Gerhard Barkhorn became the first fighter pilot to have completed 1,000 combat missions. He achieved his 250th victory on 13 February, the second to do so. He was awarded the Schwertern on 2 March 1944 for 251 victories. He achieved his 300th victory in January 1945.
His success had not come without some cost. He was shot down nine times in his combat career. He baled out once and was wounded twice. On 31 May 1944, Barkhorn was flying his sixth mission of the day and, being fatigued, was not concentrating on keeping a good look-out when he was bounced by a Russian Airacobra and was shot down in Bf 109 G-6 (WNr 163195) "Black 5". He received severe wounds to his right arm and leg which put him out of action for four months. He returned to combat duty at the end of October. He claimed his 275th victim on 14 November. He recorded his 301st, and last, victory on 5 January 1945.
On 16 January 1945, Major Barkhorn was transferred to take command of JG 6 serving on Reichsverteidigung duties based at Posen. He led the unit until 10 April 1945 but was still suffering the effects of his wounds and eventually relinquished command for another spell in hospital. On recovery he joined JV 44. On 21 April 1945, on the last of only two operational missions flying the Me 262 jet fighter, Barkhorn's starboard engine failed. He was obliged to break off an attack on an American bomber formation and return to his base at Riem. He was chased by the Mustang fighter escort so set about landing his crippled machine in a clearing in some woods. In the resulting crash-landing the cockpit canopy, which he had opened to enable a quick escape, slammed shut on his neck. The incident put him back in hospital and out of the war.
Post-war Barkhorn became a Generalleutnant in the Bundesluftwaffe. He retired in 1976. He lost his life, with that of his wife Christl, in an automobile accident on 6 January 1983.
Gerhard Barkhorn was credited with 301 victories gained in 1,104 missions. All his victories were gained while flying over the Eastern Front.