F/Lt STEHLIK Josef

Sitensky L.

Official No.: 104 693 (787 701) Date and place of birth: 23rd March 1915, Pikarec Date and place of death: 30th May 1991, Slavicin

War Service

Unit	Since	To	Rank
312	05.09.1940	22.10.1941	Sgt, F/Sgt, P/O
312	10.04.1943	01.02.1944	F/O, F/Lt

On 5th September 1940 he came to Duxford to newly created No. 312 Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron and there he passed retraining on Hurricane. He participated on the first victory of No. 312 Squadron when on 8th October 1940 during quick intervention together with P/O Vasatko and F/Lt Gillam shot down Junkers Ju 88 over Liverpool. Further victory he noted on 14th March 1941 when he shot down another Ju 88 over sea in co-operation. On 6th April 1941 he made crashlanding during training flight. His Hurricane I V6536 was damaged, he was uninjuried. He left operational duty on 22nd October 1941 and after course for instructors at Upavon he became 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. On 10th April 1943 he returned to operational duty to No. 312 Squadron in the rank of F/O and he continued in offensive flights over occupied Europe. In January 1944 he moved to Soviet Union together with group of 20 Czechoslovak fighters. After retraining on Soviet fighter planes La-5 he was posted to Slovakia as commander of one squadron of 1st Czechoslovak Fighter Regiment which has took part in SNP (Slovakian National Uprising). During operations in SNP he added to his score 1 and 1/2 destroyed planes and about 11 ground targets. After forming of 1st Czechoslovak Air Division he was promoted to the function of second of command of 2nd Fighter Regiment. With this unit he came to Prague in May 1945. Retired Colonel of Air Force Josef Stehlik died on 30th May 1991 in Slavicin suddenly.