Bio of Hauptmann Fritz Karch (1920-2001)

Full name: Friedrich Karch
Nickname: Fritz
Date of Birth: 17 January 1920 at Münich, Bayern (Germany)
Date of Death: 30 December 2001 at Bayreuth, Bayern (Germany)
NSDAP Number: unknown
SS Number: unknown
Academic Title: unknown
Family Member: unknown
Physical Feature: unknown

Beförderungen (Promotion):
00.01.1943 Leutnant

Karriere (Career):
In September 1942 he was a Feldwebel with 6./JG 2 on the Channel Front. During the Tunisian Campaign he scored his first 3 victories beginning on 28th November 1942 with a Spitfire. In January 1943 he was promoted Leutnant. He became Staffelführer of 6./JG 2. During July 1943 he claimed at least two B-17s shot down over France including B-17 42-29928 on 4 July 1943 near La Coulonche during a raid on Le Mans (381st BG, 533 BS). OKL fighter claims 10.7.1943 - Ltn Fritz KARCH - 6 / JG 2 - B-17 -15 km N.W. Evreux - 2500 m. - 08.12 (heure) - Film : C/2027/1 Anek : Nr __" On 17 August 1943 over Dieppe he achieved his 10th victory and his 15th on 31st December 1943. In January 1944 he had raised his total to 20 and by August to 30. In March 1944 he was named Staffelkapitän of 6./JG 2. He shot down two P-47s in December 1944 and by January 1945 his total had increased to 40. On 2 January 1945 he was promoted to Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 2. He achieved his final victory on 28th March 1945, a P-51. Awarded the Knight's Cross on 20 April 1945, he ended the war with a total of 47 victories, 21 of which were four-engine bombers.
 
Orden und Ehrenzeichen (Medals and Decorations):
13.01.1943 Frontflugspange für Jäger in Bronze
26.01.1943 Eisernes Kreuz II.Klasse
22.03.1943 Erinnerungsmedaille für den Italienisch-Deutschen Feldzug in Afrika
01.05.1943 Ärmelband "AFRIKA"
14.05.1943 Frontflugspange für Jäger in Silber
29.05.1943 Eisernes Kreuz I.Klasse
09.10.1943 Deutsches Kreuz in Gold
27.10.1943 Frontflugspange für Jäger in Gold
20.03.1944 Luftwaffe Ehrenpokale für besondere Leistungen im Luftkrieg
04.08.1944 Verwundetenabzeichen in Schwarz
17.04.1945 Ritterkreuz des Eisernen Kreuzes, as Hauptmann and Gruppenkommandeur II.Gruppe / Jagdgeschwader 2 (JG 2) "Richthofen". Awarded for his accomplishments as a fighter pilot/commander. By the end of the war he had flown a total of about 270 sorties, in which he achieved 47 aerial victories in the west (including 21 four-engined bombers).

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Source :
https://www.emedals.com/a-group-of-documents-to-a-luftwaffe-fighter-ace-fritz-karch-47-air-victories
https://www.flickr.com/photos/ww2images/6897281433
https://www.tracesofwar.com/persons/50371/Karch%C2%A0Fritz.htm