Karl Menckhoff
Encyclopedia
Karl Menckhoff was a German
First World War
fighter ace
, credited with 39 confirmed victories. Already in his 30s when he learned to fly, he was one of the oldest pilots in the Imperial German Aviation Service.
, in the Kingdom of Prussia
. He reported for his compulsory military service at age 20, but was discharged shortly afterwards when he suffered from appendicitis
.
In August 1914, when he was 31, Menckoff enlisted in Infantry Regiment Nr. 106. He was wounded several times and received the Iron Cross First Class and Second Class for gallantry, both by the end of 1914.
. He was at first an observer on the Eastern Front, but in 1916 he became a flight instructor. The following year, as a Vizefeldwebel (staff sergeant), he was assigned as a fighter pilot to Jagdgstaffel 3, stationed in France and equipped with the Albatros D.III
.
He scored his first victory on 5 April 1917, downing a Nieuport 17 of No. 29 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.
Menckhoff was shot down several times, but always returned to duty. On 23 September 1917, he rushed to the aid of Werner Voss
during the latter's battle against 7 SE5's of the RFC's No. 56 Squadron. Lieutenant Arthur Rhys Davids
turned from engaging Voss and damaged Menckhoff's Albatros so badly that he had to crash land it. Rhys Davids then shot down Voss.
Menckhoff fought planes of No. 56 Squadron several days later and again had to crash land. Nevertheless, his kills totalled 20 by 4 February 1918. One week later, he was assigned command of Jagdgstaffel 72 as a Hauptmann
(captain). His leadership style conserved his men's lives and the squadron's subsequent 60 victories were attained with the loss of only 1 of its own pilots.
By June 1918, Meckhoff had gained 19 more victories. On 23 April he was awarded Germany's highest decoration for valor, the Pour le Merite
(the famous Blue Max).
On 25 June, however, Menckhoff's Fokker D.VII
was shot down by Lieutenant Walter Avery of the 95th Aero Squadron, United States Air Service. Captured by French troops at the crash site, Menckhoff was chagrined to learn that he was a rookie pilot's first victory. Avery cut the letter "M" from the crashed Fokker, but sportingly refused to deprive him of his Pour le Merite
.
In May 2007, Walter Avery's daughter learned that Menckhoff's son, Gerhard Menckhoff, lived in the District of Columbia. She decided to return the fabric "M" from Menckhoff's crashed Fokker D.VII to the family. Gerhard Menckhoff explained he had not known his father was a war hero until after his death, and promised to pass the relic on to his son Karl, the German ace's namesake.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
fighter ace
Fighter Ace
Fighter Ace was a massively multiplayer online computer game in which one flies World War II fighter and bomber planes in combat against other players and virtual pilots...
, credited with 39 confirmed victories. Already in his 30s when he learned to fly, he was one of the oldest pilots in the Imperial German Aviation Service.
Military years
Menckhoff was born in Herford, WestphaliaWestphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
, in the Kingdom of Prussia
Kingdom of Prussia
The Kingdom of Prussia was a German kingdom from 1701 to 1918. Until the defeat of Germany in World War I, it comprised almost two-thirds of the area of the German Empire...
. He reported for his compulsory military service at age 20, but was discharged shortly afterwards when he suffered from appendicitis
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
.
In August 1914, when he was 31, Menckoff enlisted in Infantry Regiment Nr. 106. He was wounded several times and received the Iron Cross First Class and Second Class for gallantry, both by the end of 1914.
Aerial service
Left unfit for infantry service by his injuries, Menckhoff applied for transfer to the LuftstreitkrafteLuftstreitkräfte
The Deutsche Luftstreitkräfte , known before October 1916 as Die Fliegertruppen des deutschen Kaiserreiches , or simply Die Fliegertruppen, was the air arm of the Imperial German Army during World War I...
. He was at first an observer on the Eastern Front, but in 1916 he became a flight instructor. The following year, as a Vizefeldwebel (staff sergeant), he was assigned as a fighter pilot to Jagdgstaffel 3, stationed in France and equipped with the Albatros D.III
Albatros D.III
The Albatros D.III was a biplane fighter aircraft used by the Imperial German Army Air Service and the Austro-Hungarian Air Service during World War I. The D.III was flown by many top German aces, including Manfred von Richthofen, Ernst Udet, Erich Löwenhardt, Kurt Wolff, and Karl Emil Schäfer...
.
He scored his first victory on 5 April 1917, downing a Nieuport 17 of No. 29 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps.
Menckhoff was shot down several times, but always returned to duty. On 23 September 1917, he rushed to the aid of Werner Voss
Werner Voss
Werner Voss was a World War I German flying ace, a friend and rival of the famous Red Baron, Manfred von Richthofen....
during the latter's battle against 7 SE5's of the RFC's No. 56 Squadron. Lieutenant Arthur Rhys Davids
Arthur Rhys Davids
Arthur Percival Foley Rhys-Davids DSO, MC & Bar was a British flying ace during the First World War...
turned from engaging Voss and damaged Menckhoff's Albatros so badly that he had to crash land it. Rhys Davids then shot down Voss.
Menckhoff fought planes of No. 56 Squadron several days later and again had to crash land. Nevertheless, his kills totalled 20 by 4 February 1918. One week later, he was assigned command of Jagdgstaffel 72 as a Hauptmann
Hauptmann
Hauptmann is a German word usually translated as captain when it is used as an officer's rank in the German, Austrian and Swiss armies. While "haupt" in contemporary German means "main", it also has the dated meaning of "head", i.e...
(captain). His leadership style conserved his men's lives and the squadron's subsequent 60 victories were attained with the loss of only 1 of its own pilots.
By June 1918, Meckhoff had gained 19 more victories. On 23 April he was awarded Germany's highest decoration for valor, the Pour le Merite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
(the famous Blue Max).
On 25 June, however, Menckhoff's Fokker D.VII
Fokker D.VII
The Fokker D.VII was a German World War I fighter aircraft designed by Reinhold Platz of the Fokker-Flugzeugwerke. Germany produced around 3,300 D.VII aircraft in the summer and autumn of 1918. In service, the D.VII quickly proved itself to be a formidable aircraft...
was shot down by Lieutenant Walter Avery of the 95th Aero Squadron, United States Air Service. Captured by French troops at the crash site, Menckhoff was chagrined to learn that he was a rookie pilot's first victory. Avery cut the letter "M" from the crashed Fokker, but sportingly refused to deprive him of his Pour le Merite
Pour le Mérite
The Pour le Mérite, known informally as the Blue Max , was the Kingdom of Prussia's highest military order for German soldiers until the end of World War I....
.
Post war years
Menckhoff was held as a prisoner long after the war ended in November 1918. Despairing of his release, he finally escaped in August, 1919, and managed to reach Switzerland. He remained there for the rest of his life, becoming a successful businessman. He raised a family, but never talked about the war. Karl Menckhoff died in Switzerland in 1949 at the age of 65.In May 2007, Walter Avery's daughter learned that Menckhoff's son, Gerhard Menckhoff, lived in the District of Columbia. She decided to return the fabric "M" from Menckhoff's crashed Fokker D.VII to the family. Gerhard Menckhoff explained he had not known his father was a war hero until after his death, and promised to pass the relic on to his son Karl, the German ace's namesake.