1/48 Eduard, Bf 109G-2, flown by Fw. Anton Hafner, 4./ JG 51, Bizerta, Tunisia, November 1942

Anton Hafner was born on June 2nd, 1918 in Erbach near Ulm. In 1940 he successfully completed his fighter pilot training. After the training he joined JG 51 and remained in this squadron for the rest of his fighter pilot career. On August 22nd, 1942 he shot down his 60th enemy, which brought him the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross – he got it the next day. At the beginning of November 1942, the II. Gruppe JG 51 moved from the Eastern Front to Africa. On January 2nd, 1943 Anton Hafner was shot down. He survived and upon his return from hospital he joined the Stabstaffel JG 51. On May 15th, 1944 he overtook the command of 8./JG 51. On October 17th, 1944 Oblt. Anton Hafner, the bearer of the Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross with Oak Leaves, shot down his 204th enemy, the Soviet Yak-7 aircraft. During the battle, while performing a low flight with his Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6, he hit a tree and did not survive the crash.
The aircraft of the II. Gruppe JG 51 moved to Africa from the Eastern Front bore a camouflage with RLM 74/75/76 paint. The yellow identification elements marking the aircraft operating in the Eastern Front, were repainted and substituted by white complements on the wingtips and on the tail of the fuselage. The rudder bears the sign representing the number of Anton Hafner’s shot downs. Ahead of the fuselage number there is an irregularity – a white horizontal band marking the aircraft of the II. Gruppe.