The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. V Brejcha

Vaclav Brejcha was born in Zivotice, Czechoslovakia on 13th April 1915. He was in the Czech Air Force before the war and escaped to Poland after the Germans took over the country in March 1939.

After Poland fell, he escaped to France, joining the Armee de l’Air and flying MB152 aircraft with GC III/10 and Curtiss Hawk 75s with GC I/4.

After the fall of France he made his way to England, arriving at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge from RAF Cosford on 1st September to convert to Hurricanes.

On 2nd October he made a forced-landing in Hurricane L1581 following engine failure. On 5th October Brejcha joined 43 Squadron at Usworth. He went to 257 Squadron at Coltishall on 27th November 1940.

(Above: Brejcha is standing at far right, wearing his Mae West)

On 4th February 1941, in Hurricane P3705, he shot down Do17 U5+LM (1132) of 4/KG2. It had been damaged by anti-aircraft fire and also by P/O Barnes of 257. It crashed offshore near Corton, Lowestoft. Fw H Ablonski and Gefr. F Muller both baled too low and were killed. Fw. W Blaschyk was captured along with Lt. F Heilman but the latter died of wounds the same day.

Brejcha was killed on 19th June 1941 whilst flying in Tiger Moth II N6835 of RAF Coltishall Station Flight, which spun into the sea off Southwold in Suffolk. He is buried in Scottow Cemetery, Norfolk.

His home town also commemorates him, see:

http://www.obec-zivotice.cz/pages/akce/2007/polozeni_vence.php