Ju88

Ju88 Brom dock

I have also done a bit of research on the plane,very interesting story.

A Hurricane still in the process of taking off from Speke Airport, Liverpool caught this Junkers out cold and shot him down. The plane crashed on the opposite side of the River Mersey, at Bromborough Docks. In the first of the two images, Liverpool can be seen to the rear, across the river. I have had an email (Nov 07) from Colin Shroeder from Greasby, a local expert on the Wirral and he informs me that this bomber was actually shot down by 3 Hurricanes, from 312 Sqn, a Czech Unit.

8th October1940 - Bromborough Ju88 crash

On the 8th October, a Junkers Ju88 (works number 4068, coded M7+DK) from No.2 Staffel (Squadron) of KGr.806 (Bomber Wing) took off from its base at Caen-Carpignet in France to bomb the Rootes aircraft factory at Speke and photograph the results. The aircraft was loaded with four 250kg bombs. The route that was taken, took them from Caen to Southampton, Droitwich, Ellesmere Port and finally to Speke arriving in the target area around 4pm.

Three Hurricanes of yellow section No.312 (Czech) Squadron based at Speke were scrambled at 4.10pm with orders to patrol Hoylake. Just after they took off, anti-aircraft, bursts drew their attention to the enemy aircraft. On sighting the Hurricanes, the Ju88, started to climb sharply, trying to gain cloud cover. Sergeant Josef Stehlik (yellow 3) in L1807 got in the first burst with Pilot Officer Alois Vasatko (yellow 2) in L1926 firing from below. Meanwhile Flight Lieutenant Denys Gillam (yellow 1) in P2575 kept up a stern attack. Heavy and accurate fire was returned from the Ju88 and all three Hurricanes were damaged, yellow 1 windscreen smashed, the exhaust manifolds of Yellow 2 damaged, while Yellow 3 sustained damage to the petrol tank and the gun pipe line (He states in his individual report he returned thinking all his ammunition had gone).

The Ju88’s starboard engine was hit and damaged. The pilot 26 year old Oberleutnant Helmuth Bruckman jettisoned two of his bombs into the River Mersey. With two bombs still in their racks, the Ju88 was seen gliding down towards Bromborough Dock where the pilot made a forced landing with the undercarriage retracted. The Ju88 slid across the field for thirty yards until it came to a rest near to an anti-aircraft gun post with the port engine ripped out of its mounting. One of the bombs was torn from its rack and was found lying in the field near to the aircraft along with a fully inflated dinghy. A bullet wound to the head had killed the observer 24 year old Leutnant (Pilot Officer) Herbert Schlegel. The pilot, Oblt Bruechmann was uninjured but 37 year old Sonderfuhrer Horst Lehmann the air gunner and 26 year old Unteroffizierer Helmuth Weth wireless operator were injured. The three Hurricanes landed back at Speke, the whole sortie had taken just six minutes.

Harry Gill who was a gateman at the Bromborough Dock at the time recalled, “I was on duty at the South Gatehouse at Bromborough dock, when a twin-engined aeroplane plunged out of the clouded sky and crashed about 200 yards away on land reclaimed from the River Mersey. I ran towards it and half way there I looked up and saw a swastika on the tail fin. Two men scrambled out of the cockpit and ran behind the damaged wing. They were bending over a third airman lying at their feet. I sized them by the epaulettes of their uniforms and demanded their guns, which they surrendered without argument. Mr Rand and Mr Thompson then appeared at my side, Mr Thompson took charge of one of the Germans and escorted him to the Dock Gatehouse to be kept in custody until the military authorities arrived”.

The injured were taken to Clatterbridge hospital. The morale of the crew after being captured was considered to be very high. The Hurricane pilots got a hearty reception when they landed back at Speke, being carried shoulder high by their comrades, a large number of station personnel and civilians witnessed the event, including those on a bus going past the airport. So great was the interest that the airport gates had to be closed the following day when crowds of local civilians arrived wanting to congratulate the pilots.

Flight Lieutenant Gillam in recalling the event said “Taking my car, I drove through the Mersey Tunnel to the scene of the crash just as the crew was being rounded up. The observer was dead but the others had survived although the gunner and wireless operator had been injured. I cut the German badge off the side of the aeroplane together with one of the swastikas for souvenirs, then returned to Speke”.

The RAF was very interested in the bombsight as it was a new type and was the first to fall in their hands. The RAF removed the aircraft within a few days and it was announced that it was to be put on public view in connection with “War Weapons Week” in Liverpool. In the meantime the Ju88 was moved to the Oval Recreation Ground were it was placed on display to the public. More than £70 was collected for the Mayor of Bebingtons “Spitfire Fund”. On the 18 th October, the Ju88 was paraded through the streets of Liverpool in procession with university students and was later displayed at St George's Plateau alongside a Messerschmitt Me109. Messerschmitt aircraft had the officially designation “Bf” standing for Bayerische Fleugzeugwerke until 1944, but the common designation “Me” was mostly used during the war.

Mrs F. Anstead-Browne of the WVS, and local organizer of the Neston Spitfire Fund, secured the use of the Ju88 as a means of revenue for her effort. It was on view in a field off Bevyl Road adjoining the Parade at Parkgate, where it remained till November 24th. A charge of 6d per adult and 3d for children was made, with a large number of people coming to look at the machine. The Ju88 had been transported on two low loaders, the fuselage on one and the wings on the other. They were placed together so that it looked as though it had belly-landed. Quite a number thought it had come down at Parkgate. Local boys were very keen to collect souvenirs, and so the Little Neston company of the Home Guard stood guard during the night. The Ju88 was later taken to RAF Sealand and disposed of.

The panel with the Swastika on, that had been taken by the pilots as a souvenir was hung in the flight hut at the squadron dispersal. After the war, Flight Lieutenant Gillam presented this panel to RAF Finingley and since the closure of this airfield; the panel’s whereabouts is unknown. A paddle from the dinghy which had a plaque mounted on it along with a painting titled “The Fastest Victory” signed by Flight Lieutenant Gillam has been seen for sale on an Internet site.

Lieutenant Herbert Schlegel was originally buried at Hooton Village Church yard with full military honours, but was moved in 1962 to the German military cemetery at Cannock Chase, Staffordshire.

