1. Anton "Toni" Hackl was a German Luftwaffe military aviator during World War II, a fighter ace credited with 192 enemy aircraft shot down in over 1,000 combat missions.
29 Facts About Anton Hackl
1. 2.
Anton Hackl transferred to the Luftwaffe in 1935 and following flight training, Hackl was posted to Jagdgeschwader 77 in April 1938.
3.
Anton Hackl claimed four victories during the Norwegian Campaign and then flew missions on the Channel Front in aftermath of the Battle of Britain.
4.
Anton Hackl then fought in the aerial battles of Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.
5.
On 29 July 1941, Anton Hackl was appointed Staffelkapitan of the 5.
6.
Anton Hackl claimed 23 further aerial victories by the end of 1941, and following his 51st victory was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross on 25 May 1942.
7.
On 19 September 1942, Anton Hackl claimed his 118th and last victory on the Eastern Front, and was then transferred to the North Africa, fighting in the Tunisia Campaign.
8.
Anton Hackl claimed six aerial victories over North Africa before he was severely wounded on 4 February 1943.
9.
Gruppe on 1 October 1943, Anton Hackl was wounded in action again on 15 April 1944, at the time his total was 142 aerial victories.
10.
Anton Hackl was born on 25 March 1915 in Regensburg, Upper Palatinate of the Kingdom of Bavaria, as part of the German Empire.
11.
Anton Hackl joined the Reichswehr in 1933, initially serving with 20.
12.
In 1936, Anton Hackl transferred to the newly formed Luftwaffe, initially serving as a driver.
13.
In 1937, holding the rank Obergefreiter, Anton Hackl was sent to Halberstadt where he received flight training.
14.
Anton Hackl was promoted to Unteroffizier in 1937, received fighter pilot training, and in April 1938 was posted to the II.
15.
On 29 July 1941, Anton Hackl was appointed Staffelkapitan of 5.
16.
Anton Hackl claimed his first victory on the Eastern Front, and fifth overall, on 1 August 1941.
17.
That day, Anton Hackl flew an escort fighter mission for Kampfgeschwader 27, claiming a Polikarpov I-16 fighter aircraft shot down.
18.
Anton Hackl became an "ace-in-a-day" for the first time on 19 April 1942, claiming two Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-3, two Polikarpov R-Z and one I-18 shot down over the Isthmus of Perekop.
19.
Anton Hackl's score increased further, and by May 1942, after 51 victories he received the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
20.
Anton Hackl was the 16th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.
21.
Anton Hackl was the 109th member of the German armed forces to be so honored.
22.
Anton Hackl claimed his last victory on the Eastern Front on 5 September 1942.
23.
On 20 December 1942, Anton Hackl claimed two victories over North Africa.
24.
Anton Hackl was flown to Rome and was hospitalized for several months.
25.
Anton Hackl went on to claim 25 four-engined bombers shot down during his time with III.
26.
Anton Hackl's suggestions included attacking the bomber formations from the rear, driving the attack to point-blank range, and threatening the new pilots with court-martial if they did not follow these orders.
27.
Anton Hackl's command flew combat missions in the area of the Seine near Rouen.
28.
Anton Hackl was shot down eight times and wounded four times.
29.
Bergstrom and Mikhailov state that Anton Hackl flew about 1,000 combat missions and list him with shooting down 192 enemy aircraft plus another 24 unconfirmed aerial victories.