Messerschmitt Bf 109F-4 of Major Hartmann Grasser of II /JG 51 at Orel-Nord airfield, Russia, July 1942. Fine Molds kit.
Hartmann Grasser flew during the Battle of France where he scored two victories with II./JG 152. He scored five victories flying Bf 110s with ZG 2 during the battle of Britain. He was posted to JG 51 for Operation Barbarossa and opened his account against the Russians on the first day of the campaign. He was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 51, but was shot down on 24JAN42 after his 45th victory. Although wounded, he managed to walk back to German lines and was hospitalized. After returning to his unit he achieved his best single day, downing six Russian aircraft on 05JUL42. In November II./JG 51 transferred to North Africa where he claimed his final 12 victories, bringing his total to 103. He held several other command and administrative postings throughout the remainder of the war. He survived the war and Russian captivity, being released by the Russians in 1949.
Inch High Guy 