No.312 (Czech) Squadron came into being as the second Czechoslovak fighter unit and was formed on 29th August 1940 at the Czech aircrew depot at RAF Cosford. The squadron was based around experienced pilots, who had already had combat experience during the Battle of France, many of whom had already had more then one victory. On the 26th September, the squadron moved to its new home, the RAF station at Speke. On the 2nd October, No 312 (Czech) Squadron was declared as operational and tasked to protect the Liverpool area from enemy raids.

In November 1992 the German pilot Helmuth Bruckman visited the area and flew back into the same field that he crash landed his Ju88 into, aboard the Duke of Westminster’s helicopter. He had hoped to met, Denys Gillam but he had unfortunately died of a heart attack only a few weeks earlier.

Thats a really interesting but sad story, thanks for that

I love hearing the stories of how once enemies of on another, meet up so many years later, with the greatest respect and love for one another, and more often than not become good friends.

I also wasnt aware that the Hurricanes round here were from a Czech squadron. Shows how important local history is to education service round here

Totally agree mate,it`s even more shameful that this sort of stuff is not taught in schools today,where as the likes of us guys on here have to dig and delve into the past to learn and understand about past events that has happened on our own doorstep and yet it is not passed down to generations beneath us.Maybe if it was then they would might have a bit more respect for the area they live in and for others who live in it.

Newspaper cutting after czech squadron shot down Junkers 88

Flight Lieutenant Vasatko and Sergeants Stehlik and Truhlar receiving the Czech Military Cross from President Benes.

It makes you think however, how much of a futile mission it was. A single bomber dispatched to drop some bombs on Speke and for Reconnaissance purposes?

Thats the sort of thing only Biggles woud have gotten away with in World War One...taking on the entire German Air Force in a lone Sopwith Camel or Britol.

Brilliant Picture though, puts a face to the Heroes

Great find Bert.

Helmuth Bruckman Pilot of the junkers 88 shot down by 312 czech sqn 1940.

More info on the junker 88

Aircraft Serial No Unit Station Duty Crew Passengers
Ju88A-1 4068 2/KGr806 Caen-Carpignet 4 0


On the 8th October 1941 Junkers Ju88 Wk No 4068 coded M7+DK, of KG 2/806 took of from its base at Caen-Carpignet in France to bomb the Rootes aircraft factory at Speke and photograph the results, the aircraft was loaded with four 250 kg bombs. The route that was taken took them from Caen to Southampton to Droitwich to Ellesmere Port and finally to Speke arriving in the target area around 16:00 hours. One member of the crew was a "Bildberichter" (Photographic War Correspondent).

From his vantage point on the top of George Henry Lee department store in the centre of Liverpool, Les Jones was on look out duty for enemy aircraft at the time, spotted and identified the loneJu88 flying up the River Mersey. H W Mermagen was the Station Commander at Speke and was in the operations room were the incoming raid was being plotted and gave the order for a flight of No 312 (Czech) squadron to be scrambled as the raider was thought to be heading for Liverpool.

Before reaching the objective, whilst flying at 13,000 feet the aircraft was attacked by three Hurricanes of Yellow section No 312 (Czech) squadron based at Speke. The starboard engine was hit and damaged and the pilot made a forced landing with the undercarriage retracted at Bromborough Dock at 16:15 hours, with two bombs still in their racks, upon being attacked two of the bombs were jettisoned into the river the other two remaining on the aircraft. The Ju88 slid across the field for thirty yards until it came to rest with the port engine ripped out of its mountings, one of the bombs was also torn from its rack to be found lying in the field near to the aircraft. The Ju88 came to a rest near to a anti aircraft gun post, the solders from which came to arrest the remaining crewmembers, however one of the crew that was slightly wounded in the hand and was taken to nearby Claterbridge hospital. The observer Leutnant Herbert Schlegel was killed by a bullet wound to the head, the air gunner and wireless operator were injured on landing and the second pilot was uninjured. The morale of the crew after being captured was considered to be very high.

Yellow section No 312 (Czech) squadron had taken at 16:10 hours with orders to patrol Hoylake and while still at a height of 1,000 feet anti aircraft bursts drew their attention to an enemy aircraft. On sighting the Hurricanes the Ju88 started to climb sharply trying to gain cloud cover and was actively pursued. Sergeant Josef Stehlik in L1807 got in the first burst and Pilot Officer Alois Vasatko in L1926 continued firing from below and above in quarter tactics. Meanwhile Flight Lieutenant Denys Gillam in P2575 kept up stern attacks and soon the Ju88 was seen to be gliding downwards with both of its engines on fire, landing in a field on the opposite side of the Mersey. Heavy and accurate fire was experienced from the Ju88 up to the last minute and all three hurricanes were damaged with Flight Lieutenant Gillam's windscreen being smashed.

The pilots got a hearty reception when they landed being carried shoulder high by their comrades, a large number of station personnel and local civilians witnessed the event, including those on a local bus going past the Airport. So great was the interest that the airport gates had to be closed the following day when crowds of local civilians arrived wanting to congratulate the pilots.

The intelligence officer, Pilot Officer G McK Phillips report that is made up from the three pilots individual combat reports details the attack as follows, "Yellow section had just received the order to patrol Hoylake and were still near the aerodrome at a height of 1000 feet when a Ju88 was sighted by anti aircraft positions up river the bursts attracting the attention of yellow 3 which sighted the Ju88 flying slowly Westwards at 1200 feet. The Ju88 then in turn sighted our formation and climbed sharply trying to gain cloud cover. Shortly before entering the Ju88 received a burst from Yellow 3 which was followed by continual attacks from Yellow 1(continuous astern attacks) Yellow 2 and 3 which weaved in and out attacking from below and above principally from the rear on account of bad visibility. The Ju88 received bursts from Yellow 1 and 3 while still climbing through cloud and started gliding downwards. Yellow 2 and 3 doing quarter attacks. By this time both of the Ju88's engines were on fire and it was seen by yellow 2 and a large number of ground observers to fall flat down on a meadow on the left bank of the Mersey. During combat heavy and accurate return fire was experienced from the Ju88 up to the last moment before the crash. Slight damage was sustained by all our aircraft a bullet hitting the windscreen of Yellow 1 another the exhaust manifolds of Yellow 2 while Yellow 3 sustained damage to the petrol tank and the gun pipe line (He states in his individual report he returned thinking all his ammunition had gone). Cine guns were not carried. Anti Aircraft fire was ceased immediately our fighters came into action. The names of the pilots taking part and numbers of rounds fired were as follows,

Yellow 1. Flight Lieutenant D.E. Gillam A.F.C 2400
Yellow 2. Pilot OfficerA.Vasatko 144
Yellow 3. Sergeant J. Stehlik 504

This was 312 (Czech) Squadrons first combat since formation on 29/8/1940.

