Ernst Hechler

Born 21 November 1907 at Lauterbach, Oberhessen and was in Naval Class 1929 (photo).
1a Staff, 9. Fliegerdivision August to October 1939;
Senior Officer, Training, Aircraft Weapons School (Sea) parow November 1939 to August 1940;
Flight Leader Küstenfliegergruppe 126 September to December 1940;
Course – Blind Flying School 1, Neuberg, Danube January to February 1941;
Detailed to 1./KG 28 Nantes, February 1941;
General Staff course Academy of Air Warfare, Berlin Gatow March to June 1941;
1a Staff, Luftwaffe General with OKM Berlin June to September 1941;
1a Staff Higher Command for Bomber Training, Zoppot October 1941 to May 1942;
Promoted to Korvettenkapitän 1 June 1942;
1a Staff, Aerial Minelaying Directorate, Reichs Air Ministry May 1942 to June 1943;
Reverted to Kriegsmarine 1 July 1943;
U-Boat Training July 1943 to January 1944;
U-Commander’s Torpedo Course 60;
Baubelehrung 6.KLA January and February 1944;
Skipper U-870 from 3 February 1944 to 30 March 1945;
Awarded Knights Cross 21 January 1945;
A1 Opns. Staff BdU/2.SKL/Bdu Opns. April 1945 to end;
Discharged from military hospital 15 August 1945

Alexander Hellwig

Born 5 March 1916 at Kirchberg in Saxony, in Naval Class 1935.
Seconded to Luftwaffe October 1937 to April 1942, posted with Bordfliegerstaffel 5./196 aboard the light cruiser NÜRNBERG under CinC Air West, Cherbourg;
U-Boat training April to September 1942;
I.W.O. on U-405 September 1942 to April 1943;
Promoted to Kapitänleutnant 1 September 1942;
U-Cdr’s Course at the 24th U-Flotilla April & May 1943;
U-Cdr’s Torpedo Course 46;
Baubelehrung 2.KLA June and July 1943;
Commander U-289 10 July 1943 to 31 May 1944;

Hellwig and his entire crew were lost 31 May 1944 when the boat was sunk by HMS MILNE south west of Bear Island.

Fritz Henning

Born 10 April 1917 at Schmira, Erfurt, Class 1937a.
Seconded to Luftwaffe October 1939 to February 1942;
U-Boat training March to October 1942;
I.W.O. on U-561 October 1942 to April 1943;
U-Cdr’s Course, 2.UAA and 24th U-Flotilla April and June 1943;
U-Cdr’s Torpedo Course 46;
Commander U-561 from 19 June to 12 July 1943;
29th U-bootflottille July to October 1943;
Commander of U-565 from 8 Oct. 1943 to 24 Sept. 1944;
Activities unknown from September 1944 to April 1945;
Commander of U-668 from 17 April 1945 to the end. He replaced von Eickstedt who had suffered a broken leg while skiing, and he was ordered to take U-668 to Narvik.

There will be more in KTB #176 next month about U-Boat Skippers who were once fliers, thanks to CHUCK MYLES.

WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 170]
WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 172]
WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 173]
WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 174]
WWII Vom Seeflieger Zum U-bootfahrer From Naval Aviator to Submariner [KTB 175]