Jan Novak / Juan Holba

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Jan NOVÁK/ Juan Holba

* 07/08/1919
† 02/10/2010

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With sadness we must advise that

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F/Sgt Jan NOVÁK/ Juan Holba (788565)

WW2 Wireless operator/Air Gunner with 311 Sqn. RAF

died

2 October 2010 aged 96 in Peru.

more information here

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V října 2010 v Peru ve věku 96

zemřel

F/Sgt Jan NOVÁK/ Juan Holba (788565)

příslušník 311. bombardovací perutě

více informací zde

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Rest in Peace

Čest jeho památce

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Josef Frantisek remembered

Josef František

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* 7 October 1914

† 8 October 1940

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Dne 8. října 2010 uplynulo 70. let od tragické smrti Josefa Františka
při letecké nehodě.

The 8 October is the 70th Anniversary of the tragic death of Josef František
in a flying accident.

Byl  nejúspěšnějším pilotem Královského letectva  (Royal Air Force)
v Bitvě o Británií.

He was the most successful Royal Air Force pilot
in the Battle of Britain.

V Otaslavicích, jeho rodném městě se k tomutu výročí bude konat dne 10. října vzpomínková slavnost.

Otaslavice, his birth town, will be commemorating this Anniversary on 10 October.

70th Anniversary of the death of
Col. (in memorium) Joseph František

PROGRAM

8:30 –         …. Presentation of guests at the Josef Franiška primary school
9:00             …. Mass in the church of St. Michael
10:10                Laying of wreaths at at the school (aircraft flypast)
10:35                Folklore demonstration by KLAS in the parish garden (outside)
11:35                 Lunch for guests at the school
13:00 – 13:30  Laying of wreaths at the birth house of Josef František,
…………………Flypast by aircraft of the Josef František Aero Club
13:30                Guest speeches at the birth house
14:15                Josef František exhibition
15:15                Social program in the big hall Sokol, combined to commemorate 100                                ….. years since the founding of the TJ SOKOL organisation.

subject to change

Otaslavice October 10, 2010

Z dnešní slavnosti:

Slavnosti k 70. výročí se zúčastnilo přibližně 500 lidí, včetně členů Českého vojenského letectva a v programu byly zahrnuty přelety letounů Českého vojenského letectva
a aeroklubu Josefa Františka. Někteří členové čestné stráže si na tuto událost oblékli uniformy z 2. světové války.

From the ceremony today:

The 70^th Anniversary ceremony was attended by about 500 including officials from the Czech Air Force and in the program was a flypast by aircraft of the Czech Air Force and the Josef František Flying Club. Some of the ceremonial guards were in World War 2 costume for the event.

Pamětní deska Josefa Františka před Základní školou v Otaslavicích:
Plaque outside Otaslavice primary school commemorating Josef František:

Sledování  přeletu letounů:
Observing the commemorative flypast:

Delegace Československého vojenského letectva pokládá věnce
Wreaths being laid by delegation from the Czechoslovak Air Force

Pozvaní hosté,Trudie Bryks  (uprostřed), sestřenice Josefa Františka s kyticí (vpravo)
Invited guests,  Trudie Bryks speaking, Josef Frantisek’s cousin with bouquet on right

Pomníček Josefa Františka před jeho rodným domem v Otaslavicích
Memorial at the birthplace of Josef František in Otaslavice

Kladení věnců a kytic k pomníčku Josef František
Laying of wreaths and bouquets at the memorial at  the birthplace of Josef František

Jiřina Kolábová – Starostka Otaslavic (vlevo), doprovází vdovu Josefa Balejky
Jiřina Kalábová, Mayoress of Otalavice, left, escorting the widow of Josef Balejka

Vyznamenání Josefa Františka, která jsou vystavená v Základní škole  v Otaslavicích:

From the exhibition of Josef František, memorabila at the Otaslavice primary school:

Čtyřlístek pilotů Wilem Košař (Polák), Josef František Josef Balejka a Matěj Pavlovič
The inseparable pilots Wilem Košař (Polish), Josef František Josef Balejka and Matěj Pavlovič

Medailonek Josefa Františka
Josef František’s locket

Odznaky Josefa Františka – pilota RAF (Královského vojenského letectva)  a Českoslovnského vojenského letectva.
The pilots badges of the RAF and Czechoslovak Air Force.of Josef František

Medaile udělené Josefu Františkovi
Medals awarded to Josef František

Medaile udělena Josefu Františkovi v roce 1991
Medals awarded to Josef František in 1991

Pro další informace o Josefu Františkovi klikněte zde a zde
Further information on Josef František click here and here

Remembrance Ceremony 2004

Děkujeme Jiřině Kolábové – Starostce Otaslavic a Mgr. Boleslavovi Povolnému za jejich asistenci při přípravě  tohoto článku.
Many thanks to  Jiřina Kalábová, Mayoress of Otaslavice and Mgr. Boleslav Povolný for their assistance with this article.

