Anton Hafner Explained

Anton Hafner
Birth Date:2 June 1918
Birth Place:Erbach an der Donau, Kingdom of Württemberg, German Empire
Death Place:near Gumbinnen, Free State of Prussia, Nazi Germany
Child:yes
Death Cause:Killed in action
Placeofburial Label:Place of burial
Nickname:Toni
Serviceyears:1940–1944
Rank:Oberleutnant (first lieutenant)
Unit:JG 51
Awards:Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves

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. 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.[1]

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, 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 (German: Eisernes Kreuz zweiter Klasse) on 6 July and the Iron Cross 1st Class (German: Eisernes Kreuz erster Klasse) on 18 July.

Hafner was awarded the German Cross in Gold (German: Deutsches Kreuz in Gold) on 22 May 1942. He became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time on 6 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 (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes) 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.[2]

On 2 January 1943, Hafner was shot down in his Bf 109 G-2 (Werknummer 13 985). 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, 29abbr=offNaNabbr=off 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 (German: Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) on 11 April 1944, the 451st 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 JG 51 "Mölders" most successful fighter pilot, 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 10abbr=offNaNabbr=off 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 10abbr=offNaNabbr=off 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 Hafner 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. 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 (German: Jägermeldenetz) 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 360sqmi. These sectors were then subdivided into 36 smaller units to give a location area 3x in size.

