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Erich Hartmann Biography

Erich Alfred Hartmann (19 April 1922 – 20 September 1993), nicknamed "Bubi" ("The Kid") by his German comrades and the "Black Devil" by his Soviet adversaries, was a German fighter pilot during World War II and the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare. He flew 1,404 combat missions and participated in aerial combat on 825 separate occasions. He was credited with shooting down 352 Allied aircraft—345 Soviet and 7 American—while serving with the Luftwaffe. During the course of his career, Hartmann was forced to crash-land his fighter 14 times due to damage received from parts of enemy aircraft he had just shot down or mechanical failure. He was never shot down or forced to land due to enemy fire.

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Erich Hartmann Quotes

You can have computer sights of anything you like, but I think you have to go to the enemy on the shortest distance and knock him down from point-blank range. You'll get him from in close. At long distance, it's questionable.

Distance, Enemy, Long, Sight, Think, Thinking

Once committed to an attack, fly in at full speed. After scoring crippling or disabling hits, I would clear myself and then repeat the process. I never pursued the enemy once they had eluded me. Better to break off and set up again for a new assault. I always began my attacks from full strength, if possible, my ideal flying height being 22,000 ft because at that altitude I could best utilize the performance of my aircraft. Combat flying is based on the slashing attack and rough maneuvering.

Break Off, Committed, Enemy, Flying, Maneuvering, Utilize

Every day kill just one, rather than today five, tomorrow ten. . . that is enough for you. Then your nerves are calm and you can sleep good, you have your drink in the evening and the next morning you are fit again.

Day, Evening, Morning, Nerves, Sleep

It was my view that no kill was worth the life of a wingman. . . . Pilots in my unit who lost wingmen on this basis were prohibited from leading a [section]. The were made to fly as wingman, instead.

Aviation, Instead, Leading, Pilots, Views

In combat flying, fancy precision aerobatic work is really not of much use. Instead, it is the rough maneuver which succeeds.

Combat, Fancy, Flying, Succeeds, Use

One thing I've learned is this: Never allow yourself to hate a people because of the actions of a few. Hatred and bigotry destroyed my nation, and millions died. I would hope that most people did not hate Germans because of the Nazis, or Americans because of slaves. Never hate, it only eats you alive. Keep an open mind and always look for the good in people. You may be surprised at what you find.

Bigotry, Hate, Hatred, Open, People, Surprised

Of all my accomplishments I may have achieved during the war, I am proudest of the fact that I never lost a wingman.

Accomplishment, Fact, Lost, May, Proudest, War

The weapon where the man is sitting in is always superior against the other.

Against, Air Power, Man, Men, Sitting

If he is superior then I would go home, for another day that is better.

Another Day, Aviation, Day, Home, Superior

I opened fire when the whole windshield was black with the enemy. . . at minimum range. . . it doesn't matter what your angle is to him or whether you are in a turn or any other maneuver.

Black, Enemy, Fire, Turn, Windshield

See, decide, attack, reverse.

Attack, Aviation, Combat, Decide, Reverse