THE LAST FLIGHT OF THE WOODPECKER

Th E t S ht St t ld BThe Ernst Specht Story told By Carolynne Specht

Compiled by Members of the SywellAviation Museum.

My husband was yborn on the 16th of May 1923 in the small town of Gladbeck.

Gladbeck whichGladbeck which means smooth brook is just North of Essen in the RuhrEssen in the Ruhr River Valley Germany.

The very proud parents Ernst and Anna named him

Ernst Ernst SpechSpecht t 19421942

Anna named him Ernst after his Father – and this is his storyhis story.

Ernst’s early childhood was in a time when it was very hard in Germany Work was difficultin Germany. Work was difficult to find, food was in short supply. The German Economy was suffering badly and it was a time of hyper inflation where it took a wheelbarrow full of Marks just to buy even a loaf of bread.

By the time Ernst was 10, Adolf Hitler had been elected

Ernst Ernst SpechSpecht t 19421942Adolf Hitler had been elected

Chancellor and was not only beginning to rebuild the countries economy but secretly reform and rebuild her Army Hitler believed that

19421942

her Army. Hitler believed that the future lay with the young men and women of the emerging World power & he made it clear as to what he expected German children toexpected German children to be like:

In his speeches he dictated that the weak must be hi ll d th t Gchiselled away - that Germany

needed young men and women who could suffer pain. A young German must be as swift as a greyhound, as tough as leather and as hard asas leather, and as hard as Krupp's steel.

From this belief he created the Hitler Youth Movement which prepared the Boys for military

i d i l f th h dservice and girls for motherhood.

Even at the age of 10 Ernst was starting to think about his own future, he decided he wanted to become a teacher but his father explained that thebecome a teacher but his father explained that the Nazi Party controlled the schools and that whilst it was an admiral profession he should not become involved with the Nazi’s.

He belie ed some hat propheticall e ents o ldHe believed somewhat prophetically events would soon turn against them and it would not end well for Germany.

E t h d t l t tl h l hi biti b tErnst had to reluctantly shelve his ambitions but was forced by the Nazi Party to join the Hitler Youth which would ultimately prepare the children of the New Germany for war!

In 1939 came war and although he was learning military skills he was only 16 and too young to be called up – Instead he went into engineering to become a toolmaker but he stayed in the Hitler yYouth where he learnt to shoot eventually becoming a marksman.

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Hitler Youth Marksmanship Award

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The Marksman's badge was awarded to qualifying Hitler Youth members over the age of fourteen for proficiency in target shooting, with small calibre rifles.

Qualification consisted of the accurate results of five shots fired from a unsupported prone position, five shots from a supported prone position and five shots from a unsupported kneeling position.

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The Kreissieger Award

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This piece was given to the local winner of a Work Competition. It was instigated in 1934 for members of the Hitler Youth who were learning professions such as

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The competition stopped when war broke out but came back again in 1944.

The Last Flight of the W d kWoodpecker

By 1942 Germany was still advancing on several fronts. Most of Europe, parts of Africa and huge

t f R iparts of Russia were now “under the Jackboot”, however as his father had predicted years earlier the tide wasearlier, the tide was about to turn and things were about to change.

Ernst was now 18 and heErnst was now 18 and he was he was called up for military service.

Ernst with his sister Maria who was about 12 when this photograph was taken. She passed away in 2004 at the age of 75.

Junkers Ju88 A4J J 88

Ernst in front of His Ju88. Notice there isthere is someone in the cockpit—could thiscould this be Horst Baumgart & could it be the verythe very same aircraft he was shot down in?

Junkers Ju88 A4

A Life Saving Choice?A Life Saving Choice?

Unusually Ernst was given the choice - Army, Navy or Air Force!

He reasoned that if he went into the Air Force it would take much longer for him to train and therefore longerfor him to train and therefore longer before he was faced with combat duty – this choice almost certainly saved his life but would on several occasions threaten to take it.

