Following service in Spain, Ihlefeld was posted to LG 2 the elite demonstration Geschwader. With this unit, he participated in the Invasion of Poland and the Battle of France. During the height of the Battle of Britain on 13 September 1940, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz after 21 confirmed victories in World War II.

Ihlefeld, who had been appointed Gruppenkomandeur of I. Gruppe of SG 2, fought in the aerial battles of the Balkan Campaign. Thereafter Ihle participate in the Invasion of USSR and At 03:20 during the morning hours on 22 June 1941, 70 Bf 109s of JG 77 and I.(J)/LG 2 crossed into Soviet airspace and attacked airfields and provided fighter protection for III. Gruppe of KG 27.

Ihlefeld would claimed his first two victories, both SB-2, on 23 June 1941. After downing two VVS bombers on 26 June 1941 took his total to 40 aerial victories This achievement earned him the Oak Leaves on 27 June 1941. He was the 16th member of the German armed forces to be so honored.

He then added another four victories up to 2 July, three I-16 and one SB-2. His next fell before his guns on 4 July 1941, a I-15.

It is interesting to note that this Bf 109 F-2 with 47 abshussbalken (kill-bars) on the rudder pinpoint this aircraft to 2-4 of July, when the I.(Jagd) Lehrgeschwader 2 was based at Tudora.

My comment is that this Bf 109 F-2 was not flown in combat by Ihlefeld considering that he shot down his 47 VVS fighter 2 July and his 48 on 4 July. This when I./LG 2 inventory at this time declared that the unit only flown Emils. During which Hauptmann Herbert "Ihle" Ihlefeld mustered his old trusty Bf 109 E-7 W.Nr. 6095.

However it is possible that when he recived this new F-2 version, an Erla machine, manufactured late March 1941 early April 1941 he like "Dolfo" Galland disliked the light armament so he instead continued to fly his Bf 109 E-7 in combat, who knows?

This profile was one of six fighters made during the week, this one would be published in my upcoming profile Book No 17.