In his memoirs Flight Lieutenant Gillam recalled the events of the engagement, we were scrambled on 8th October in poor visibility. With our wheels still down we spotted this Ju88 being engaged by AA fire. My two wingmen began to chase it as I pulled up into a climbing turn. As my two Czechs engaged him I rolled or rather slid off the top of the climb right under it – the Ju88 was only at 1,000 feet. When I had enough power I pulled up and got a very close shot and it went down and crash landed with both engines on fire on the other side of the Mersey, about half a mile or so from the airfield. I continued round, lowered my wheels and put back down on the runway. It must have been one of the fastest Fighter Command kills on record. I had a bullet hit my windshield, in fact the German gunner scored hits on all three hurricanes. Taking my car, I drove through the Mersey Tunnel to the scene of the crash just as the crew was being rounded up. The pilot was dead but the others had survived although the gunner and wireless operator had been injured. I cut the German badge off the side of the aeroplane together with one of the swastikas four souvenirs, then returned to Speke".

The local newspaper recorded "It was a great few minutes and that Ju88 simply had no chance", said an experienced airman and "I saw the leading British fighter come back, I looked for a victory roll, there was none. The second Hurricane and then the third Hurricane came. They did no Victory Roll either, then as an old flying man I understood, none of them would take the credit individually".

Junkers Ju88A-1 Wk No 4068 was built by Norddeutsche Dornier Werke under license from Junkers and was accepted in May 1940. The port Jumo 211 engine was built by Junkers and the Starboard one was built by Miteldeutsche Motorem Werke, Leipzig. The Ju88 was armed with 5-6 machine guns and carried the usual armour plating. There was also a crest painted onto the nose of the Ju88 and comprised of a German eagle in flight carrying an Iron Cross with a small Swastika superimposed on red, white and blue concentric circles, the inner ring was partly green and partly white, this was probably the crews own badge. At least six 0.303" rounds were found in the starboard engine.

Harry Gill who was a gateman at Brombourgh Dock at the time recalled, “The air raid siren had sounded but in those days nobody paid much attention to them. I was on duty at the South Gatehouse at Bromborough dock, when a twin-engined aeroplane plunged out of the clouded sky and crashed about 200 yards away on land reclaimed from the River Mersey. I ran towards it and half way there I looked up and saw a swastika on the tail fin. Two men were scrambled out of the cockpit and ran behind the damaged wing. The two Germans who were tall and well built were bending over a third airman lying at their feet. I sized them by the epaulettes of their uniforms and demanded their guns, which they surrendered without argument. Mr Rand and Thompson then appeared at my side, Mr Thompson took charge of one of the Germans and escorted him to the Dock Gatehouse to be kept in custody until the military authorities arrived”.

“One of the crew was found to be dead at the controls, alongside the Ju88 was a fully inflated dingy, and two unexploded bombs which had fallen from the aircraft as it bounced along the ground were lying near the smoking port engine. At that stage of the war, a military unit was stationed near the dock and they mounted a guard over the aircraft until it was removed by the RAF. The Air force were very concerned with the bombsight as it was a new type and was the first to fall in our hands, they carefully dismantled it and brought it to the Gatehouse where my colleagues and I kept it under guard until it was taken away”.

“That evening we were visited by the three pilots who shot the Ju88 down, having been the first to approach the Ju88, it seemed a fitting conclusion to an exiting day when I shook hands with the victors”.

Frank “Doc” Holmes recalled the event in his memoirs “On the 8th October 1940 I was standing my door step at 30Ashfield road when the sirens sounded, in the air above us was a German Ju88 with three of our fighters chasing it and it was firing back at them. The fighters were Hurricanes. The Ju88 veered and nearly hit Bromborough church steeple, but the fighters got the better of it and shot it down near Brombourgh dock. I had a good idea were it crashed, so I picked up my eldest boy Barry aged 6 years and put him on the crossbar of my bicycle and made my way to where the Ju88 had come down. When we arrived the crew had been removed from the plane. The pilot, only a very young man was killed and the co pilot was wounded. The machine gunner was not to badly hurt. They were all taken to Claterbridge Hospital. It was a sad sight to see, but that is war.

A pilot arrived on the scene about 15 minutes after the Ju88 was shot down, he had come all the way from Speke Airport where he had left hi Hurricane. He was also a very young man. He cut the German badge off the side of the Ju88, also one of the Swastikas, got back in his car and left for Speke and home. Of course the Army were called in to guard the Ju88 and surround it with ropes and posts. There was a bunch of keys lying on the ground near the plane, which I picked up and gave to one of the soldiers on guard and while doing so had a quick look inside, I was sorry I did because it was not a petty site at all. I did notice that in the glove compartment of the Ju88 there was a bar of Cadbury’s Chocolate and a pack of Churchman’s cigarettes which must have come from the Dunkirk campaign”.

The aircraft was removed by the RAF within a few days and it was announced on the 9th October 1940 by the Commander of the Merseyside Garrison that the aircraft was to be put on public view in connection with "War weapons Week" in Liverpool the following week. In the meantime the JU88 was moved to the Oval Recreation Ground were it was placed on display to the public. More than £70 was collected for the Mayor of Bebington’s “Spitfire Fund”. On the 18th October 1940 the Ju88 was paraded through the streets of Liverpool in procession with University students, the aircraft was later displayed at St George's Plateau alongside a Messerschmitt Bf 109. The Ju88 was later taken to RAF Sealand and disposed of. The Swastika panel from the tailfin was taken by the pilots as a souvenir and was hung in the flight hut at the squadron dispersal, after the war Flight Lieutenant Gillam presented this panel to RAF Finingley and since the recent closure of this airfield the panels whereabouts are unknown. A paddle from the dinghy which had a plaque mounted on it along with a painting titled “The Fastest Victory” signed by Flight Lieutenant Gillam was recently seen for sale on an Internet site.

