Sophus Baagoe (4 March 1915 – 14 May 1941) was a German fighter pilot in the Luftwaffe and fought during World War II. Baagoe was credited with fourteen aerial victories, making him a fighter ace. A fighter ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat.
Born in Flensburg, Baagoe joined the Luftwaffe and was trained as a fighter pilot. He was assigned to Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" (ZG 26—26th Destroyer Wing) and flew his first missions during the "Phoney War" period on the Channel Front. He claimed his first aerial victory during the Battle of France on 12 May 1940. He then participated in the Battle of Britain before transferring to the Mediterranean Front. On 20 April 1941, Baagoe became one of the pilots credited with shooting down the top Royal Air Force ace Marmaduke Pattle. On 14 May, Baagoe was shot down and killed in action at Heraklion, Crete. Posthumously, he was awarded the Knight's Cross of the Iron Cross.
Early life and career
Baagoe was born on 4 March 1915 in Flensburg, in the Province of Schleswig-Holstein of the German Empire. Following flight training, he was posted to Zerstörergeschwader 26 "Horst Wessel" (ZG 26—26th Destroyer Wing) where he was assigned to the 8. Staffel (8th squadron). The Staffel was under the command of Oberleutnant Karl-Heinz Meyer and subordinated to III. Gruppe (3rd group) of ZG 26 headed by Hauptmann Johann Schalk. Initially, this Gruppe was equipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 109 D-1 single engine fighter.
World War II
World War II in Europe began on Friday 1 September 1939 when German forces invaded Poland. At the time, III. Gruppe was based at Neumünster where they were tasked with flying fighter protection over northwestern Germany during the "Phoney War" period. On 25 September, the Gruppe was renamed and became Jagdgruppe 126 (JGr. 126—126th Fighter Group) and moved to Krefeld Airfield in December. On 4 February 1940, JGr. 126 was ordered to Dortmund Airfield where they were reequipped with the Messerschmitt Bf 110, a twin engine heavy fighter, and again became the III. Gruppe of ZG 26.
Bagagoe participated in the Battle of France, where he claimed his first aerial victory on 12 May 1940. His opponent may have been Adjudant Piere Déchanet from Groupe de Chasse III/1 of the Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) flying a Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 fighter. In total, Baagoe was credited with four aerial victories during the Battle of France, including two Royal Air Force (RAF) Hawker Hurricane fighters.
Battle of Britain
Baagoe claimed nine more during the Battle of Britain against the RAF, bringing his total to thirteen. In July, the Luftwaffe conducted air operations against British shipping and the RAF over the English Channel referred to as Kanalkampf. On 10 July, Convoy "Bread" was attacked by the Luftwaffe bombers from Kampfgeschwader 2 (KG 2—2nd Bomber Wing), escorted by fighters from III. Gruppe of ZG 26. The Luftwaffe bombers and fighters came under attack from RAF fighters of No. 56 or No. 74 Squadron. In this encounter, Baagoe claimed two aerial victories.
On 29 July, Erprobungsgruppe 210, an experimental unit evaluating the Bf 110 in a ground attack role, attacked Convoy "Cat" off Harwich. The Bf 110 assault aircraft were intercepted by Hurricane fighters from No. 151 Squadron. The Hurricane fighters however were fended off by 8. Staffel of ZG 26 and Baagoe was credited with one of the Hurricane fighters shot down. On 18 August, a day that was later referred to as The Hardest Day, the Luftwaffe made an all-out effort to destroy RAF Fighter Command. Supporting this offensive operation, III. Gruppe flew combat air patrol missions. This resulted in fifteen aerial victories claimed for the loss of one of their own, including two Supermarine Spitfire fighters claimed by Baagoe. His 12th aerial victory was claimed on 3 September, probably over fighters from No. 229 or No. 238 Squadron.