ERICH HARTMANN, NEVER SHOT DOWN???

Erich Hartmann was the all time ace of aces, but does the claim of 352 aerial victories hold up? What about the claim he was never shot down? Let's look at the data.

Please support this channel:
https://www.patreon.com/GregsAirplanesandAutomobiles
https://gregs-store-29.creator-spring.com/?
Paypal: mistydawne2010@yahoo.com

This is a non technical video, unusual for this channel, but it's largely just an opinion piece, although I'll argue my opinion is well thought out. Keep in mind the aerial victory claims for the various aces differ a bit from one source to the next. I didn't get into that because it's not really relevant to the main topic at hand.

As I uploaded this video I realized I forgot to include the Red Baron's story from his book, so I'll just put it here:

"After we had been talking for some time he asked me of course the celebrated question: "Have you ever brought down a machine?" As I said before he had probably not understood my name. So I answered nonchalantly: "Oh, yes! I have done so now and then." He replied: "Indeed! Perhaps you have shot down two?" I answered: "No. Not two but twenty-four." He smiled, repeated his question and gave me to understand that, when he was speaking about shooting down an aeroplane, he meant not shooting at an aeroplane but shooting into an aeroplane in such a manner that it would fall to the ground and remain there. I immediately assured him that I entirely shared his conception of the meaning of the words "shooting down.

Now I had completely lost caste with him. He was convinced that I was a fearful liar. He left me sitting where I was and told me that a meal would be served in an hour. If I liked I could join in. I accepted his invitation and slept soundly for an hour. Then we went to the Officers' Club. Arrived at the club I was glad to find that I was wearing the Ordre pour le Mérite.

Unfortunately I had no uniform jacket underneath my greasy leather coat but only a waistcoat. I apologized for being so badly dressed. Suddenly my good chief discovered on me the Ordre pour le Mérite. He was speechless with surprise and assured me that he did not know my name. I gave him my name once more. Now it seemed to dawn upon him that he had heard my name before. He feasted me with oysters and champagne and I did gloriously until at last my orderly arrived and fetched me with my car."

P.S. I didn't think I would have to provide evidence for the idea that it's often claimed that Hartmann was not shot down, but here you go: https://migflug.com/jetflights/final-interview-with-erich-hartmann/ and https://allthatsinteresting.com/erich-hartmann and https://military.wikia.org/wiki/Erich_Hartmann . This is a claim VERY frequently made, so stop trying to say otherwise.

Видео ERICH HARTMANN, NEVER SHOT DOWN??? канала Greg's Airplanes and Automobiles