Lieutenant Herbert Schlegel was originally buried at Hooton Village Church yard and was moved in 1962 to the German military cemetery at Cannock, Staffordshire, Block grave No 3, grave no 117.

Born Hamburg in 1914, Helmuth Bruckman graduated from school in Emden in 1934, enlisting into the German Navy the same year and commencing flying training in 1936, he was promoted to Oberleutnant in 1939 and was made Commanding Officer of a coastal reconnaissance squadron, aircraft carrier group and subsequently Director of a pilot training school. Early in WWII he became deputy Squadron Leader in a bomber wing, regularly flying He111 and Junkers 88 bomber aircraft. After 36 missions Helmuth Bruckmann's war was over. Promotion to Captain followed in 1942, and he was repatriated in 1944. He joined the Luftwaffe general staff and was promoted to major in 1945. On leaving the air force Helmuth studied languages and literature at university from 1946-1958 and became director of the Goethe Institute in Munich. He rejoined the Luftwaffe and became a Lt Colonel in 1959 in the Ministry of Defence, Bonn. After a period as Commander of a cadet training wing in the Luftwaffe Officers Training School in Munich, he was promoted to full Colonel in 1961 and transferred to the German Embassy in Washington D.C. USA as air attaché. After an additional assignment as the German Military representative with the NATO committee, he returned to Germany as head of the Military Studies Group in the German Ministry of Defence. He retired in 1973. Between the 1st and 3rd November 1992 Helmuth Bruckman visited the area and flew back into the same field that he crash landed his Ju88 into, aboard the Duke of Westminster’s helicopter. He had hoped to have met Denys Gillam but he had unfortunately died of a heart attack only a few weeks earlier.

KGr 806 was formed in September 1939, originally as a coastal bomber reconnaissance unit, which was absorbed into the Luftflotte as an orthodox bomber group, still retaining its nucleus of naval officers. Based at Nantes with detachments at Caen. Originally equipped with Heinkel He111, it was equipped with Ju88A-1 before and during the Battle of Britain. KGr 806 also saw operational service on the Eastern Front and Mediterranean.


No 312 (Czech) Squadron came into being as the second Czechoslovak fighter unit and was formed on 29th August 1940 at the Czech aircrew depot at RAF Cosford. The home base of the squadron was RAF Duxford, the same airfield where No 310 (Czech) Squadron was based . Two days later the first nine used Hawker Hurricanes Mk1 were flown into Duxford and on the 4th September 1940 arrived a Miles Master Mk1. Czech airmen, flying personnel and ground staff, arrived at RAF Duxford during afternoon of the 5th September 1940. The squadron was based around experienced pilots, who had already had combat experience during the Battle of France, many of whom had already had more then one victory. On the 6th September 1940, the pilots began with theoretical preparation for flying on the Hurricanes and with training flights on the Master. The training was very slow due to the fact the unit had just one trainer aircraft. For faster retraining of the pilots, another Master was loaned from No 310 (Czech) Squadron. After nearly a month the level of training was very high and on the 26th September the squadron moved to its new home, the RAF station at Speke airport, Liverpool. There the unit completed its retraining and in last days of September obtained further Hurricanes. On the 2nd October 1940, No 312 (Czech) Squadron was declared as operational and its task was to protect the Liverpool area from enemy raids. The squadron left Speke for RAF Valley on Anglesey, on the 3rd March 1941. The squadrons motto was, Non multi sed multa - 'Not many but much' and the squadron badge was, A stork Volant. The stork in the badge relates to the French 'Escadrille des Cygelines' with whom the original pilots of No 312 (Czech) squadron had flown prior to coming to the UK.

Alois Vasatko was born on the 25th August 1908 in Celakovice. When he finished his studies at the teachers institute he became a teacher in Litomerice but not for long. In October of the next year he started military service which he finished in spring 1929 when he moved to a school for Officers reserve Artillery. From here he moved again to the Army Academy in Hranice na Morave. After qualifying as a Lieutenant of Artillery he was posted to the 54th Artillery Regiment in Bratislava. In October 1935 he was promoted to the rank of 1st Lieutenant and he qualified on the course for Air Observers. Since November 1935 he served at the 2nd Air Regiment where he became commander of the 14th flight on the 31st December 1936. During the years 1937-38 he attended pilot training in Olomouc and on the 1st March 1939 he became an active pilot. After a short time the Germans occupied the country and Vasatko with a group of friends crossed the Polish border on the 13th July 1939. He had got to the camp in Male Bronowice via Tesin and Krakow. From there he sailed to France on the “Chrobry”. The war had begun and “Amos” (nickname of Vasatko) was on the 11th September 1939 posted to fighter school at Chartres. He had finished his retraining on Curtiss Hawk 75 aircraft and on the 11th May 1940 he came to Suippes to the famous Grouppe de Chasse I/5. On the 17th May he had his first successful air battle. He shared the shooting down of one Bf 109 at Roucourt and he took part in the shooting down of a Henschel He126 at Stonre. Then he was appointed to the function of a flight commander. He was flying in combat regularly with his victories growing. On the 12th June 1940 he took part in the destroying of twelve enemy planes and he shot down three alone. During a dogfight at Vouziers where he shot down a Heinkel He111 he was lightly wounded. And on the 9th and the 15th June he made two crash landings with a damaged aircraft. He became the most successful Czechoslovak fighter pilot in the battle of France. At the end of June he flew together with his unit to North Africa and on the 5th August 1940 he arrived to port Cardiff on board the ship “David Livingstone”. He then moved to the Czech camp at Cholmodeley Park and after a short time he was transferred to the Czech depot at Cosford. He joined the RAFVR with the rank of Pilot Officer and on the 5th September he came to the newly created No 312 (Czech) Fighter Squadron in the first group of pilots. On the 12th December 1940 he was appointed to the function of flight commander of “B” Flight and on the 5th June 1941 he became commander of the whole squadron. Under his lead No 312 (Czech) Squadron (at the time part of Kenley Wing) took part in first offensive flights over occupied France. Vasatko was involved with all these operations and on the 9th July he probably shot down a Bf 109 and damaged another one during In spring 1942 he helped with the organisation of the Czechoslovak Fighter Wing which consisted of No's 310, 312 and 313 (Czech) Squadron’s and started its activities in June 1942. The first commander of this unit on 30th May was just Alois Vasatko. During an escort of Boston’s over Cherbourg on the 3rd June he probably shot down one Fw190. Then came the fatal day, the 23rd June 1942 when the Czechoslovak Wing made an escort of Boston’s during their air raid against an airfield in Morlaix. During their return near the coast of England No 312(Czech) Squadron attacked by a group of six Fw190 from above. Vasatko tried to manoeuvre to a better position for fight but his Spitfire “AV” had collided into one of attacking aircraft. Both planes then crashed into sea. The man whose name will be ever connected with the fight of Czechoslovak airmen on the Western Front has found his grave in the sea near the British coast. Alois Vasatko had been awarded many Czechoslovak and Allied orders and medals, Czechoslovak Order of the White Lion (in memoriam), Czechoslovak War Cross 1939 (three times), French Legion d’honneur – Chevalier, French War Cross (Croix de Guerre with seven palms, two golden stars and one silver star) and the British Distinguished Flying Cross (D.F.C.) which he obtained on the day of his death. By the order of the President of Czechoslovak republic of the 7th March 1992 was Alois Vasatko promoted to the rank of Major General in memoriam.

