Is he the british pilot I'm lookin for?

[Big John]

Hi All

I have been trying to find out information about a German Luftwaffe pilot whose name was Alfred Sander and was shot down over West Sussex, Horsted Keynes/Haywards Heath on the 30/09/1940.

I managed to get some information on the Pilot and his plane who shot him down, with the help of members on here, so a big thank you for that.

Here is the information I have at the moment;

Name; Harry Cook

Nationality; British

Born; 31 August 1920 (Grimsby)

Service Number; 126096

Rank; Sergeant, (Commissioned Flight Lieutenant 1942)

Demobilised; 1946

Sqn; 266 & 66

Plane; Spitfire 1a

Serial Num; X4543

Engine; Merlin 3

Built at; Eastleigh

Plane first flew; 22 Sep 1940

Plane stationed on the 30/09/1940; Gravesend (Not Confirmed)

Harry Cook crashed landed the above Spitfire at R.A.F Hornchurch due to battle damage on the 13 of October 1940. He was uninjured.

Does any one have any other information about Harry or his Spitfire, I believe the large letters on the side of the Spitfire’s would have related to there Sqn and I also believe that 66 Sqn fist two letters would have been LZ, can any one tell me what the third letter would have been on Harry’s plane.

How can I find out his kill record of German planes shoot down, time place etc?
I have found a record of Sgt cook shooting a Bf 109E down on the 30/09/1940 but is also has the wording in the same line “ in sea off Dover”, does this mean the 109 went down in the sea, if so Harry is not the man who shot Alfed Down.

Dose any one know if there are any photos of Sgt Cook or any pictures off his Spitfire X4543 above.

Any additional information that any one has would be great, or if any one can confirm the above details and were you got the information from.

If you would like to ask me anything please let me know.

Kindest Regards

John

[Chris Goss]

I seem to remember that who shot him down was inconclusive but that Cook was one who shot down a Bf 109 at about the right time but still inconclusive.

[Peter Cornwell]

Very doubtful that CROOK was involved as his claim was only deemed a 'probable'. I have never been able to determine with any degree of certainty which RAF pilot of the many involved in this action may have shot down SANDER.