Ernst-Erich Hirschfeld was born on 25 August 1918 at Breslau. At the outbreak of World War 2, Hirschfeld was serving in a flak regiment but then transferred to the Luftwaffe. Following the completion of his flying training, he became a flying instructor, serving in this role until early 1943. He was promoted to the rank of Leutnant on 1 February. On 27 March 1943, Hirschfeld was transferred to JG 54 based on the Eastern front. Leutnant Hirschfeld was assigned to 5./JG 54. He recorded his first, and only, victory over the eastern front on 26 May, when he shot down a Russian LaGG fighter. Hirschfeld transferred to 5./JG 300 on 3 August 1943 to undertake “Wilde Sau” single-engine fighter night interception missions. On the night of 23/24 August, he claimed his first night victory when he shot down a RAF four-engine bomber. Hirschfeld claimed two further RAF four-engine bombers shot down on the night of 18/19 November to record his seventh and eighth victories. He recorded his 10th victory on 20 February 1944, when he shot down a RAF Lancaster four-engine bomber near Leipzig. From February, 5./JG 300 were operating against the daylight bombing raids of the USAAF. Hirschfeld recorded his first American victim on 21 February, when he shot down a B-24 four-engine bomber near Aachen. On 8 March, he shot down a USAAF P-38 twin-engine fighter near Twente but was then shot down by USAAF P-47 fighters near Weerselo. Hirschfeld baled-out of his stricken Fw 190 A-5 (W.Nr. 1231) “Red 2N” with slight burns to his legs. On 13 June, he claimed two B-24s shot down over Weilheim (13-14). He went one better on 21 June, claiming three USAAF four-engine bombers shot down although confirmation was only forthcoming for two (15-16). In late March 1944, Hirschfeld was appointed Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 300. In July, Hirschfeld continued his success against the daytime USAAF formations recording a further six victories, including a USAAF P-51 fighter and a B-17 four-engine bomber shot down over Austria on 26 July (23-24). On 28 July 1944, Hirschfeld was shot down in Fw 190 A-8 (W.Nr. 171 459) “Yellow 1” near Erfurt. He baled out but his parachute failed to open and he plunged to his death. Hirschfeld was posthumously awarded the Ritterkreuz on 24 October.
    Ernst-Erich Hirschfeld was credited with 24 victories in approximately 100 missions. The majority of his victories were recorded over the Western front and included 12 four-engine bombers by day and nine victories by night.
 

No	Date	Time	A/c Type	Unit	Location / Comments
1	26.5.1943	19:34	LaGG-5	5./JG 54	70 231
2	24.8.1943	-	Viermot	5./JG 300	-
3	22.9.1943	22:55	Stirling	5./JG 300	NE Hannover
4	22.9.1943	23:15	Lancaster	5./JG 300	S Vechta
5	27.9.1943	23:15	Stirling	5./JG 300	W Hannover
6	3.10.1943	22:27	Stirling	5./JG 300	S Kassel
7	18.11.1943	-	Viermot	5./JG 300	-
8	18.11.1943	-	Viermot	5./JG 300	-
9	29.1.1944	-	Viermot	5./JG 300	-
10	20.2.1944	4:20	Lancaster	5./JG 300	Leipzig
11	21.2.1944	14:45	B-24	5./JG 300	Aachen area
12	8.3.1944	15:42	P-38	5./JG 300	N Twente airfield
13	13.6.1944	-	B-24	5./JG 300	Weilheim
14	13.6.1944	-	B-24	5./JG 300	Weilheim
15	21.6.1944	10:18	B-24	5./JG 300	Berlin-Lichtenberg
16	21.6.1944	10:20	B-17	5./JG 300	Berlin-Lichtenberg
-	21.6.1944	10:24	B-24 e.V.	5./JG 300	S Berlin
17	26.6.1944	9:40	B-24	6./JG 300	SW Tulln
18	26.6.1944	-	B-24	6./JG 300	E Stockerau
19	7.7.1944	9:38	B-24	6./JG 300	Magdeburg area
20	16.7.1944	9:48	B-17	6./JG 300	NW München
21	19.7.1944	9:35	P-51	6./JG 300	Immenstadt
22	25.7.1944	10:58	B-24	6./JG 300	Ostmarkischer area
23	26.7.1944	11:10	P-51	6./JG 300	Austria
24	26.7.1944	11:20	B-17	6./JG 300	Austria

Victories : 24
Awards : Ehrenpokal (15 April 1944)
                Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (10 September 1944)
                Ritterkreuz (24 October 1944)
Units : JG 54, JG 300