Josef Stehlik was born in Pikarec at Nove Mesto na Morave on the 23rd March 1915. He started pilot training at the Elementary Pilot School in Prague in 1936. The next year he studied at non-officer school and later at the fighter school in Hradec Kralove. Until the German occupation he served as pilot and instructor at No. 3 Air Regiment at Spisska Nova Ves. On the 5th June 1939 he crossed the border with Poland with the rank of Sergeant. After arriving in France at the end of August he joined the Foreign Legion. When the war began he was transferred to Chartres for retraining. On the 1st December 1939 he was posted to Groupe de Chasse III/3 which was equipped with Morane 406 aircraft but after short time was re-equipped by Dewoitine D-520 aircraft. With these aircraft the unit took part in air battle over France. In this time Stehlik showed his good ability when he shot down four enemy planes alone and four more in co-operation. After retreating by plane to Africa he sailed from Casablanca to Great Britain. On the 5th September 1940 he came as a Sergeant to Duxford to the newly created No 312 (Czech) Fighter Squadron. He took part in the Battle of Britain with this unit. Further victory resulted on the 14th March 1941 when he shot down another Ju88 over the sea in co-operation. During offensive flights over France he added to his score one damaged Bf109 and on the 10th July 1941 he probably shot down another plane of the same type. He left operational duty in October and after course for instructors at Upavon he became an instructor. At first he trained pilots at Hullavington and since January 1942 till February 1943 he served at Elementary and Secondary Flying Training Schools in Canada. In April 1943 he returned to No 312 (Czech) Squadron where he made many flights over occupied Europe. In January 1944 he moved to Soviet Union together with a group of 20 Czechoslovak pilots. After retraining on Soviet fighter planes La-5 he was posted on the 17th September 1944 to Slovakia as commander of one squadron of 1st Czechoslovak Fighter Regiment, which had, took part in SNP (Slovakian National Uprising). Next day after arrive to Slovakia he made a raid on the airfield in Piestany, which he knew very well from his pre-war service. During operations in SNP he added to his score one Ju88 and one half of Ju87. He has destroyed two more planes on the ground, five trucks, one locomotive and three other vehicles. After returning to the Soviet Union he was at the forming of 1st Czechoslovak Air Division where he was promoted to the function of second in command of the 2nd Fighter Regiment. With this unit he came to Prague in May 1945. For his brave service he was awarded the Czechoslovak War Cross 1939 (five times), Czechoslovak Medal for Bravery (three times), French War Cross with eight palms and many other Czechoslovak and Allied orders and medals. In post-war life Captain Stehlik took part in the creating of the new Czechoslovak Air Force. At first he became the commander of the retraining course for SNB members on Messerschmitt Bf109G aircraft and since the end of 1945 he became the commander of the course in Ceske Budejovice where he lead practice training of instructors for the Army Air Academy. Then in 1948 when he was discharged from the army and arrested for one year. There was an absence of evidence so he was acquitted, although he was degraded and since 1950 he worked as workmen at Pozemni stavby in Brno. In 1963 he became a driver and porter of luggage of patients in Lipova Spa near Jeseniky. In 1964 he was rehabilitated and he got back his rank and he returned into the army. He retired as a Colonel of the Air Force, and died suddenly on the 30th May 1991 in Slavicin.

