The youngest son of a forester was born at the village of Pikarec in the Bohemian Moravian Highlands on Mar 26, 1915. Schooled at the Dolni Libochova for five years and Strazek for three ones. Rejecting to follow his father´s steps he served his apprenticeship as a metal lathe operator and electro mechanic at the town of Tisnov. He worked for a company turning out electro engines for about a year. Due to the Crisis he was made redundant early 30s. Josef sat for his entrance exam for the Czechoslovak Air Force´s airman in Brno saying nothing to his father in advance. He passed. On Oct 1, 1935 Josef started his course for a Flight Mechanic with No 83 Flight of No 5 Bomber Reg stationed in Brno. A year later he was sent for a pilot and NCO course to No 1 Fighter Reg to the Prague Kbely AB. Josef was promoted to LAC On Feb 1, 1937. Having taken his course of both elementrary and advanced flying he was sent to the Hradec Kralove AB for a fighter pilot one. On May 1 Stehlik was classed a pilot and on July 15 posted to No 39 Fighter Flight of No 3 Milan Rastislav Stefanik Fighter Reg stationed at Piestany, Slovakia. Equipped with Avia B 534 biplanes this unit was moved to Vajnory and Malacky. On Sep 16, 1937 Josef was promoted to Cpl. On May 1, 1938 to Sgt and on Jul 1 classed a field pilot. Josef defended a border on Hungary during the Second Alllert late Sep 1938. Thanks to his skill he was sent to the Spisska Nova Ves AB as an instructor a month later. In Nov he was posted to Piestany. On Mar 14, 1938 a State of Slovakia declared it independence from Prague. On the following day the Wehrmacht occupied the rump of Bohemia and Moravia and proclaimed these lands a Protectorate. Josef Stehlik was posted to the Protectorate on Mar 16 and dismissed from the Forces three days later. Thanks to the contacts from the Airmen Association in Prague Josef attempted to cross the Polish border, but succeeded in doing so for the second time on June 5. 1939. He also had to sign a five year preliminary contract with the French Foreign Legion at the Male Bronowice camp nr Krakow. Having boarded a Castelhom liner Stehlik left for France on July 26 arriving at Calais on Aug 1. But he did not depart for the Frech Free Legion´s garrisons in Northern Africa yet. On Sep 1, 1939 Hitler invaded Poland.
On Sep 3 France declared war on Germany. On Oct 11 Stelik was sent to the Chartres Fighter Pilot Central Flying School. He underwent conversion onto a most commonly used fighter plane of the French Air Force Morane Saulnier 406 there. Completing this course on Dec 1 Caporal-Chef Stehlik joined by F/Os Jindrich Beran, Evzen Cizek, Sgts Josephs Keprt and Hubacek and Cpl Vaclav Slouf posted to No III/3 Groupe de Chasse stationed at the Ochey AB nr Nancy. F/O Beran became a No 5 section leader with Sgt Keprt and Cpl-Chef Stehlik as his wingmen. They flew beyond a frontline during so called phoney war too. Stehlik attacked a recce Henschel 126, a Junkers 52 transport and a fast Ju 88 bomber. Though doing his best rounds were passing the Ju 88 ineffectually so he gave a chase of her against hills. The invader exploded. The machine guns of Stehlik´s MS 406 were inspected following this op. They proved to be diverged on purpose by some French saboteurs. On Apr 10, 1940 No III/3 GC moved to Beauvais-Tille in the Picarde Region.
On May 10 the Wehrmacht launched their attack on France and the Lower Countries. No 5 Flight moved to Maubeuge-Elsmes nearer the front line on the same day. Underpowered MS 406s proved to be outclassed not only by Bf 109s but even by twin engined Messerchmit Bf 110s too from the first encounter. Outnumbered by the latter nr Wetteren Belgium on May 11 F/O Beran was downed by them KIA. No III/3 G/C was equipped by the best French made fighter plane Dewoitine 520 at the Cormeilles-en-Vexin AB after May 21. Cpl-Chef Stehlik flew to Toulose to pick one up at this factory. Having taken off the engine exploded. Joseph performed so called glisade and glided hurriedly to the manufacturing plant aerodrome. He left the aircraft on time and the fire fighters could put the flames out. The fault was traced and Cpl-Chef Stehlik was offered a job of a test pilot by a Company CEO. But he declined. On June 6 Joseph achieved his final kill of the Battle of France – a Bf 109E. No III/3 GC had to move southwards on Jun 11 even twice. Two days following the French REQUEST for peace terms this unit took off from the Perpignan AB heading for Algeria. But they landed in Tunisia and had to ferry to the Maison Blanche air base in Algeria on the same day. On June 22, 1940 was No III/3 GC at Relizane when capitulation of France was made public. The Caporal-Chef Stehlik was awarded the French Medaille Militaire for four kills and four ones shared. Amassing sixty five combat hrs fifty five mins he placed the ninth among the Cz pilots.
