Help Please Naming German Pilot

[pauldawn]

hi guys

ive seen this forum many times over the last 2 years. its taken that long to research my wives uncle who died when his Halifax mk111 bomber was attacked by a ju88 nightfighter over France in 44.

lw166 (427 sqn RCAF, out of leeming) was involved in a raid on the Villeneuve rail yards on 4/5 july 44. it was attacked 15 mins after dropping on target by a ju88, this attack brought the a/c down killing uncle and pilot, the rest of the crew got out (2 evaded, 3 were pow's).

im interested to find out who shot the a/c down. after some research i believed it was Ghunter Schlomberg from NGJ3 , however, having recieved further documented info, i now know this not to be true. ive looked again and believe the luftwaffe pilot responsible may actually be a Fritz Sothe (NGJ4), however, im not convinced of this either. although most of the facts of his "claim" ring true, there is a major factor that doesnt work for me. he makes his claim at 7000 ft. the halifax survivors statements say they were attacked at 3500 ft! a big annomoly!

is there anyone that can help me put a name to the german pilot?

the attack took place at approx 20-30km SW of the Villeneuve rail yards on the night of 4/5 july 44 at approx 0130 (gmt) at 3500 feet by a ju88

any help would great

rgds

paul

[Leo Etgen]

Hello Paul

Theo Boiten and Rod Mackenzie arrive to the conclusion in NachtJagd War Diaries that it was Hauptmann Fritz Söthe of 4./NJG 4 who was possibly responsible for the downing of the aircraft of your wife's uncle. This was his 17th victory. The only information that I can add about Hauptmann Fritz Söthe is that he was born on 20 September 1914 at Lohfeld in Minden and claimed 18 victories, including one by day. He was shot down and wounded in Bf 110 G-4 (W.Nr. 140 083) at Rozay-en-Brie on 12 June 1944 and shot down and killed in Ju 88 G-1 (W.Nr. 714 153) at Lambrecht-Neustadt on 28 September 1944 the victim of a RAF Mosquito night-fighter. Posthumously he was awarded the Deutsches Kreuz in Gold on 1 January 1945. I hope that this helps.

Horrido!

Leo

[pauldawn]

leo

that is brillant info. many thanks!

it puts the last page into a very long story. weve researched this for 2 years and at last we have all the details we're likely to find. we're even in touch with the dead halifax pilots family and also by phone with the last surviving member of the crew.

many thanks

paul

[mhuxt]

Hi Leo,

Do you have information on the Mossie? Was it Ginger Owen?

TIA...

[Doug Stankey]

A search of our officer career database reveals:


SÖTHE, Fritz.
(DOB: 26.09.14).
01.11.42 Oblt.(Kr.O./Fl.), trf from FFS A/B 41 to Führerreserve z.b.V. Ob.d.L. (Schüleretat).
01.04.43 promo to Hptm. (Kr.O.).
30/31.03.44 Hptm. in 4./NJG 4, WIA - received fire from enemy tailgunner, crashed vic Lyon.
08.44 Hptm., Staka 4./NJG 4 ( to 28.09.44 KIA - shot down by Mosquito vic Lambecht – Neustadt).
01.01.45 Hptm., awarded DKG posthumously.

A search of the Kracker Archive reveals:


Söthe, Fritz. Hptm. - 18 victories - 10./NJG-1 (3/43), 3./NJG-4 (7/43), Stab II./NJG-4 (10/43), 4./NJG-4 (4/44) Bf 110G-4 Werk # 140083 (WIA 6/12/44), Ju 88G-1 Werk # 714153 (lost 9/44)DK-G(1/1/45 Post.), EP, EK 1 & 2, Wound Badge 6/12/44), Night Fighter Operational Clasp KIA 28/29 September, 1944 during aerial combat with a Mosquito, crashing at Lambrecht-Neustadt (Boiten). One known victory, a Wellington on 12 March, 1943. Another Wellington 10 km E of Avernes on 4 July, 1943. A Halifax at Wambrechies on 11 August, 1943. A "4 mot" N of Saarlouis on 28 August, 1943. A B-17 N of Rossignol, NE of Montmedy, on 14 October, 1943. A Lancaster on 20 February, 1944. A double victory on 21 April, 1944; two "4 mots" N of Paris. A "4 mot" near St. Dizier on 25 April, 1944. A "4 mot" near Paris on 1 May, 1944. Another double victory on 1 June, 1944; both "4 mots", one N of Paris, the other at Meru. A "4 mot" at Trappes on 8 June, 1944. A "4 mot" SW of Evreux on 11 June, 1944. A double victory on 1 July, 1944; both "4 mot's", one in the area E of Blois, the other near Bourges. A "4 mot" at Chartres and another at Artenay on 5 July, 1944. Magnus Report. Alternate spelling: Sothe.


We hope that this helps.

HLdZ
DGS