Erich Hartmann — The Black Devil of the Skies Erich Hartmann remains the most lethal fighter pilot in recorded history, with 352 confirmed aerial victories—a number no other pilot has ever approached. Flying for the Luftwaffe during World War II, he became known to Soviet pilots as “The Black Devil,” a nickname that reflected both fear and respect. What made Hartmann so effective wasn’t reckless aggression but strict discipline. His signature tactic was brutally simple: approach unseen, fire onl