Cz airmen in Northern Africa were ordered to entrain and go to Casablanca Morocco. Joseph Stehlik embarked the Royal Scotsman here on Jul 19. This group lead by the Staff Cpt Joseph Duda arrived at Gib on the same day. They changed for the David Livingstone convoyed UK bound two days later. On Aug 5 this group arrived at Cardiff Wales. By train to the Cholmondeley Park nr Chester. Five days later a group of fifty chosen pilots left for the Cosford Cz RAF Depot. On Aug 12 Joseph signed his contract with the RAFVR and as a NCO was alotted the 787701 Service No. Two weeks later he was promoted to Sgt and on Sep 5 alotted to Cz No 312 Fighter Sqn just into existence at the Duxford Action Station. Two days later Stehlik´s skill was tested by S/L Tyson at the controls of a Miles Master advanced trainer. Joe passed and that reason for he flew for the time a Hurricanne Mk I on the same day. No 312 Sqn was to be equipped by them.
This unit moved to Speke nr Liverpool on Sep 26. Tasked to defend the port against the Luftwaffe air raids. The city was molested by them nearly every night. On day of Oct 8 No 4068 Junkers 88 bomber was sent over the target to inspect accuracy of nocturnal bombing. Clouds were at mere one th ft. Sgt Stehlik, F/Lt Dennis Edgar Gillam and F/O Arnost Vasatko were doing readiness. A Very light was fired. Though both the COs took off, an engine of Stehlik´s L 1807 failed to fire for long slow seconds. Doing so at last Joseph´s fighter got airborne too. While gaining altitude the pilot spotted the bomber three hundred ft above him beneath the clouds. Joseph approached the adversary in a split second and a burst hit the Junkers 88´s port engine. Though her experienced pilot hid the bomber in clouds at once Sgt Stehlik went for her firing again. F/Lt Gillam and F/O Vasatko joined and the invader was downed in several minutes and landed on sands. Eyewitnessed by the residents to Liverpool those rushed to the Speke Action Station. They intended to shake hands with these pilots but the guard barred them from passing. It was the first kill of the Luftwaffe aircraft by No 312 Sqn. It was shared in thirds ascribed to all the Section pilots.
Sgt Stehlik moved with No 312 Sqn to Pernhos, Jurby, Kenley, Martlesham Heath and Ayr action stations during his first tour of duty. Promoted to F/Sgt on Mar 1, 1941. On Aug 7 commissioned already and alotted a new No of 104693. F/Sgt Stehlik encountered his adversary above all while stationed at Kenley in June and July. He downed a Bf 109 probably and damaged two more during his sweeps over France. P/O Stehlik completed his first tour of duty on Oct 20, 1941. Thanks to his skill he was sent to Central Flying School at Upavon. Flying Avro Tutor and Miles Master trainers he underwent a flying course for single engine aircraft instructors. Having passed on Dec 13, 1941 P/O Stehlik was posted to No 9 SFTS Hullavington. Then he went to Nos 5 and 2 PDCs. As one of the first Czechoslovaks he had been chosen for the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan in Canada as an instructor. The cadets were not imperilled by the Luftwaffe nuisance raids there.
