Anton Hafner

Anton Hafner (2 June 1918 − 17 October 1944) was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II and a fighter ace credited with 204 enemy aircraft shot down in 795 combat missions. The majority of his victories were claimed on the Eastern Front, but he also claimed 20 victories over the Western Front during the North African Campaign.

Born in Erbach an der Donau, Hafner grew up in the Weimar Republic and Nazi Germany. Following the compulsory Reich Labour Service , he was conscripted into military service with the Luftwaffe of the Wehrmacht. In February 1941 he was posted to Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing), flying his first combat missions against the Royal Air Force on the English Channel. Hafner claimed his first aerial victory on 24 June 1941 during Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Following his 60th aerial victory, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 23 August 1942. His unit was then transferred to Tunisia in North Africa where he claimed 20 aerial victories. Back on the Eastern Front in August 1943, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 11 April 1944 after achieving 134 aerial victories. On 15 May 1944, he was appointed squadron leader of 8. Staffel (8th squadron) of JG 51. Hafner claimed his 204th and last aerial victory on 17 October 1944. During this encounter, he flew into a tree, killing him.

Early life and career Hafner, the son of a Meister, a master craftsman, in the field of tinsmith, was born on 2 June 1918 in Erbach an der Donau in the Kingdom of Württemberg of the German Empire. Following the compulsory Reich Labour Service , he was conscripted into military service with the Luftwaffe of the Wehrmacht in July 1939. Following flight and fighter pilot training, he was transferred to 6. Staffel (6th squadron) of Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51—51st Fighter Wing) on 23 February 1941.

World War II Hafner had been posted to 6. Staffel, a squadron of II. Gruppe (2nd group) of JG 51, one and a half years after the start of World War II. The unit had just undergone a period of replenishment and rest at Mannheim-Sandhofen and was being redeployed to an airfield at Mardyck, west of Dunkirk on the Channel Front. Hafner flew his first combat missions in this theater of operations. On 29 March 1941, he made a forced landing in his Messerschmitt Bf 109 E-4 (Werknummer 3766—factory number) and sustained minor injuries. On 1 June, II. Gruppe was withdrawn from the Channel Front and moved to Dortmund for conversion to the Bf 109 F-2 and preparation for Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union. Deployment east began on 10 June where II. Gruppe was initially based at Siedlce (General Government), familiarizing themselves with the Bf 109 F-2, and patrolling the border along the Bug River. The German attack began on the early morning on 22 June with II. Gruppe flying fighter escort missions in support of the German advance. The Gruppe was moved to an airfield at Terespol in the afternoon on 23 June. The next day, Hafner claimed his first aerial victory, a Tupolev SB bomber. On 3 July he claimed 5th aerial victory and was awarded the Iron Cross 2nd Class on 6 July and the Iron Cross 1st Class on 18 July.

Hafner was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 22 May 1942. He became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time on 5 July 1942 when he shot down seven enemy aircraft, aerial victories 35–41. On 22 August, he claimed his 60th aerial victory and was nominated for the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross which was awarded to him on 23 August.

North Africa II. Gruppe had been withdrawn from the Eastern Front in early October 1942 and sent to Jesau near Königsberg in East Prussia, present day Yushny, Bagrationovsky District, for conversion to the Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Conversion training began on 7 October and on 4 November, the unit received the order to convert back to the Bf 109 and to transfer to the Mediterranean theatre. Via various stopovers, II. Gruppe moved to Sidi Ahmed airfield, arriving on 14 November. There, the unit was subordinated to Fliegerführer Tunis (Flying Leader Tunis). Two days later, on fighter escort mission for III. Gruppe (3rd group) of Zerstörergeschwader 2 (ZG 2—2nd Destroyer Fighter Wing), Hafner claimed his first victory in this theatre of operations. The unit then moved to an airfield at El Aouina. On 18 December 1942, Hafner claimed two aerial victories over Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft, taking his total to 78 aerial victories. One of his opponents was Norman L. Widen of the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) 94th Fighter Squadron. Widen bailed out and was taken prisoner of war and brought to Hafner's airfield. After Hafner landed, Widen presented Hafner his silver pilot insignia. Before Widen was taken to the prisoner-of-war camp, Hafner and Widen promised to meet again after the war. Hafner sent the gift to his brother, Alfons Hafner, with the request to return the gifts together with a medal and picture of Anton Hafner in case of Anton Hafner getting killed in action. In 1960 Alfons Hafner managed to contact Major Widen via the US Airforce to fulfil his brother's will. This story was published Life magazine on 14 April 1961.