Chronicle of aerial victories
ClaimDateTimeTypeLocationClaimDateTimeTypeLocation
– 6. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
124 June 1941SB-2325 April 194212:30MiG-3
225 June 1941SB-2336 April 194208:00Pe-2
33 July 194115:12Potez 6315km (09miles) southeast of Stara Bychow3427 April 194217:35Il-2
43 July 1941Potez 6335♠5 July 194206:05MiG-1
53 July 1941Potez 6336♠5 July 194206:15Il-2
623 July 1941DB-337♠5 July 194209:32Il-2
731 August 194115:55DB-330km (20miles) southwest of Potschep38♠5 July 194209:45Il-2
812 September 1941R-339♠5 July 194211:20Yak-120km (10miles) northeast of Bolkhov
912 September 1941R-340♠5 July 194211:45Yak-113km (08miles) north of Bolkhov
1020 September 194112:11R-Z41♠5 July 194215:46Yak-1
1127 September 1941I-18 (MiG-1)426 July 194219:12Yak-1
124 October 194114:42I-16438 July 194204:30Yak-1
1315 November 194113:10DB-3448 July 194216:15Yak-1
1418 November 194115:15I-164510 July 194212:13MiG-1
19 January 1942I-164610 July 194219:25Yak-1
1517 February 194209:55R-Z4711 July 194205:05MiG-1
1623 February 194211:00R-104811 July 194205:08MiG-1
1723 February 194211:05I-18 (MiG-1)4923 July 194210:20Pe-215km (09miles) northwest of Bolkhov
181 March 194216:10I-165023 July 194210:45MiG-315km (09miles) northwest of Zhizdra
194 March 194215:58I-16515 August 194206:12Yak-1PQ 47654
20km (10miles) southwest of Staritsa
206 March 194210:35I-18 (MiG-1)525 August 194209:16MiG-1PQ 47664
15km (09miles) south of Staritsa
216 March 194213:40I-16536 August 194211:03MiG-1PQ 47824
10km (10miles) east of Zubtsov
227 March 194209:56R-3547 August 194214:50MiG-1PQ 56141
40km (30miles) north of Gagarin
2316 March 194214:25I-18 (MiG-1)5512 August 194209:26MiG-1PQ 54272
25km (16miles) southeast of Kozelsk
2420 March 194213:40I-165621 August 194214:42I-16PQ 64854
20km (10miles) southeast of Mtsensk
2521 March 194208:20Pe-25722 August 194205:03Yak-1PQ 54253
15km (09miles) south of Kozelsk
2622 March 194217:30I-615822 August 194208:35MiG-3PQ 54461
15km (09miles) northwest of Bolkhov
2722 March 194217:33I-615922 August 194213:12Yak-1PQ 54274
25km (16miles) southwest of Kozelsk
2829 March 194214:55R-Z6022 August 194217:58Il-2PQ 54282
25km (16miles) south of Kozelsk
2930 March 194207:42MiG-16123 August 194217:20Il-2PQ 54281
25km (16miles) south of Kozelsk
3030 March 194217:03MiG-36224 August 194218:42I-180 (Yak-7)PQ 54244
20km (10miles) southwest of Kozelsk
315 April 194210:55MiG-3
– 4. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
6316 November 194212:12Spitfire20km (10miles) east of Bône735 December 194212:03P-3810km (10miles) south of Tebourba
6417 November 194213:38Beaufort15km (09miles) west of Bizerta745 December 194212:18Spitfire5km (03miles) north of Tebourba
6527 November 194209:17Spitfire8km (05miles) east of Béja757 December 194212:08Spitfire3km (02miles) northwest of Tabourba
6627 November 194216:48Spitfire20km (10miles) southwest of Mateur7617 December 194215:55P-382km (01miles) southeast of Medjez el Bab
6728 November 194216:48Stirling35km (22miles) west of Bizerta7718 December 194211:30P-388km (05miles) northwest of Tunis
6830 November 194214:47P-3815km (09miles) southwest of Tunis7818 December 194211:34P-38Tunis-El Aouina Airport
691 December 194210:41Spitfire13km (08miles) southwest of Mateur7928 December 194215:31P-38PQ 03 Ost 97634
701 December 194210:46Spitfire20km (10miles) southwest of Mateur801 January 194311:42Boston5km (03miles) southeast of Tunis
712 December 194208:32Spitfire5km (03miles) south of Tebourba812 January 194312:28P-3810km (10miles) southeast of Pont du Fahs
723 December 194212:35P-3815km (09miles) southwest of Tunis822 January 194316:45Spitfire5km (03miles) southeast of Mateur
5km (03miles) southwest of Tunis
Stabsstaffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
8329 August 194313:05Il-2 m.H.PQ 35 Ost 42134
25km (16miles) south of Sevsk
110♠28 October 194314:55Bostonsoutheast of Rechytsa
8429 August 194313:07Il-2 m.H.PQ 35 Ost 42165
30km (20miles) south of Sevsk
111♠28 October 194314:59LaGG-3west of Loyew
851 September 194318:13Il-2 m.H.PQ 35 Ost 35347
15km (09miles) northwest of Yelnya
1125 November 194315:08Yak-7southeast of Nevel
861 September 194318:14Il-2 m.H.PQ 35 Ost 35349
15km (09miles) northwest of Yelnya
11310 November 194309:25Yak-9southwest of Nevel
872 September 194311:11Il-2 m.H.PQ 35 Ost 25498, west-southwest of Yelnya
20km (10miles) west of Yelnya
11410 November 194309:29Yak-9southwest of Nevel
882 September 194311:13Il-2 m.H.PQ 35 Ost 35377
10km (10miles) west of Yelnya
11511 November 194310:50Il-2 m.H.east of Vitebsk
895 September 194311:23Il-2 m.H.southwest of Yelnya
10km (10miles) west of Yelnya
11617 November 194309:46Pe-2south of Nevel
905 September 194311:25Il-2 m.H.south-southwest of Yelnya
15km (09miles) south-southwest of Yelnya
11722 November 194309:05Il-2 m.H.west of Vetka
9111 September 194310:45MiG-3north of Bryansk11829 November 194314:23Pe-225km (16miles) east of Zhlobin