He completed his basic training at p gStendal and was then given another life changing choice – Flight crew or Ground Crew – again he figured he would probably last longer if hewould probably last longer if he volunteered for flight crew.

A Time to Be MerryM y

New Years Eve Party at Marx

Bordfunker qualificationBordfunker qualification badge.

Issued to qualified RadioIssued to qualified Radio operators who also where necessary doubled up as air gunners in certainair gunners in certain aircraft.

Training TimesTraining Times

For the next two years he underwentFor the next two years he underwent flight training. He flew from Copenhagen in Denmark and Parndorf near Vienna. He also flew in the Alps and over the forests near Delmenhorst where he trained in low flying and bombing techniques.

On the 27th of October 1943 Ernst was assigned to 12 Kg54. This squadron was based at Parndorf andsquadron was based at Parndorf and operated the Junkers Ju88A. Here he was assigned as a Radio operator/Air gunner with Horst Baumgart, Bruno Sit k d E t KSitek and Ernst Kaupa.

1st Close Shave1 Close Shave

I N b 1943 thIn November 1943 they were transferred to 8 Kg54 at Manchingen near Ingolstat.

This unit was transferred to Marx on the 1st of April 1944on the 1 of April 1944.

On the night of the 18th of April 191944 Ernst and his crew were scheduled to raid London as part of operation Steinbeck – this was better known as the Baby Blitz and would prove to be Ernst’s first “close shave”.

The Official Story!The Official Story!

The unit logbook reads as followsThe unit logbook reads as follows.

Only a few machines from the third group were able to take off. Due to motor failure during takeoff, B3CS of Baumgart crashed. The undercarriage sheared off, the AB-1000 fire bomb holders broke off and scattered their bombs some of which ignited. The injured crew were quickly rescued, but the accident restricted the runway and the rest of the group were unable to take off.

Many years later Ernst explained to me what had actually happened that night -The squadron commander decided heThe squadron commander decided he wanted to fly the aircraft normally assigned to the Baumgart crew.

What Really HappenedWhat Really Happened

Instead they were allocated aInstead they were allocated a different aircraft which they knew had faulty underpowered engines.

They initially refused to fly this aircraft but at Pistol point and with threats of transfer to the Russianthreats of transfer to the Russian Front they had no choice.

Lining up on the runway they beganLining up on the runway they began their take off roll – then at the crucial moment they lost power on both engines – the aircraft bounced once on takeoff at which point the bombs cametakeoff at which point the bombs came off, on the second bounce the wings came off, the aircraft crashed on the runway and was a total wreck.

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Unit History showing the accident on the 18th of April 1944 The Ju88 wasthe 18 of April 1944. The Ju88 was coded B3 + CS

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The Baby Blitz

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Unit History showing the accident on the 18th of April 1944 The raid onthe 18 of April 1944. The raid on London is also shown

Shaken but Safe

Everyone on the ground who witnessed the

Shaken but Safe

Everyone on the ground who witnessed the crash thought the crew could not have survived so didn’t bother to come to the rescue – the rest of the aircraft carried on with the raid whilst Ernst and his un-injuredwith the raid whilst Ernst and his un injured but shaken crew awaited help.

When they were finally rescued, they were given 5 days leave to recover He wasgiven 5 days leave to recover. He was promoted to Corporal.

Upon return to flying duty he flew missions to p y g yHull, Portsmouth, Plymouth and Torbay; Ernst and his crew also took part in Anti Shipping missions in which they dropped torpedoes which circled until they hit

thisomething.

5 Days Leave5 Days Leave

Ernst Specht (far left) Horst Baumgart, Ernst Kaupa, Bruno Sitek on leave in Paris after their crash at Marx on the 18th of April 1944

Writing on the WallWriting on the Wall

It was on one of these missions thatIt was on one of these missions that Ernst saw Allied invasion barges preparing for what would become known as D-Day. He now understood

h t hi f th h d id t hiwhat his father had said to him many years before. Things were about to change in more ways than one.

On D-Day 6th June 1944 Ernst and his crew carried out the only daylight raid on landing craft and ships of the

finvasion fleet.