Article last updated: 29 January 2011

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Josef Rechka

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Josef Řechka

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……………………..* 12 September 1910

……………………..† 15 January 1984

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Josef Řechka was born 12 September 1910, the son of a publican in Jesenice, a small town near Prague. As a child he helped behind the bar until, as a teenager he was sent to Prague to learn the hotel trade. Instead he spent virtually all of his time at the airport. He knew every square metre of it. He watched the preparation, the take-offs, the landings. He never wanted to be anything else but a pilot – a seemingly impossible dream for a village boy, but he was determined – in a magazine he found details how to join a Czechoslovak Air Force school. When he returned home he spent the next six months persuading his mother to sign her parental consent on the application form which would enable him to join the Air Force. He had told her that the application form was for an engineering course.

On 1 October 1928, a few days before reaching the age of eighteen, he left on the 8 hour train journey to the military pilot school at Prostějov where he commenced his military flying training. He was a natural pilot and was flying solo after just 24 hours of airborne training. He remained here until 1 October 1930, when he was posted, as a fighter pilot,  to 32^nd Fighter unit of the 1 Air Regiment based at Cheb. This posting was until the end of December 1933 when he was posted to the Air Force Test flying unit based at Letnany airbase near Prague, where he remained until the end of April 1937. Now 26, he resigned from the Air Force and, on 1 May 1937  joined Československé letecké společnosti [ČLS] as an airline pilot. They were a civilian airline, part of the Škoda industrial group and were based at Ruzyně airport, Prague. He worked here until 6 August 1939.

When Germany took over Czechoslovakia, in 1939, all Czech military and civilian planes were grounded. Czechoslovakia was now part of  the Reich Protectorate, the pilots, about 1500, were invited to join the German Luftwaffe.  Řechka was one of the many Czech pilots who decided to leave before this invitation became an order.

He left for Poland on 7 August 1939. With the assistance of an underground organisation Řechka and some other airmen were smuggled over the border into Poland. Initially he was at Malý Bronovice, near Krakov, a former Austro-Hungarian army, now being used as temporary accommodation for escaping Czechoslovaks wanting to join military units in Poland.

On 17 August he boarded a ship at Gdynia and 4 days later arrived at Calais, France. The same day he travelled to Balard, an army camp near Paris from where some of his colleagues were posted to North Africa. However before Řechka was also posted there, war was declared and he was rapidly conscripted into I’Armee d’Air. On 6 November, he and two other Czech pilots, František Dýma and Joseph Košnar, were sent to Chartres to join 21 escadrille of GC III/7 for fighter pilot training. On 11 May 1940 they were first posted to Vitry le François near the Swiss German border. Within 5 days the unit was posted to Orly, then Culommiers followed by Vichy Rhue, Ussel, Bergerac and finally Port Vandre staying in each location between 2 days to 2 weeks.. They flew Morane-Saulnier MS-406c aircraft which had a single engine, single gunned fighter aircraft powered by a 150 bhp engine with a ceiling height of 15,000 ft against Messerschmidt 109 which apart from being faster and more manoeuvrable also had a ceiling height of 25,000 ft. On 17 June the remains of his escadrille joined GC I/6 but this was short lived as France capitulated and signed the Armistice on 22 June 1940.

He flew with the French from October 1939 to June 1940. When France capitulated, Řechka and other Czech pilots boarded, on 24 June, the ‘General Chanza’ a British ship at Port Vandre and sailed to Oran, arriving on 26 June. His 2 fellow Czech pilots – Dýma  and Košnar did not make this journey as they had been killed in aerial combat with the Luftwaffe on 25 May and 5 June respectively.

In Oran they grouped up with other Czech pilots and went by train to Casablanca. From here they boarded a British ship which took them to Gibraltar and then onto Liverpool where they arrived on 15 July 1940. Here he joined the Royal Air Force as a Volunteer Reserve with the rank of Sergeant and was based at RAF Cosford. On 6 August 1940, he was posted to the newly formed 310 Czechoslovak Squadron, Flying Hurricane I fighters and were based at Duxford . He was one of 89 Czechoslovak pilots who participated in the Battle of Britain and achieved the destruction of 2 Luftwaffe aircraft, one of which was shared with his friend Sgt. Edvard Prchal. Řechka remained with 310 Sqn. until 30 June 1941.

