Airframes
Benevolens Magister
Username: Airframes.
Name: Terry.
Kit: Airfix Hurricane Mk1.
Scale: 1/48th.
Category: Judge, non-competing.
Accessories: Spare decals hand-painted codes, some scratch-building, otherwise OOB.
Here's my third entry for the BoB build.
This aircraft was flown by Josef Stehlik, then a Sergeant, who was from Slavicin, the town in the (now) Czech Republic where another of our members, 'Seesul' (Roman), was born.
Roman knew Josef, and was a friend until his death a few years ago.
312 Squadron was formed at Duxford on August 29th, 1940, all of the 28 Czech pilots being experienced , having flown with the Czech Air Force before the war, and with French squadrons during the Battle of France.
The Squadron was then posted to Speke Airport, Liverpool (now John Lennon International Airport), for the daylight defence of Liverpool and the surrounding area, and in particular,the defence of the Rootes car plant, virtually 'next door' and then a 'shadow' factory producing Blenheims (now the Jaguar plant), and to cover Lockheed's facility at Speke itself, which assembled Hudsons, as well as Bostons and other types shipped into Liverpool docks from the U.S.A.
Declared operational on October 2nd, the Squadron was very soon active
On the afternoon of October 8th, the Squadron laid claim to what is arguably the fastest 'kill' of WW2 (although the downing of a Stuka by another squadron probably beats the claim!).
Yellow Section, lead by Flt.Lt. D.E. Gillam, AFC (DU-P, P2575), with Sgt. Stehlik and P.O. Vasatko (DU-J, L1926), had just taken off on patrol, when they saw flak bursts, and spotted a Ju88 attempting to attack the Rootes plant.
The German crew, having spotted the three Hurricanes, took evasive action, trying desperately to seek the cover of the low clouds. The Hurricanes attacked, and a low-level chase ensued, over the River Mersey, with hits being obtained on the Ju88 by all three Hurricanes, as the bomber banked around the church steeple at Bebbington, on the Wirral (south) side of the river, the rear gunner returning fire continuously, and himself gaining hits, one of which shattered the windscreen of Gillam's fighter.
The Junkers was smoking heavily from both engines and, with the pilot dead at the controls, the navigator made a successful belly-landing in a field just on the edge of Bromborough, on reclaimed land (now built on, with a large shopping mall.).
The radio operator and rear gunner received slight injuries in the crash landing, but had managed to return heavy and accurate fire right up to the last moment.
With the fight being in full view of those on the airfield at Speke, and witnessed by many people on Merseyside, the Hurricanes returned to the field and landed, after a total flight time of three minutes.
This has been claimed as the fastest victory, in terms of time between take off and landing but, as previously mentioned, a Stuka had been downed by another aircraft, whilst it was taking off, earlier in the Battle, although it continued with the flight and subsequent battle before landing.
The victim of Yellow Section was Ju88A-1, W.Nr. 4068, coded M7+DK, of 2/KG806, and photographs of the wreck, plus a full account of the air battle, were published the following day in the local newspaper.
On arrival back at Speke, the pilots were carried shoulder high by their comrades, overjoyed at this, the Squadron's first victory, and also 'first blood' for 9 Group. In fact, the interest and excitement was so great, that the airport gates had to be closed, to prevent the public from stampeding to mob the pilots involved !
I hope that this model will provide at least some small tribute to those from other nations who came to Britain's aid in the early years of the war, and, when it's finished, I'll be sending it to Roman as a memento of his friend.
Name: Terry.
Kit: Airfix Hurricane Mk1.
Scale: 1/48th.
Category: Judge, non-competing.
Accessories: Spare decals hand-painted codes, some scratch-building, otherwise OOB.
Here's my third entry for the BoB build.
This aircraft was flown by Josef Stehlik, then a Sergeant, who was from Slavicin, the town in the (now) Czech Republic where another of our members, 'Seesul' (Roman), was born.
Roman knew Josef, and was a friend until his death a few years ago.
312 Squadron was formed at Duxford on August 29th, 1940, all of the 28 Czech pilots being experienced , having flown with the Czech Air Force before the war, and with French squadrons during the Battle of France.
The Squadron was then posted to Speke Airport, Liverpool (now John Lennon International Airport), for the daylight defence of Liverpool and the surrounding area, and in particular,the defence of the Rootes car plant, virtually 'next door' and then a 'shadow' factory producing Blenheims (now the Jaguar plant), and to cover Lockheed's facility at Speke itself, which assembled Hudsons, as well as Bostons and other types shipped into Liverpool docks from the U.S.A.
Declared operational on October 2nd, the Squadron was very soon active
On the afternoon of October 8th, the Squadron laid claim to what is arguably the fastest 'kill' of WW2 (although the downing of a Stuka by another squadron probably beats the claim!).
Yellow Section, lead by Flt.Lt. D.E. Gillam, AFC (DU-P, P2575), with Sgt. Stehlik and P.O. Vasatko (DU-J, L1926), had just taken off on patrol, when they saw flak bursts, and spotted a Ju88 attempting to attack the Rootes plant.
The German crew, having spotted the three Hurricanes, took evasive action, trying desperately to seek the cover of the low clouds. The Hurricanes attacked, and a low-level chase ensued, over the River Mersey, with hits being obtained on the Ju88 by all three Hurricanes, as the bomber banked around the church steeple at Bebbington, on the Wirral (south) side of the river, the rear gunner returning fire continuously, and himself gaining hits, one of which shattered the windscreen of Gillam's fighter.
The Junkers was smoking heavily from both engines and, with the pilot dead at the controls, the navigator made a successful belly-landing in a field just on the edge of Bromborough, on reclaimed land (now built on, with a large shopping mall.).
The radio operator and rear gunner received slight injuries in the crash landing, but had managed to return heavy and accurate fire right up to the last moment.
With the fight being in full view of those on the airfield at Speke, and witnessed by many people on Merseyside, the Hurricanes returned to the field and landed, after a total flight time of three minutes.
This has been claimed as the fastest victory, in terms of time between take off and landing but, as previously mentioned, a Stuka had been downed by another aircraft, whilst it was taking off, earlier in the Battle, although it continued with the flight and subsequent battle before landing.
The victim of Yellow Section was Ju88A-1, W.Nr. 4068, coded M7+DK, of 2/KG806, and photographs of the wreck, plus a full account of the air battle, were published the following day in the local newspaper.
On arrival back at Speke, the pilots were carried shoulder high by their comrades, overjoyed at this, the Squadron's first victory, and also 'first blood' for 9 Group. In fact, the interest and excitement was so great, that the airport gates had to be closed, to prevent the public from stampeding to mob the pilots involved !
I hope that this model will provide at least some small tribute to those from other nations who came to Britain's aid in the early years of the war, and, when it's finished, I'll be sending it to Roman as a memento of his friend.
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