After the invasion they were transferred t Ei dh f h th fl tto Eindhoven from where they flew two missions per night.

Medals & AwardsMedals & Awards

Ernst was awarded the Iron CrossErnst was awarded the Iron Cross First Class on the 22nd of July 1944. On the 25th July and for the completion of 20 missions he was pawarded the Front Flying Clasp in Bronze.

Less than ten days later his war was to come abruptly to an end.

At about 11pm on the 30th July 1944 they took off from Chateaudun on a mission to bomb the battle area b t H fl d St L thbetween Hornfleur and St Lo – they were one of 25 aircraft on the raid.

Awards

The official criteria for the award was a single act of bravery in the face of the enemy, or actions that were

The bomber clasp was awarded to pilots and crews of heavy and light bombers, dive bombers, transport and enemy, or actions that were

clearly above and beyond the call of duty

, pglider squadrons. Who had completed 20 operational flights,

For You the War is OverFor You the War is Over

An hour later they were hit by light anti-aircraft fireAn hour later they were hit by light anti-aircraft fire & the Junkers 88 exploded. Miraculously uninjured Ernst was thrown clear of the falling bomber and landed safely somewhere near the remains of his aircraft.

It was his 34th and last mission he was 21.Together with his crew he was reported missing and as was the custom promoted – this ti t b f it l ltime to obergefreiter or lance corporal.

Ernst could find no sign of his comrades so he hid his parachute in a hedge and began to walk back

hi li Al h h d jto his own lines. Along the way he passed jeeps, trucks, tanks and many sleeping GI’s. He passed through a French village and began to feel certain he would make it to safety – however at the end of the village and came face to face with heavilyof the village and came face to face with heavily armed American troops - he had no choice but to surrender.

Prisoner of WarPrisoner of War

He was searched and his decorations pistol andHe was searched and his decorations, pistol and personal effects were all taken he was then bundled off to the interrogation centre.

During his interrogation it was noted that hisDuring his interrogation it was noted that his morale was fair but he was fanatically security conscious.

Even when threatened at pistol point he refusedEven when threatened at pistol point he refused to divulge sensitive information. He did however did let some information slip out– such as bomb load (4 x 500 Kg bombs), route of the raid, some information on a previous raid on the 27th of July, b h h d b i d d hibases he had been stationed at and even his previous postings with 12 Kg54.

At some point he was asked by one of his interrogators how he had been treated by his captors; he explained that he was upset that his personal effects had been stolen.

Missing In Action Report

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Here we have the official Missing Aircrew Record. Note – the aircraft is listed as WerkNumber 300204 coded B3+JS. The location of the loss is also given.

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We believe this document indcates that the next of kin has been informed that the named are listed as missing in action.

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Note – the aircraft is listed as B3+ES. The location of the loss is given as Gavre’ which is gdifferent to the location given earlier!

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No Aircraft code is given in this document –the crash location still states Gavre’

Interrogation Reporte

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Interrogation Report

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This document outlines the basic information gathered during

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information gathered during interrogation.

Prisoner of War – Life in h Cthe Camps

The following morning Ernst was awoken by an American officer who offered him a GI helmet which contained all of his stolen items - minus of course his pistol.

E t t k t th USA h h t ti i iErnst was taken to the USA where he spent time in various POW camps in Alabama and North Carolina where he volunteered to work to get some extra money to supplement his Air Force pay - He worked on a fruit farm picking peaches cotton, potatoes & felling timber.

When the war ended his pay stopped and he was shipped to a camp near Hull one of his wartime targets.

Later he was sent to a camp in Belgium which was garrisoned b P li h J H ti h t tby Polish Jews. Here rations were very poor - each tent having one only loaf of bread each meal time to be shared between eight. Ernst having been a toolmaker was given the task of cutting the bread into equal portions for his fellow prisoners.

One day they were told they were going home. He boarded ship but instead of going back to Germany he found himself back in England still a prisoner.

