Who is Gerd Barkhorn?
Who is Gerd Barkhorn?
Gerhard “Gerd” Barkhorn (20 March 1919 – 8 January 1983) was the second most successful fighter ace of all time after fellow Luftwaffe pilot Erich Hartmann.
How old was Gerhard Barkhorn when he was nursing his Me-109?
October 29th, 1940: As 22-year old Leutnant Gerhard Barkhorn nurses his stricken Messerschmitt Me-109E from Dungeness toward the French coast, an RAF Hurricane Mk.I arrives to finish him off. Buy the print — only $34.95! E scaping a stricken fighter plane over open water is no picnic in the best of circumstances.
What did Thomas Barkhorn do in WW2?
On 11 January 1943, Barkhorn was awarded the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves ( Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes mit Eichenlaub ). Barkhorn claimed his 120th aerial victory on 27 February, four days later he went on home leave.
What happened to Walter Barkhorn?
Like Hartmann, Rall, Steinhoff, Krupinski, Galland and other German war aces, in 1956 Barkhorn enlisted in the revitalized Bundesluftwaffe, the West German Federal Air Force. Commanding Jagdbombergeschwader 31, he flew the Republic F-84F Thunderstreak and the Lockheed F-104G Starfighter.
Where did Bruno Barkhorn work in Germany?
In October, Barkhorn first employment as an auxiliary worker was with Linhof, a manufacturer of cameras, based in Munich. A year later, he found employment in Grünwald. His employment in Grünwald ended in 1949. Following a brief period of unemployment, he took a course at Volkswagen in November 1949.
What happened to Heinrich Barkhorn’s wife?
After the war, Barkhorn joined the German Air Force of the Bundeswehr, serving until 1975. On 6 January 1983, Barkhorn was involved in a car crash with his wife Christl. She died instantly and Barkhorn died five days later on 11 January. Barkhorn was born on 20 March 1919 in Königsberg in the Free State of Prussia of the Weimar Republic.
Why was Barkhorn rejected for command of the Luftwaffe?
However, Rall, who succeeded Steinhoff as Inspector of the Air Force in 1971, attested that Barkhorn lacked the toughness and ability to work under pressure required for a higher command position in the Bundesluftwaffe. In early 1973, Rall had promised Barkhorn command of the 1st Luftwaffe Division, an offer that was later withdrawn.
