Only battle wounds kept Gerhard Barkhorn, with 301 victories history’s second-ranked fighter pilot, from becoming the all-time ace of aces. By Don Hollway. Shortly after dawn on May 31, 1944, near Huşi, Romania, Gerhard Barkhorn downs the first of two Bell P-39s he scored that day. Accompanied by Lt. Erich Hartmann (with 228 victories at the ...

Sep 17, 2014 · Gerhard “Gerd” Barkhorn was born on March 20, 1919 in Königsberg, Prussia. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1937 and completed his training in 1939. Plunged into World War II, he flew his initial combat missions without shooting down any aircraft. Instead, in late 1940, his Messerschmitt Me-109E was badly damaged by a Royal Air Force Supermarine ...

World War II Aviator Ace. He joined the German Luftwaffe in 1937 and went on to be the second highest scoring ace of all time. Credited with 301 victories gained in 1104 missions, all his victories were recorded while flying a Messerschmitt Bf-109 fighter over the Eastern front. As a Major, he was second only to fellow...

Gerhard "Gerd" Barkhorn (20 March 1919 – 11 January 1983) was a German military aviator and wing commander in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was the second most successful fighter pilot of all time after fellow pilot Erich Hartmann. Other than Hartmann, Barkhorn is the only fighter ace to ever exceed 300 claimed ...

This however is not where his story ends. Barkhorn’s career in the post-war Bundeswehr is also examined, Colonel Barkhorn commanded JaBoG 31 “Boelcke,” and flew many types of Jets in the new Luftwaffe from the F-84g, the T-6 and T-33 as well as the Hunter and Kestrel harrier prototype as well as the sleek F-104G.

Aug 22, 2017 · German Knight on the Russian Front. by Don Hollway 8/22/2017. Only battle wounds kept Gerhard Barkhorn, history’s second-ranked fighter pilot, from becoming the all-time ace of aces. Bailing out of a stricken fighter over open water is no picnic in the best of circumstances. Over the English Channel in late October 1940, it was bloody dangerous.

Despite the fact that Gerhard Barkhorn scored a total of 301 victories while flying with Jagdgeschwader 52 on the Eastern Front, making him the second most successful fighter pilot of the Second World War after Erich Hartmann, today he is almost forgotten. This book describes Barkhorn’s wartime experiences with JG 2 on the Channel, JG 52, JG ...

Jul 18, 2019 · The German Aces Photograph is one photographic print featuring two images. The larger image shows top fighter ace Erich Hartmann examining a chart with fellow fighter ace Gerhard “Gerd” Barkhorn. The two are wearing official Nazi Luftwaffe uniforms. The smaller, insert photograph is a formal portrait of General Adolf Galland in dress uniform.

Defense of The Reich. On 16 January 1945 Barkhorn was assigned as Geschwaderkommodore to Jagdgeschwader 6 (JG 6), a unit assigned to defend the Reich and equipped with the Focke-Wulf Fw 190D,(although he preferred to retain his Bf 109G as well). JG 6 was a unit consisting mostly of new recruits and former Bf-110 pilots; it suffered heavy losses against the American air fleets.

Gerhard "Gerd" Barkhorn (20 March 1919 – 11 January 1983) was a German military aviator and wing commander in the Luftwaffe during World War II. As a fighter ace, he was the second most successful fighter pilot of all time after fellow pilot Erich Hartmann. Other than Hartmann, Barkhorn is the only fighter ace to ever exceed 300 claimed victories. Following World War II, …

Gerhard "Gerd" Barkhorn (20 March 1919 – 8 January 1983) was the second most successful fighter ace of all time after fellow Luftwaffe pilot Erich Hartmann. Barkhorn joined the Luftwaffe in 1937 and completed his training in 1939. Barkhorn flew his first combat missions in May 1940, during the Battle of France and then the Battle of Britain ...