On 2 January 1943, Hafner was shot down and bailed out of his Bf 109 G-2 trop (Werknummer 13 985) near Pont du Fahs. It is believed that his victor may have been Bobby Oxspring. Hafner bailed out wounded, ending his service in North Africa. His injuries included a complex fracture of his arm. Following his convalescence, he was promoted to Leutnant (second lieutenant) on 1 June 1943.

Eastern Front and death Hafner returned to JG 51 "Mölders" in August 1943, then operating on the Eastern Front. There, he was assigned to the Stabsstaffel (headquarters squadron). On 15 October 1943, the Soviet Central Front launched an offensive, attacking Army Group Centre on its southern flank at Loyew on the Dnieper. That day, Hafner was credited with his 100th aerial victory in that area of operations. He was the 56th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark. The Stabsstaffel had provided fighter escort to a flight of Heinkel He 111 bombers attacking ground targets in the vicinity of Gomel. On this mission, the Stabsstaffel ran into Soviet Douglas A-20 Havoc bombers, also known as Boston, which were protected by Lavochkin La-5 fighters. Hafner claimed two Bostons and a La-5 in this encounter. But his Fw 190 A-6 (Werknummer 530 373) also sustained battle damage, resulting in a forced landing on German held territory.

On 12 January 1944, Hafner made a forced landing in his Fw 190 A south of Parichi, northwest of Svetlahorsk on the Berezina river. A barrel burst during combat with Petlyakov Pe-2 bombers on 29 March resulted in an emergency landing at Liuboml. Following his 134th aerial victory, Hafner was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves on 11 April 1944, the 452nd soldier to receive this distinction. The presentation was made by Adolf Hitler at the Berghof, Hitler's residence in the Obersalzberg of the Bavarian Alps, on 5 May 1944. Also present at the ceremony were Otto Kittel, Günther Schack, Alfred Grislawski, Emil Lang, Erich Rudorffer, Martin Möbus, Wilhelm Herget, Hans-Karl Stepp, Rudolf Schoenert, Günther Radusch, Otto Pollmann and Fritz Breithaupt, who all received the Oak Leaves on this date.

Hafner succeeded Hauptman Fritz Stendel as Staffelkapitän (squadron leader) of 8. Staffel (8th squadron) of JG 51 "Mölders" on 15 May. This squadron was redesignated as 10. Staffel (10th squadron) in August. On 24 June, the Soviet Air Forces fielded 4,500 combat missions over the combat area of Army Group Centre while Luftflotte 6 (Air Fleet 6) flew 111 ground attack and 150 fighter missions, creating a 1:15 discrepancy. That day, III. Gruppe flew several missions in the combat area south and southeast of Babruysk. During these missions, Hafner claimed aerial victories 140 to 144, thus becoming most successful fighter pilot of JG 51 "Mölders", a distinction he would hold until the end of World War II in Europe. On 28 June, Hafner's Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 411 203) was hit by ground fire, resulting in a forced landing northwest of Asipovichy.

On 16 October 1944, Hafner destroyed four fighters thus taking him past the double century mark. Hafner's 204th and last victory was a Yakovlev Yak-7 fighter claimed on 17 October 1944. That day, JG 51 "Mölders" lost twelve aircraft in combat with the French Armée de l'Air Normandie-Niemen fighter regiment serving on the Eastern Front. In this encounter, Hafner's Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 442 013) "Black 1" hit a tree and crashed near Schweizersfelde, present-day Lomowo, located approximately east-northeast of Gusev, killing him. He was the highest-scoring pilot of JG 51 "Mölders". Hafner was replaced by Oberleutnant Helmut Besekau as commander of 10. Staffel.

