: Nr. -, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Oblt., 11-Sep-43, 9., III., JG 77, Cant 1007, PlQu. 92 39: 100m, 10.32, ., -, , yes, C.2031/II, Anerk: Nr. -, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 11-Sep-43, 9., III., JG 77, Breda 88, PlQu. 92 39: 100m, 10.33, ., -, , yes, C.2031/II, Anerk: Nr. -, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Ltn., 11-Sep-43, 9., III., JG 77, Breda 88, PlQu. 92 75: 30m, 10.40, ., -, , yes, C.2031/II, Anerk: Nr. -, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Oblt., 04-Apr-44, 9., III., JG 77, B-24, PlQu. 65 55: 7600m, 13.55, 26., -, , yes, C.2032/I, Anerk: Nr. 247, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Oblt., 05-Apr-44, 9., III., JG 77, B-24, PlQu. UN 3/24 Ost N: 6400m [südwestlich Budesti], 14.05, 27., -, , yes, C.2032/I, Anerk: Nr. 250, ,
Ernst, Wolfgang, Oblt., 06-Jul-44, 9., , JG 77, P-38, Raum Argentan, 16.15, 29., -, , yes, Prien: JG 1/11 List f.1212, , ,

[Tom Semenza]

This is a question for Doug Stankey. Above you seem to indicate that Ernst was appointed Staffelkapitän of 7./JG 52 on 1 Aug. 1944. From where does that info come? I have not seen that before and there is some question (sources conflict) whether 7./JG 52 even existed at that time. The original 7./JG 52 had been transferred to IV./JG 3 at the end of May 44. The earliest date I have seen for the reformation of 7./JG 52 was 15 August, while other souces put it in October or even later.

Regards,
Tom

[Doug Stankey]

Firstly, I must confess that I have little interest concerning fighter units and pilots. I'm a "bombs and guns" kind of guy. Whether or not 7./JG 52 existed at the time in question, I can't say with any certainty. The Prien volumes have not yet gotten into the 1944 period. I am not sure how reliable Schreier is in this area. However, I am rather more confident concerning our data for officer career histories as that are typically 80% from microfilms of original documents such as position assignment orders. Thus if there are inconsistencies, the chances are that either our data is correct or there is some additional unknown factor complicating matters.

Beyond that, I really can't say anything more.


Doug

[Tom Semenza]

Doug,

Thanks for your response.

Cheers,
Tom