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The Ace of all aces is born
Erich Hartmann was born April 19, 2010 in Weissach near Wurttemberg Germany to Alfred Erich and Elisabeth Wilhelmine Hartmann. He had a brother and lived in China for some time. -
The Big move
The Hartmann family moved to Changsha, China in the 1920's a little before the time of the economic depression where Mr. Hartmann purchased an island in the middle of the Xiang River and on it, had a beautiful home built. -
A Trageic Departure
The family was forced to return to Germany in 1928, when civil war broke out in China. The political climate in China was worsening, and it wasn't long before things started getting bad for foreigners. One morning while making his way to town, Dr. Hartmann found the heads of several of his English friends stuck on fence posts along the side of the road. As one might imagine, his wife and kids were quickly packed up, sent back to Germany, and relocated to Stuttgart where they lived until t -
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School Life Part 1
Hartmann was educated at Volksschule im Weil im Schönbuch -
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School Life Part 2
Hartmann attends the Gymnasium in Böblingen -
A Born Leader
In 1936, Elisabeth Hartmann helped set up a flying school at Weil im Schönbuch, where fourteen-year-old Erich became an instructor. -
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School Life Part 3
Hartmann attended the National Political Institutes of Education in Rottweil. -
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School Life Part 4
Hartmann attended the Gymnasium in Korntal from which he received his Abitur. -
Becoming Liscensed
In 1939, he gained his pilot's license, allowing him to fly powered aircraft. -
The Begin of a successful career
October 1, 1940 Hartmann joined the German Air Force at age 18. -
Wind under the Wings
On 1 March 1941, Hartmann progressed to the Luftkriegsschule 2 in Berlin-Gatow, where his first flight with an instructor took place four days later, followed in just under three weeks by his first solo flight. He completed his basic flying training in October 1941 and began advanced flight training at pre-fighter school 2 in Lachen-Speyerdorf on 1 November 1941. There, Hartmann learned combat techniques and gunnery skills. -
Texas We Have Problem
In October 1942, Hartmann was assigned to fighter wing Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG 52), based at Maykop on the Eastern Front in the Soviet Union. The wing was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109G, but Hartmann and several other pilots were initially given the task of ferrying Junkers Ju 87 Stukas down to Mariupol. His first flight ended with brake failure, causing the Stuka to crash into and destroy the controller's hut.Hartmann was assigned to III./JG 52. -
failure to launch
Hartmann flew his first combat mission on 14 October 1942 as Roßmann's wingman. When they encountered ten enemy aircraft below, Hartmann, obsessed by the idea of scoring his first kill, opened full throttle and became separated from Roßmann. He engaged an enemy fighter, but failed to score any hits and nearly collided with it instead. He then ran for cover in low cloud, and his mission subsequently ended with a crash landing after his aircraft ran out of fuel. -
Victory Begins
On 25 May 1943, he shot down a LaGG-5 before colliding with another Soviet fighter but was able to maintain control of his damaged aircraft. -
Massive attack
On 7 July 1943, in the massive dogfights that occurred during the Battle of Kursk, he shot down seven enemy aircraft. At the start of August 1943, his tally stood at 50, and, by the end of the month, he had added another 48 kills. In the following month, he was appointed Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 52. -
More Victories, More Problems
By late August 1943, Hartmann had ninety aerial victories, but, on 19 August, in combat with Il-2s, his aircraft was damaged by debris, and he was forced to land behind Soviet lines. -
Awarded for achievement
In October 1943, Hartmann claimed another 33 kills, and, on October 29, he was awarded the Ritterkreuz, at which point his tally stood at 148 kills. By the end of the year, this had risen to 159. In the first two months of 1944, Hartmann claimed another 50 kills. Hartmann continued scoring at an even greater pace. His spectacular rate of kills raised a few eyebrows even in the Luftwaffe High Command; his claims were double- and triple-checked, and his performance closely monitored. -
The Death of The ace of all aces
At the age of 71, Erich Hartmann died on 20 September 1993, in Weil im Schönbuch.
