Highest scoring air ace for World War II

The highest officially attributed figure of aircraft shot down by any airman was 352 by Major Erich Hartmann of Germany. He began flying missions in October 1942 for JG-52, aged 20, but did not record his first kill, an IL2 'Stormovik' until his 19th mission. In July 1943, he shot down 23 planes, follwoed by 49 in August and 24 in September. By December 1943, his total reached 159. On 2 March 1944, he shot down 10 planes and was awarded the Knights Cross and Oak leaves that same day.  His last mission was 8 May 1945, when he shot down a YAK7 fighter and later landed his plane to surrender to the British forces.

The British handed him over to the Russians who tried him for war crimes and was sent to a work camp for 10½years. Until the 1970's he worked for the German Air force.