Aton Hafner & Norman L Widen

Anton Hafner was credited with 204 victories in 795 combat missions. He recorded 184 victories over the Eastern Front. Of his 20 victories recorded over the Western front, eight were P-38 two engine fighters. Included in his total are 55 Il-2 Sturmoviks.

http://www.luftwaffe.cz/hafner.html

On 18 December 1942 Hafner was on a bomber intercept mission. While approaching the bomber formation they engaged the escorting P-38 Lightning fighter escort. In the ensuring dog fight Hafner flamed the left engine of a P-38. The pilot, Norman L. Widen, baled out and was taken prisoner of war and brought to Hafner's airfield.

After Hafner landed, Widen presented Hafner his silver pilot insignia. Before Widen was taken to the POW camp, Hafner and Widen promised to meet again after the war. Hafner sent the gift to his brother, Alfons Hafner, with the request to return the gifts together with a medal and picture of Anton Hafner in case of Anton Hafner getting killed in action.

In 1960 Alfons Hafner managed to contact Major Widen via the US Airforce to fulfil his brother's will.

Anton Hafner (L) and Norman Widen (R) 1942

[Jack Cook]

Jack Ilfrey had a long and detailed story about this in his 20th FG mag King's Cliffe.