Trying to find pilot who shot down a Messerschmitt Bf109E
 

Hello All

I am trying to find the pilot who shot down a Messerschmitt Bf109E-4, please see the information I have below

"30 September 1940: 3./JG27 Messerschmitt Bf109E-4 (3630). Shot down in combat with Hurricanes over East Grinstead and crashed into a pond on Cinderhill Farm, Horsted Keynes, near Haywards Heath, 9.45 a.m. FF Uffz Alfred Sander killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.

If any one know were I can get pilot or flight records of the Hurricane pilot or plane, it would be great if I could get pictures of the pilot or the plane.


The reason I am trying to trace the information is my Father has written a book called "Too Many Goodbyes" which is about the time he was evacuated in 1939 as an 8 year old boy because of the impending outbreak of World War II.

In the book there are a couple of chapters that tell the story of two German fighter planes that were shot down in a dog fights in the sky’s over where my dad had been evacuated.

We know that one of the pilots who was shot down was flying a Messerschmitt 109 and crashed landed on the 30/09/1940. He was buried in the local church yard, my father saw the airman being buried in the local church yard through the window of there makes shift school.

Some time in the 1960’s the body of the German airman was exhumed and taken to the Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery at Staffordshire, U.K.

I am trying to find out as much information about Alfred plane being shot down.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Hope you can help.

Kind Regards

John

Re: Trying to find pilot who shot down a Messerschmitt Bf109E
 

Hi All

Does any one have any information of the above, I don't know were to start as I am new to this investigation stuff, any information will be a great help or even how I go about getting the information.

I would like to wish every one a Happy Christmas and Great New Year no matter were you are.

Kind Regards

John

Re: Trying to find pilot who shot down a Messerschmitt Bf109E
 

All I can add is that the Luftwaffe attack was broken up by 12 RAF Sqns, no doubt from 11 Group, so the next thing is to find which were Hurricane Sqns and who made a claim.

Have you also looked at Fighter Command Victory Claims: A Listing of Combat Claims Submitted by RAF Fighter Pilots 1939 to 1940 (RAF Fighter Command 1939-45) by John Foreman?

Re: Trying to find pilot who shot down a Messerschmitt Bf109E
 

Hello Larry,
"Victory Claims" vol1 does not help, as the earliest claim for a Bf109 is "66Sqn - Sgt C.A. Cook - probable - Tenterden -10.00" all others are in the PM.
Alex

Re: Trying to find pilot who shot down a Messerschmitt Bf109E
 

The Luftwaffe raid on that morning is said to have started at 9am. Presumably that's the time they were spotted by RDF out to sea or is that the actual time over the UK coast?

Incidentally two Bf109Es from JG27 were lost at the same time on 30th Sept 1940; the above mentioned and one from Stab I/JG27 lost over East Grinstead in combat with 'Hurricanes' at the same time (9.45am). Obt H Bertram KIA.

Its unlikely British AA would have got two, so 'shot down by another Luftwaffe unit' might be a possibility if they were 'jumped' by accident. Once back home they may have been claimed as RAF losses by the Luftwaffe pilots. It must have happened during the BoB-grey on grey?

Re: Trying to find pilot who shot down a Messerschmitt Bf109E
 

John
I answered this question on the other (Luftwaffe) Board

Re: Trying to find pilot who shot down a Messerschmitt Bf109E
 

I 'd like to know what you said as I can't find it on LEMB

Re: Trying to find pilot who shot down a Messerschmitt Bf109E
 

Luftwaffe Board of this site. LEMB is defunct if I am not much mistaken

Re: Trying to find pilot who shot down a Messerschmitt Bf109E
 

Chris, LEMB is still alive!

http://www.luftwaffe-experten.org/fo...ex.php?act=idx

Re: Trying to find pilot who shot down a Messerschmitt Bf109E
 

More like in a coma Larry.