Josef Stehlik was born in Pikarec at Nove Mesto na Morave on the 23rd March 1915. He started pilot training at the Elementary Pilot School in Prague in 1936. The next year he studied at non-officer school and later at the fighter school in Hradec Kralove. Until the German occupation he served as pilot and instructor at No. 3 Air Regiment at Spisska Nova Ves. On the 5th June 1939 he crossed the border with Poland with the rank of Sergeant. After arriving in France at the end of August he joined the Foreign Legion. When the war began he was transferred to Chartres for retraining. On the 1st December 1939 he was posted to Groupe de Chasse III/3 which was equipped with Morane 406 aircraft but after short time was re-equipped by Dewoitine D-520 aircraft. With these aircraft the unit took part in air battle over France. In this time Stehlik showed his good ability when he shot down four enemy planes alone and four more in co-operation. After retreating by plane to Africa he sailed from Casablanca to Great Britain. On the 5th September 1940 he came as a Sergeant to Duxford to the newly created No 312 (Czech) Fighter Squadron. He took part in the Battle of Britain with this unit. Further victory resulted on the 14th March 1941 when he shot down another Ju88 over the sea in co-operation. During offensive flights over France he added to his score one damaged Bf109 and on the 10th July 1941 he probably shot down another plane of the same type. He left operational duty in October and after course for instructors at Upavon he became an instructor. At first he trained pilots at Hullavington and since January 1942 till February 1943 he served at Elementary and Secondary Flying Training Schools in Canada. In April 1943 he returned to No 312 (Czech) Squadron where he made many flights over occupied Europe. In January 1944 he moved to Soviet Union together with a group of 20 Czechoslovak pilots. After retraining on Soviet fighter planes La-5 he was posted on the 17th September 1944 to Slovakia as commander of one squadron of 1st Czechoslovak Fighter Regiment, which had, took part in SNP (Slovakian National Uprising). Next day after arrive to Slovakia he made a raid on the airfield in Piestany, which he knew very well from his pre-war service. During operations in SNP he added to his score one Ju88 and one half of Ju87. He has destroyed two more planes on the ground, five trucks, one locomotive and three other vehicles. After returning to the Soviet Union he was at the forming of 1st Czechoslovak Air Division where he was promoted to the function of second in command of the 2nd Fighter Regiment. With this unit he came to Prague in May 1945. For his brave service he was awarded the Czechoslovak War Cross 1939 (five times), Czechoslovak Medal for Bravery (three times), French War Cross with eight palms and many other Czechoslovak and Allied orders and medals. In post-war life Captain Stehlik took part in the creating of the new Czechoslovak Air Force. At first he became the commander of the retraining course for SNB members on Messerschmitt Bf109G aircraft and since the end of 1945 he became the commander of the course in Ceske Budejovice where he lead practice training of instructors for the Army Air Academy. Then in 1948 when he was discharged from the army and arrested for one year. There was an absence of evidence so he was acquitted, although he was degraded and since 1950 he worked as workmen at Pozemni stavby in Brno. In 1963 he became a driver and porter of luggage of patients in Lipova Spa near Jeseniky. In 1964 he was rehabilitated and he got back his rank and he returned into the army. He retired as a Colonel of the Air Force, and died suddenly on the 30th May 1991 in Slavicin.

Denys Gillam was born in November 1915 in Tynemouth, at the age of 16 he attended a Public School Aviation Camp at Norwich, were he managed to obtain his “A” license, Aero Club Certificate No 12291 on the 12th September 1934, it was then decided that Gillam would apply for entry into the RAF, he made an application and went for a interview and was subsequently offered a Short Service Commission. Two months after leaving school he was called up into the RAF and went to Uxbridge for basic training, following this he was posted to No 6 Flying Training School at Netheravon. Upon completing his flying training he was posted to No 29 squadron at Amriya in the Middle East, flying Hawker Demons for about six months during the Abyssinian crisis.

After returning to England, Gillam volunteered for the Met Flight in January 1937 and was posted to Aldergrove in Northern Ireland remaining there for 2 ½ years. It was whilst serving with this unit that Gillam was awarded the AFC in February 1938 after flying supplies to the inhabitants of Rathlin Island after being cut off due to the severe weather conditions and his work with the Met Flight.

When war broke out Gillam was posted to the position of a flight leader with No 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron on the 27th September 1939 at Doncaster and it was with this squadron that Gillam fought during the Battle of Britain, at the end of the Battle he was awarded the DFC and posted to Duxford to assisting in the forming of No 312 (Czech) Squadron. At the end of November 1940 Gillam was given command of No 306 (Polish) Squadron, until the 2nd March 1941 when he was posted to No 9 Group Headquarters at Barton Hall, Preston. Finally in July 1941 he was given command of No 615 (Surrey) Squadron at Valley, the squadron soon started offensive action over the channel and into France, at the end of 1941 he was awarded the DSO and sent to the United states, which had just entered the war. Upon his return in March 1942 he was given the command of the first Typhoon Wing based at Duxford and after many months of problems with the new aircraft the squadron started offensive operations in August 1942 during the Dieppe operation.

In October 1942 Gillam attended Staff College for three months, then in February 1943 he was posted to No 12 Group Headquarters and then went on to form the Special Low attack Instructors School at Milfield. In July 1943 he formed No 83 Group but was then posted to the Command and General Staff School at Fort Worth Texas, returning in November 1943 to command No 146 Wing. On the 28th February he was posted to No 84 Group as Group Captain Ops, making his last operational sortie on the 25th April 1945.

Gillam left the RAF in October 1945 and joined No 616 (South Yorkshire) Squadron when the reformed at Finingley in 1947 as a Flight Lieutenant!, he finally left in 1950 to join the family carpet business in Halifax until he finally retired to become a gentleman farmer in his beloved Yorkshire. He suddenly died of a heart attack in 1992.

I know it's a long read guys but well worth the time.

Oh, that's interesting: I'd thought the picture posted by bert1 above, of President Benes presenting medals, was of the pilots involved, but according to this intelligence de-brief, only Sgt. Stehlik in the picture was involved.

That's a bloomin' long stutter you got there Dava

Seriously though - good stuff.

I tell you something, to land a Huricane at Speke, drive a car round through the Tunnel and get to Bromborough in about 15 minutes in that era - I think the pilot had robbed an aircraft engine and stuck it in his car!!!

lol.

No 1 312 080140


SECRET Form "F"

PILOT'S INDVIVDUAL

COMBAT REPORT

Sector Serial No (A)

Serial No. of Order detailing flight or squadron to Patrol (B)

Date (C) 8/10/1940

Flight, Squadron (D) Flight: Sqdn: 312

Number of Enemy Aircraft (E) ONE

Type of Enemy Aircraft (F) JU 88.

Time Attack was delivered (G) 16.15

Place Attack was delivered (H) Mersey

Height of Enemy (J) 1500 feet

Enemy Casualties (K) ONE (SHARED)

Our Casualties Aircraft (L) NIL

Personnel (M) NIL


General Report (R)

On being ordered to take off I led Yellow section. When at 1000 feet I noticed Yellow 3 break off and climb. I then saw a JU 88 above me just about to enter cloud. I pulled the emergency boost control and climbed up to a position vertically underneath it. Yellow 3 did a ¼ attack and passed away to my left. I closed to an astern position 50 – 80 yards away and followed it through cloud firing continuously. One engine poured out smoke and the aircraft commenced to dive. I followed it down to 800 feet then broke away as both engines were on fire and I had run out of ammunition. While I was in the astern position after we had broken cloud Yellow 2 and 3 were doing ¼ attacks. Continuous return fire was experienced and I was hit on the windscreen and in the wing.