By now the critical demand for fighter pilots, as seen in 1940, had now eased and Řechka, now nearly 30, was too old for a fighter pilot. Initially he volunteered to fly night fighters, but due to age and his previous commercial aviation experience as a civilian pilot in Czechoslovakia it was thought that his skills could be better utilised in another capacity. Initially, on 1 July 1941, he was posted to S.F.S at Kemble and also promoted to Pilot Officer. Posted again on 18 September 1941 to 27 Maintenance Unit at Shawbury. Was only here until 1 October when he was posted to RAF Ferry Command and ferried aircraft between Montreal, Canada and Prestwick, Britain. The usual route was via Goose Bay, Alaska, Greenland and Iceland. During this period he was temporarily posted, 20 May to 5 June, to 34 S.F.T.S. at Medicine Hat, Canada as a instructor.

On 1 December 1942 he transferred to RAF Transport Command and was posted to 24 Sqn. who were based at Hendon. During this period he was promoted to Flying Officer and flew DC3’s. One of the highlight of this period was being the First Officer on a flight which flew Winston Churchill to Paris and Brussels whilst one of the low points was contracting malaria when he was posted to Algeria. During his posting to Algeria he was mainly flying to Casablanca, Morocco and Gibralter. He stayed with 24 Sqn. until 1 May 1945 when he was posted to 147 Sqn., who were a Transport Command unit based at Croydon, which was his final RAF Sqd. of the war.

In August 1945 he returned to Czechoslovakia and from 1 September until the end of the year he flew with a Transport Command unit of the Czechoslovak Air Force based at Prague Ruzyne. He was demobbed, on 31 December 1945, with a RAF rank of Flight Lieutenant and the following day he joined České aeroline [ČSA], the state airline, as a pilot. This was a common destination for many other Czech ex RAF people Initially he flew ex Luftwaffe Ju 52’s and a year later ČSA purchased some 29 DC’s which Řechka flew on international flights around Europe.

Unfortunately the situation in Czechoslovakia was becoming very unsettled with the Russian ‘liberators’ staying in the country intent on forcing their Communist ideology onto the nation following the putsch in February 1948.  Under this new regime, the ex RAF people became unwanted people as they were deemed to be traitors and tainted with Western capitalism which had no place in the new Czechoslovakia. Most were eventually dismissed from their work and only permitted to do manual or farm work. Others were gradually arrested and imprisoned, some were executed whilst others, and their families suffered further persecution from the Communist authorities.

Some chose to try and escape and Řechka, now married, was one of these. With Jan Kaucký and Eduard Prchal – both former RAF pilots with 310 Sqd, they planned to steal a aircraft and fly to England. This took a year in careful and cautious planning but finally on 30 September  1950 the plan was successfully implemented. Kaucký as chief test pilot for Czechoskovak Airlines took one of their Dakota DC3 [C47] – OK-WAA -for a test flight from Prague Ružyn airport – but unknown to the authorities was that it had an extra 500 gallons of fuel on board. He flew to a field a short distance from Prague where he landed and, with engines still running, picked up Řechka and Prchal with their wives and two children and was quickly back into the air on route to Manston, England. The price of failure was severe – all aboard would have received harsh prison sentences and the 3 RAF men would most likely have been executed.

OK-WAA parked at RAF Manston, October 1950.

Some 3 hours later they successfully landed at RAF Manston, England where fortuitously the Station Commander had been a wartime RAF colleague of Prchal. Subsequently, his 2^nd trip into exile became more difficult that the 1^st in 1939. Now there was no war and despite his extensive flying experience – both civilian in Czechoslovakia or military in France and Britain he was grounded by red tape. His Czechoslovak civilian pilot’s licence was not accepted by the British aviation authorities and he did not wish to resume a military career – the option chosen by Kaucký and Prchal. He instead spent the next two years studying to qualify for a British commercial pilot’s license at the same time as having to work to support his family and their new life in their adopted new homeland of England.

This he successfully achieved on 23 September 1952. From 17 November 1952 he flew with Transair Ltd, based at Croydon where he remained until 31 July 1960 when the company, along with 3 others airlines, merged to form British United Airways [BUA]. He flew with the new company – the forerunners of British Airways – as a Captain until 31 October 1965. On retiring from BUA, he joined Morton Air Services on 1 November 1965 and remained with them when they re-named themselves to British United Island Airways in 1968 and again in 1970 when they re-named again to British Island Airways. In the final years of his career he flew for Macedonian Aviation, Intra Airways and then Express Air Services [C.I.] Ltd, who were charter companies, with workloads ranging between flying men and supplies for off-shore oil rigs in the Shetlands to flying newspapers to Spain. After a aviation career that had spanned some 50 years, he retired from flying on 22 February 1981.

He died 15 January 1984, aged 73, and is interred at the Czechoslovak plot at Brookwood, Surrey.