Summary of career

Aerial victory claims According to US historian David T. Zabecki, Hafner was credited with 204 aerial victories. Obermaier also lists him with 204 aerial victories claimed in 795 combat missions, including 175 close air support missions. He claimed 184 victories over the Eastern Front. Of his 20 victories claimed over the Western Front, eight were P-38 two engine fighters and two were four-engined bombers. Spick presents the same number of aerial victories, however claimed in 794 combat missions and a mission-to-claim ratio of 3.90. Mathews and Foreman, authors of Luftwaffe Aces — Biographies and Victory Claims, researched the German Federal Archives and found records for 203 aerial victory claims, plus one further unconfirmed claim. This figure includes 184 aerial victories on the Eastern Front and 19 on the Western Front, including one four-engined bombers.

Victory claims were logged to a map-reference (PQ = Planquadrat), for example "PQ 47654". The Luftwaffe grid map covered all of Europe, western Russia and North Africa and was composed of rectangles measuring 15 minutes of latitude by 30 minutes of longitude, an area of about . These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories Claim Date Time Type Location Claim Date Time Type Location – 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 – 1 24 June 1941 SB-2 32 5 April 1942 12:30 MiG-3 2 25 June 1941 SB-2 33 6 April 1942 08:00 Pe-2 3 3 July 1941 15:12 Potez 63 southeast of Stara Bychow 34 27 April 1942 17:35 Il-2 4 3 July 1941 Potez 63 35♠ 5 July 1942 06:05 MiG-1 5 3 July 1941 Potez 63 36♠ 5 July 1942 06:15 Il-2 6 23 July 1941 DB-3 37♠ 5 July 1942 09:32 Il-2 7 31 August 1941 15:55 DB-3 southwest of Potschep 38♠ 5 July 1942 09:45 Il-2 8 12 September 1941 R-3 39♠ 5 July 1942 11:20 Yak-1 northeast of Bolkhov 9 12 September 1941 R-3 40♠ 5 July 1942 11:45 Yak-1 north of Bolkhov 10 20 September 1941 12:11 R-Z 41♠ 5 July 1942 15:46 Yak-1 11 27 September 1941 I-18 (MiG-1) 42 6 July 1942 19:12 Yak-1 12 4 October 1941 14:42 I-16 43 8 July 1942 04:30 Yak-1 13 15 November 1941 13:10 DB-3 44 8 July 1942 16:15 Yak-1 14 18 November 1941 15:15 I-16 45 10 July 1942 12:13 MiG-1 19 January 1942 I-16 46 10 July 1942 19:25 Yak-1 15 17 February 1942 09:55 R-Z 47 11 July 1942 05:05 MiG-1 16 23 February 1942 11:00 R-10 48 11 July 1942 05:08 MiG-1 17 23 February 1942 11:05 I-18 (MiG-1) 49 23 July 1942 10:20 Pe-2 northwest of Bolkhov 18 1 March 1942 16:10 I-16 50 23 July 1942 10:45 MiG-3 northwest of Zhizdra 19 4 March 1942 15:58 I-16 51 5 August 1942 06:12 Yak-1 PQ 47654 southwest of Staritsa 20 6 March 1942 10:35 I-18 (MiG-1) 52 5 August 1942 09:16 MiG-1 PQ 47664 south of Staritsa 21 6 March 1942 13:40 I-16 53 6 August 1942 11:03 MiG-1 PQ 47824 east of Zubtsov 22 7 March 1942 09:56 R-3 54 7 August 1942 14:50 MiG-1 PQ 56141 north of Gagarin 23 16 March 1942 14:25 I-18 (MiG-1) 55 12 August 1942 09:26? MiG-1 PQ 54272 southeast of Kozelsk 24 20 March 1942 13:40 I-16 56 21 August 1942 14:42 I-16 PQ 64854 southeast of Mtsensk 25 21 March 1942 08:20 Pe-2 57 22 August 1942 05:03 Yak-1 PQ 54253 south of Kozelsk 26 22 March 1942 17:30 I-61 58 22 August 1942 08:35 MiG-3 PQ 54461 northwest of Bolkhov 27 22 March 1942 17:33 I-61 59 22 August 1942 13:12 Yak-1 PQ 54274 southwest of Kozelsk 28 29 March 1942 14:55 R-Z 60 22 August 1942 17:58 Il-2 PQ 54282 south of Kozelsk 29 30 March 1942 07:42 MiG-1 61 23 August 1942 17:20 Il-2 PQ 54281 south of Kozelsk 30 30 March 1942 17:03 MiG-3 62 24 August 1942 18:42 I-180 (Yak-7) PQ 54244 southwest of Kozelsk 31 5 April 1942 10:55 MiG-3 – 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 – 63 16 November 1942 12:12 Spitfire east of Bône 73 5 December 1942 12:03 P-38 south of Tebourba 64 17 November 1942 13:38 Beaufort west of Bizerta 74 5 December 1942 12:18 Spitfire north of Tebourba 65 27 November 1942 09:17 Spitfire east of Béja 75 7 December 1942 12:08 Spitfire northwest of Tabourba 66 27 November 1942 16:48 Spitfire southwest of Mateur 76 17 December 1942 15:55 P-38 southeast of Medjez el Bab 67 28 November 1942 16:48 Stirling west of Bizerta 77 18 December 1942 11:30 P-38 northwest of Tunis 68 30 November 1942 14:47 P-38 southwest of Tunis 78 18 December 1942 11:34 P-38 Tunis-El Aouina Airport 69 1 December 1942 10:41 Spitfire southwest of Mateur 79 28 December 1942 15:31 P-38 PQ 03 Ost 97634 70 1 December 1942 10:46 Spitfire southwest of Mateur 80? 