F/Lt. D. F. Gillam, A.F.C.
Squadron No. 312

No 2 312 08101940


SECRET Form "F"

CZECH PILOT'S INDVIVDUAL
COMBAT REPORT

Sector Serial No (A)

Serial No. of Order detailing flight or squadron to Patrol (B)

Date (C) 8/10/1940

Flight, Squadron (D) Flight: B Sqdn: 312

Number of Enemy Aircraft (E) ONE

Type of Enemy Aircraft (F) JU. 88

Time Attack was delivered (G) 16.15

Place Attack was delivered (H) Over River Mersey (Speke)

Height of Enemy (J) 1200 feet

Enemy Casualties (K) 1 (shared)

Our Casualties Aircraft (L) NIL

Personnel (M) NIL


General Report (R)

I was Yellow 3 and shortly after taking off I saw AA fire and about 50 yards above the bursts on E/A flying due west at 1200 feet, very slowly. On seeing us the E/A climbed sharply trying to reach cloud cover. I was about 1200 feet below and to the rear and immediately gave a long burst until E/A disappeared into cloud. I continued to climb through cloud for about 15 seconds, and then saw a silhouette above me 50 yards in front. I immediately gave a second burst and E/A ceased climbing and glided down towards the left bank of the Mersey. I gave a third burst, emptying my guns, and saw his starboard engine on fire. I had to break away to avoid the Balloon Barrage, and as my guns were empty returned home.

Sgt. J. Stehlik.
Squadron No. 312

No 3 312 100840


SECRET Form "F"

CZECH PILOT'S INDVIVDUAL

COMBAT REPORT

Sector Serial No (A)

Serial No. of Order detailing flight or squadron to Patrol (B)

Date (C) 8/10/1940

Flight, Squadron (D) Flight: B Sqdn: 312

Number of Enemy Aircraft (E) ONE

Type of Enemy Aircraft (F) JU. 88

Time Attack was delivered (G) 16.15

Place Attack was delivered (H) Over Mersey at Speke

Height of Enemy (J) 1200 feet

Enemy Casualties (K) 1 (shared)

Our Casualties Aircraft (L) NIL

Personnel (M) NIL


General Report (R)

I was Yellow 2 and started close behind Yellow leader, staying about 20 yards behind. On turning over the river Yellow leader started to climb sharply and looking round I sighted the E/A. I gave full gas, turned to port and flew about 60 feet below the E/A from ¼ but could not fire on account of the presence of |Yellow 3. I turned and climbed and attacked E/A from rear and above (about 2 seconds at 100 yards). Immediately afterwards I saw Yellow 1 attack E/A from below. I broke away slightly to right and saw E/A smoking (white) from starboard engine and gliding downward. I followed at 1200 – 1500 feet distance and approached, but could not fire at once as Yellow 3 was attacking. I then fired a short burst and experienced return fire from the upper gunner. E/A then flew level at a height of 200 feet and I attacked from the stern and gave a third short burst and saw E/A fall flat on the ground and slew round to port. It lies on a meadow at the edge of the waterborne Balloon Barrage.


P/O. A. Vastko.

Squadron No. 312

Alois Vasatko

Denys Gillam

Josef Stehlik

Flight Lieutenant Vasatko and Sergeants Stehlik and Truhlar after receiving the Czech Military Cross from President Benes

Close up of nose section showing symbol

The tailfin removed from the Ju88

tailfin

Herbert Schegel's Grave at Cannock

Damage to Gillam's Hurricane

It happened 70 years ago this month – on Tuesday 8th October 1940 – the shooting down of a Junkers Ju88 (2Staffel/KGr.806 ‘M7+DK’ w/no 4068) at Magazine Village, Bromborough.

Much has been mentioned on these pages regarding the last moments of the ‘Bromborough Dock’ JU88, but one eyewitness account has never been recorded.

My father is almost certainly the last person alive to have witnessed first hand (and at close quarters – less than 200ft) the final moments of the action that day, and as he has never had a public outlet to tell the story, and is not computer savvy, I thought it would be right and proper that I take it upon myself to preserve it here and share it with a wider audience - If the memories aren’t recorded, they are lost to future generations forever.

I wasn’t sure in which topic to put this – but I think that, as part of the Magazine Village history, it should be here, rather than the WIKI History topic ‘Bombed Birkenhead’ which contains more about the incident.

So - to the account...

It’s an October day 70 years ago – three 12-13 year old boys have had a half day off from school (reason lost in time) and are out on the Mersey in a small rowing boat. The weather is overcast with a slight mistiness in the air and it’s about 16.00.

My father takes up the story in his own words… (My notes in italic)

We were in the Eastham Channel in a punt – Alan Gratrix, Ronnie Hill and myself. I heard explosions at Speke – gunfire or whatever – presumably from the Runcorn, Speke and Helsby direction. We couldn’t see anything at that time, so thought we had better go home. A few minutes later Frank Rogers (Note: Who was the Gunpowder Magazines Foreman) was waving frantically from the beach right at the end of the village by Bill Earl’s house (Note: This was the last house in the village in the Eastham direction).

We beached the punt and by this time the noise was very loud, we knew that there was an aircraft around. Frank urged us towards the cliff on the beach and told us to keep flat against the cliff.
I said “it’s a dogfight”, and there was the Ju88 being fired on by a Hurricane, followed by another Hurricane. Pieces were flying off the German plane and were dropping into the mud on the shore (Note: he went looking later, but couldn’t find anything), and smoke was pouring out of one (or even both) of the engines. No time for words, it had gone over the dock wall, and disappeared fast within seconds. I said “she’s down on the dock” – Frank looked concerned and replied “I’ll get my gun” and went off to get it.


My father told me that the Ju88 was very low (below chimney height of the houses) and it just scraped over the dock wall by about 6 feet.

Meanwhile, my Grandfather was stuck on the Magazine Hulk ‘Swallow’ whilst the action was taking place – not a great place to be when you come to think about it; you’re sat on probably quite a few tons of Gunpowder whilst hot metal and high explosives are whizzing about just a few yards away. As he had left his ARP helmet at home, he protected himself with a handy-sized saucepan over his head!

