WW2 - Major Erich Hartmann - Greatest Fighter Ace

Erich Hartmann was the most successful fighter pilot of the Second World War, with 352 victories to his credit.

Only 20 years old when he joined the 9th squadron of the 52nd Fighter Wing in the Ukraine, by July 1944, Hartmann had gained the Knights Cross with Oak-Leaves, Swords and Diamonds.

Hartman' s technique was to approach to within 150 yards of his target before opening fire. It was an extremely hazardous tactic, but by August 1944, Hartmann had won 301 victories.

In February 1945, Hartmann took command of the 52nd Fighter Wing. On May 8th 1945, the day of Germany's surrender, Hartmann shot down a Soviet fighter for his 352nd kill. He was the last Luftwaffe pilot of World War 2 to claim a victory.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Erich_Ha...

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[onpahanvaan]

Opening fire at close range seems to be a common nominator for the top aces. Makes sense since it makes you spend less ammo per kill and thus potentially more kills per sortie. It was also the hallmark of the top Finnish ace Ilmari Juutilainen (he is also top non-German with his 94 acv). He often opened fire at ranges such as 30-60 metres. Another Finnish ace Jorma Sarvanto used same tacktic to drop 6 DB-3 bombers in 5 minutes with a Fokker D.XXX!

[painxxxl]

top british aces were pilots from Canada,Poland and CzechoSlovakia..that's funny..and you are absolutely right

[01Laffey]

The Luftwaffe had an elite who were lucky/skilled enough to survive, the other 99% were just dogmeat.

The average Allied pilot by 1944 was better then the average German pilot

[Dieter Francq]

The Allies had the most "trained" pilots at the end of the war, true. But you cannot deny that the germans had the best pilots. They got tons of combat experiance because of the lack of rotation.

[Dieter Francq]

What you just saw was a "La-5", a "LaGG-3", and an "I-16". and they do not look like a 109 or a 190 :)

[academicusprecarius]

That video is funny. The narrator talks about Hartmann as the greatest fighter ace and the majority of camera shootings here show Bf-109 and FW-190 fighters when they were shot down ROFL

[01Laffey]

Because the Allies were rotating their top pilots out of combat to train the new guys while the Germans left their aces to stay at the front and rack up impressive kill tallies that strategically achieved nothing, while meanwhile the late war fuel shortage and attrition of being ground down day after day on two fronts meant that the average German pilot was getting worse and worse while the average Allied pilot was getting better and better.

[FairladyS130]

Anyone who believes German kill figures is having a lend of themselves. Consider also the support such 'aces' received in the air, the kill figures should have been shared.

[trickdodge]

The last pilot from Luftwaffe to claim a kill! That's is incredible!!!

[Ragnarblackmane12]

Congrats Hartmann, you are the true Ace of Aces. Why is it that Germany produced so many top aces in both world wars?

[Fishfingers232]

A few aces practised 'aerial gunnery' instead of short range ambushing like Hartmann, Hans Joachim-Marseille had 180ish kills I think? He was a master of deflection shooting in the air.

[norkakara]

Chers messieurs , je suis neutre mais suis irrité quand à vos insinuations . Pour vous le soldat allemand en général qu'il soit de l'infanterie de l'aviation ou des panzers étaient une bande d'idiots .Ces idiots ou imcompétents comme vous dites étaient des héros qu'ils soient nazis ou pas . Ce pilote était un homme exceptionnel au même titre que Hans rudel point barre .Les parachutistes à cassino également des héros etc... Respectez vos ennemis valeureux .