1 January 1943 11:42 Boston southeast of Tunis 71 2 December 1942 08:32 Spitfire south of Tebourba 81 2 January 1943 12:28 P-38 southeast of Pont du Fahs 72 3 December 1942 12:35 P-38 southwest of Tunis 82 2 January 1943 16:45 Spitfire southeast of Mateur southwest of Tunis – Stabsstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 – 83 29 August 1943 13:05 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 42134 south of Sevsk 110♠ 28 October 1943 14:55 Boston southeast of Rechytsa 84 29 August 1943 13:07 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 42165 south of Sevsk 111♠ 28 October 1943 14:59 LaGG-3 west of Loyew 85 1 September 1943 18:13 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 35347 northwest of Yelnya 112 5 November 1943 15:08 Yak-7 southeast of Nevel 86 1 September 1943 18:14 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 35349 northwest of Yelnya 113 10 November 1943 09:25 Yak-9 southwest of Nevel 87 2 September 1943 11:11 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 25498, west-southwest of Yelnya west of Yelnya 114 10 November 1943 09:29 Yak-9 southwest of Nevel 88 2 September 1943 11:13 Il-2 m.H. PQ 35 Ost 35377 west of Yelnya 115 11 November 1943 10:50 Il-2 m.H. east of Vitebsk 89 5 September 1943 11:23 Il-2 m.H. southwest of Yelnya west of Yelnya 116 17 November 1943 09:46 Pe-2 south of Nevel 90 5 September 1943 11:25 Il-2 m.H. south-southwest of Yelnya south-southwest of Yelnya 117 22 November 1943 09:05 Il-2 m.H. west of Vetka 91 11 September 1943 10:45 MiG-3 north of Bryansk 118 29 November 1943 14:23 Pe-2 east of Zhlobin 92 11 September 1943 10:46 MiG-3 north-north of Bryansk 119 10 January 1944 12:27 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 93614 south-southeast of Parichi 93 3 October 1943 13:25 Pe-2 east-southeast of Yelsk 120 10 January 1944 12:30 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 93536, east of Azarychy south of Parichi 94 3 October 1943 16:00 La-5 east-southeast of Yelsk 121 12 January 1944 13:20 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 93614 south of Parichi 95 3 October 1943 16:03 La-5 east-southeast of Yelsk 122 12 January 1944 13:22 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 93533 south of Parichi 96 4 October 1943 14:16 MiG-3 northeast of Chernobyl 123 16 January 1944 13:02 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 93475 south-southeast of Parichi 97 6 October 1943 13:35 Yak-1 east-southeast of Owrutsch 124 7 February 1944 08:07 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 06788 southeast of Kamary 98 15 October 1943 09:45 La-5 west-northwest of Radul 125 7 February 1944 12:58 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 06795 east-southeast of Kamary 99 15 October 1943 09:47 Boston northwest of Hubetsch 126♠ 22 February 1944 11:21 Pe-2 PQ 35 Ost 03151 east of Zhlobin 100 15 October 1943 09:51 Boston west of Hubetsch 127♠ 22 February 1944 13:02 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 94857 west of Rogatschew 101 19 October 1943 12:05 La-5 northeast of Radul 128♠ 22 February 1944 13:10 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 04742 north of Rogatschew 102♠ 20 October 1943 08:20 MiG-3 north of Radul 129♠ 22 February 1944 15:02 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 93239 northwest of Zhlobin 103♠ 20 October 1943 11:50 La-5 southeast of Loyew 130♠ 22 February 1944 15:03 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 94897 west-southwest of Rogatschew 104♠ 20 October 1943 11:57 LaGG-3 west of Loyew 131♠ 22 February 1944 15:04 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 94895 west-southwest of Rogatschew 105♠ 20 October 1943 15:08 