Ernst Wiehle

Vizefeldwebel Ernst Wiehle (born 24 November 1894, date of death unknown) was a World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1]

Ernst Wiehle
Born24 November 1894
Harzgerode, German Empire
DiedUnknown
AllegianceGermany
Service/branchLuftstreitkräfte
Years of service1913-1918
RankVizefeldwebel
UnitSchutzstaffel (Protection Squadron) 3, Jagdstaffel (Fighter Squadron) 43
AwardsIron Cross First and Second Class

Biography

Ernst Wiehle was born in Harzgerode, the German Empire, on 24 November 1894. He entered the German military on 15 October 1913, joining a Saxon Pioneer Battalion. When World War I began, he went into the early battles with this unit. On 16 March 1915, he was awarded the Iron Cross Second Class for his valor. On 12 July 1915, he was wounded in action.[2]

Wiehle switched to aviation duty on 2 December 1915. On 10 December, he was promoted to Unteroffizier. He underwent aviation training at Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 5 in Hannover and Fliegerersatz-Abteilung (Replacement Detachment) 9 in Darmstadt. He seems to have then gone directly to Jastaschule (Fighter School) I in Valenciennes, France.[2]

Despite being trained in single-seat fighters, his first operational assignment was as a two-seater pilot with Schutzstaffel (Protection Squadron) 3 on 7 February 1917. With Gefreiter May manning the observer's guns in the rear seat, he and May shot down a SPAD over Corbeny on 16 April 1917. Two days later, he was promoted to Vizefeldwebel. On 9 September 1917, he was granted the Iron Cross First Class.[2]

He was transferred to a single-seat fighter squadron, Jagdstaffel 43, on 26 June 1918. Between 22 July 1918 and 29 October 1918, he shot down a Sopwith Camel and four Royal Aircraft Factory SE.5s.[2]

Sources of information
  1. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/germany/wiehle.php
  2. Shores et al 1990, p. 230.
gollark: Again, the open relay thing did *not* work out, but it was only indirectly me.
gollark: There was kind of one before.
gollark: I mean, the open relay period was a complete mistake, but I would hardly call my personal use spammier than usual.
gollark: What?
gollark: It's been broken roughly since the chervil spam.

References
  • Franks, Norman; Bailey, Frank W.; Guest, Russell. Above the Lines: The Aces and Fighter Units of the German Air Service, Naval Air Service and Flanders Marine Corps, 1914–1918. Grub Street, 1993. ISBN 0-948817-73-9, ISBN 978-0-948817-73-1.


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