Life as A PrisonerLife as A Prisoner

Ernst was now put to work rebuilding theErnst was now put to work rebuilding the country heavily damaged by the war. He worked on the land at a country house in Coldstream on the Scottish Borders

hi h i i h H lwhich is now a nursing home He also worked in kitchens where one day he met a young Irish lady called Ellen King.

On the 15th of May 1948 and whilst still a prisoner of war, he and Ellen were married.

They moved to the Lake District where Ernst worked with sheep and cattle He was allowed to keep somecattle. He was allowed to keep some chickens and sold the eggs for extra money. He was allowed to own a gun with which to shoot rabbits that were

ld i th b tsold in the nearby town.

Rebuilding His LifeRebuilding His Life

Ernst wanted to go back to his old trade as a toolmaker so he got a job with Lucas in Birmingham but couldn’t find accommodation for him and his wife. Together they searched in vain for a farm in the Midlands eventually moving to Leicestershire.

Whilst still working for Lucas they bought a small holding. Ernst and Ellen worked very hard – he dug out the sewage cess pit, sunk a well and then had a bungalow built. He and Ellen kept chickens and sold the eggs, pigs

Cand Christmas turkeys as well as arable crops such as potatoes.

Ernst left Lucas and got a job in the coal industry. Later he changed his job again eventually becoming a training g j g y g gofficer at a Stone mining company.

He also taught German in adult evening classes

During this time he developed TB, he was off sick for many months & could no longer go underground. He was 39 but rather than taking a desk job he decided to train to become a teacher. His Boyhood Dream

Ernst’s Passportp

Ernst’s PassportErnst s Passport

His Boyhood DreamHis Boyhood Dream

He attended Leicester College of Education and it was here whilst studying geography we met Westudying geography we met. We became great friends and eventually a couple.

Ernst divorced Ellen we got married on the 15th of December 1972. He was 49.

In July 1976 Ernst was awarded Bachelor of Education with honours and became a member of the British Institute of Engineering Technology.

Not The Last FlightNot The Last Flight

Having achieved his boyhood dream Ernst beganHaving achieved his boyhood dream, Ernst began teaching at Lyng Hall school in Coventry. Later he became a head of department at BelgraveComprehensive School where he taught until 1988 when he retired at 65 years and 4 months!

Ernst never stopped flying - he took up glider flying and flew from July 1968 when he was 45 years old until the 26th of July 1999 when he was 76.

In 2009 Ernst tried to find where his aircraft came down & the remains of his crewmates. He wrote to the German authorities and we both visited France to locate the hedge in which he buried his parachute which had probably been used by a French girl towhich had probably been used by a French girl to make a pretty dress.

In 1988 a French historian Remy Chuinard located the remains of a German aircraft near the village of gGourfaleur.

ERNST SPECHTGLIDER PILOTGLIDER PILOT.

Here is a photograph of Ernst. He had just completed a flight to Baden Baden in this Smart Car powered

ultralight.

Ernst had 2500 hours as a Glider Pilot

Glider Pilot

More Identification ErrorsMore Identification Errors

He identified the remains as being from a Ju88 of Kg54 shot down on the 3rd of August 1944.

After searching through German archives he came toAfter searching through German archives he came to the conclusion that it had to be the aircraft in which Ernst was shot down.

Remy wrote to Ernst in December 1989. He believed ythat one of his crewmembers Ernst Kaupa had also survived the crash and was still alive and living in England.

German records do however indicate that Ernst’sGerman records do however indicate that Ernst s aircraft actually came down close to Raum Le MesnilHerman on a different date. This is not the only confusing part of the story as we will see later.

In 2009 and at the age of 86 Ernst was still trying to figure out details of his last flight and the whereabouts of the crew who he last saw in the summer of 1944, only now he was using the internet.

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This is the letter Remy Chuinard wrote to Ernst in 1989. It is clear that he has incorrectly identified the d t f E t’ h d l i t k l b li ddate of Ernst’s crash and also mistakenly believed another crewmember had survived.