On Feb 10,1942 Joseph launched his work with No 39 SFTS at Swift Current Saskatchewan flying Harvard Mk II advance trainers. Also the Czechoslovaks Otto Smik, Antonin Sveceny and Frantisek Remes were among cadets. P/O´s skill was assessed ´above average´ by the CO. In July he was posted to No 31 EFTS De Winton Alberta. First the cadets flew DH Tiger Moth and Boeing Stearman biplanes and then advanced Harvard IIs. His cadets also were the Czechoslovaks Miroslav Divis, Karel Lanczik, Antonin Macenauer, Joseph Motycka and Rudolph Protiva. P/O Stehlik flew even ten times a day. On Aug 7, 1942 he was promoted to F/O. In Sep he got new cadets including the Cz ones Frantisek Fanta, Jindrich Lansman, Miloslav Mikulik, Miroslav Moravec, Joseph Morch, Vaclav Nikl, Karel Perina and Robert Prochazka. On Oct 28 F/O Stehlik was posted to No 34 SFTS Medicine Hat Alberta. He flew Harvards Mk IIs there again, for the last time on Jan 31, 1943. He amassed nearly 650 hrs in Canada. He was assessed ´above average´ and offered a post of an instructor by the CO. But Joe declined. He spent three weeks at the Canadian Moncton RAF Depot. Having disembarked in Liverpool he went to the St Athan Cz RAF Depot staying there for several weeks.
On Apr 10, 1943 F/O Stehlik reported to No 312 Sqn stationed at Churchstanton. He was appointed a Flight Commander´s deputy. The Sqn commenced escorting bombers over the Continent. On Aug 7 Joseph was promoted to F/Lt while on the Shetands. Having moved to Ibsley Cz No 312 Sqn joined Nos 310 and 313 and escorted bombers over France and Low Countries after Sep 21. He was slightly injured only while landing wheels up due to engine trouble heading home on Dec 24, 1943.
In Nov 1943 twenty No 312 Sqn´s pilots volunteered to establish a fighter unit in the USSSR. Only eight of them were opted for incl. F/Lt Stehlik. He made his last op on Jan 14 1944. Amassing almost 240 hrs with No 312 Sqn he achieved two sure kills two probables and damaged one more aircraft. Total of 1175 hrs within the RAF in the Aug 1940 Jan 1944 time frame. He left the RAF on Feb 1.
Asked by Reverend Vit from the Cz Inspectorate he married to Jacqueline H. formally at Lancaster on Feb 11. Her fiancé F/Lt Nyvlt had served with Cz 311 Bomber Sqn and failed to return from a sub patrol over the Gulf of Biscay on Sep 19 1942.
2nd Lt Stehlik and nineteen more pilots including an intelligence officer left Glasgow ten days later. Passing Gib they sailed to Port Said Egypt. This group went by train from Cairo to Damascus. By bus to the Habbanyia RAF air base nr Bagdad. By train, on a lorry and by train again to Tehran. This city in former Persia was within the Soviet zone. On Apr 2 Lt Stehlik boarded a Lisunov 2 transport – Soviet licence made Dakota at the Tehran airport. The first group of Cz pilots landed in Moscow and waited for other ones for several days. On Apr 13 they went by train to Ivanovo to launch their conversion onto Lavochkin La 5FN fighters at this air base. The course was eventless and due to experienced Cz pilots it was shortened. Mid May twenty two La 5FNs ferried to Kubinka. Twenty Cz pilots were joined by two former members of No 11 Slovakian Flight who had flown Me 109Gs in the Kuban Region and deserted on Sep 9, 1943. All the pilots were examined by the Soviet board in June. The latter were satisfied not only by their formation flight but also by 2nd Lt Stehlik´s aerobatics on La 5FN. The unit was to be moved nearer the frontline. It was renamed No 1 Czechoslovak Fighter Wing.
The Wing left Kubinka on July 20 and ferried to Proskurov via Bryansk and Priluki. On Aug 1, 1944 2nd Lt Stehlik was promoted to Lt. The wing saw no action during August due to lack of aviation fuel. As the news on the Uprising in the Central Slovakia spread the Wing was ordered to move to Stubno nearer to the frontline. On Sep 14, 1944 its pilots were ordered by the Soviet HQ to ferry to Slovakia.
