'Christl'
Posted: Wed Nov 26, 2014 2:24 amGehard Barkhorn's career as a fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe did not have an auspicious start.
during the invasion of France, Barkhorn failed to score and during the battle of Britain, was shot down over the Channel.
it wasn't until JG 52 was transferred east for the invasion of the Soviet Union, that Barkhorn opened his account and his score steadily climbed
on one day in July of 1942 alone, Barkhorn became an 'ace in a day' shooting down 6 aircraft. and although being wounded later the same month, by December of that year Barkhorn reached triple figures.
the following year he was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur II/JG 52
before the end of 1943 his score passed 200 and by February 1944, it had raced to 250
shot down again in may, he was hospitalised for months with serious injuries. after recovering and despite fatigue and being crippled by fear
Barkhorn returned to the cockpit and continued where he'd left off.
by war's end, after 1,104 sorties, Barkhorn had been shot down 9 times, wounded 3 times and claimed 301 kills. the second highest scoring ace of all time.
after a short civilian career, Barkhorn joined the Bundesluftwaffe on active duty, rising to the rank of Major General. He retired a NATO Chief of Staff in 1973.
On 6 January 1983, while driving on the autobahn near Cologne, Gerhard Barkhorn was involved in an accident. His wife, Christl died at the scene.
Barkhorn, never regained conscientiousness and died 2 days later
during the invasion of France, Barkhorn failed to score and during the battle of Britain, was shot down over the Channel.
it wasn't until JG 52 was transferred east for the invasion of the Soviet Union, that Barkhorn opened his account and his score steadily climbed
on one day in July of 1942 alone, Barkhorn became an 'ace in a day' shooting down 6 aircraft. and although being wounded later the same month, by December of that year Barkhorn reached triple figures.
the following year he was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur II/JG 52
before the end of 1943 his score passed 200 and by February 1944, it had raced to 250
shot down again in may, he was hospitalised for months with serious injuries. after recovering and despite fatigue and being crippled by fear
Barkhorn returned to the cockpit and continued where he'd left off.
by war's end, after 1,104 sorties, Barkhorn had been shot down 9 times, wounded 3 times and claimed 301 kills. the second highest scoring ace of all time.
after a short civilian career, Barkhorn joined the Bundesluftwaffe on active duty, rising to the rank of Major General. He retired a NATO Chief of Staff in 1973.
On 6 January 1983, while driving on the autobahn near Cologne, Gerhard Barkhorn was involved in an accident. His wife, Christl died at the scene.
Barkhorn, never regained conscientiousness and died 2 days later
