Therese Bühl, Ernie's mother. Her maiden name is given as Theres Frey on Ernie's baptismal certificate. Ernie's father was Wilhelm Bühl.

Fritz was Ernie's older brother. Evidently, it was Fritz' career that inspired Ernie to become an aviation mechanic. According to an interview* that Ernie gave later in his life, Fritz “was a mechanic involved in early airplane experiments in Germany.”

Fritz remained in Germany following World War I, and was compelled to serve in the Nazi army during World War II. This photo is dated 1936.

*article - Eddington’s Buehl Airfield Home to Oldtime Flying Dutchman.

Carl Buehl was also involved in aviation, at least for awhile, in Hamburg. From 1917 until 1919, he worked in the aircraft division of the North Sea Shipyard, as a manager in charge of estimates and accounts.