Erich Hartman first combat mission
14.10.1942. Eastern, Luftwaffe14th October 1942 Erich Hartmann took off for his first combat mission as a wingman of feldwebel Eduard ‘Paule’ Rossmann. By that day Hartmann was 22 years old lieutenant of 7.III/JG-52.
Immediately after take-off they’ve received order: “Seven fighters and three Il-2 are attacking the road near Prohladniy. Intercept and destroy.”
They approached area on the 12000 feets alt. Rossmann has spotted planes on 11 o’clock below and gave order to tight formation for the attack. They lowered down till 5000 feets, and only then Rossmann spotted two dark-green planes 1000 feets ahead and a little bit upper. Hartmann has broken formation, throttled and has opened fire from the 300 feets distance with no hits.
After this attack plane was surrounded by enemy fighters. Hartmann has lost his leader and fastly got up over the clouds. Rossmann by the radio ordered Hartmann to lower under the clouds so they could regroup. Hartmann has lowered and found plane going straight on him in 1500 yards. He frightened and tried to escape. After several minutes of very nervious ride from the pursuer he shaked him off. But red button showed he had fuel for last 5 minutes of flight. After fuel has ran out he was on the 1000 feets alt over some road. He perfomed very tough belly landing - as it appeared he was only 20 miles from his airbase.
During his first combat flight Erich Hartmann made 7 tactical mistakes:
1. Broke formation
2. Jumped out to the leader’s line of fire
3. Got up over the clouds
4. By mistake opened fire on the German plane. The ‘enemy’ plane he found after lowering down under the clouds was Rossmann.
5. Wasn’t able to execute Rossmann’s order to regroup.
6. Got lost
7. Broke his plane while didn’t harm enemy at all.
To be objective most of the pilots are doing the same mistakes during the first combat flight. Afterwards Hartmann appeared to be the sniper-pilot (though usually he got very close to plane to shot it down) and by the 9 may 1945 he had 352 confirmed air victories.
“The Blond Knight of Germany”, Raymond F. Toliver and Trevor J. Constable
Posted by Pavel
I have several personal letters written to me and my husband by Erich in the late 1970s. We befriended him while we were in Germany. I also have a 13+ handwritten speech that he wrote to give to “The River Rats” organization. He and his wife and daughter invited us to come to visit at their home where I took both still photographs and some home movies. He was a great man in our eyes and we also loved him, his wife, and his daughter. We were very saddened when he died.
I also met Mr. Toliver in the mid 80s when he came to the Las Vegas area. I do not know how he is doing.
I would be interested to know if a museum of some kind would be interested in the special items I have.