Running towards the aircraft, my father watched as one of the Hurricanes did a climbing ‘Victory Roll’ over the scene. I have seen reports stating that no victory roll took place at Speke:

A local newspaper excerpt:
"It was a great few minutes and that Ju88 simply had no chance", said an experienced airman and "I saw the leading British fighter come back, I looked for a victory roll, there was none. The second Hurricane and then the third Hurricane came. They did no Victory Roll either, then as an old flying man I understood, none of them would take the credit individually".

But a victory roll most definitely DID happen – just not at Speke, but at Bromborough Dock instead.

By the time my father got to the aircraft (having run past one of the bombs that had fallen off as the plane skidded along the ground), the crew were out (one carried out dead) and being surrounded by people from the factories nearby. One of the crew wanted a drink - and with the Mersey adjacent, the crowd gave the obvious answer…

After a short time an LDV (Officer?) arrived on the scene and tried to keep the crowd back with a gun, and was told in no uncertain terms to “point the gun at the Bl**dy Jerries”.

As I’ve stated elsewhere on Wiki, my father ‘liberated the wingtip and made off with it (it included the landing light, the bulb of which had written on it ‘OSRAM – Made in England’), my Grandfather later making sure it was OK with the RAF, telling them that ‘my lad’s got this’. The RAF bloke replied “that’s OK – let him have it as a souvenir”. My fathers mate Ronnie made off with one of the forage caps from the crew – I suppose that’s what 12 year old lads do.
The wingtip was given away in various pieces over the following years – I never got to see it.

Later, a Czech Pilot – still in flying boots and jacket – who had walked from Hooton Airfield, approached along the cliff path from the Eastham direction and asked my father in broken English “Ver iz this thing?” to which my father pointed and said “it’s over there” and the pilot walked off to see it.

This pilot was likely to have been P/O A.Váštko. as the other Czech, P/O Stehlik’s flying report (see Bombed Birkenhead) states that he returned to Speke. Some reports I have seen state that a pilot arrived within 15 minutes (from Speke? – which is some going!! ), but I think that the explanation is that he walked from Hooton along the shore path - just as my father observed.

F/Lt. Gillam has stated that he arrived from Speke as the crew were being rounded up – again I reckon that the times mentioned need to be taken with a pinch of salt.

At Woodslee School the next day my father and his mates were hauled up in front of the school and asked to re-tell what they saw, and in 1992, when the pilot of the Junkers, Helmuth Bruckmann revisited, my father went along to meet him and even appeared briefly on a BBC ‘Look North’ piece devoted to the incident (still got it on video somewhere).

For some years I’ve been trying to get the absolute facts regarding what he saw that day plus an image in my mind of what the action must have looked like; so to that effect, I’ve had a dabble on the computer and made up an image – he’s seen it, and reckons it a pretty good likeness (apart from the weather being muckier and him standing about 10 feet lower… best I could do… :))

I’ve also superimposed a OS map of Magazine Village onto a modern Google image to plot the path of the bomber as it fell and also position my father’s viewpoint. (As a bonus, it’s also quite interesting to see where the village actually was in relation to the McTay buildings). Note that the aircraft slewed to port as it came to rest – ripping of it’s port engine in the process.

There are a few extra photographs too – some have already appeared on WIKI, but I think these are clearer, having been scanned from original photographs in our families’ possession.

STOP PRESS: There is an exhibition this week at Bromborough Library regarding this incident – see New Ferry Online for more details. It includes a model of the crash and a talk is scheduled about the action on the Tues 5th. Unfortunately, I won't be able to make it from Cambridgeshire, but I'd love to know how it went. So if anyone wants to report back here...?

Anyway, I hope this has been an interesting read – and at least at long last, the story is now recorded…


Billy.

Excellent Billy and Thank you.

Thanks for the write-up, Billy. I didn't see the crash, but I remember going to see the JU88 when it was put on display at the Oval.

I could read stories like that all day long,

Cheers billy

Great bit of local history recounted there, thanks for taking the time Billy.

Wow.....amazing story and pics!!!!!

I’ve recently acquired four clear pictures of the Ju88 as it lay on the dock wall. Two of them I had seen before, but the other two were new to me.

Ju001 (side view):
I’ve seen this one before, but not in so clear focus.

Ju002 (rear ¾ view – starboard):
This is the same view as page8 in the “Bromborough Dock Ju 88 Incident” E-book (see New Ferry Online - Bromborough Dock Ju88 – which is a very nice compilation of available information regarding the Bromborough Dock Ju88)

Ju003 (head-on view):
I’ve not seen this one before. That’s the mast of the ‘Swallow’ gunpowder hulk just visible in the left background.

Ju004 (long-distance rear ¾ -port):
I’d not seen this one before either. Very interesting view in my opinion, as it shows the wreck in a wider context, and its proximity to the factory (was it Fawcett & Prestons?).

I’ve passed these photographs on to the author of the above E-Book, so that they may be considered for future issues.

Very sadly, my Dad passed away a few weeks ago, but I managed to show him these pictures before he went – he recognised them, and I think was glad to see them. I’m so pleased that his memories posted here on this Wiki thread and elsewhere have at least been recorded and will live on for future generations to appreciate. So thank you to WikiWirral for providing a vehicle to do that. Get those memories recorded folks, before it’s too late!

Good pics Billy, could do with them adding here

https://www.wikiwirral.co.uk/forums/ubbthreads.php/topics/276789/4.html

Great photos Billy

You're right Bert - I've been toying with that thought too, but left them in this thread, as they supported my Dad's memories, and it happened so close to Magazine Village. What do you reckon? Add them in the Bombed Birkenhead thread too?

Incidentally, (for the railway enthusiast in me) that’s a very strange wagon in the background that the two lads are stood on in Photo 2 of my previous post (one could be my Dad!), as it has a flat top overhanging the sides and ends (Armour? Camouflage?). The short siding that it’s stood on(so my Dad told me) was used for dumping refuse/rubbish, and the location of this siding can be seen in the ‘flightpath’ (photo 2) map back in post #435183.
Does anyone have any ideas about why the wagon looks as it does?
Here's an enlargement:

Yes Billy, I think you should add them to the BB thread, along with your fathers memories, appropriate in my opinion.