Lt Rudolf Altendorf probable claim of Stirling N6046

[Davenport7]

All,

After all the excellent news of finding the crash site of my Grandfathers Stirling Bomber a couple of years back in Recklinghausen Germany, my research has turned more towards the bomber and its fate on the 8th September 1941. After the bomber took off at 20:01pm from Oakington it attacked Berlin target the Air Ministry. I contacted Theo Boiten who wrote the Nachtjagd series of books on nightfighter claims. He said that there was a 'probable claim' for N6046 Stirling near Berlin details below:

Lt Rudolf Altendorf: 7 2./NJG3 pr Viermont N Berlin (Sector C and D): 1400 M attacked at 00:32 prob.
Coned by Flakscheinwerfer - ABT in Sector C and D

This matched the engagement described in my grandfathers Pilots notes / memoires.

I know that the attack from Starboard side and again from behind damaged the Stirling and injured the flight engineer as he had a bullet in his shoulder till the day he died (D Owens). Later the bomber was attacked by flak closer to Recklinghausen and this caused the bomber to break up and the order to bail out came, all crew survived to become POWs.

Theo said that 4. Flak Division: 1./Res Flak Abt 403 and 2 & 3./Res Flak Abt 366 claimed the Stirling at Polsum Germany near Marl and 14 miles away from where i know the Stirling crash site is.

I was suprised to see that they claimed it being so far away but perhaps the Stirling covered some ground once brought down and they jumped clear of the wreck.

Things I would like help from the forum on is:

- Can anyone help with researching the Pilot, he suvived the war and would love to know how I go about finding his family.
- How do I go about finding out or researching the Flak crews (guns used and members of the unit)
- specifics around where I know my grandfathers bomber came to rest 14 miles away from the guns supposed to have claimed the Stirling.

One of the eyewitnesses I located through my own research said that there were 88 Flak guns closer than the ones claiming the bomber, he said they were based at Stuckenbusch, near Recklinghausen.

Also I know the bomber was shot up bad from flak and nightfighters in and around Berlin and one of the crew said that this dangerously weakened the plane and on route home the Starboard outer engine exploded weakening the wing and the pilot gave the order to bail out after being hit again by Flak.

Interested in any help I can get.

Regards

Ian

[Davenport7]

Also in addition my grandfathers Stirling engaged a ME 110 during the raid and the Pilot mentioned it after the war that the rear gunner Arthur Speakman gave a 3 second burst and hit the ME 110 in the nose and they watched it crash to the ground. The only ME 110 to come down near Berlin was the following:

3./NJG 3
Wildenbruch b. Berlin
Feindflug: ja
Bf 110 E-2 Werknr.: 3748
Uffz. Franz Langer gefallen
Uffz. Alfred Melzer gefallen
Absturz nach Luftkampf.

Does anyone have any further information regarding this crew?

Regards

Ian

[Chris Goss]

Altendorf survived the war but believed he is no longer with us. Some years ago, I wrote to him about another combat but he and his family were not interested. As to Flak crews, such records no longer exist

[Davenport7]

Originally Posted by Chris Goss

Altendorf survived the war but believed he is no longer with us. Some years ago, I wrote to him about another combat but he and his family were not interested. As to Flak crews, such records no longer exist

Chris,

Thanks for the reply can you please DM me any info on Altendorf or his family. I would like to at least try that way I will satisfy myself that I have exausted all avenues with him.

Regards

Ian

[Chris Goss]

ALTENDORF, Rudolf. (DOB: 16.07.19). 31.05.40 trf to I./ZG 2. 01.08.40 trf to 15./LG 1. 18.11.40 trf to 3./NJG 3. 06.41 with 3./NJG 3. 19.08.41 injured. 14.12.41 Oblt., appt Staka of 2./NJG 3. 08.42 with 2./NJG 3. 19.09.42(01.10.42?) Oblt., appt Staka 2./NJG 4 (to 15.08.43). 26.07.43 Oblt., awarded Ehrenpokal. 15.06.43 ordered temporarily to 10./NJG 1. 15.08.43 Oblt., appt Staka of 10./NJG 1.17.08.43 Oblt., 2./NJG 4 WIA - Bf 110 G-2 (3C+DX) north of Ghent. 01.10.43 promo to Hptm.10.10.43 appt Staka 12./NJG 5 (to 03.01.44). 02/03.01.44 appt provisional Kdr. IV./NJG 5 (to 09.44), WIA - Bf 110 G shot down Buchholz – Zaucha area. 20/21.01.44 WIA - Bf 110 G-4 (G9+BW) crashed after combat vic Strigleben near Terneberg. 29/30.08.44 Hptm., Stab /IV./NJG 5.09.09.44 (22.10.44?) Hptm.relieved of command of IV./NJG 5 and demoted. - Stated he ceased to be Kdr .IV./NJG 5 on 22.10.44 (assigned to the Frontflieger-Sammelgruppe this date).0 9.09.44 Hptm. ordered relieved of command of IV./NJG 5, sentenced to 1 year and 6 months confinement, fined and demoted with most of the sentence suspended provided he “prove” himself in combat with the enemy. Credited with 22 night victories and 2 day victories