Robert Menge was born on 29 September 1913 in Windhoek
in the former German Southwest Africa. A former policeman Menge joined
the Luftwaffe in 1936. Menge served in the Spanish Civil War flying Bf
109 Ds with 1./J88 mostly from the La Cenia. He is credited with four victories
during the campaign gaining his first over an I-16 Rata on the 23 July
1938. Following his service in Spain he was posted to 5./186(T). He joined
5./JG 77 on 1 September 1939 and later served with this unit in Norway.
He gained his first victories of World War 2 claiming two RAF Hampdens,
on 12 April 1940 around Kristiansand. On 13 August 1940 he shot down four
Blenheims raiding Aalborg airfield in Denmark. He emerged the top scorer
of the Norwegian campaign, his score standing at 17 prior to his transfer
to the Channel Front. Menge was commissioned and
transferred to 3./JG 26 on 5 December 1940. He flew as Rotenflieger to
Oberstleutnant Adolf Galland (104 victories,
RK-EL). On 5 December, Oberfeldwebel Menge was badly wounded in aerial
combat Spitfires over Folkestone but was able to return to his base in
France. He was back in action on 4 April when he shot down a Spitfire over
the English coast on a freie Jagd with Galland. On 14 June 1941, 3./JG
26 took off from Audembert to intercept the British Circus No. 12. As they
were climbing they were bounced by RAF Spitfire fighters. Newly commissioned
Leutnant Menge was shot down and killed in Bf 109 E-7 (W.Nr. 6490) by Squadron
Leader “Jamie” Rankin (19.083 destroyed, 4 probable and 17.333 damaged
victories) of 92 Squadron RAF.
Robert Menge was credited with 19 victories. He
recorded four victories during the Spanish Civil
War. All his World War 2 victories were recorded over the Western
front.
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23.7.1938 |
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I-16 | 1.J/88 | Spain | |
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7.10.1938 |
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I-16 | 1.J/88 | Spain | |
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1.11.1938 |
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Curtiss | 1.J/88 | Spain | |
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5.11.1938 |
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I-16 | 1.J/88 | Spain | |
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12.4.1940 |
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Hampden | II./JG 77 | Near Kristiansand | 44 or 50 Sqn RAF |
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12.4.1940 |
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Hampden | II./JG 77 | Near Kristiansand | 44 or 50 Sqn RAF |
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30.5.1940 |
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Hudson | 5./JG 77 | W Stavanger | Hudson (N7335) “F” of 269 Sqn RAF flown by Sgt A Townsend |
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13.6.1940 |
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Skua | 5./JG 77 | Trondheim | 800 or 803 Sqn RAF |
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13.6.1940 |
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Skua | 5./JG 77 | Trondheim | 800 or 803 Sqn RAF |
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21.6.1940 |
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Hereford | 5./JG 77 | Near Bergen | Beaufort of 42 Sqn RAF |
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9.7.1940 |
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Blenheim | 5./JG 77 | Stavanger | 21 or 57 Sqn RAF |
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9.7.1940 |
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Blenheim | 5./JG 77 | Stavanger | 21 or 57 Sqn RAF |
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31.7.1940 |
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Blenheim | 5./JG 77 | Aalborg | Blenheim (R3895) of 114 Sqn RAF flown by S/L Kennedy |
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13.8.1940 |
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Blenheim | 5./JG 77 | Aalborg | Blenheim of 82 Sqn RAF |
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13.8.1940 |
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Blenheim | 5./JG 77 | Aalborg | Blenheim of 82 Sqn RAF |
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13.8.1940 |
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Blenheim | 5./JG 77 | Aalborg | Blenheim of 82 Sqn RAF |
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13.8.1940 |
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Blenheim | 5./JG 77 | Aalborg | Blenheim of 82 Sqn RAF |
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4.4.1941 |
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Spitfire | 3./JG 26 | W Dover | Possibly Spitfire (P7783) of 91 Sqn RAF flown by F/Sgt J Mann (5/1/3 victories) |
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9.6.1941 |
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Spitfire | 3./JG 26 | E Dover | Spitfire of 74 Sqn RAF |
Victories : 19
Awards : Knight`s Cross
Units : J/88, JG 186 (T), JG 77, JG 26