WW2 lost Czech pilot honoured with memorial

A memorial has been unveiled to commemorate a Czech pilot who was killed off the coast of Devon during World War Two.

Wing Commander Alois Vasatko's body was never recovered after his Spitfire collided with German Focke-Wulf 190 and crashed into the sea off Start Point on 23 June 1942.

More than 80 years, on a special plaque and bench has been installed in his memory close to where the aircraft came down.

The memorial was erected by the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces of Czech Republic, with the plaque and bench donated by Stokenham Parish Council.

Vasatko, 33, was one of the RAF's most senior Czech officers and commanded three fighter squadrons – 310, 312 and 313 – known as the Czech Fighter Wing, operating within the RAF from bases including Exeter, Bolt Head, Harrowbeer and Culmhead.

The memorial was built by stonemason Andy Dunn and designed in conjunction with landowner Lady Newman, the Local Democracy Reporting Service reports.

Vasatko was originally a pre-war Czechoslovak Army officer turned fighter pilot before he later joined the French Air Force.

He later joined the Czech squadrons within the RAF, joining the fight in the latter stages of the Battle of Britain.

He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

The Czech squadrons played a vital role in defending Plymouth and Portland naval bases, as well as shipping in the English Channel.

They also carried out out bomber escort missions and offensive sweeps over occupied France.

Thirty-six Spitfires formed up over Start Point in 1942 to escort six bombers attacking the German airfield at Morlaix in northern Brittany but were intercepted on the return journey.

Seven Spitfires were lost, including Vasatko's.

A German pilot, whose own aircraft was lost but who survived thanks to British Air Sea Rescue, later confirmed he had collided with a Spitfire during the battle.

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