Erich Alfred "Bubi" Hartmann (April 19, 1922 - September 19/20, 1993) was the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial combat. He shot down 352 enemy aircraft of which 345 were Soviet, while serving with the Luftwaffe, Germany's air force, in World War II.

Hartmann joined the Luftwaffe in 1941 and was deployed to fighter squadron JG52 in October 1942, on the Eastern Front in the Soviet Union. Assigned to fly Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighters, Hartmann shot down his first Soviet plane and soon established himself as one of the most talented pilots of the war.

Germany's fortunes began to fall apart in 1943, beginning with a terrible defeat in the Battle of Stalingrad, but Hartmann shot down planes at a record pace. In July 1943, he was made captain of his squadron, and shot down seven planes in a single day during the Battle of Kursk. After reaching 250 victories he was grounded by Luftwaffe chief of staff Hermann Göring, who was fearful of the possibility the hero might die in combat. However, Hartmann successfully lobbied to be reinstated as a combat pilot.

Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves, Swords, and Diamonds, awarded to Hartmann after his 300th victory.

On August 24th 1944 Hartmann scored his 300th aerial victory and thus was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oakleaves, Swords, and Diamonds.

At war's end Hartmann was captured and imprisoned by the Soviet Union. After spending 10 years in harsh conditions of a Soviet POW camp, he was released in 1955 and returned to West Germany, where he was reunited with his wife, to whom he had written every day of the war. Hartmann often said that he was more proud of the fact that he had never lost a wingman in combat than he was about his rate of kills.

When he returned to West Germany, he became an officer in West German Air Force where he commanded West Germany’s first all jet unit, the Jagdgeschwader 71, equipped with US made Lockheed F-104 Starfighters. He also made numerous trips to USA where he trained US Air Force pilots. He retired in 1970.

Reference

• The Blond Knight of Germany by Raymond F. Toliver and Trevor J. Constable, McGraw-Hill, 1986. ISBN 0830681892