That reason for the Wing´s CO, his deputy and COs of both the sqns took off on the next day and landed at the Tri Duby air base in Central Slovakia to inspect the facilities. Lt Stehlik flew one of them. While jumping on the soil of his homeland full of joy he turned his left ankle. He was to lead an air raid of La 5 FNs on the Piestany Luftwaffe air base nearby on Sep 18. He had served there prior to WWII and his terrain knowledge was crucial for this mission. So ordered by St Cpt Fajtl Joe remained in Slovakia on Sep 16 and did less harm to his ankle. Staff Cpt Fajtl his Deputy St Cpt Klan and Lt Chabera flew back to Stubno on that day.
Twenty La 5FNs landed on a field air strip at the village of Zolna on Sep 17, 1944. Landing at Krosno to refuel one fighter piloted by 2nd Lt Borovec was damaged. The La 5FNs were camouflaged at once near the brook of Hucava. Eight fighters lead by 2nd Lt Stehlik strafed the Piestany air base on the following day. AA fire was almost nill. Ten German aircraft destroyed, ten probably, ten damaged. While heading to Prievidza Joseph spotted a fast Junkers 88 bomber on Sep 19. He gave a chase and downed her nr Zeminske Kostolany. 2nd Lt Stehlik and P/O Kocfelda shared a kill of a Stuka on Oct 7 nr Klacany. Due to boggy ground of the Zolna airstrip No 1 Sqn had to move to the Tri Duby though more imperilled by the Luftwaffe raids there. Joseph amassed 26 hrs 20 mins in this campaign. He lead seven La 5FNs and a Bf 109G belonging to the Insurgent Flight to escape on Oct 25. But clouds prevented them from flying to Poland and they landed in Romania. A week later 2nd Lt Stehlik was permitted to ferry to Przeworsk and join the unit. He was posted to No 2 Fighter Reg stationed at Przemysl and appointed its CO´s deputy. Joseph and seven more pilots serving with No 1 Reg were sent for an instructor course on Lavochkin 5FNs and 7s. They passed on Jan 19, 1945. No 2 Fighter Reg equipped by La 7s did not see action during the Ostrava campaign at all. This unit ferried from the Balice airfield nr Krakow to Albrechticky in Moravia after the end of hostilities. La 5FNs, La 7s as well as Il2m3 ground attack bombers landed in the Letnany and Kbely air bases in Prague not before May 14, 1945.
Joseph´s parents were nabbed by the Gestapo on Sep 17, 1942 and incarcerated in Jihlava. Though released his father died soon on the consequences. Both the pilot´s brothers Eduard and Adolph were jailed in Brno as in Pod kastany St as in the Kounic hall of residence. Eduard was also interned in the Svatoborice Camp.
Aerobatics of 2nd Lt Stehlik on a Lavochkin fighter was the highlight of an Air Show held at Letnany on June 1, 1945. He was promoted to Cpt of AF a month later and in Aug posted to the Prostejov Military Aviation Academy as an instructor. On Jan 1, 1946 Joe was promoted to Staff Cpt and classed ´A´ instructor. So he was qualified for giving new instructors´courses. On Feb 15 he was sent to the Kbely air base to lead the course for the National Security Force pilots flying Messerschmitt Bf 109 G and K variants. A year later St Cpt Stehlik was posted to Ceske Budejovice to lead courses for instructors. From May 31 he taught the cadets fly Czech made Arado 96B trainers – C2 – at the Hradec Kralove Military Aviation Academy. From Aug he lead the course for fighter pilots flying a Czech made Me 10Gs and Ks – CS 199 – and Spitfires Mk IX – S89 with No 2 Training Flight stationed at Pardubice nearby. But he had to train the instructors first.
Also St Cpt Stehlik was steamrolled by the Feb 25, 1948 Communist Coup´s consequences. From June 1 he was put on a waiting leave which meant an end of his flying within the Cz Air Force. In Sep he was sacked from the Forces. In summer Joe Stehlik had been visited at Dolni Libochova by a couple. They asked him for his escape route contacts. Joe refused but dropped to his brother´s house for advice. Eduard brother suspected both the visitors of being provocateurs and persuaded Joe to report the event at the local Gerndarm station. A few hours later was Joseph arrested by the State Police and brought to Prague. Incarcerated in a ´little house near Loreta in the Hradcany District for seven months. In Apr 1949 Joe was demoted to a private ´for giving a hand to others in their escapes´ and ´not protecting the Cz Army´s good name´. In addition he had to vacate his flat in Prague. Thanks to his brother´s piece of advice Joseph was saved from spending longer term behind bars.
