Kurt Ubben

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

On 19 April 1941, Oberleutnant Kurt "Kuddel" Ubben (110 victories, RK-EL, killed in action 27 April 1944), Staffelkapitän of 8./JG 77, was shot down in aerial combat with Hurricane fighters of 33 Sqn, RAF and had to force-land behind Allied lines to be rescued later by the Gruppe's Fi 156 liaison aircraft. Would anybody who has the loss list information of his fighter be willing to share it with me if this information exists?

Horrido!

Leo

[Andreas Brekken]

Hi.

No mention of Ubben is made in the loss lists for this day as far as I can see. But there are a couple of losses for the III./JG 77.

The most likely candidate is WNr 5198... with WNr 3617 as number two.. the reason for the loss stated as being anti-aircraft fire, but that might have been part of the reason for the loss. The III./JG 77 did a lot of anti-ship work during "MARITA".

Regards,
Andreas B

[Stig Jarlevik]

Guys

According to Prien's JG 77 Vol 1 book, Ubben was lost in Wnr 5198 and officially it was a loss to AA fire. Ubben told the story to some journalist in 1942 where he also confessed being chased by three Hurricanes....

Cheers
Stig

[Leo Etgen]

Hi guys

A rather belated thank you to both for your information. I have to agree with Stig that Ubben most likely was shot down in aerial combat although he may have thought it was due to ground fire. My understanding of this particular air battle is that seven Hurricanes of 33 Sqn, RAF clashed with five fighters of III./JG 77 resulting in two Hurricane fighters shot down and a third badly damaged and force-landing at base and two Bf 109 E-7 fighters being lost, flown by Ubben and Oberleutnant Armin Schmidt, Staffelkapitän of 9./JG 77, who was killed. A third fighter may have been badly damaged and force-landed at base as well.

Horrido!

Leo