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Born on 31.07.1920 in Linz / Austria, Josef Menapace was at the outbreak of the Second World War still member of the RAD.
He came in November 1939 for the Air Force and was trained as a pilot, he made his first combat missions as an ensign in Greece for the 8 (S) / Lehrgeschwader 2, which moved to Russia, and in 1942 I. / Battle Squadron was renamed (SG).
Menapace, who was employed at all focal points of the southern and middle eastern front, led on 31.7.1942 as squadron commander of his 7./SG 1 600 Sortie through, as the most successful fighter planes on the aircraft type Henschel Hs 123 him the Knight's Cross was on 08/20/1942 for 650 sorties awarded in the fall of 1942 squadron commander in the newly-formed IL / SG 2, flew Menapace from September 1943, again as a squadron commander in the 1 / SG-1, after more than 700 sorties, including more than 650 on the Hs 123, the Knight's Cross was shot down south of the Pripyat enemy flak in his FW190 on 10.06.1943, where he took charge by death.
Geo