Hi, I am trying to research Fritz Söthe (Ju-88 night fighter) who I believe shot up my friend Bruce Douglas Bancroft on 2 June 1944 in Halifax LV792 over Evreux, France. I have been able to get basic information on Hauptmann Söthe but am struggling to find photographs, his crew and what airfields he operated from. I have an extract from Luftwaffe Night Fighter Combat Claims 1939–1945 matching his claimed shoot down of 'Doug's' aircraft, and the LV792's crew's personal accounts, but would appreciate any more information.
Hauptmann Fritz Söthe Information
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SÖTHE, Fritz. (DOB: 26.09.14 in Lohfeld/Minden). (W.B.K. Frankfurt/Oder). (DKG). 01.11.42 Oblt.(Kr.O./Fl.), trf from FFS A/B 41 to Führerreserve z.b.V. Ob.d.L. (Schüleretat). 12.03.43 Lt., in 10./NJG 1. 01.04.43 promo to Hptm. (Kr.O.).(RDA 01.04.43). 03/04.07.43 Oblt., with 3./NJG 4. 28.08.43 Hptm., 3./NJG 4. 14.10.43 Hptm., Stab II./NJG 4. 20/21.02.44 Hptm., 3./NJG 4. 30/31.03.44 Hptm. in 4./NJG 4, WIA - Bf 110 F-4 received fire from enemy tailgunner, crashed vic Lyon. 21/22.04.44 Hptm., 4./NJG 4. 11/12.06.44 Hptm., 4./NJG 4 WIA - Bf 110 G-4 shot up by Mosquito vic Rozay-en-Brie/France,18 km SW of Coulommiers. 08.44 Hptm., Staka 4./NJG 4 (to 28/29.09.44). 28/29.09.44 Hptm., 4./NJG 4KIA - Ju 88 G-1 shot down by Mosquito vic Lambecht – Neustadt a.d.W. 01.01.45 Hptm., NJG (unspecified) awarded DKG posthumously. Buried at Neustadt. Credited with 17 night and one day victories.
Accident Boeing B-17F-35-DL Fortress 42-3216, Thursday 14 October 1943
Enemy aircraft blew off the nose. 'The Joker' was shot down by Unteroffizier Hans Ahrend of the 3./JG 2 (flying an Fw 190 A-6 from Conches airfield) during a raid on Schweinfurt. Possibly...
aviation-safety.net
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Kracker Luftwaffe Archive
A list of all known Axis Powers pilots and crew 1939 - 1945
aircrewremembered.com
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Thank you
SÖTHE, Fritz. (DOB: 26.09.14 in Lohfeld/Minden). (W.B.K. Frankfurt/Oder). (DKG). 01.11.42 Oblt.(Kr.O./Fl.), trf from FFS A/B 41 to Führerreserve z.b.V. Ob.d.L. (Schüleretat). 12.03.43 Lt., in 10./NJG 1. 01.04.43 promo to Hptm. (Kr.O.).(RDA 01.04.43). 03/04.07.43 Oblt., with 3./NJG 4. 28.08.43 Hptm., 3./NJG 4. 14.10.43 Hptm., Stab II./NJG 4. 20/21.02.44 Hptm., 3./NJG 4. 30/31.03.44 Hptm. in 4./NJG 4, WIA - Bf 110 F-4 received fire from enemy tailgunner, crashed vic Lyon. 21/22.04.44 Hptm., 4./NJG 4. 11/12.06.44 Hptm., 4./NJG 4 WIA - Bf 110 G-4 shot up by Mosquito vic Rozay-en-Brie/France,18 km SW of Coulommiers. 08.44 Hptm., Staka 4./NJG 4 (to 28/29.09.44). 28/29.09.44 Hptm., 4./NJG 4KIA - Ju 88 G-1 shot down by Mosquito vic Lambecht – Neustadt a.d.W. 01.01.45 Hptm., NJG (unspecified) awarded DKG posthumously. Buried at Neustadt. Credited with 17 night and one day victories.
Accident Boeing B-17F-35-DL Fortress 42-3216, Thursday 14 October 1943
Enemy aircraft blew off the nose. 'The Joker' was shot down by Unteroffizier Hans Ahrend of the 3./JG 2 (flying an Fw 190 A-6 from Conches airfield) during a raid on Schweinfurt. Possibly...aviation-safety.net
Scroll down,
Kracker Luftwaffe Archive
A list of all known Axis Powers pilots and crew 1939 - 1945aircrewremembered.com
SaparotRob
Unter Gemeine Geschwader Murmeltier XIII
I say again, the depth of knowledge here is amazing.
