Strana 85
BUILT
W.Nr. 20499, Flown by Lt. Erich Hartmann, CO of 9./JG 52, Nove Zaporozhye, October 1943
Erich Hartmann downed his 121st victim on
October 2, 1943 while flying this aircraft. His
score is painted on the rudder.
The red heart and Karaya inscription is
a 9th Staffel JG 52 badge. The words ‘Dicker
Max’ canbetranslated as ‘The Big Show’.
The aircraftwasproduced by Wiener Neustadt
Werke as a trop version as can be seen from
the sun umbrella mounting below the canopy.
Erich Hartmann is the highest scoring fighter
ace not only of the Luftwaffe but in the history
of aviation. His firstvictim was downed on
November 5, 1942 and his 352nd and last was
a Yak-9 shot down on May 8, 1945 near Brno,
Czechoslovakia. All his kills were scored
ove rthe Eastern Front. He was captured by
US soldiers afte rthe German surrender but
was handedover to the Soviets shortly after.
A Russian court sentenced him to 25 years of
hard labor. Hartmann returned to Germany
after 10 years spent in Russian captivity.
After his return to Germany he joined the
Bundesluftwaffe and helped in there surrection
oft he air force and led JG 71.
Hartmann receivedtheDiamonds to his Knight´s
Cross, OakLeaves and Swords on August 25,
1944
INFO Eduard
85
June 2025