Denys Gillam – Fastest Air to Air Kill

Hi Gents

What is the definitive story of this incident? There seems to be a lot of contradiction out there. Naturally, I’m inclined to believe the man himself…

“we were scrambled on 8th October in poor visibility. With our wheels still down we spotted this Ju88 being engaged by AA fire. My two wingmen began to chase it as I pulled up into a climbing turn. As my two Czechs engaged him I rolled or rather slid off the top of the climb right under it – the Ju88 was only at 1,000 feet. When I had enough power I pulled up and got a very close shot and it went down and crash landed with both engines on fire on the other side of the Mersey, about half a mile or so from the airfield. I continued round, lowered my wheels and put back down on the runway”.

However, browsing through Phil Butler’s ‘History of Liverpool Airport’ again last night and that source indicates that the mission lasted eleven minutes.

Whereas, something else from the internet indicates that the Gillam and his wingmen were already at 1000 feet and ‘near’, not over, the aerodrome….

The intelligence officer, Pilot Officer G McK Phillips report that is made up from the three pilots individual combat reports details the attack as follows, “Yellow section had just received the order to patrol Hoylake and were still near the aerodrome at a height of 1000 feet when a Ju88 was sighted by anti aircraft positions up river the bursts attracting the attention of yellow 3 which sighted the Ju88 flying slowly Westwards at 1200 feet. The Ju88 then in turn sighted our formation and climbed sharply trying to gain cloud cover. Shortly before entering the Ju88 received a burst from Yellow 3 which was followed by continual attacks from Yellow 1(continuous astern attacks) Yellow 2 and 3 which weaved in and out attacking from below and above principally from the rear on account of bad visibility. The Ju88 received bursts from Yellow 1 and 3 while still climbing through cloud and started gliding downwards. Yellow 2 and 3 doing quarter attacks. By this time both of the Ju88’s engines were on fire and it was seen by yellow 2 and a large number of ground observers to fall flat down on a meadow on the left bank of the Mersey. During combat heavy and accurate return fire was experienced from the Ju88 up to the last moment before the crash. Slight damage was sustained by all our aircraft a bullet hitting the windscreen of Yellow 1 another the exhaust manifolds of Yellow 2 while Yellow 3 sustained damage to the petrol tank and the gun pipe line (He states in his individual report he returned thinking all his ammunition had gone). Cine guns were not carried. Anti Aircraft fire was ceased immediately our fighters came into action. The names of the pilots taking part and numbers of rounds fired were as follows,
bullet Yellow 1. Flight Lieutenant D.E. Gillam A.F.C 2400
bullet Yellow 2. Pilot Officer A. Vasatko 144
bullet Yellow 3. Sergeant J. Stehlik 504

see more at:
http://www.south-lancs-aviation.bravepages.com/ju88.htm

Who was credited with the kill? Gillam alone? The Robert Taylor painting shows no wingmen and yet the internet source above clearly indicates eyewitnesses who saw three attackers.

Was it in 1940 or 41? (I’ve seen both dates given)

Thanks

Seb