Karl Mentnich

[Teresa Maria]

Hello, everybody,
Do you happen to know any details about Karl Mentnich, one of Marseille's wingmen? (For example, his date of birth, his background, when he died, etc.)
Thank you in advance.

[Charles Bavarois]

Hello Teresa Maria,

Karl Mentnich, last rank: Oberfeldwebel, born 6.5.1914 at Aachen. Known to have flown at I./JG27, 4./JG27 and Jagdgruppe West.

Filed 8 claims: 5 fighters, 1 two-engined a/c and 2 heavy bombers (Source: Hans Ring Collection).
Tony Woods claims-list has a B24 on 11. Jan 44 and a P38 on
29. Jan 44, but only from "secondary sources". This is a hint, that this claims were not accepted by RLM.

Mentnich was shot down by fighters on 22. April 1944 near Gießen airfield. He parchuted and was lightly wounded. At that time he was with 4./JG 27 flying a Bf 109G6, black 9, Werknummer 162.696 (Source: NVM WASt).

I have no information on his further military or civil career.

HTH

Carl

[Teresa Maria]

Dear Carl,
Thank you very much for your answer. I was unable to find such details anywhere.
Best regards,
Teresa.

[Ferreira]

Hi!

According to Kracker:

Name: Mentnich, Karl

Rank: Ofw

Score: 7

Units: 3/JG-27 (6/41), 4/JG-27 (1/44)

Aircraft Types: Bf 109F(Trop.) & G

Honours: EP, EK 1 & 2, Fighter Operational Clasp

Operational Details: 5 victories in the Desert. An occasional wingman for Marseille. His first victory, a Hurricane northeast of Gambut on 17 June, 1941. Another known victory, a Boston III southeast of Hafen (Tobruk) on 23 May, 1942. A P-40 of SAAF No. 4 Sq. in the Acroma-Mteifel-Harmat area on 31 May, 1942. On 2 November, 1942, he downed a Spitfire southeast of Sanyet Quotaifiya N. Africa. His 6th, a B-24 S of Leeuwarden on 11 January, 1944. His 7th, a P-38 SW of Sankt Goar in the Koblenz-Bingen area on 29 January, 1944. Bowers/Lednicer, 8 victories.

http://www.aircrewremembrancesociety...anPilotsM.html