The following medals were awarded to him:

Czechoslovakia:

3 Československý válečný kříž 1939 [Czechoslovak War Cross]

2 Za chrabrost před nepřítelem [Gallantry facing the enemy medal]

Za zásluhy I st. [Merits medal]

Pamětní medaile československé armadý v zahraničí F a VB [Memorial Medal of Czechoslovak Foreign Army with France and Great Britain Bars]

Britain:

Air Force Cross  [31 March 1945]

1939-1945 Star with Battle of Britain Clasp

Air Crew Europe Star

Defence Medal

France:

Croix de Guerre

Josef never returned to Czechoslovakia. At the RAF Rehabilitation Ceremony, held in Prague on 13 September 1991, he was promoted, in memoriam to the rank of plukovník – Group Captain – in the Czechoslovak Air Force.

He is commemorated, along with the other 2936 Battle of Britain pilots, on the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall at the National Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne, Kent:

He is also commemorated on the London Battle of Britain Memorial.

Article last updated 22 Febuary 2012

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Consolidated B24 Liberator

The Liberator, commonly referred to simply by its model number ‘B24’ was an American four engine heavy bomber, carrying a crew of at least 7, developed by the Consolidated Aircraft Company, California. It was designed against a specification from the US Army Air Corp, to improve upon the speed and maximum bomb load carried by the Boeing B17 Flying Fortress. Design work starting in 1938, produced a first prototype in March 1939, with the first flight on 29 December of that year. The aircraft was notable for its high aspect ratio wings, twin rounded oblong fins, tricycle undercarriage, lower bulged fuselage and a dual bomb bay with roller style doors. Its drag factors were not low and the Pratt & Whitney Twin Wasp 14 cylinder twin row radial engines went through a number of Marks in order to meet the required power. The first engine model that addressed the initial power shortfall was the P&W R-1830-41 turbo-supercharged radial, rated at 1,200 hp (895 kW), allowing the aircraft to achieve a top speed of about 300 mph.

Bomb carrying capacity was 8000 lb (3,628 kg) for short range missions, falling to 5000 lb (2268 kg) for long ranges of the order of 800 mile (1280 km). Defensive armament comprised 0.50 calibre (12.7 mm) Browning M2 machine guns. These grew in number until model B24J when 11 guns were installed. Guns were located in powered turrets at the nose and tail and the top and bottom of the fuselage, together with two waist position guns. The underside gun ball turret could be retracted into the fuselage when not in action.

The B24 saw service with RAF Bomber and Coastal Commands. In the latter case the aircraft was based upon the B24D but armament was changed to a mix of 0.303 in. (7.7 mm) and 0.5 in. (12.7mm) Browning machine guns, together with weight reductions from fuel tank and armour reductions, in order to increase the fuel capacity and hence range.  In this guise it was classified as the Mk V. Several of the Mk V’s were modified specifically for anti-submarine patrols by the addition of a Leigh Light search light carried under wing, search radar and air to surface rockets. Coastal Command also used B24H’s, classified by the RAF as Mk VI’s, which had Bolton Paul tail turrets fitted as replacement to the the standard B24H fitted turret.

The aircraft was used for a number of alternative duties over the period of the war, including for passenger and cargo transportation. In its service as a bomber the B24 had its detractors who criticised it for its lack of robustness to ground fire and fighter aircraft. This was not helped by the fact that fuel tanks were distributed along the fuselage. It also posed problems for an emergency exit as its entry and exit points were located at the rear. It had a central catwalk for the crew, which was ominously narrow when carrying a parachute.

Despite its shortfalls as an operational bomber, a total in excess of 18,000 aircraft were produced; the highest figure for any American service aircraft, making it a valued contributor to the Allied war effort.

For their Coastal Command role, 311 Sqd trained on Mk III Liberators but for operationally they used:

Sqd	Mk V	Mk VI
311	June ’43 to Feb ’45	Feb ’45 to Aug ’45

 

Liberator V specifications:

