Pilot Wolgang Rentsch KIA in April 45
 

Looking for all details of the pilot obove.
He was KIA in April 45.
Any idea which unit he belonged?

Tnx in advance
Rolf

Re: Pilot Wolgang Rentsch KIA in April 45
 

Rolf,

Lt. Wolfgang Rentsch made 10 claims with 7./JG 3 between July 1943 and 6 July 1944 when he was shot down and wounded. This according to Prien et al. in their III./JG 3 history. According to the listings of both Boehme (JG 7: The World's First Jet Fighter Unit) and Foreman & Harvey (Me 262 Combat Diary) Rentsch was later in JG 7. However neither of these sources show him as a casualty. What is your source for his being KIA in April 1945?

Tom

Re: Pilot Wolgang Rentsch KIA in April 45
 

Hi Tom,
please see in link below:

http://www.volksbund.de/graebersuche/content_suche.asp

Please type in the name and you'll find him on the war cemetary in Treuchtlingen, South Germany. I know from an eye whitness that he was shot down and KIA at 23rd of April 45. Based on his info Rentsch flew a Me 109 that day.

Kind regards and thanks
Rolf

Re: Pilot Wolgang Rentsch KIA in April 45
 

Rolf,

Perhaps I am missing something but the only information I can see on the Volksbund website lists his name, date and place of birth, that he was an officer (not exact rank), and the date he died or went missing. The year of birth, 1923, given in the Boehme book matches, so this may be the same person. It is certainly possible that Rentsch may have been sent for jet training but subsequently tranferred to a piston engine unit. Can you share any further details of your eye witness account?

Thanks,
Tom