Jacques Ehrlich

Sous Lieutenant Jacques Louis Ehrlich (1893-1953) was a French World War I flying ace credited with 19 aerial victories; he was one of the leading balloon busters of the war.

Biography

Jacques Louis Ehrlich was born in Paris on 25 October 1893.

He enlisted in the French army on 29 May 1913. Three and a half years later, in December 1916, he transferred to aviation. In May 1917, he was brevetted a pilot. Two months later, he was badly wounded while on a trench-strafing mission. He returned to duty in November as a newly promoted sergeant. Beginning on 30 June 1918, he was one of a "wolf pack" of his squadron's pilots dedicated to the highly hazardous pursuit of destroying German observation balloons. Three days later, he was shot down and captured while scoring his last win. After scoring with three low-level gunnery runs, Ehrlich, Paul Petit, and another wingman ran into 11 Fokker D.VIIs; one of five notable Jewish aces in France. His score was matched by a Jewish-born German ace, Wilhelm Frankl, who had converted to Catholicism to marry his Austrian bride.

Ehrlich died in his native Paris on 10 August 1953.

Honors and awards Citation for Médaille militaire

"Remarkable pursuit pilot who has distinguished himself by his exceptional audacity and tenacity which have earned him twelve victories in one month. He flamed three balloons in a few minutes. One wound. Three citations." Médaille militaire citation, 10 September 1918

Sources of information