Powerplant:	4 Pratt & Whitney R-1830-43  fourteen cylinder radial engines, rated at 1,200 hp each driving a Hamilton Standard three bladed propellor of 11 feet 7 inches diameter.
Performance:	Maximum speed: 303 mph at 25,000 feet, Ceiling height: 32,000 feet, Range: 1,900 miles at 4,000 feet with full main and auxillary wing tanks.
Weights:	Unladen: 32,605 lbs, Max laden: 55,000 lbs, Max. takeoff weight: 64,000 lbs.
Dimensions:	Wing span: 110 feet 0 inches, Length: 66 feet, 4 inches, Maximum height: 17 feet 11 inches.
Armament:	Nine machine guns: Nose turret – single 0.5″  with 500 rounds Mid Upper turret – twin 0.5″ with 400 rounds per gun. Tail Turret – 4 x 0.303″ with 1000 rounds per gun. Beam – 1 gun per side, using either: a 0.5″ calibre with 500 rounds per gun or a 0.303″ calibre with 1000 rounds per gun.
Weapons load:	Nine machine guns: Without Leigh Light: 10 x 250 lb depth charges or 5 x 250 lb depth charges and 2 Mk. 24 mines or 5 x 250 lb depth charges and 2 600 lb A/S bombs With Leigh light: 8 x 250 lb depth charges With Leigh Light and Rocket Projectiles: 16 x 25 lb Rocket Projectiles and 5 250 lb depth charges, or 16 x 25 lb Rocket Projectiles and 1 Mk 24 mine and 3 250 lb depth charges
Crew:	Eight – Pilot, co-Pilot, Navigator, Radio Operator, Front Gunner, Tail Gunner, 2 Beam Gunners.

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© 2010 Victor K L Marshall M Sc, C Eng, M I Mech E

Article last updated: 1 January 2012

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312 Czechoslovak Squadron

312 Czechoslovak Squadron

1940-1945

Hurricane, Spitfire

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by

Tomaš Polak

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No. 312 Squadron RAF was a Czechoslovakian-manned fighter squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It was first formed at Duxford in July 1940, equipped with Hurricane I fighters and crewed mostly by escaped Czechslovakian pilots. Its first victory was a Junkers Ju 88 above Liverpool by Alois Vašátko, Denys Gillam and Josef Stehlík on 8 October 1940. It transitioned to Hurricane IIs in May 1941, and to Spitfires in October. The squadron continued flying various marks of Spitfire from UK bases until it was transferred to the Czechoslovakian air force in September 1945.

Among other major operations, it flew in cover of the Operation Jubilee raids on Dieppe in 1943, losing one aircraft. During its existence 145 pilots served with the squadron.

This is an absolutely essential companion to the No.310 Squadron book.

Publisher:	Philedition
Published:	15 August 2008
ISBN-10:	2952638152
ISBN-13:	978-2952638159
Format:	96p, 24.2 cm by 16.6cm
Cover:	Softback
Language:	English
Price:	£15.99

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Runnymede

During World War 2, 116,000 men and women, serving in the Royal Air Force or Commonwealth Air Forces, lost their lives and in many cases their graves are unknown. They are remembered on memorials at El Alamein, Malta, Ottawa, Singapore and Runnymede.

Počas druhej svetovej vojny prišlo o život 116.000 mužov a žien, slúžiacich v Royal Air Force alebo vo vzdušných silách britského spoločenstva. V mnohých prípadoch ich hroby nie sú známe. Ich mená sú spomenuté na pamätníkoch v El Alameine, Malte, Ottawe, Singapure a Runnymede.

The Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede commemorates by name the 20,547 airmen who were lost in the Second World War during operations from bases in the United Kingdom and North and Western Europe, and who have no known graves.

Letecký pamätník v Runnymede pripomína 20,547 mien letcov, ktorí padli v období druhej svetovej vojny počas operácií zo základní vo Veľkej Británií, v severnej a západnej Európe a ktorí nemájú známy hrob.

On these wall panels, are listed the one hundred and forty nine missing airmen who were Czechoslovaks.

Na paneloch pamätníka v Runnymede sú spomenutí aj 149 československí letci.

The Runnymede Memorial was opened on 17 October 1953 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Pamätník v Eunnymede bol slávnostne otvorený 17.10.1953 jej Výsosťou kráľovnou Alžbetou II.

In 1949 the land on which the Memorial is built was donated by SIr Eugen and Lady Effie Millington-Drake.

The Memorial was designed by Sir Edward Maufe and consists of a central shrine encompassed by a square cloister with wings on the Northern side.

It was built, and is maintained, by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

V roku 1949 daroval pozemok, na ktorom bol pamätník vybudovaný, Sir Eugen a Lady Effie Millington-Drake.

Pamätník navrhol Sir Edward Maufe a pozostáva s centrálnej “svätyne” obklopenej akoby kláštorným nádvorím s krídlami na severnej strane.

Pamätník bol postavený a je udržiavaný Komisiou britského spoločenstva pre vojnové hroby.

The name panels are located within the cloisters and wings and are displayed to resemble the open pages of a book. The ceilings of the cloisters have the coats of arms of the Commonwealth countries.

Panely s menami letcov sú umiestnené v krížových chodbách a krídlach a sú umiestnené taka by pripomínali stránky otvorenej knihy. Na stropoch krížových chodieb sa náchádzajú erby krajín Commonwealthu.

The names are arranged by year and within each year, are grouped by rank in descending order and within each rank group the names are listed alphabetically.