Il-2 m.H. northwest of Loyew 132♠ 22 February 1944 15:06 Il-2 PQ 35 Ost 04119 west-northwest of Mogilew 106♠ 20 October 1943 15:12 La-5 west of Loyew 133 24 March 1944 09:00 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 42879 northwest of Kovel 107♠ 28 October 1943 12:50 Boston north of Loyew 134 27 March 1944 15:10 U-2 PQ 25 Ost 42448 south-southwest of Kovel 108♠ 28 October 1943 12:53 Yak-7 southeast of Rechytsa 135 28 March 1944 07:07 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 42698 northeast of Kovel 109♠ 28 October 1943 13:04 Yak-7 northwest of Loyew – 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 – 136 30 May 1944 08:01 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 42515vicinity of Korenewo 154♠ 16 July 1944 12:25 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 50373 northeast of Berezhany 137 23 June 1944 16:40? Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 05637 south of Talachyn 155♠ 16 July 1944 18:30 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 50354 northwest of Ternopol 138 23 June 1944 16:55 Yak-9 PQ 35 Ost 05625 south of Talachyn 156 17 July 1944 19:30 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 50313 southeast of Zolochiv 139 23 June 1944 17:12 La-5 PQ 35 Ost 05429 north of Talachyn 157 17 July 1944 19:32 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 50312 east-southeast of Zolochiv 140♠ 24 June 1944 08:25 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 93358 southwest of Parichi 158 28 July 1944 09:05 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 35689 northeast of Berzniki 141♠ 24 June 1944 08:30 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 93355 southwest of Parichi 159 1 August 1944 07:05 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 35351 northwest of Mariampol 142♠ 24 June 1944 11:21 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 93325 south-southwest of Babruysk 160 2 August 1944 10:40 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 24436 south of Augustow 143♠ 24 June 1944 15:57 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 94859, east of Babruysk west of Rogatschew 161 5 August 1944 10:20 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 24833 northwest of Bialystok 144♠ 24 June 1944 16:10 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 94863 west of Rogatschew 162♠ 8 August 1944 14:27 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 36545 east-southeast of Nemakščiai 145 25 June 1944 09:43 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 93333 south of Parichi 163♠ 8 August 1944 14:29 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 36548 east-southeast of Nemakščiai 146 25 June 1944 12:34 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 93141 west-northwest of Parichi 164♠ 8 August 1944 14:30 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 36567 west-northwest of Kedainial 147 25 June 1944 19:01 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 94763 east of Babruysk 165♠ 8 August 1944 16:32 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 36548 east-southeast of Nemakščiai 148 26 June 1944 13:20 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 83229 east-southeast of Babruysk 166♠ 8 August 1944 16:33 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 36571 southeast of Nemakščiai 149 26 June 1944 15:55 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 94872 southwest of Babruysk 167♠ 8 August 1944 16:35 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 36575 southeast of Nemakščiai 150 26 June 1944 16:01 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 94876 east-southeast of Babruysk 168♠ 8 August 1944 18:12 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 36576 southeast of Nemakščiai 151♠ 16 July 1944 08:42 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 50355 northwest of Ternopol 169 13 August 1944 15:10 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 24613 northeast of Lomza 152♠ 16 July 1944 08:48 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 50178 east