Anton "Toni" Hafner
Oberleutnant

Anton Hafner

   Anton “Toni” Hafner was born on 2 June 1918 at Erbach near Ulm located in the Württemberg region. After completing his training as a pilot in 1940 he joined the Ergänzungstaffel JG 51 (reserve flight). On 23 February 1941, Gefreiter Hafner joined 6./JG 51. On 29 March he crash-landed at Mardyck. Hafner was wounded and his Bf 109 E-4 (W.Nr. 3766) was 80% damaged. Hafner recorded his first victory operating over the Eastern Front on the 24 June 1941, and by the end of the month he had added another victory to his account. He had recorded 14 victories by the end of 1941. His 25th victory was obtained on 21 March 1942. On 5 July, he claimed seven Russian aircrafts shot down to record his 35th through 41st  victories. On 23 July 1942, Feldwebel Hafner shot down his 50th enemy aircraft and, on 22 August, he destroyed his 60th and received the Ritterkreuz on 23 August. Hafner was then granted leave. Hafner returned to combat duty in November 1942, by which time II./JG51 had transferred to Tunisia. Hafner, flying with 4./JG51, succeeded in destroying a RAF Spitfire fighter as his 63rd victory and his first in the Mediterranean theatre on 16 November. On 2 January 1943, II./JG 51 engaged a formation of Hurricane and Spitfire fighters. In the subsequent combat, Hafner was hit probably by British ace Robert Oxspring (13.333/2/13 victories, D.F.S.) of 72 Sqn, RAF. He was forced to bail out of his Bf 109 G-2 (W.Nr. 13 985) but hit the rudder of his plane and suffered a splinter fracture of his hand. He spent six months in a German hospital as a result. He had 82 victories  his credit at this time.

Bf 109G-6 W.Nr. 442 013 Black 1 of 10./JG 51 in which Toni Hafner died on 17 October 1944.
Bf 109G-6 W.Nr. 442 013 "Black 1" of 10./JG 51 in which Toni Hafner died on 17 October 1944.

    In August 1943, Hafner returned to the Eastern Front with the Stabstaffel of JG 51, a unit equipped with the Focke-Wulf 190 A. On 15 October, he shot down three Russian aircraft (98-100). On 20 October, he shot down five enemy aircraft (102-106) and five more on 28 October 1943 (107-111). He shot down seven Russian aircrafts on 22 February 1944 (126-132), his 134th on 27 March and five on 24 June (140-144).  Leutnant Hafner was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 452) on 11 April for 134 victories. On 15 May, he took over 8./JG 51 from Hauptmann Fritz Stendel (49 victories, DK) equipped with the Bf 109 G-6. On 28 June, he succeeded in bringing down his 150th victory but, two days later, his Bf 109 G-6 was hit in the engine while still over the Front. After an emergency landing he was able to return to his unit and was soon back in action. On 15th August 1944, 8./JG 51 was renamed 10./JG 51. He shot down seven Russian Il-2 Sturmoviks on 8 August (162-168). On 21 August, Hafner claimed Il-2 Sturmovik as his 175th victory. On 16 October, Hafner destroyed four fighters (199-202) thus taking him past the 200-victory mark. Hafner shot down a Russian Yak-7 fighter as his 204th victory on 17 October 1944. However, during the dogfight his plane hit a tree. His Bf 109G-6 (W.Nr. 442 013) “Black 1” crashed killing Hafner, the highest scoring pilot of JG 51 “Mölders”.
    Anton Hafner was credited with 204 victories in 795 combat missions. He recorded 184 victories over the Eastern Front. Of his 20 victories recorded over the Western front, eight were P-38 two engine fighters. Included in his total are 55 Il-2 Sturmoviks.