Mená letcov sú zoradené podľa rokov  a v každom roku, sú zoradené podľa poradia v zostupnom poradí a v rámci každej kategórie skupín sú mená uvedené abecedne.

The 149 Czechoslovak airmen are remembered on these panels:

Mená 149 československých letcov sú spomenuté na týchto paneloch:

Panel 10:

ŠTĚRBÁČEK Jaroslav, P/O, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 31/08/40, aged 27, killed on a operational flight after parachuting from his Hurricane P3156 into Thames Estuary. Was the first Czechoslovak airman killed in the RAF and has a ‘symbolic’ grave in the Czechoslovak ex-Servicemens plot at Brookwood cemetery.

Panel 15:

HORSKÝ Vladimír, Sgt, Pilot, 238 Sqn. – † 26/09/40, aged 26, Missing in Hurricane P3089 when flying near the Isle of Wight, probably shot down.

Panel 30:

BABÁČEK Pavel, Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 20/07/41, aged 26, Wellington KX-F R1371 shot down by night fighter over North Sea following bombing raid on Hanover.

HEKL František, F/O, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 25/10/41, aged 26, Missing after training flight in Spitfire DU-W. P7540.

HUDEC Josef, F/O, Navigator, 311 Sqn. – † 15/01/41, aged 28, lost in Wellington KX-Y T2519 missing in North Sea following raid on Wilhemshaven.

KUBIZŇÁK Antonín, P/O, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 15/01/41, aged 29, lost in Wellington KX-Y T2519 missing in North Sea following raid on Wilhemshaven.

MACHÁČEK Jiří Jaromír, F/O, Pilot, 145 Sqn. – † 08/07/41, aged 26, shot down on operational flight in Spitfire R7218.

PAROLEK Jan František, F/O, Wireless Operator, 145 Sqn. – † 16/11/41, aged 24, Wellington KX-E Z8966 damaged by flak on bombing raid on Keil, on return flight crashed in Irish Sea, 20 km SW off St Bees Head, Cumberland.

Panel 32:

GRIČ Jozef, F/O, Pilot, 58 OTU – † 12/09/41, aged 27, killed in flying accident in Spitfire X4928, aircraft crashed in sea off Grangemouth.

Panel 33:

KONŠTACKÝ Vilém, P/O, Navigator, 311 Sqn. – † 23/06/41, aged 26, Wellington KX-T T2990 returning from bombing raid on Bremen shot down by night fighter over North Sea 20 km West of Petten, Holland.

KRÁL Jaromír Oldřich, P/O, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. –  † 15/01/41, aged 27, lost in Wellington KX-Y T2519 missing in North Sea following raid on Wilhemshaven.

LESKAUER Jindřich, P/O, Wireless Operator, 311 Sqn. – † 15/01/41, aged 23, lost in Wellington KX-Y T2519 missing in North Sea following raid on Wilhemshaven.

NOVÁK Mojmír, P/O, Navigator Trainee, 10 AOS – † 27/10/41, aged 28, Missing after training flight over sea.

PLZÁK Stanislav, P/O, Pilot, 19 Sqn. – † 06/08/41, aged 26, Shot down, in Spitfire P7771, during air combat over France.

SMRČEK Leonard, P/O, Wireless Operator, 311 Sqn. – † 23/06/41, aged 25, Wellington KX-T T2990 returning from bombing raid on Bremen shot down by night fighter over North Sea 20 km West of Petten, Holland.

Panel 36:

HEJNA Jan, Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. –  † 23/06/41, aged 26, Wellington KX-T T2990 returning from bombing raid on Bremen shot down by night fighter over North Sea 20 km West of Petten, Holland.

Panel 37:

ROZUM Alois, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 23/06/41, aged 28, Wellington KX-T T2990 returning from bombing raid on Bremen, shot down by night fighter over North Sea 20 km West of Petten, Holland.

VALACH Karel, Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 23/06/41, aged 23, Wellington KX-T T2990 returning from bombing raid on Bremen, shot down by night fighter over North Sea 20 km West of Petten, Holland.

Panel 39:

BAUMRUK Bohuslav, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 15/01/41, aged 24, lost in Wellington KX-Y T2519 missing in North Sea following raid on Wilhemshaven.

BOLFÍK Rudolf, Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 15/01/41, aged 27, lost in Wellington KX-Y T2519 missing in North Sea following raid on Wilhemshaven.

Panel 42:

ČTVRTLÍK Jan , Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 27/07/41, aged 23, Wellington KX-F R1371 shot down by night fighter over North Sea following bombing raid on Hanover.

Panel 45:

HURT Karel, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 23/10/41, aged 24, Wellington T2624 crashed on into Irish Sea, off Cardigan.