Sywell Aviation MuseumSywell Aviation Museum

He posted requests for information on differentHe posted requests for information on different forums. Several people responded and provided details of aircraft lost in the vicinity that night.

While Ernst was searching he was contacted byWhile Ernst was searching he was contacted by Sywell Aviation Museum. They explained that they sometimes had guest speakers come along to give evening lectures and they were very interested in meeting Ernst and hearing of his

ti iwartime experiences.

They explained that it was rare to have the opportunity to listen to veteran stories and even

h h f h h idrarer to hear the story from the other side.

I knew Ernst was reluctant to speak of his experiences but we came to the museum where we were made very welcome.

Ernst explained that there were parts of his story which some people might find disturbing but we p p g gwere reassured that this would be “His” story and people wanted to hear it.

The Last Flight of the W d kWoodpecker

Ernst agreed and on the 13th of July 2009 & usingErnst agreed and on the 13 of July 2009 & using only a few personal mementoes of his Luftwaffe career we brought along, he told his story. He spoke for two hours about his early life and his time in Germany. The room was filled to capacity and everyone was captivated.and everyone was captivated.

Ernst shared his wartime memories on several other occasions and carried out several book signings, but after a while he decided that enough

h d b t j hi ti twas enough and began to enjoy his retirement.

Sadly Ernst passed away peacefully on the 5th April 2015 – he was 91 years old and it was his last flightflight.

When I informed Sywell Museum that Ernst had passed away they suggested that they could include Ernst’s War stories into the Sywell Aviation yMuseum Luftwaffe Hall display.

On the 10th May 2015 only a few days before the 71st anniversary of the end of Ernst’s war I visited this museum again I explained that Ernst enjoyedthis museum again. I explained that Ernst enjoyed giving his talk at the museum and was truly amazed that so many people were interested.

Finally ExplainedFinally Explained

He had been so impressed with theHe had been so impressed with the way he was treated that he expressly requested that all of his awards, citations, his photographs and his

i h ld b d t d t S llmemories should be donated to SywellAviation Museum, where he made his first but not his last talk.

Sadly I could not bring his Iron Cross as this had been lost some years before.

Finally - why “The Last Flight of the Woodpecker”? Well whilst Ernst was

i t hi i t t h hcarrying out his internet searches he went under the pseudonym “Woodpecker” which when translated back to German is Specht.p

Ernst’s Junkers 88.

Positive identification of the aircraft in which Ernst was flying and where it came down on this fateful night is somewhat difficult to ascertain so many years after the incident. Reports are conflicting and of course there is no one to askno one to ask.

The official German records indicate the aircraft was Junkers Ju88A serial number 300204. This states the aircraft came down near Raum Le Mesnil Herman and had the identification fuselage codes B3JS, however the POW interrogation report states the aircraft carried the marking B3IS and crashed some 15 miles South of St Lo.

Other sources indicate the aircraft was marked B3ES.

Maybe we will never know the true identification of the exact aircraft Ernst was flying that night.exact aircraft Ernst was flying that night.

Ernst’s Comrades.

So what happened to Ernst’s friends and wartimeSo what happened to Ernst s friends and wartime comrades – well it seems that everyone on board except Ernst was killed when the bomb load exploded and they came down with the aircraft.

They may have been recovered at the time and buried locally. We do know that after the war the remains of the crewmembers were exhumed re-buried in the German Military cemetery at La C b h th l t thi dCambe where they lay to this day.

All of the items displayed here are courtesy of the Specht family and we hope that we have done hi j i i hi ihim justice in this presentation.

Included in the display are a few other items which not directly linked to Ernst are representative of the clothing he would have worn or may have carried in the Junkers 88. It is hoped to add to this display with more Ju88 artefacts at some point in the future.

Additional information & Family Tree& Family Tree

Ernst’s Mother's Anna Prerost was born on 30th of May 1886 andErnst s Mother s Anna Prerost was born on 30 of May 1886 and baptised the following day in Preschen. North of Prague it was once part of Czechoslovakia and known as Brestany. It is now in Germany.