 
No
Date
Time
A/c Type
Unit
Location / Comments
1
24.6.1941
-
 SB-2 6./JG 51 -
2
25.6.1941
-
 SB-2 6./JG 51 -
3
3.7.1941
15:12
 Potez 63 6./JG 51 15km SE Stara Bychow
4
3.7.1941
-
 Potez 63 6./JG 51 -
5
3.7.1941
-
 Potez 63 6./JG 51 -
6
23.7.1941
-
 DB-3 6./JG 51 -
7
31.8.1941
15:55
 DB-3 6./JG 51 30km SW Potschep
8
12.9.1941
-
 R-3 6./JG 51 -
9
12.9.1941
-
 R-3 6./JG 51 -
10
20.9.1941
12:11
 R-Z 6./JG 51 -
11
27.9.1941
-
 I-18 6./JG 51 -
12
4.10.1941
14:42
 I-16 6./JG 51 -
13
15.11.1941
13:10
 DB-3 6./JG 51 -
14
18.11.1941
15:15
 I-16 6./JG 51 -
15
17.2.1942
9:55
 R-Z 6./JG 51 -
16
23.2.1942
11:00
 R-10 6./JG 51 -
17
23.2.1942
11:05
 I-18 6./JG 51 -
18
1.3.1942
16:10
 I-16 6./JG 51 -
19
4.3.1942
15:58
 I-16 6./JG 51 -
20
6.3.1942
10:35
 I-18 6./JG 51 -
21
6.3.1942
13:40
 I-18 6./JG 51 -
22
7.3.1942
9:55
 R-3 6./JG 51 -
23
16.3.1942
14:25
 I-18 6./JG 51 -
24
20.3.1942
13:40
 I-18 6./JG 51 -
25
21.3.1942
8:20
 Pe-2 6./JG 51 -
26
22.3.1942
17:30
 I-61 6./JG 51 -
27
22.3.1942
17:33
 I-61 6./JG 51 -
28
29.3.1942
14:55
 R-Z 6./JG 51 -
29
30.3.1942
7:43
 MiG-1 6./JG 51 -
30
30.3.1942
17:03
 MiG-3 6./JG 51 -
31
5.4.1942
10:55
 MiG-3 6./JG 51 -
32
5.4.1942
12:30
 MiG-3 6./JG 51 -
33
6.4.1942
8:40
 Pe-2 6./JG 51 -
34
27.4.1942
17:35
 Il-2 6./JG 51 -
35
5.7.1942
6:05
 MiG-1 6./JG 51 -
36
5.7.1942
6:15
 Il-2 6./JG 51 -
37
5.7.1942
9:32
 Il-2 6./JG 51 -
38
5.7.1942
9:45
 Il-2 6./JG 51 -
39
5.7.1942
11:20
 Yak-1 6./JG 51 20km NE Bolkhov: 1400m
40
5.7.1942
11:45
 Yak-1 6./JG 51 13km N Bolkhov: 1200m
41
5.7.1942
15:46
 Yak-1 6./JG 51 -
42
6.7.1942
19:12
 Yak-1 6./JG 51 -
43
8.7.1942
4:30
 Yak-1 6./JG 51 -
44
8.7.1942
16:15
 Yak-1 6./JG 51 -
45
10.7.1942
12:13
 MiG-1 6./JG 51 -
46
10.7.1942
19:25
 Yak-1 6./JG 51 -
47
11.7.1942
5:05
 MiG-1 6./JG 51 -
48
11.7.1942
5:08
 MiG-1 6./JG 51 -
49
23.7.1942
10:20
 Pe-2 6./JG 51 15km NW Bolskaya: 1800m
50
23.7.1942
10:45
 MiG-3 6./JG 51 15km NW Shostka: 800m
51
5.8.1942
6:12
 Yak-1 6./JG 51 47 654: at 2500m
52
5.8.1942
9:16
 MiG-1 6./JG 51 47 664: at 2200m
53
6.8.1942
11:03
 Yak-1 6./JG 51 47 824: at 2400m
54
7.8.1942
14:50
 MiG-1 6./JG 51 56 141: at 400m
55
12.8.1942
9:25
 MiG-1 6./JG 51 54 272: at 1500m
56
21.8.1942
14:42
 I-16 6./JG 51 64 854: at 1100m
57
22.8.1942
5:03
 Yak-1 6./JG 51 54 253: at 500m
58
22.8.1942
8:35
 MiG-3 6./JG 51 54 461: at 2800m
59
22.8.1942
13:12
 Yak-1 6./JG 51 54 274: at 800m
60
22.8.1942
17:58
 Il-2 6./JG 51 54 282
61
23.8.1942
17:20
 Il-2 6./JG 51 54 281
62
24.8.1942
18:42
 I-180 6./JG 51 54 244: at 800m
63
16.11.1942
12:12
 Spitfire 4./JG 51 20km E Bone / Spitfire of 81 Sqn RAF
64
17.11.1942
13:38
 Beaufort 4./JG 51 15km NW Bizerta / Blenheim of 18 Sqn RAF
65
??.11.1942
-
 E/a 4./JG 51 -
66
27.11.1942
9:17
 Spitfire 4./JG 51 8km E Béja, 400m
67
27.11.1942
16:48
 Spitfire 4./JG 51 20km SW Mateur, 800m
68
28.11.1942
16:48
 Stirling 4./JG 51 B-17, 35km W Bizerta, 4000m 
69
30.11.1942
14:47
 P-38 4./JG 51 15km SW Tunis, 600m
70
1.12.1942
10:41
 Spitfire 4./JG 51 13km SW Mateur
71
1.12.1942
10:46
 Spitfire 4./JG 51 20km SW Mateur
72
2.12.1942
8:32
 Spitfire 4./JG 51 5km S Tebourba, 1800m
73
3.12.1942
12:35
 P-38 4./JG 51 15km SW Tunis, 800m
74
5.12.1942
12:03
 P-38 4./JG 51 10 km. S. Tebourba: 6.500 m.
