Trying to find pilot who shot down a Messerschmitt Bf109E

[Big John]

Hello All

I am trying to find the pilot who shot down a Messerschmitt Bf109E-4, please see the information I have below

"30 September 1940: 3./JG27 Messerschmitt Bf109E-4 (3630). Shot down in combat with Hurricanes over East Grinstead and crashed into a pond on Cinderhill Farm, Horsted Keynes, near Haywards Heath, 9.45 a.m. FF Uffz Alfred Sander killed. Aircraft 100% write-off.

If any one know were I can get pilot or flight records of the Hurricane pilot or plane, it would be great if I could get pictures of the pilot or the plane.


The reason I am trying to trace the information is my Father has written a book called "Too Many Goodbyes" which is about the time he was evacuated in 1939 as an 8 year old boy because of the impending outbreak of World War II.

In the book there are a couple of chapters that tell the story of two German fighter planes that were shot down in a dog fights in the sky’s over where my dad had been evacuated.

We know that one of the pilots who was shot down was flying a Messerschmitt 109 and crashed landed on the 30/09/1940. He was buried in the local church yard, my father saw the airman being buried in the local church yard through the window of there makes shift school.

Some time in the 1960’s the body of the German airman was exhumed and taken to the Cannock Chase German Military Cemetery at Staffordshire, U.K.

I am trying to find out as much information about Alfred plane being shot down.

If you have any questions please let me know.

Hope you can help.

Kind Regards

John