Anton Hafner

Anton "Toni" Hafner (born 2 June 1918 in Erbach an der Donau, killed in action 17 October 1944 on the Eastern front) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves (Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub) during World War II. The Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross and its higher grade the Oak Leaves was awarded to recognise extreme battlefield bravery or successful military leadership.

World War II
On 18 December 1942 Hafner was on a bomber intercept mission. While approaching the bomber formation they engaged the escorting P-38 Lightning fighter escort. In the ensuing dog fight Hafner flamed the left engine of a P-38. The pilot, Norman L. 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 POW 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.

On 16 October 1944, Hafner destroyed four fighters thus taking him past the double century mark. Hafner's 204th and last victory was a Soviet Yak-7 fighter on 17 October 1944. However, during the dogfight his plane hit a tree. His Bf 109 G-6 (Werknummer 442 013&mdash;factory number) "Black 1" crashed killing Hafner, the highest scoring pilot of JG 51 "Mölders". Anton Hafner was credited with 204 victories in 795 combat 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. Among his claims are 55 Il-2 Sturmoviks.

Awards

 * Iron Cross (1939)
 * 2nd Class (6 July 1941)
 * 1st Class (18 July 1941)
 * Ehrenpokal der Luftwaffe (27 April 1942)
 * German Cross in Gold on 22 May 1942 as Unteroffizier in the 6./JG 51
 * Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves
 * Knight's Cross on 23 August 1942 as Feldwebel and pilot in the 6./JG 51 "Mölders"
 * 452nd Oak Leaves on 11 April 1944 as Leutnant (war officer) and pilot in the 6./JG 51 "Mölders"