The most remarkable thing is that he survived the Nuremberg Raid (31 March 1944) despite being wounded in his Bf 110 F-4 by a tail gunner—and then did it all over again on 12 June 1944, in a Bf 110 G-4 against a Mosquito!
But he did not survive his last encounter on 29 September 1944 in the Lambrecht/Neustadt area. Flying his Ju 88 G-1, he was downed by a Mosquito from the RAF's 100 Squadron Group that probably homed in on his Lichtenstein SN-2. He died at the age of 30. By that time, I think very few NJG pilots of his age were still alive.
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Doug got hit by a JU-88 Schräge Musik which shredded the aircraft:
"The large calibre shells ripped into the fuselage, the wings and an engine of our aircraft with an awful tearing noise coupled with the run of explosions progressing along the fuselage and started fierce fires in the bomb-bay and inside the aircraft forward of the rear bulkhead and also in the starboard inner engine. A hole three feet wide was blasted right across the width of the fuselage as the radar (H2S) scanner and housing was blasted away. The wings, ailerons and flaps were severely damaged and a fuel tank in the port wing was holed and petrol from the tank left a white trail as it vaporised and was blown back. As the hydraulic oil lines were smashed and the running oil caught fire, the flaps—or rather what was left of them—dropped about 45 degrees to cause more drag and the undercarriage was only supported in retracted position by the manual uplocks. I saw the tracer as a couple of shells came up between my legs and blew out the perspex cockpit covering immediately over my head and shrapnel peppered the flying panel. Exploding shells wreaked havoc in the forward section of the aircraft in the area occupied by the wireless operator, navigator and bomb-aimer and there was an extra massive explosion there as the oxygen bottles, positioned behind the radio operator, exploded and severely wounded the wireless operator in his legs, damaged the radio set beyond repair, and blew a hole about 18 inches in diameter in the port side of the fuselage alongside the wireless operator's position. The 'G' box (navigational electronic aid) was also damaged and navigational equipment was scattered all over the cabin and papers ripped to pieces. The bomb-bay doors had also partly opened with the fractured hydraulic system and much of turret-gun ammunition, in racks to each turret, exploded and peppered the side of the fuselage."
Doug mentioned to me the pilot pulled alongside him at about 30 yards, and he swore the pilot took his mask off and laughed before breaking off. Whether this was accurate in all that had happened, but either way Doug was so enraged he held the aircraft together with his crew and got it home, the most damaged bomber to return at that time of the war. Doug was unstoppable and his crew loved him.
His instrument panel is now with the Australian War Memorial:
Thanks again
"The large calibre shells ripped into the fuselage, the wings and an engine of our aircraft with an awful tearing noise coupled with the run of explosions progressing along the fuselage and started fierce fires in the bomb-bay and inside the aircraft forward of the rear bulkhead and also in the starboard inner engine. A hole three feet wide was blasted right across the width of the fuselage as the radar (H2S) scanner and housing was blasted away. The wings, ailerons and flaps were severely damaged and a fuel tank in the port wing was holed and petrol from the tank left a white trail as it vaporised and was blown back. As the hydraulic oil lines were smashed and the running oil caught fire, the flaps—or rather what was left of them—dropped about 45 degrees to cause more drag and the undercarriage was only supported in retracted position by the manual uplocks. I saw the tracer as a couple of shells came up between my legs and blew out the perspex cockpit covering immediately over my head and shrapnel peppered the flying panel. Exploding shells wreaked havoc in the forward section of the aircraft in the area occupied by the wireless operator, navigator and bomb-aimer and there was an extra massive explosion there as the oxygen bottles, positioned behind the radio operator, exploded and severely wounded the wireless operator in his legs, damaged the radio set beyond repair, and blew a hole about 18 inches in diameter in the port side of the fuselage alongside the wireless operator's position. The 'G' box (navigational electronic aid) was also damaged and navigational equipment was scattered all over the cabin and papers ripped to pieces. The bomb-bay doors had also partly opened with the fractured hydraulic system and much of turret-gun ammunition, in racks to each turret, exploded and peppered the side of the fuselage."
Doug mentioned to me the pilot pulled alongside him at about 30 yards, and he swore the pilot took his mask off and laughed before breaking off. Whether this was accurate in all that had happened, but either way Doug was so enraged he held the aircraft together with his crew and got it home, the most damaged bomber to return at that time of the war. Doug was unstoppable and his crew loved him.
His instrument panel is now with the Australian War Memorial:
02/03.06.1944 158 Squadron, Halifax III LV792, Plt Off. Bruce D. Bancroft DFC, RAF Lissett, England, Trappes, France
Personal history of Allied forces aircrew and support services serving 1935 - 1945 including original research.
aircrewremembered.com
Thanks again
