Born in Karlsruhe, Ebeling grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany.

Following flight training, he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) in December 1939.

Flying with this wing, Ebeling claimed his first aerial victory on 17 May 1940 over a French Air Force fighter aircraft.

Ebeling was born 2 January 1918 in Karlsruhe, at the time in the Grand Duchy of Baden as part of the German Empire.

Staffel (8th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 26 "Schlageter" (JG 26—26th Fighter Wing) in December 1939.

[3] Based at Essen-Mülheim Aifield, the unit was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-1 and E-3 and patrolled western German border during the "Phoney War".

[4] World War II in Europe had begun on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland.

During the Battle of France on 17 May 1940, Ebeling claimed his first aerial victory when he shot down a Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighter near Grammont, Geraardsbergen in Dutch pronunciation.

His opponent may have been a misidentified Hawker Hurricane from the Royal Air Force (RAF) No.

Gruppe engaged in combat with Hurricane fighters from the Biggin Hill Wing near Ostend.

JG 26 flew three combat air patrols to the northern banks of the Thames Estuary.

In this encounter, his Bf 109 E-4 (Werknummer 3712—factory number) sustained combat damage, resulting in a forced landing in the English Channel.

That day, the Luftwaffe had targeted RAF airfields and aircraft factories in southern England.

[15] According to the authors Prien, Stemmer, Rodeike and Bock, this claim was filed on 7 September.

[16] On 7 September, the Luftwaffe launched a bombing campaign against the United Kingdom, predominantly against London, which was dubbed The Blitz.