Vaclav Bergman, a Czechoslovakian pilot who fought in the Battle of Britain and the Korean war before eventually settling in Dumbarton, has died peacefully in his sleep at Vale of Leven Hospital.
Vic, as he was known, was born in Domousice, Czechoslovakia, in 1915, and worked on a farm as a youth. But after leaving school he joined the air force. As tension in Europe increased in the thirties he decided to leave, and escaped just before the Germans invaded - eventually reaching Britain.
He joined 310 Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron in July 1940 as a pilot officer and retrained as a Hurricane pilot. The next month he was shot down and injured in a dogfight over Clacton-on-Sea in Essex. He attacked a Dornier bomber, but was then attacked by four Bf 109 fighters. His plane was badly damaged, and caught fire. Vic baled out over Goldsands at Southminster, was taken to hospital in Rochford for treatment to a foot injury, and returned to his squadron at Duxford the next day.
In January 1943, and now a flight lieutenant, he moved to 313 Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron, and in September of that year he was appointed to the Czechoslovak Inspectorat General. At the end of January 1944 he took command of his former 313 Squadron in the rank of squadron leader.
Five months later he was transferred to 19 Wing (Flight) Headquarters and promoted to wing commander, and soon after was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for his excellent service. He served in various administrative posts until March 1946, when he was repatriated to his homeland.
In 1948, when the communists took control of Czechoslovakia, he emigrated to England and rejoined the RAF as a pilot officer, eventually rising to squadron leader. His final status in the Czech Air Force was major general.
In August 1950 he was serving as a Sunderland pilot in the Korean war. He was mentioned in despatches in March 1952 for distinguished service in Malaya, and the following April he was awarded a bar to his DFC.
Later he served in training and technical units, leaving the service in 1970 and settling in Scarborough.
A near neighbour in the Yorkshire seaside town became a great friend. Through that friendship he met his third wife Winifred, who came from Dumbarton, and he moved to Scotland. A quiet man who preferred not to talk of his war experiences, Vic spent an enjoyable retirement working in the garden, walking his dog, and cooking.
He is survived by his wife, Win, a former nursing sister at the Vale hospital, three daughters, and his stepson Fraser Barber.
Vaclav Bergman; born
August 27, 1915, died
December 31, 2002.
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