Panel 46:

JANŮJ Otakar, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 23/10/41, aged 28, Wellington T2624 crashed on training flight into Irish Sea, off Cardigan.

Panel 47:

LINKA Stanislav, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 16/11/41, aged 26, Wellington KX-E Z8966 damaged by flak on bombing raid on Keil, on return flight crashed in Irish Sea, 20 km SW off St Bees Head, Cumberland.

Panel 50:

POLEDNÍK Jaroslav, Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 23/10/41, aged 21, Wellington T2624 crashed on training flight into Irish Sea, off Cardigan.

Panel 51:

ROLENC Jaroslav, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 23/10/41, aged 26, Wellington T2624 crashed on training flight into Irish Sea, off Cardigan.

Panel 52:

SKALICKÝ Rudolf , Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 28/12/41, aged 23, Wellington KX-B T2553 lost in North Sea, off Dutch coast, following raid on Wilhelmshaven.

SKUTEK Pavel , Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. –  † 16/11/41, aged 20, Wellington KX-E Z8966 damaged by flak on bombing raid on Keil, on return flight crashed in Irish Sea, 20 km SW off St Bees Head, Cumberland.

Panel 53:

ŠTULÍŘ Svatopluk, Sgt, Pilot, 65 Sqn. – † 08/11/41, aged 24, shot down on operational flight off French coast, near Le Touquet, in Spitfire YT-R, W5360.

TOMÁNEK Josef, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 02/01/42, aged 23, Wellington KX-B T2553 lost in North Sea, off Dutch coast, following raid on Wilhelmshaven.

VÁCLAVEK Arnošt , Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 16/11/41, aged 24, Wellington KX-E Z8966 damaged by flak on bombing raid on Keil, on return flight crashed in Irish Sea, 20 km SW off St Bees Head, Cumberland.

Panel 54:

VALEŠ Václav, Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 20/07/41, aged 26, Wellington KX-F R1371 shot down by night fighter over North Sea following bombing raid on Hanover.

Panel 55:

ZAVORAL Antonín, Sgt, Pilot, 607 Sqn. – † 31/10/41, aged 24, missing on operational flight over France in Hurricane BE403.

Panel 56:

DRČKA [Dročka] Josef, LAC, Wireless Operator trainee, 4 AOS – † 13/07/41, aged 27, killed during traing flight when his aircraft, Battle N2024 crashed into sea.

Panel 59:

HAVLÍČEK Vladimír, F/O, Navigator, 240 Sqn. – † 23/12/41, aged 31, killed when returning from an operational flight in Catalina BN-U W8418, at Pembroke Docks.

Panel 64:

VAŠÁTKO Alois, W/Cdr, Pilot, 312 Sqn. – † 23/06/42, aged 33, killed when his Spitfire BM592 crashed into sea South of Torquay, Devon, following aerial combat.

Panel 65:

BEČVÁŘ Karel, F/O, Navigator, 311 Sqn. – † 18/08/42, aged 24, Wellington KX-B DV665 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

GABRIEL Alois, F/Lt, Navigator, 311 Sqn. – † 15/09/42, aged 29, Wellington KX-Y HD982 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

Panel 66:

KULA Jaroslav, F/Lt, Navigator, 311 Sqn. – † 12/03/42, aged 27, Wellington KX-P R1802 crashed in North Sea due to iceing up whilst on bombing raid to Keil.

NÝVLT Josef, F/Lt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 15/09/42, aged 26, Wellington KX-Y HD982 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

ŘÍHA Ladislav, F/Lt, Navigator, 311 Sqn. – † 03/03/42, aged 25, Wellington KX-A Z1167 lost without trace on bombing raid on Paris.

SKOŘEPA Zdeněk, F/O, Navigator, 311 Sqn. – † 03/03/42, aged 24, Wellington KX-D DV515 lost without trace in North Sea on bombing raid to Bremen.

VYKOUKAL Karel, F/Lt, Pilot, 41 Sqn. – † 21/05/42, aged 25, missing flying Spitfire VB998, probably shot down over France.

Panel 67:

MATĚJÍČEK Rudolf Karel, F/O, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 15/09/42, aged 29, Wellington KX-Y HD982 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

CIBULKA Josef, P/O, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 12/03/42, aged 28, Wellington KX-P R1802 crashed in North Sea due to iceing up whilst on bombing raid to Keil.

Panel 69:

FRIEDLÄNDER Pavel, P/O, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 29/09/42, aged 31, Wellington KX-M HF921 shot down by fighter and crashed in sea whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 70:

MICHÁLEK Vladimír, P/O, Pilot, 313 Sqn. – † 27/03/42, aged 24, shot down in Spitfire AD197 which crashed in sea near Ostend.