Anna was married to a man named Novak. He was reported missing at the front line at the very beginning of WW1.

They had three children; Josef who was born on the 17th of February 1906.

Helen was born on the 17th of September 1910 in Leignitz. She passed p g paway on the 16th of February 1997 in Freudenstadt and Emil who was born on the 18th of March 1912 and died on the 22nd of September 1993 in Greven. Joseph died on the 20th of December 1993 in Muenster

Anna received a war widow's pension but had no family left in the areaAnna received a war widow s pension, but had no family left in the area and so moved to the Ruhr region where she met Ernst Specht senior.

Ernst’s Father's full name was Ernst Georg Heinrich Specht. He was born on the 28th of December 1897 and baptised on the 23rd of January 1898 Bad Pyrmont.

His father was orphaned at an early age and as was the practice was in those days "apprenticed" at age 7 to work for two brothers who were shoemakers.

Family Tree

Family HistoryFamily History

It was a painful time for him; working all hours asIt was a painful time for him; working all hours as well the beatings and this affected his attitude to work for the rest of his life. He was called up into WW1 but was invalided out after being gassed.

He worked in a variety of unskilled jobs one of which was the building of the new church in Westbevern that still stands proudly today.

He was called up to the Volksturm or Home Guard at the start of the war. Ernst and Anna had three children - Ernst of course then Annie who was born on the 30th ofcourse then Annie who was born on the 30 of September 1926 but died when she was 11 from a perforated appendix on the 29th of March 1938. Maria was born on the 8th of October 1929 and lived until she was 75.

Ernst’s father died on the 3rd of January 1963 in Westbevern at the age of 66. His mother died at the age of 96 on the 31st May 1982, in Freudenstadt where she was being cared for byFreudenstadt, where she was being cared for by her eldest daughter, Helen

Specht Family HistorySpecht Family History

Ernst married Ellen on the 15th of May 1948Ernst married Ellen on the 15 of May 1948.

They raised four children; Ernst who now lives in Queensland Australia, Mollie who lives in North Yorkshire and Michael who still lives in Colerton Leicestershire.

They also adopted Paul on the 25th of June 1962.

Ernst also has three grandsons and one great grand-daughterdaughter.

We would like to thank the Specht family for their kindness in donating the items in this display and we hope that you have enjoyed this story and will visit us again in the futureagain in the future.

Please remember – The Sywell Aviation Museum is a donation only, non profit making museum.

It is run purely by volunteers and on the kind generosity of our guests and visitors.

Ernst’ Service RecordsErnst Service Records

All of Ernst’s military documents such as hisAll of Ernst s military documents such as his Wehrpass, military record book, are believed to have been lost in the war however the following details have been established from sources in GermanyDog Tag 2060 18 / Lg. Msg. Regt. (Mot) 11 (18 Company Luftgau Night judge Regiment [motorized] 11)Dog Tag number 63626/253 23rd June1942 18

L ft Ni ht j d R i t 11company Luftgau Night judge Regiment 11

27th October 1943 assigned to 12. kampfgeschwader 54

18th April 1944 airfield Marx wounded -laceration on his foreheadRanks HeldRanks HeldGefreiter 18.04.1944Obergefreiter 31.07.1944

Horst Baumgart.Born 1st of August 1922

Place of Birth Breslau

Died 31st July 1944

Buried La Cambe’ Normandy

IN MEMORY OF

Horst Baumgart

Bruno Richard SitekBorn 20th July 1923

Place of Birth Vienna AustriaPlace of Birth Vienna Austria

Died 31st July 1944

Buried La Cambe’ Normandyy

IN MEMORY OF

Bruno Richard Sitek

Ernst KaupaBorn 21st of October 1919

Place of Birth Schirmdorf

Died 31st July 1944

Buried La Cambe’ Normandy

IN MEMORY OF

Ernst Kaupa

THE LAST FLIGHT OF THE WOODPECKERWOODPECKER

Compiled by Members of the SywellAviation Museum.