Ernst Hechler

Ernst Hechler (21 November 1907 – 23 October 1965) was a German bomber pilot and U-boat commander in World War II. He was a recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross of Nazi Germany. Hechler is credited with the sinking of four ships for a total of , and with damaging one destroyer escort.

Hechler joined the ''Reichsmarine'' (navy of the Weimar Republic) in 1928. After a period of training on surface vessels he transferred to the ''Luftwaffe'' (air force) in 1935. During World War II he flew 65 combat missions as a bomber pilot, the majority of which were in mine-laying operations. Following his voluntary transfer back to the ''Kriegsmarine'' in 1943 he took command of in 1944 which he took on one war patrol. He claimed to have sunk five ships for a total of . These claims were acknowledged by the presentation of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross. Provided by Wikipedia