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Hans Joachim Birkner was a wingman for both Erich Hartmann and Gunther Rall, born on the 22nd of October 1921 he joined JG52 in mid 1943. Birkner was commissioned a Leutnant and became a member of the Century club on the 14th of October 1943. While taking off from an airfield in Crakow on the 14th of December 1944 his engine failed and Birkner crashed to his death. In only 284 missions Birkner had 117 victories. |