75
5.12.1942
12:18
 Spitfire 4./JG 51 5 km. N. Tebourba: 2.200 m.
76
7.12.1942
12:08
 Spitfire 4./JG 51 3km NW Tabourba, 1200m / Sqt. D.G.Guy, 185 Sqn RAF 
77
17.12.1942
15:55
 P-38 4./JG 51 P-38 of 1 FG, USAAF flown by Lt Widen / 2km SE Medjez el Bab 2200m
78
18.12.1942
11:30
 P-38 4./JG 51 8km NW Tunis
79
18.12.1942
11:34
 P-38 4./JG 51 Tunis
80
28.12.1942
15:31
 P-38 4./JG 51 Pl.Qu. 03 Ost 95631
81
2.1.1943
12:28
 P-38 4./JG 51 10km SW Pont du Fahs / Lt. H.K. Smith, 27. FS
82
2.1.1943
16:45
 Spitfire 4./JG 51 15km SW Tunis, 1000m
83
29.8.1943
13:05
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 42 134
84
29.8.1943
13:07
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 42 165
85
1.9.1943
18:13
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 35 347: at 300m
86
1.9.1943
18:14
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 35 349: at 300m
87
2.9.1943
11:11
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 25 498: at 500-600m
88
2.9.1943
11:13
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 35 377: at 150m
89
5.9.1943
11:23
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 SW Yel'nya: at 300m
90
5.9.1943
11:25
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 SSW Yel'nya: at 400m
91
11.9.1943
10:45
 MiG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 N Bryansk: at 2000m
92
11.9.1943
10:46
 MiG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 NNE Bryansk: at 200m
93
3.10.1943
13:25
 Pe-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 ESE Yelsk: at 1800m
94
3.10.1943
16:00
 LaGG-5 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 ESE Yelsk: at 1000m
95
3.10.1943
16:03
 LaGG-5 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 ESE Yelsk: at 1800m
96
4.10.1943
14:16
 MiG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 NE Tschernobyl: 3500m (Chernobyl)
97
6.10.1943
13:35
 Yak-7 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 ESE Amrutsch: at 2000m
98
15.10.1943
9:45
 LaGG-5 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 WNW Radul: at 2500m
99
15.10.1943
9:47
 Boston III Stabsstaffel/JG 51 NW Hubetch: at 2000m
100
15.10.1943
9:51
 Boston III Stabsstaffel/JG 51 NW Hubetch: at 1800m
101
19.10.1943
12:05
 LaGG-5 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 NE Radul: at 1200m
102
20.10.1943
8:20
 MiG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 N Radul: at 2500m
103
20.10.1943
11:50
 LaGG-5 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 SE Loyev: at 1700m
104
20.10.1943
11:57
 LaGG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 W Loyev: at 1800m
105
20.10.1943
15:08
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 NW Loyev: at 800m
106
20.10.1943
15:12
 LaGG-5 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 W Loyev: 1800m
107
28.10.1943
12:50
 Boston III Stabsstaffel/JG 51 N Loyev: at 2800m
108
28.10.1943
12:53
 Yak-7 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 SE Retschiza: at 3000m
109
28.10.1943
13:04
 Yak-7 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 NW Lage: at 3500m
110
28.10.1943
14:55
