Category Archives: France

Karel Stastny – to the RAF

Posted on 2 July 2012 by

. The story of W/O Karel Šťastný’s escape from his homeland in 1939 and his road to England, via Poland and France to England where joined the RAF and served as a pilot with 311 Sqn, by M. Vincent: To … Continue reading →

Posted in 311 Sqd, Biography, France, Into exile, Poland | Leave a comment

La Bataille de France Volume XV: Les Tcheques

Posted on 9 June 2012 by

. An interesting French publication giving a detailed French perspective about the Czechoslovak airmen who served in l’Arme d’Air in France and fought in the fierce, but brief, Battle of France until the French capitulation in June 1940. The publication … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, France | Leave a comment

Ladislav Svetlik

Posted on 23 March 2012 by

. Odešlo poslední československé stíhací eso. In memoriam Ladislav Svetlik 1917-2008 . ‘SVETLIK Ladislav (Larry). Ex-Czech Air Force; Ex-French Air Force, Lafayette; R.A.F., Czech Squadron 312, Service No. 117371, FLT LIEUT WWII. On July 27, 2008; In his 92nd year, … Continue reading →

Posted in 312 Sqd, Biography, France, Into exile, Victim of Communism | 2 Comments

Arnost Mrtvy – to Poland and France

Posted on 19 February 2012 by

. When Germany occupied Czechoslovakia on 15 March 1939, Arnošt Mrtvý was serving in the Czechoslovak Air Force. Within days of the occupation the Air Force was disbanded. Arnošt, like many other of his fellow Air Force collegues, decided to … Continue reading →

Posted in France, Into exile, Poland | 1 Comment

Josef Balejka

Posted on 4 December 2011 by

. . . . . Josef Balejka . . * 4 March 1914 † 7 July 2004 . . . . . Josef Alois Balejka se narodil 4. března 1917 na Moravě v městečku Valašské Klobouky, ležícím v údolí Bílých … Continue reading →

Posted in 311 Sqd, Biography, France, Poland | 7 Comments

Not Forgotten – France

Posted on 19 September 2011 by

Pihen-les-Guines Communal cemetery, Pas de Calais There are now over 30, 1939-45 war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, a small number are unidentified. _______________________________________________________________ FEJFAR Stanislav, 29, F/Lt, 313 Sqn., Pilot . . * 25/11/12, Štikov, Jičín † … Continue reading →

Posted in Cemetries, France, Not Forgotton | 2 Comments

Shot down – Frantisek Fajtl

Posted on 1 July 2011 by

. On 5 May 1942, S/Ldr František Fajtl DFC participated in the ill-fated Circus 157 over Northern France. During this mission he was shot down and his account of his successful evasion and return to England is: The weather was … Continue reading →

Posted in 313 Sqd, Autobiography, Evasion, France | Leave a comment

Journey into the unknown

Posted on 25 June 2011 by

. F/Sgt Bohumil Ryšánek served as a Navigator in 311 Sqn. In 1939, as a 25 years old, he chose to leave his homeland and take up arms against the German occupiers. His story of his route to England where … Continue reading →

Posted in 311 Sqd, Biography, France, Into exile, Poland | Leave a comment

Karel Bednarik

Posted on 9 June 2011 by

. . . . Karel Bednařík . . * 19 December 1920 † 26 February 2011 . . . . . Karel Bednařík was born on 19 December 1920, in Holešov in the Moravian region of Czechoslovakia. In 1934, after … Continue reading →

Posted in 68 Sqd, Biography, France, Into exile, Poland, Victim of Communism | 1 Comment

The Long Trip in 1940

Posted on 22 May 2011 by

. The autobiographical story of F/O Jaroslav Polivka’s escape from German occupied Czechoslovakia to England: I hadn’t known Mírek for very long prior to our from Prague. I met him first on a canoe trip I took with Otak and … Continue reading →

Posted in 310 Sqd, 311 Sqd, Autobiography, France, Into exile, Poland | 5 Comments