What was the ultimate fate of the pilot of ME-109 G5 "Black 11" (Seppe museum)
 

Hi all,
I am wondering what became of the pilot of the G-5 which resides in the Seppe Flying Museum, Southern Holland. His name was Uffz.Kurt Sossdorf (spelling?) and he survived being shot down by P47s in late 1943. He subsequently appears to have claimed a B17 on 29-4-44, whilst flying with JG 53. Does anyone have any information?
regards
Stovepipe

Re: What was the ultimate fate of the pilot of ME-109 G5 "Black 11" (Seppe museum)
 

According to the Tom Kracker database, we have the following on this fellow:

Sossdorf, Kurt. - Uffz 1 known victory - 5./JG-3 Bf 109 G-5 Werk # 15343 "Black 11" (lost) EK 1 & 2, Fighter Operational Clasp Shot down 4 December, 1943 in his G-5 during aerial combat with a P-47 by Amersfort, Schiphol, his disposition unknown. The fuselage is restored and is in place at a restaurant at the Seppe Airport, between Breda and Roosendaal, Netherlands. One known victory, his 1st, a B-17 at Ratzlingen, E of Wolfsburg, on 29 April, 1944. - Alternate spelling: Soessdorf.

Unfortunately, it does not indicate what happened to him.

HLdZ
DGS

Re: What was the ultimate fate of the pilot of ME-109 G5 "Black 11" (Seppe museum)
 

Hi there.
He baled out with light injuries and was rescued by a Dutch farmer, who patched him up and called the Germans to retrieve him. In return, Sossdorf (according to the placard in the Seppe Museum) managed to bring a welfare parcel from the Dutch farmer to his son, who was a forced-labourer in Germany.
Some sources credit him with his B17 kill during service in either 4 or 5/JG 53.

Given that he doesn't appear to have shot down anything else and I can't find any further trace of him, I wonder if he was KIA after 29/4/44.

regards
Stovepipe

Re: What was the ultimate fate of the pilot of ME-109 G5 "Black 11" (Seppe museum)
 

He does appear to have flown again:

Bf 109G-6, 165513, Soßdorf, Uffz. Kurt, , , 5., JG 3, , ohne Kz., , , 13-Aug-44, Reported lost, cause unknown. F returned., , FR, Prien/Stemmer, II./JG 3, p.418, , Ort unbekannt, 100%, F, , ,

Re: What was the ultimate fate of the pilot of ME-109 G5 "Black 11" (Seppe museum)
 

Hello all,

Uffz Kurt Soßdorf was never shot down by P-47's on 4 Dec 43 over Holland. German report stated:
17.00 Uhr
Absturz einer Bf 109, schwarze 11, der 5./II JG Udet Schiphol bei Bleiswijk zwischen Den Haag und Gouda. Bruchschaden 99%. Ff mit Fallschirm abgesprongen. Keine Pers. Verluste. Alarmstart.

The P-47's of 352 FG were active over Holland around 1500 hours, when Gruppenkommandeur Hptm W. Lemke (Stab II./JG 3 - near Dodewaard) and Ofw Josef Schütte (5./JG 3 - near Barneveld) were shot down.

Soßdorf belonged to 5./JG 3 during the war. On 13 August 1944 he had free hunting and escorted "Werfer" and did not return from this mission. One source stated that he was wounded and taken POW by the allies and was repatriated later during the war.

Kurt Soßdorf survived the war and died in 2004.

Best regards,
Rob

Re: What was the ultimate fate of the pilot of ME-109 G5 "Black 11" (Seppe museum)
 

Hi there,
That's very interesting! You should forward this information to the Seppe Museum, as their information about Sossdorf is on a placard beside the 109. Thanks for the update.

regards
Stovepipe

Re: What was the ultimate fate of the pilot of ME-109 G5 "Black 11" (Seppe museum)
 

Hello,

I try to update my informations about that G-5 owned by Jan van Huuksloot.

I found it in the loss list in Priens Jagdfliegerverbände Teil 10/II p. 296, but he gives the WNr. 15943. Is that a typo?

Thx for help.

B.R.
David

Re: What was the ultimate fate of the pilot of ME-109 G5 "Black 11" (Seppe museum)
 

Just checked the "Registered Luftwaffe Summary Aircraft Losses" database by Mr Brekkens and co, as I this gives number of losses by cause and show enemy action or not.

Sadly for this date, it only shows 2 losses to enemy fighters, while they are three known losses over Netherlands (Lemke, Schütte, Soßdor). So no answer here.

By the way it is the first time since I used this database that the number of displayed losses don't match the other sources.

Bets regards

Re: What was the ultimate fate of the pilot of ME-109 G5 "Black 11" (Seppe museum)
 

I'd guess it's an typo. I have another 100% loss for W.Nr.15943 and Soßdorf twice in my list (with 15343 and 15943) so fit the number 15343 better.

Re: What was the ultimate fate of the pilot of ME-109 G5 "Black 11" (Seppe museum)
 

Hello gentlemen,

here is a comparison of the JG 3 losses on Dec 4, 1943:

Prien: Hptm Wilhelm Lemke Stab II./JG 3 Bf 109 G-6 410558
Gen.Qu.: Hptm Wilhelm Lembke I./JG 3 Bf 109 G-6 410388

Prien: FhjObfw Josef Schütte 5./JG 3 Bf 109 G-5 15955
Gen.Qu.: Obfw Josef Schütte 5./JG 3 Bf 109 G-5 15955

Prien: Uffz Kurt Soßdorf 5./JG 3 Bf 109 G-5 15943
Gen.Qu.: F unverletzt 5./JG 3 Bf 109 G-5 15343.

Regards
Leo