9211 September 194310:46MiG-3north-north of Bryansk11910 January 194412:27Il-2PQ 25 Ost 93614
40km (30miles) south-southeast of Parichi
933 October 194313:25Pe-2east-southeast of Yelsk12010 January 194412:30Il-2PQ 25 Ost 93536, east of Azarychy
30km (20miles) south of Parichi
943 October 194316:00La-5east-southeast of Yelsk12112 January 194413:20Il-2PQ 25 Ost 93614
30km (20miles) south of Parichi
953 October 194316:03La-5east-southeast of Yelsk12212 January 194413:22La-5PQ 25 Ost 93533
30km (20miles) south of Parichi
964 October 194314:16MiG-3northeast of Chernobyl12316 January 194413:02Pe-2PQ 25 Ost 93475
30km (20miles) south-southeast of Parichi
976 October 194313:35Yak-1east-southeast of Owrutsch1247 February 194408:07La-5PQ 35 Ost 06788
15km (09miles) southeast of Kamary
9815 October 194309:45La-5west-northwest of Radul1257 February 194412:58La-5PQ 35 Ost 06795
20km (10miles) east-southeast of Kamary
9915 October 194309:47Bostonnorthwest of Hubetsch126♠22 February 194411:21Pe-2PQ 35 Ost 03151
10km (10miles) east of Zhlobin
10015 October 194309:51Bostonwest of Hubetsch127♠22 February 194413:02Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 94857
20km (10miles) west of Rogatschew
10119 October 194312:05La-5northeast of Radul128♠22 February 194413:10Il-2PQ 35 Ost 04742
5km (03miles) north of Rogatschew
102♠20 October 194308:20MiG-3north of Radul129♠22 February 194415:02Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 93239
10km (10miles) northwest of Zhlobin
103♠20 October 194311:50La-5southeast of Loyew130♠22 February 194415:03Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 94897
10km (10miles) west-southwest of Rogatschew
104♠20 October 194311:57LaGG-3west of Loyew131♠22 February 194415:04Il-2PQ 25 Ost 94895
10km (10miles) west-southwest of Rogatschew
105♠20 October 194315:08Il-2 m.H.northwest of Loyew132♠22 February 194415:06Il-2PQ 35 Ost 04119
20km (10miles) west-northwest of Mogilew
106♠20 October 194315:12La-5west of Loyew13324 March 194409:00Il-2PQ 25 Ost 42879
15km (09miles) northwest of Kovel
107♠28 October 194312:50Bostonnorth of Loyew13427 March 194415:10U-2PQ 25 Ost 42448
45km (28miles) south-southwest of Kovel
108♠28 October 194312:53Yak-7southeast of Rechytsa13528 March 194407:07Il-2PQ 25 Ost 42698
15km (09miles) northeast of Kovel
109♠28 October 194313:04Yak-7northwest of Loyew
– 8. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
13630 May 194408:01Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 42515
vicinity of Korenewo
154♠16 July 194412:25Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 50373
15km (09miles) northeast of Berezhany
13723 June 194416:40Yak-9PQ 35 Ost 05637
15km (09miles) south of Talachyn
155♠16 July 194418:30La-5PQ 25 Ost 50354
25km (16miles) northwest of Ternopol
13823 June 194416:55Yak-9PQ 35 Ost 05625
15km (09miles) south of Talachyn
15617 July 194419:30Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 50313
15km (09miles) southeast of Zolochiv
13923 June 194417:12La-5PQ 35 Ost 05429
30km (20miles) north of Talachyn
15717 July 194419:32Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 50312
25km (16miles) east-southeast of Zolochiv
140♠24 June 194408:25Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 93358
20km (10miles) southwest of Parichi
15828 July 194409:05Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 35689
25km (16miles) northeast of Berzniki
141♠24 June 194408:30Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 93355
20km (10miles) southwest of Parichi
1591 August 194407:05La-5PQ 25 Ost 35351
10km (10miles) northwest of Mariampol
142♠24 June 194411:21Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 93325
20km (10miles) south-southwest of Babruysk
1602 August 194410:40Il-2PQ 25 Ost 24436
15km (09miles) south of Augustow
143♠24 June 194415:57Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 94859, east of Babruysk
20km (10miles) west of Rogatschew
1615 August 194410:20Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 24833
15km (09miles) northwest of Bialystok
144♠24 June 194416:10Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 94863
10km (10miles) west of Rogatschew
162♠8 August 194414:27Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 36545
20km (10miles) east-southeast of Nemakščiai
14525 June 194409:43Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 93333
10km (10miles) south of Parichi
163♠8 August 194414:29Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 36548
20km (10miles) east-southeast of Nemakščiai
14625 June 194412:34Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 93141
20km (10miles) west-northwest of Parichi
164♠8 August 194414:30Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 36567
30km (20miles) west-northwest of Kedainial
14725 June 194419:01Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 94763
15km (09miles) east of Babruysk
165♠8 August 194416:32Il-2PQ 25 Ost 36548
20km (10miles) east-southeast of Nemakščiai
