Born in Köln, Wilhelm Mink joined 5 Staffel, Jagdgeschwader 51 (JG 51) in early 1940, and participated in the French campaign of May and June 1940.

Injured in a bombing raid, Mink returned to action in November 1943, with Ergänzungsgruppe Staffel Süd fighting in Italy.

On 12 March 1945, Mink was killed in action when his Bf 109 G-14 was shot down by Allied fighters near Hadersleben, Denmark.

Minks headless body and remains of his fighter was discovered near Haderslev in 1985 during expansion of the highway through southern Denmark.

The headless remains was buried at Assistent kirkegården Haderslev, Denmark, in a dedicated area for fallen German soldiers.