Germany, Luftwaffe. A Group Of Documents To A Fighter Ace Fritz Karch; 47 Air Victories

A fine Group of Documents, Photos, to a Luftwaffe Fighter Ace Fritz Karch, A Knight’s Cross of the Iron Cross 1939 Winner, who claimed 47 Air Victories (all in the Western Front), including 21 Four engine bombers(!): Award document for a Luftwaffe Honor Goblet (Leutnant Friedrich Karch), dated 20 March 1944, with embossed seal in lower left corner, and facsimile signature of Reichsmarschall Hermann Göring, folded, in extremely fine condition; Award document for a Luftwaffe Fighter Clasp, Bronze Grade (Leutnant Fritz Karch), dated 13.1.1943, with original signature of Oberstleutnant, folded, in extremely fine condition; Award document for Iron Cross 2nd Class 1939 (Leutnant Fritz Karch), dated 26.1.1943, with original signature of Oberst und Fliegerführer Tunis, folded, in extremely fine condition; Award document for German-Italian Africa Campaign Medal (Leutnant Fritz Karch), “ Afrika 22.3.1943, with original ink signature of Leutnant und Staffelführer, folded, in extremely fine condition; Award document for “Cufftitle Afrika” (Leutnant Friedrich Karch), dated 1.5.1943, with original ink signature of Major, folded, in extremely fine condition; Award document for a Luftwaffe Fighter Clasp, Silver Grade (Leutnant Fritz Karch), dated 14.5.1943, with original signature of Oberstleutnant u. Geschwaderkommodore, folded, in extremely fine condition; Award document for an Iron Cross 1st Class 1939 (Leutnant Fritz Karch), dated 29.5.1943, with original signature of Generalfeldmarschall. Chef der Luftflotte 3 und Befehlshaber West Hugo Sperrle; folded, in extremely fine condition; Award document for a Luftwaffe Fighter Clasp, Gold Grade (Leutnant Fritz Karch), dated 27.10.1943, with original ink signature of Major und Geschwaderkommodore; folded, in extremely fine condition; Award document for a Wound Badge Black Grade (Oberleutnant Friedrich Karch), dated 4.8.1944, with original signature of Hauptman, in extremely fine condition; together with two photos bearing his original signature.

Footnote: Fritz Karch was born on 17th January 1920 in Munich. In Sept 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. (This brief biography was taken from Ernst Obermaier's Die Ritterkreuzträger).