Heinrich Ehrler was one of the most ambitious pilots of the JG 5 on the Far North front. Finally, his eagerness for success became his fate. On November 12, 1944, an incoming British formation was reported to the Geschwaderkommodore of JG 5 in Norway, 27-year-old Major Heinrich Ehrler. Instead of leading his unit to a counter-attack from the ground, Ehrler, whose personal score stood at 199 aerial victories, immediately took off together with his wingman, eager to achieve his personal victory no 200. Met with only slight fighter opposition, the Lancasters from 9th and 617th RAF Squadrons managed to sink the German battleship "Tirpitz" north of Tromsö. Subsequently, Ehrler was court-martialed. He was sentenced to death punishment, which was later changed to three years of forced labour, the punishment however postponed until the end of the war.
Deprived his command and all honour, Ehrler was transferred to the newly created jet fighter-unit JG 7. On April 6, 1945, after shooting down two B-17s, Ehrler committed suicide by ramming a third B-17 with his Me 262, his last words over radio to his friend Theo Weissenberger being: "See you in Walhalla!". Ehrler´s final score is uncertain, figures differ between 204 and 220.