Heinz Altendorf

[cpaige5@hotmail.com]

I was reading an article from his widow about her husband's pow experiences in Canada. Can any one shed more light on this airman's Luftwaffe career? All I have is he was captured in the desert and spent his pow days here in Canada. Immigrated to Canada after the war.

[VtwinVince]

I knew Heinz fairly well. He flew with JG 53 7. Staffel from the start of the western campaign, and claimed his first victory flying as wingman for Werner Moelders. I believe he scored seven victories in the west before being transferred the east at the start of the Russian campaign, where he scored a further 17 victories. He was then sent to North Africa, where he was shot down by AA fire from a tank column and taken prisoner. He had just been awarded the German Cross in Gold and at the time of his capture had the most missions of any fighter pilot. I asked him the details of his capture, and he told me that he mistook the allied tank column for axis, but by the time he realized his error, he was hit. Heinz was a really great guy, always willing to spend time with enthusiasts such as myself. He did spend several years as a POW here, along with other fighter pilots such as Jupp Buerschgens and Ekkehard Priebe.

[Doug Stankey]

From our officer career files we have:

ALTENDORF, Heinz.
10.07.39 Lt., trf to JG 53.
06.09.40 Oblt., appt Staka 7./JG 53 (to 16.12.41 POW – shot down by AA fire and bellylanded at Mechli/75 km SSW of Derna in Libya).
25.02.42 Oblt., awarded DKG, 7./JG 53.
01.07.43 promo to Hptm.

Tom Kracker's database has the following:

Altendorf, Heinz "Hans" - Oblt, - Born: 1917 - 24 victories - associated with: 7./JG-53 (4/40 Wiesbaden-Erbenheim), Stfkpt 7/JG-53 (10/40; 5/41 Maldeghem; 6/41 S.U.) - flew a/c: Bf 109E-4 Wk# 5372 (dam.10/5/40), Bf 109E-4(11/40), Bf 109F-2(4/41), Bf 109F-2 Werk # 5525 (lost 6/23/41; Emer land Grajewo, pilot OK), Bf 109F-4 Wk# 7348 "White 1 + I" (12/16/41) Awards: DK-G(2/25/42), EP, EK 1(5/40) & 2(4/1/40), Fighter Operational Clasp - Actions: POW 16 December, 1941; shot down in his Wk# 7348 "White 1 + I" by anti-aircraft fire at Mechili, Libya while attacking a British tank column. Force landed his Werk # 5372 at Cape Griz Nez on 5 October, 1940 after being damaged during combat over England; no injuries reported (Prien). Force landed his F-2 Werk # 5525 at Grajewo S.U., w/o injuries, on 23 June, 1941 (Prien). One known victory, his 1st, a Bloch 152 northeast of Reims, 19 May, 1940. His 2nd, a Hawk-75A southwest of Compiegne, 21 May, 1940. His 3rd, a Morane 406 10 km south of Creil, 27 May, 1940. His 4th, a Potez 63 at Gournay on 3 June, 1940. His 5th, a Blenheim over England on 8 September, 1940. His 6th, a Spitfire NW of Dungeness on 20 September, 1940. His 7th, a Hurricane on 13 May, 1941, no location. An 8th, a Hurricane W of Ramsgate on 16 May, 1941. Survived the war. Magnus.

We hope that this helps.

HLdZ
DGS

[cpaige5@hotmail.com]

Thanks you for such great details. It would be interesting to hear how he got to a Canadian pow camp from North Africa.