Rudolf Ehrenberger

Rudolf Ehrenberger (25 August 1915 – 8 March 1944) was a German Luftwaffe ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross during World War II. Ehrenberger was killed on 8 March 1944 near Wittenberge, Nazi Germany. He was posthumously awarded the Knight's Cross on 6 April 1944. During his career he was credited with 49 aerial victories.

Early life and career Ehrenberger was born on 25 August 1915 in Arbesthal in the district of Bruck an der Leitha in Lower Austria.

World War II The bulk of the Geschwaders air elements were moved via Jever, in northern Germany, to Mannheim-Sandhofen on 8 June 1941. There the aircraft were given a maintenance overhaul prior to moving east. The II. Gruppe was transferred to Neusiedel in East Prussia, present-day Malomožaiskojė in Kaliningrad Oblast in Russia, between 12–14 June.

On 5 October 1941, II. Gruppe of JG 53 was withdrawn from the Eastern Front and ordered to Insterburg, present-day Chernyakhovsk. The Gruppe was then sent to Leeuwarden Airfield in the Netherlands where they arrived on 12. October.

On 8 March 1944, Ehrenberger was killed in action near Wittenberge in aerial combat with Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bombers and escorting Republic P-47 Thunderbolt fighters. He had managed to bail out of his Messerschmitt Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 440111—factory number) but was then shot in his parachute. Posthumously, Ehrenberger was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 April 1944 for his 49 aerial victories claimed.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 47 aerial victory claims. This figure includes ten aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 37 over the Western Allies, including three four-engined bombers.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 13 Ost 1849". The Luftwaffe grid map covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –At the Channel and over England — 26 June 1940 – 21 June 1941 1 27 September 1940 13:20? Spitfire south of Dovernorth of London – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Operation Barbarossa — 22 June – 8 October 1941 # 4 July 1941 16:46 SB-3 # 8 July 1941 05:55 SB-3 Ostrov According to Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, Ehrenberger claimed four undocumented aerial victories in the July 1941. These four undocumented claims are not listed by Mathews and Foreman. 8 27 August 1941 13:45 I-153 12 16 September 1941 11:30 I-16 9 27 August 1941 13:46 I-153 13 17 September 1941 18:02 I-16? 10 29 August 1941 18:40? I-16 14 26 September 1941 16:11 I-18 (MiG-1) 11 10 September 1941 18:10 I-16 15 28 September 1941 16:13 Pe-2 – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Mediterranean Theater — 15 December 1941 – 31 December 1942 16 29 December 1941 10:07 Hurricane 25 22 April 1942 18:06 Spitfire 17 24 March 1942 15:03 Spitfire 26 6 May 1942 10:03 Spitfire 18 26 March 1942 12:50? Hurricane 27 17 May 1942 08:29 Spitfire north-northeast of La Valetta 19 31 March 1942 10:28 Hampden 28 18 May 1942 11:03 Spitfire 20 5 April 1942 14:40 Spitfire 29 10 June 1942 10:10 Spitfire east of Marsa Scirocco 21 10 April 1942 18:03 Hurricane Luqa 30 10 June 1942 13:30 Spitfire 22 10 April 1942 18:05 Hurricane 31 14 July 1942 10:26 Spitfire 23 10 April 1942 18:11 Hurricane Luqa 32 16 October 1942 11:23 Spitfire east of Filfla 24 21 April 1942 09:22? P-40 – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Mediterranean Theater — 1 January – 15 October 1943 33 20 March 1943 11:56 P-38 PQ 13 Ost 1849 41 8 July 1943 16:14 P-40 south of Sciacca 34 20 March 1943 12:04 P-38 PQ 13 Ost 1849 42 12 August 1943 13:13 P-38 southwest of Ventotene 35 7 April 1943 19:06 Spitfire Majaz al Bab 43 19 August 1943 12:25 B-17 northeast of Salerno 36 19 April 1943 15:59 P-40 northwest of Zembra 44 20 August 1943 12:44 P-38 south of Lago Patria 37 21 April 1943 09:32 Spitfire west of Majaz al Bab ? 22 August 1943 12:23 B-26 southwest of Capri ? 7 May 1943 19:06 Spitfire 45 22 August 1943 12:25? P-51 southwest of Capri 38 21 May 1943 06:42? Spitfire northeast of La Valetta 46 29 August 1943 13:50 P-38? southwest of Capri 39 21 May 1943 06:43? Spitfire north of Marsa Loxx north of Marsa Scala 47 2 September 1943 13:37 P-38 south of Ischia southwest of Ventone 40 9 June 1943 14:03 P-38 southwest of Pantelleria – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 53 –Defense of the Reich — 1 January – 8 March 1944 48 30 January 1944 12:31? B-24 south of Udine 49 24 February 1944 13:08 B-17 south of Wels

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd and 1st Class Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe on 19 October 1941 as Feldwebel and pilot German Cross in Gold on 9 September 1942 as Oberfeldwebel in the I./Jagdgeschwader 53 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 6 April 1944 as Oberfeldwebel and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 53