Ernst Heinrich Mauer (Ernie) passed away on March 4, 2019, after a fiveyear-long illness of progressive dementia. He was born in Hanover, Germany July 19, 1938.
Ernie immigrated to New Jersey in the USA at age 18, after graduating from trade school in Germany. He was a licensed book binder, worked in New York City, where he supervised about 30 women who hand-sewed bindings for books. Before he became a U.S. citizen, he was drafted into the U.S. Army and served two years Active Duty in Germany, working as a Crew Chief for a two-place, single-engine airplane flown by an Army lieutenant to oversee Army maneuvers. Ernie not only serviced the airplane (washing, changing oil, etc.) … when farmer’s fields got torn up, he was able to help the lieutenant negotiate with local farmers for payment for damages.
When he returned to the U.S., he continued serving in the Army Reserve for six years and received an Honorable Discharge. He became a U.S. citizen. His time in Active Army Duty stimulated an interest in aviation, and he signed up for flying lessons at a local airport in New Jersey and met up with Herb Aston and Ed Wolfe. The three young men bought several airplanes, learned to fly them, got private pilot’s licenses and additional aircraft ratings. Herb flew professionally for some years and was tragically killed in a flying accident. Ed remained with his job at the telephone company, flying just for fun. He stayed in touch with Ernie until about a year ago, when his daughter called to say he had passed, dying a natural death.
