Tell me a bio of Erich Hartmann.

Include key facts about their life, career, achievements, and impact.

user
Erich Hartmann was a German-American fighter pilot who served in the United States Army Air Forces during World War II and the United States Air Force during the Korean War. He is widely regarded as the highest-scoring fighter ace in history.

**Early Life and Education**

Erich Hartmann was born on April 19, 1922, in Weissach, Germany. His family moved to the United States in 1939, and he became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1943. Hartmann grew up in a family of modest means and was raised by his mother after his father's death. He attended high school in New York City and later enrolled in the University of Michigan, where he studied aeronautical engineering.

**Military Career**

Hartmann enlisted in the United States Army Air Forces in 1942 and began his flight training in 1943. He earned his wings as a fighter pilot in 1944 and was assigned to the 361st Fighter Group, 375th Fighter Squadron, in Italy. Hartmann flew the P-51 Mustang and scored his first aerial victory on December 4, 1944.

**Achievements and Records**

During World War II, Hartmann flew 825 combat missions and scored 352 confirmed aerial victories, making him the highest-scoring fighter ace in history. He also earned the Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star, and the Distinguished Flying Cross. Hartmann's impressive record earned him the nickname "Bubi" (a German nickname for "little boy").

**Post-War Career**

After the war, Hartmann remained in the United States Air Force and flew combat missions during the Korean War. He scored 21 aerial victories during the conflict and was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal. Hartmann retired from the Air Force in 1967 with the rank of colonel.

**Legacy and Impact**

Erich Hartmann's impressive record and achievements have made him a legendary figure in the history of military aviation. His legacy extends beyond his impressive scorecard, as he is also remembered for his exceptional leadership and tactical skills. Hartmann's contributions to the development of air combat tactics and his influence on future generations of fighter pilots have been significant.

Hartmann passed away on December 20, 1993, at the age of 71. His legacy continues to inspire and motivate military aviators and historians alike.
Erich Hartmann was a German-American World War II flying ace and the highest-scoring fighter ace in U.S. military history. He is considered one of the greatest fighter pilots in history.

**Early Life:**
Erich Alfred Hartmann was born on April 19, 1922, in Weissach im Tal, Kingdom of Württemberg, Germany, to a family of aristocratic farmers. Hartmann's father was a decorated World War I pilot.

**Early Military Career:**
At 14, Hartmann joined the German Hitler Youth, where he was introduced to flying. He began flying gliders and later joined the Luftwaffe (German Air Force) in 1939, just before World War II. Hartmann flew as a fighter pilot and scored his first aerial victory in 1941, at 19 years old.

**Exodus to America:**
After being severely injured in a crash in 1943, Hartmann was sent to the hospital in Lyon, France. However, due to Allied bombardments, Hartmann and other Luftwaffe airmen were imprisoned at the Lyon-Givors prison camp. In 1944, he was released and transferred to a prisoner-of-war camp in Alabama. Hartmann then befriended a U.S. Army Air Forces (USAAF) pilot, Captain Donald Blakeslee, who introduced him to Charles Sweeny, an American screenwriter. Charles Sweeny assisted Erich to obtain US citizenship and enlist in the United States Army Air Forces.

**U.S. Air Forces Career:**
On March 20, 1944, Hartmann officially enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Forces and was assigned to the 352nd Fighter Group. Hartmann flew P-51 Mustangs with the 352nd and scored 20 aerial victories, earning him the nickname 'Bubi' (Bobby). Before the end of the war, Hartmann relocated to the 361st Fighter Group where he then scored the rest of his victories. At the close of World War II, Erich had accumulated an impressive 366 victories.

**Post-War Life and Legacy:**
After the war, Hartmann returned to his homeland, Germany. In 1953, he permanently settled in the United States, where he lived in Fairfax Station, Virginia. Erich remained a member of the U.S. Army Reserve until 1964 and went on to hold a number of positions in the aerospace industry. Erich Hartmann retired from the Army in 1964, with the rank of Major.

Hartmann's achievements have been recognized in numerous ways, including his inclusion in the National Aviation Hall of Fame in 1965. He passed away on September 20, 1993.