In 1919, the second-most successful fighter pilot in history was born
Born in 1919, Gerhard Barkhorn became a legendary aviation figure by recording 301 confirmed aerial victories, a feat surpassed by only one other pilot in the history of flight.
Gerhard Barkhorn entered the world on March 20, 1919, and eventually became one of the most prolific fighter pilots to ever take to the skies. Serving in the German Luftwaffe during World War II, he flew over 1,100 combat missions. Remarkably, despite his high tally of 301 victories, he was shot down nine times himself, surviving each crash to return to the cockpit.
There's more to this story — open the app to keep reading.
Continue Reading in App
1 more paragraphs · plus a 3-question quiz