Anton Hafner 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.
20 Facts About Anton Hafner
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Anton Hafner claimed his first aerial victory on 24 June 1941 during Operation Barbarossa, the German invasion of the Soviet Union.
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Anton Hafner's unit was then transferred to Tunisia in North Africa where he claimed 20 aerial victories.
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Anton Hafner claimed his 204th and last aerial victory on 17 October 1944.
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Anton 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 Wurttemberg of the German Empire.
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Anton Hafner flew his first combat missions in this theater of operations.
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The next day, Anton Hafner claimed his first aerial victory, a Tupolev SB bomber.
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Anton Hafner was awarded the German Cross in Gold on 22 May 1942.
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Gruppe of Zerstorergeschwader 2, Anton Hafner claimed his first victory in this theatre of operations.
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On 18 December 1942, Anton Hafner claimed two aerial victories over Lockheed P-38 Lightning fighter aircraft, taking his total to 78 aerial victories.
11.
In 1960 Alfons Anton Hafner managed to contact Major Widen via the US Airforce to fulfil his brother's will.
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Anton Hafner bailed out wounded, ending his service in North Africa.
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Anton Hafner's injuries included a complex fracture of his arm.
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That day, Anton Hafner was credited with his 100th aerial victory in that area of operations.
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Anton Hafner was the 56th Luftwaffe pilot to achieve the century mark.
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Anton Hafner claimed two Bostons and a La-5 in this encounter.
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Anton Hafner succeeded Hauptman Fritz Stendel as Staffelkapitan of 8.
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On 16 October 1944, Anton Hafner destroyed four fighters thus taking him past the double century mark.
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Anton Hafner's 204th and last victory was a Yakovlev Yak-7 fighter claimed on 17 October 1944.
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Anton Hafner was replaced by Oberleutnant Helmut Besekau as commander of 10.