 Boston III Stabsstaffel/JG 51 SE Retschiza: at 3300m
111
28.10.1943
14:59
 LaGG-3 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 W Loyev: at 2800m
112
5.11.1943
15:08
 Yak-7 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 SE Nevel: at 3800m
113
10.11.1943
9:25
 Yak-9 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 SW Nevel: at 1000m
114
10.11.1943
9:29
 Yak-9 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 SW Nevel: at 600m
115
11.11.1943
10:50
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 E Vitebsk: at 400m
116
17.11.1943
9:46
 Pe-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 S Nevel: at 6500m
117
22.11.1943
9:05
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 W Vetka: 150m
118
29.11.1943
14:23
 P-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 25km E Shlobin: at 1500m
119
10.1.1944
12:27
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 614: at 400m
120
10.1.1944
12:30
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 536: at 500m
121
12.1.1944
13:20
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 537 at 200m
122
12.1.1944
13:22
 LaGG-5 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 533 at 200m
123
16.1.1944
13:02
 Pe-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 475 at 1000m
124
7.2.1944
8:07
 La-5 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 06 788 at 2500m
125
7.2.1944
12:58
 La-5 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 06 795 at 1500m
126
22.2.1944
11:21
 Pe-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 03 151 at 1200m
127
22.2.1944
13:02
 Yak-7 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 94 857 at 1600m
128
22.2.1944
13:10
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 04 742 at 1100m
129
22.2.1944
15:02
 Yak-7 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 93 239 at 1800m
130
22.2.1944
15:03
 Yak-7 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 94 897 at 1000m
131
22.2.1944
15:04
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 94 895 at 500m
132
22.2.1944
15:06
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 04 119 at 600m
133
24.3.1944
9:00
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 42 679
134
27.3.1944
15:10
 U-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 42 448: at 100m
135
28.3.1944
7:07
 Il-2 Stabsstaffel/JG 51 42 698: at 200m
136
30.5.1944
8:01
 Yak-7 8./JG 51 52 515: at 100m
137
23.6.1944
16:40
 Yak-9 8./JG 51 05 637: at 2000m
138
23.6.1944
16:55
 Yak-9 8./JG 51 05 625: at 1200m
139
23.6.1944
17:12
 LaGG-5 8./JG 51 05 429: at 2200m
140
24.6.1944
8:25
 Il-2 8./JG 51 93 358: at 150m
141
24.6.1944
8:30
 Il-2 8./JG 51 93 355: at 150m
142
24.6.1944
11:21
 Il-2 8./JG 51 93 325: at 100m
143
24.6.1944
15:57
 Yak-9 8./JG 51 94 859: at 2000m
144
24.6.1944
16:10
 Yak-9 8./JG 51 94 863: at 2000m
145
25.6.1944
9:43
 Il-2 8./JG 51 93 333: at 500m
146
25.6.1944
12:34
 Yak-9 8./JG 51 93 141: at 600m
147
25.6.1944
19:01
 Yak-9 8./JG 51 84 763: at 3800m
148
26.6.1944
13:20
 Yak-9 8./JG 51 83 229: at 300m
149
26.6.1944
15:55
 Yak-9 8./JG 51 94 872: at 1500m
150
26.6.1944
16:01
 Yak-9 8./JG 51 94 876: at 4000m
