Operation Bodenplatte

[Alain57]

During Operation Bodenplatte on january 1945 a Me Bf-109 K-4 from 12./JG 26 “ Weise15 “ flown by Gefr Sengpiel Horst (KIA) was lost. Where did this machine came down ?

[Nokose]

Gefr. Horst Sengpiel 11./JG26 (KIA) Bf-109k-4 Wnr330404 went down in the Scheldt estuary. Source "The JG 26 War Diary volume 2 1943-1945" by Don Caldwell.
Hope that helps,
Michael

[F19Gladiator]

In the excellent ref. book on the subject: 'Bodenplatte' by J.Manrho and R.Pütz, P. 186-187, Hikoki Publ., one can find that:

"Gefr. Horst Sengpiel was last seen over the Scheldt and was probably shot down by AAA. Some pilots noticed seeing him leaving the formation and flying west, initially believing that he had deserted. However, no trace of him or his Bf 109 K-4 'Black 15' was ever found and he is still reported MIA"

Here the ac is mentioned as Black 15 instead of White 15.

An ID-photo of Horst S. is also published

I hope this can be of intertest.

[Alain57]

Thanks gentlemen for the help.

Alain

[F19Gladiator]

You are most welcome Alain. I hope you've got the info you looked for!

[John Manrho]

Gentlemen,

I can a little to what was written in my book. Indeed Gefr. Horst Sengpiel of 12./JG 26 flew Bf 109K-4, WNr. 330379, schwarze 15. This info comes from RL2-III-1172/62. The NVM states that he flew Wnr. 464330, schwarze 12, but this can not be true as this a/c is also listed as a loss wit 14./EJG 1 on 22.11.1944, so the data of the GQM must be true.

The circumstances of the loss itself is a little bit unclear. There is a report that he was last seen at 10.04 hrs on the way back and that he was hit by intense AAA and that he flew in northeasterly direction with a trail of smoke. This was apparantly reported by a ground unit.

However, I still believe that it is more likely that Gefr. Sengpiel was shot down on the way in. First, the loss of Uffz. Karl-Heinz Berndt (also 12./JG 26) was also reported as during the way back, but from the ADI(K) interogation report we know now he was shot down on the way in. Furthermore there are reports from veterans also that Gefr. Sengpiel was shot down on the way in.

This is the reason why I kept that story in my book as the most accurate one.

Cheers,

John.