Though doing menial work he was dimissed from his first workplace after four months, from the second one even in several weeks. Assisted by a former member of Cz Armoured Brigade he was given job in Brno in Nov 1949 and shelter in a house of flatlets. In 1956 Joe married for the second time. Seven years later during his stay at the Lipova Spa Resort he was helped by Doc in getting a job of driver and porter there. His wife declined to follow him. Joseph Stehlik´s recalls of escapades became popular among the airmen during their stint at this resort.
In Sep 1964 during the 20th aniversary of the Slovakian National Uprising General Krasovskij asked about his subordinate Fajtl. Also No 1 Cz Reg was commanded by the former within No 8 Soviet Air Army. Panic ensued. The Czech pilots were not invited at all, only the Slovakian ones. Also Joe was delivered a telegram to come hurriedly to Banska Bystrica. All the Cz pilots wore neither uniforms nor medals. In the same year Joe was partly rehabilitated and given back his rank of Major of AF. He was given opportunity to fly a glider and both the propeller and Aero L 29 Dolphin jet trainer. At last Joe was allowed to buy a hunter shot gun. The first made in England had been confiscated by the State Police in 1948 on his arrest.
Early 1966 Joseph Stehlik divorced from his second wife and got married for the third time on Sep 17. He acquainted his third wife at the Lipova Spa Resort. Occupation of Czechoslovak lands by troops belonging to the Warsaw Pact caused deterioration of all the RAF members´ lives. Three years later the authorities confiscated the second Joe´s hunter shot gun. He had to borrow it from his friends hunters. In 1971 he moved to the town of Slavicin nr the border on Slovakia. Assisted by his friends Joe was permitted to buy his third shot gun eight years later. This one was not confiscated yet. In July 1990 Joseph Stehlik joined the other RAF veterans and flew to UK and celebrated BoB´s 50 there. He touched a Spitfire again at the IWM Duxford on July 13. She was AR 501 alotted to Cz No 310 Sqn – NN-A. On May 30, 1991 Joe should have been awarded the Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order in his flat for health grounds. But on the night from 29 to 30 this extraordinary pilot passed away.
A plaque dedicated to him was unveiled on a wall of the Strazek basic school on May 29, 1994. It had been attended by little Joe for three years. On Sep 12, 2009 two plaques dedicated to the famous natives of the village of Pikarec – F/Lt Josef Stehlik and Prof. Ing. Dr Alois Myslivec DrSc - were unveiled on a huge stone in front of a local chappel. A wreath was laid to this stone at the ceremony remembering the 100 the anniversary of the pilot´s birth on Mar 21 at 1405 hrs. A flypast of two JAS 30 Gripen jets was added to this tribute. Also Prime Minister and Gen. Emil Bocek were among the attendees. On Sat of Mar 28 a plaque dedicated to Col Josef Stehlik is to be unveiled at Slavicin.
Awards :
Croix de Guerre – with three Palm Trees and two Golden Stars
Médaille Millitaire
Médaille Commémorative des Services Volontares dans la France Libre
Cz Military Cross incl four bars
Cz Medal for Valour incl two bars
Cz Merit Medal I and II Class
Slovak National Uprising Order I Class
Cz Foreign Army Memorial Medal
The 1939 – 1945 Star with Battle of Britain Clasp
War Medal
Defence Medal
Air Crew Europe Star
Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order
Bibliography
Josef Stehlík Sure shot hunter by Jaroslav Popelka, Vaclav Kolesa, Jana Horakova – Kolesa Publ
First on soil of homeland by Frantisek Fajtl – ie Prvni doma - Nase vojsko Publ 1980
On soil of homeland for second time by Frantisek Fajtl – ie Podruhe doma – Nase vojsko Publ 1984
Cz airmen in France 1940 by Joseph Vana, Jan Rail – Ceskoslovensti letci ve Francii – DoD´s Publ 2005
Assistance of Mr Jan Kodras and Mr Peter Murton is appreciated
Sgt Stehlik in No 193 picture taken on Oct 8, 1940 - HERE
2nd Lt Stehlik in Sep 1944 at the Zolna airstrip - HERE