This design is based on the Messerschmitt Bf 109 “Karaya 1” flown by Luftwaffe ace Erich Hartmann of Jagdgeschwader 52 (JG52). Erich Hartmann was a German fighter pilot during World War II and the most successful fighter ace in the history of aerial warfare. He flew 1,404 combat missions and participated in aerial combat on 825 separate occasions. He was credited with shooting down a total of 352 Allied aircraft: 345 Soviet and seven American while serving with the Luftwaffe. During the course of his career, Hartmann was forced to crash-land his fighter 16 times due either to mechanical failure or damage received from parts of enemy aircraft he had shot down; he was never shot down by direct enemy action. After Germany’s surrender he spent 10 years in Soviet prison camps and gulags until he was released in 1955. He joined the newly established West German Air Force where he served until his retirement in 1970.

I Love A Hangar offers product designs based on historic militaria from World War 1 to present. I Love A Hangar is not affiliated with, and does not condone or embrace the past, present or future philosophies of any radical political, religious or racist organizations.