Anton Hackl

Infobox Military Person
name=Anton Hackl
lived=birth date|1915|3|25|df=y — death date and age|1984|7|10|1915|3|25|df=y
placeofbirth=Regensburg
placeofdeath=Regensburg


caption=Anton Hackl
nickname="Toni"
allegiance=flagicon|Nazi Germany Nazi Germany
serviceyears=1933-1945
rank=Major
branch=Heer (1933 – 1935)
Luftwaffe (1935 – 1945)
commands=II./JG 26, JG 76, JG 11
unit= JG 333, JG 77, JG 11, JG 76, JG 26, JG 300
battles=World War II
*Norwegian campaign
*North African campaign
*Operation Barbarossa
awards="Knight's Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords"
laterwork=

Anton "Toni" Hackl (25 March 1915 in Regensburg – 10 July 1984 in Regensburg) was a German former Luftwaffe fighter ace and recipient of the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords during World War II. He was one of the very few Luftwaffe 'first-to-last' "experten" who survived the whole war, serving from 1939 until 1945.

World War II

Unteroffizier Hackl was serving with II/JG 77 when war broke out. By May 1940, Hackl was based in Norway, with JG 77 when he claimed his first in June 1940 shooting down two RAF Hudsons. On 27 June he shot down another Hudson, but was also wounded. He claimed four victories during his time in Norway.

In July 1941 he was posted with JG 77 to the Eastern Front. By the end of year his score was 27. By early 1942 he was Staffelkapitän of 5 Staffel JG 77. His score rapidly increased during the spring of 1942, and by May 1942, after 51 victories he received the "Ritterkreuz". During the month of July 1942, Hackl amassed 37 enemy aircraft shot down in the aerial battles around Voronezh, including 6 victories in a day on both 21 July and 23 July. In August, he shot down three to record his 100th victory. After his 106th victory on 6 August he was awarded the "Eichenlaub". He shot down his 118th enemy aircraft on the Eastern Front, (a LaGG-3), in September 1942.

II/JG 77 were then transferred to Tunisia where Hackl claimed 6 victories. In combat with P-38 Lightnings on 4 February 1943 he was badly wounded and was hospitalised for several months. Returning to duties in September 1943, Hackl next operated with III/JG 11 on "Reichsverteidigung" (Defense of the Reich) duties. On 1 October, he became "Gruppenkommandeur" III/JG 11. Hackl went on to claim 25 four-engined bombers shot down during his time with the III "Gruppe". In April 1944, he commanded JG 11 briefly before being badly wounded in battle with a USAAF P-47 Thunderbolt. He was awarded the "Schwerter" on 13 July. During July 1944 he became "Geschwaderkommodore" of JG 76.

On 8 October he became "Gruppenkommandeur" of II/JG 26 with 165 victories to his credit. By the end of the year he now had 172 victories. By late January 1945 he was acting Kommodore of JG 300 and, in late February, Kommodore of JG 11. His last 24 victories were never officially confirmed.

Anton Hackl flew about 1000 combat missions and was officially credited with shooting down 192 enemy aircraft. 131 victories were claimed while serving on the Eastern Front, 6 victories have been claimed in Africa and 55 on the Western Front. Among these numbers are 34 four-engined bombers which puts him in second place behind Georg-Peter Eder as the leading daylight bomber claimant. 55 claims were made with JG 11, 10 with JG 26, 1 with JG 300, and 124 while flying with JG 77. He was shot down 8 times and wounded 4 times. Anton Hackl died on 9 July 1984 in Regensburg.

Awards

* Wound Badge in Gold
* Front Flying Clasp of the Luftwaffe in Gold with Pennant "1000"
* Combined Pilots-Observation Badge
* German Cross in Gold
* Iron Cross 2. and 1. class
* Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords
** Knight's Cross (25 May 1942)
** 109. Oak Leaves (9 August 1942)
** 78. Swords (9 July 1944)

References

*cite web | title=Aces of the Luftwaffe| work=Anton Hackl| url= http://www.luftwaffe.cz/hackl.html| accessdate=26 April| accessyear=2007
*cite web | title=Lexikon der Wehrmacht|work=Anton Hackl| url= http://www.lexikon-der-wehrmacht.de/Personenregister/H/HacklA.htm| accessdate=26 April| accessyear=2007
* Berger, Florian. "Mit Eichenlaub und Schwertern. Die höchstdekorierten Soldaten des Zweiten Weltkrieges". Selbstverlag Florian Berger, 2006. ISBN 3-9501307-0-5
* Fellgiebel, Walther-Peer. "Die Träger des Ritterkreuzes des Eisernen Kreuzes 1939-1945". Friedburg, Germany: Podzun-Pallas, 2000. ISBN 3-7909-0284-5.