of Zolochiv 170 13 August 1944 17:57 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 24442 southeast of Lyck 153♠ 16 July 1944 12:21 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 40463 north Berezany – 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 – 171 17 August 1944 07:00 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 36347 northeast of Nemakščiai 188 24 September 1944 08:30 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 37362 172 17 August 1944 13:12 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 26285 southeast of Telsche 189 28 September 1944 10:32 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 17331 northeast of Libau 173 17 August 1944 13:14 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 27879 east-northeast of Telsche 190 5 October 1944 11:22 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 27862 east-northeast of Telsche 174 21 August 1944 16:51 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 37541 south-southwest of Schaulen 191 5 October 1944 13:59 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 36145 southwest of Schaulen 175 21 August 1944 16:52 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 37582 south-southwest of Schaulen 192 5 October 1944 14:11 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 36132vicinity of Schaulen 176 23 August 1944 12:11 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 37579 south-southwest of Schaulen 193 6 October 1944 13:25 P-39 PQ 25 Ost 27876 northeast of Schaulen 177 23 August 1944 12:34 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 37863 east-northeast of Telsche 194 6 October 1944 15:45 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 26277 southeast of Telsche 178 24 August 1944 09:12 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 37754 south-southwest of Schaulen 195 13 October 1944 08:53 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 25125vicinity of Neusiedel 179 24 August 1944 13:05 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 27499 south-southwest of Tukkum 196 13 October 1944 13:29 Boston PQ 25 Ost 25356vicinity of Goldingen 180 24 August 1944 15:05 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 37374 west-southwest of Mitau 197 14 October 1944 11:11 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 27337 east of Goldingen 181 25 August 1944 16:32 La-5 PQ 25 Ost 37378 west-southwest of Mitau 198 14 October 1944 11:13 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 27455 south-southwest of Tukkum 182 16 September 1944 16:52 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 17367 northeast of Libau 199 16 October 1944 09:55 Boston PQ 25 Ost 35316 northwest of Mariampol 183 16 September 1944 16:57 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 17636 east-southeast of Libau 200 16 October 1944 09:57 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 35314 northwest of Mariampol 184 16 September 1944 17:01 Yak-9 PQ 25 Ost 17496 east-southeast of Libau 201 16 October 1944 12:00 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 25583vicinity of Gołdap 185 17 September 1944 15:35 Il-2 PQ 25 Ost 27497 south-southwest of Tukkum 202 16 October 1944 13:55 Il-2 m.H. PQ 25 Ost 25496 east of Trakehnen 186 19 September 1944 15:36 Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 27654 northeast of Telsche 203 17 October 1944 07:47? Pe-2 PQ 25 Ost 25455 southeast of Blumenfeld 187 22 September 1944 10:29 Boston PQ 25 Ost 27422 southwest of Tukkum 204 17 October 1944 09:55 Yak-7 PQ 25 Ost 25455 southeast of Blumenfeld

Awards Iron Cross (1939) 2nd Class (6 July 1941) 1st Class (18 July 1941) Honor Goblet of the Luftwaffe (27 April 1942) German Cross in Gold on 22 May 1942 as Unteroffizier in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 51 Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves Knight's Cross on 23 August 1942 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders" 452nd Oak Leaves on 11 April 1944 as Leutnant (war officer) and pilot in the 6./Jagdgeschwader 51 "Mölders"