14826 June 194413:20Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 83229
25km (16miles) east-southeast of Babruysk
166♠8 August 194416:33Il-2PQ 25 Ost 36571
20km (10miles) southeast of Nemakščiai
14926 June 194415:55Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 94872
30km (20miles) southwest of Babruysk
167♠8 August 194416:35Il-2PQ 25 Ost 36575
20km (10miles) southeast of Nemakščiai
15026 June 194416:01Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 94876
25km (16miles) east-southeast of Babruysk
168♠8 August 194418:12Il-2PQ 25 Ost 36576
20km (10miles) southeast of Nemakščiai
151♠16 July 194408:42Pe-2PQ 25 Ost 50355
25km (16miles) northwest of Ternopol
16913 August 194415:10Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 24613
45km (28miles) northeast of Lomza
152♠16 July 194408:48Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 50178
15km (09miles) east of Zolochiv
17013 August 194417:57Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 24442
25km (16miles) southeast of Lyck
153♠16 July 194412:21Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 40463
20km (10miles) north Berezany
– 10. Staffel of Jagdgeschwader 51 –
17117 August 194407:00Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 36347
20km (10miles) northeast of Nemakščiai
18824 September 194408:30Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 37362
17217 August 194413:12Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 26285
30km (20miles) southeast of Telsche
18928 September 194410:32Pe-2PQ 25 Ost 17331
30km (20miles) northeast of Libau
17317 August 194413:14Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 27879
20km (10miles) east-northeast of Telsche
1905 October 194411:22Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 27862
45km (28miles) east-northeast of Telsche
17421 August 194416:51Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 37541
55km (34miles) south-southwest of Schaulen
1915 October 194413:59Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 36145
20km (10miles) southwest of Schaulen
17521 August 194416:52Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 37582
40km (30miles) south-southwest of Schaulen
1925 October 194414:11Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 36132
vicinity of Schaulen
17623 August 194412:11Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 37579
45km (28miles) south-southwest of Schaulen
1936 October 194413:25P-39PQ 25 Ost 27876
20km (10miles) northeast of Schaulen
17723 August 194412:34Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 37863
45km (28miles) east-northeast of Telsche
1946 October 194415:45Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 26277
25km (16miles) southeast of Telsche
17824 August 194409:12Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 37754
20km (10miles) south-southwest of Schaulen
19513 October 194408:53Pe-2PQ 25 Ost 25125
vicinity of Neusiedel
17924 August 194413:05Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 27499
50km (30miles) south-southwest of Tukkum
19613 October 194413:29BostonPQ 25 Ost 25356
vicinity of Goldingen
18024 August 194415:05La-5PQ 25 Ost 37374
40km (30miles) west-southwest of Mitau
19714 October 194411:11Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 27337
40km (30miles) east of Goldingen
18125 August 194416:32La-5PQ 25 Ost 37378
40km (30miles) west-southwest of Mitau
19814 October 194411:13Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 27455
45km (28miles) south-southwest of Tukkum
18216 September 194416:52Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 17367
25km (16miles) northeast of Libau
19916 October 194409:55BostonPQ 25 Ost 35316
20km (10miles) northwest of Mariampol
18316 September 194416:57Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 17636
55km (34miles) east-southeast of Libau
20016 October 194409:57Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 35314
20km (10miles) northwest of Mariampol
18416 September 194417:01Yak-9PQ 25 Ost 17496
45km (28miles) east-southeast of Libau
20116 October 194412:00Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 25583
vicinity of Gołdap
18517 September 194415:35Il-2PQ 25 Ost 27497
50km (30miles) south-southwest of Tukkum
20216 October 194413:55Il-2 m.H.PQ 25 Ost 25496
25km (16miles) east of Trakehnen
18619 September 194415:36Pe-2PQ 25 Ost 27654
45km (28miles) northeast of Telsche
20317 October 194407:47Pe-2PQ 25 Ost 25455
25km (16miles) southeast of Blumenfeld
18722 September 194410:29BostonPQ 25 Ost 27422
40km (30miles) southwest of Tukkum
20417 October 194409:55Yak-7PQ 25 Ost 25455
25km (16miles) southeast of Blumenfeld

Awards

References

Bibliography

Notes and References

  1. For an explanation of Luftwaffe unit designations, see Organization of the Luftwaffe during World War II.
  2. By chance a photographer with the German Propaganda English language magazine "Signal" happened to snap photographs of Widen's plane crashing and Widen being both captured and meeting Hafner