151
16.7.1944
8:42
 Pe-2 8./JG 51 50 355: at 1500m
152
16.7.1944
8:48
 Il-2 8./JG 51 50 178: at 1000m
153
16.7.1944
12:21
 Il-2 8./JG 51 40 463: at 1000m
154
16.7.1944
12:25
 Il-2 8./JG 51 50 373: at 500m
155
16.7.1944
18:30
 LaGG-5 8./JG 51 50 354: at 3000m
156
17.7.1944
19:30
 Il-2 8./JG 51 50 313: at 300m
157
17.7.1944
19:32
 Il-2 8./JG 51 50 312: at 300m
158
28.7.1944
9:05
 Yak-7 8./JG 51 35 689: at 300m
159
1.8.1944
7:05
 LaGG-5 8./JG 51 35 351: at 1500m
160
2.8.1944
10:40
 Il-2 8./JG 51 24 436: at 200m
161
5.8.1944
10:20
 Yak-7 8./JG 51 24 833: at 3500m
162
8.8.1944
14:27
 Il-2 8./JG 51 36 545: at 200m
163
8.8.1944
14:29
 Il-2 8./JG 51 36 548: at 300m
164
8.8.1944
14:30
 Il-2 8./JG 51 36 567: at 300m
165
8.8.1944
16:32
 Il-2 8./JG 51 36 548: at 800m
166
8.8.1944
16:33
 Il-2 8./JG 51 36 571: at 800m
167
8.8.1944
16:35
 Il-2 8./JG 51 36 575: at 600m
168
8.8.1944
18:12
 Il-2 8./JG 51 36 576: at 400m
169
13.8.1944
15:10
 Il-2 8./JG 51 24 613 at 800m
170
13.8.1944
17:57
 Yak-7 8./JG 51 24 442 at 3500m
171
17.8.1944
7:00
 Yak-7 10./JG 51 36 347 at 200m
172
17.8.1944
13:12
 Yak-7 10./JG 51 26 285 at 200m
173
17.8.1944
13:14
 Yak-7 10./JG 51 27 879
174
21.8.1944
16:51
 Yak-7 10./JG 51 37 541: at 1500m
175
21.8.1944
16:52
 Il-2 10./JG 51 37 582: at 400m
176
23.8.1944
12:11
 Il-2 10./JG 51 37 579: at 800m
177
23.8.1944
12:34
 Il-2 10./JG 51 27 863: at 300m
178
24.8.1944
9:12
 Yak-7 10./JG 51 37 754: at 4000m
179
24.8.1944
13:05
 Il-2 10./JG 51 27 499: at 500m
180
24.8.1944
15:05
 LaGG-5 10./JG 51 37 374: at 1500m
181
25.8.1944
16:32
 LaGG-5 10./JG 51 37 378
182
16.9.1944
16:52
 Yak-9 10./JG 51 17 367: at 3000m
183
16.9.1944
16:57
 Yak-9 10./JG 51 17 636: at 3000m
184
16.9.1944
17:01
 Yak-9 10./JG 51 17 496: at 1500m
185
17.9.1944
15:35
 Il-2 10./JG 51 27 497: at 1500m
186
19.9.1944
15:36
 Pe-2 10./JG 51 27 654: at 3000m
187
22.9.1944
10:29
 Boston III 10./JG 51 27 422: at 1000m
188
24.9.1944
8:30
 Yak-7 10./JG 51 37 362: at 1500m
189
28.9.1944
10:32
 Pe-2 10./JG 51 17 331: at 6500m
190
5.10.1944
11:22
 Il-2 10./JG 51 27 862: at 200m
191
5.10.1944
13:59
 Il-2 10./JG 51 36 145: at 150m
192
5.10.1944
14:11
 Il-2 10./JG 51 36 132: at 150m
193
6.10.1944
13:25
 P-39 10./JG 51 27 876: at 1500m
194
6.10.1944
15:45
 Il-2 10./JG 51 26 277: at 400m
195
13.10.1944
8:53
 Pe-2 10./JG 51 25 125: at 600m
196
13.10.1944
13:29
 Boston III 10./JG 51 25 356: at 7000m
197
14.10.1944
11:11
 Yak-9 10./JG 51 27 337: at 1800m
198
14.10.1944
11:13
 Yak-9 10./JG 51 27 455: at 2000m
199
16.10.1944
9:55
 Boston III 10./JG 51 35 316: at 1500m
200
16.10.1944
9:57
 Il-2 10./JG 51 35 314: at 300m
201
16.10.1944
12:00
 Il-2 10./JG 51 25 583: at 500m
202
16.10.1944
13:55
 Il-2 10./JG 51 25 496: at 300m
203
17.10.1944
4:47
 Pe-2 10./JG 51 25 455: at 3000m
204
17.10.1944
9:55
 Yak-7 10./JG 51 25 455: at 3000m

Victories : 204
Awards : Ehrenpokal (27 April 1942)
                Deutsches Kreuz in Gold (22 May 1942)
                Ritterkreuz (23 August 1942)
                Eichenlaub (11 April 1944)
Units : JG 51

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