Panel 73:

PTÁČEK Rudolf, W/O, Pilot, 602 Sqn. – † 28/03/42, aged 23, missing, probably shot down whilst on operational flight over France in Spitfire BM148.

WEISS Karel, W/O, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 21/01/42, aged 32, Wellington KX-D DV515 lost without trace in North Sea on bombing raid to Bremen.

Panel 74:

HLOUŽEK Jaroslav, Sgt, Pilot, 313 Sqn. – † 18/11/42, aged 22, aircraft damaged by flak over France and crashed into English Channel near Les Triagoz lighthouse, France.

Panel 75:

LENC Jan, F/Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 18/08/42, aged 26, Wellington KX-B DV665 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

PLECITÝ Miroslav, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 21/01/42, aged 29, Wellington KX-D DV515 lost without trace in North Sea on bombing raid to Bremen.

Panel 78:

BORKOVEC Miroslav, Sgt, Pilot, 313 Sqn. – † 17/05/42, aged 25, shot down in Spitfire BM260 by fighter over France, aircraft crashed into English Channel near Bologne..

Panel 81:

DANIHELKA Karel, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 03/03/42, aged 26, Wellington KX-A Z1167 lost without trace on bombing raid on Paris.

DOSTÁL Hugo, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 15/07/42, aged 23, Wellington KX-F Z1155 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

Panel 82:

DRMELKA Jaromír, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 18/08/42, aged 25, Wellington KX-B DV665 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

Panel 83:

FÍNA Jiří, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 12/03/42, aged 28, on bombing raid to Keil, Wellington KX-P R1802 crashed in North Sea due to iceing up whilst on bombing raid to Keil.

Panel 84:

HALAMÁŠEK Evžen, Sgt, Pilot, 313 Sqn. – † 02/06/42, aged 27, his Spitfire AR397 shot down by fighter over France and crashed into English Channel.

Panel 85:

HANZL Vladimír, Sgt, Pilot, 313 Sqn. – † 03/03/42, aged 22, Wellington KX-A Z1167 lost without trace on bombing raid on Paris.

Panel 86:

HOLUB Josef, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 15/07/42, aged 21, Wellington KX-F Z1155 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

JANATA Karel, Sgt, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 11/09/42, aged 24, accident during training flight in Spitfire, crashed into English Channel.

JANČA František, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 03/03/42, aged 19, Wellington KX-A Z1167 lost without trace on bombing raid on Paris.

JEBÁČEK Otto, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 15/09/42, aged 24, Wellington KX-Y HD982 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

Panel 87:

KRÁL Čeněk Vincenc, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 21/01/42, aged 21, Wellington KX-D DV515 lost without trace in North Sea on bombing raid to Bremen.

Panel 88:

MACHÁČEK Vlastimil, Sgt, Pilot, 1 Sqn. – † 25/04/42, aged 33, missing on operational flight over Northern France in Hurricane BE573.

Panel 89:

MEZNÍK Alois, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 12/03/42, aged 30, Wellington KX-P R1802 crashed in North Sea due to iceing up whilst on bombing raid to Keil.

Panel 90:

NĚMEČEK Ladislav, Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 21/01/42, aged 24, Wellington KX-D DV515 lost without trace in North Sea on bombing raid to Bremen.

NERADIL Jan, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 15/09/42, aged 25, Wellington KX-Y HD982 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

Panel 91:

PODIVÍNSKÝ Adolf, Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 03/03/42, aged 26, Wellington KX-A Z1167 lost without trace on bombing raid on Paris.

POKORNÝ František, Sgt, Pilot, 313 Sqn. – † 10/04/42, aged 25, missing in Spitfire BL480, probably shot down by fighter over English Channel.

Panel 92:

RAISKUP František, F/Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 12/03/42, aged 28, Wellington KX-P R1802 crashed in North Sea due to iceing up whilst on bombing raid to Keil.

ROČOVSKÝ Miloslav, Sgt, Pilot, 501 Sqn. – † 25/04/42; aged 23, Shot down on operational flight over Northern France in Spitfire W3840.

ROUŠ Stanislav, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 21/01/42, aged 23, Wellington KX-D DV515 lost without trace in North Sea on bombing raid to Bremen.

Panel 93:

ŠIPULA František, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 18/08/42, aged 28, Wellington KX-B DV665 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

ŠIMKO Ján, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 15/09/42, aged 21, Wellington KX-Y HD982 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

Panel 94:

SOBOTKA Vladimír, Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 18/08/42, aged 28, Wellington KX-B DV665 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

SOUKUP Oldřich, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 12/03/42, aged 21, Wellington KX-P R1802 crashed in North Sea due to iceing up whilst on bombing raid to Keil.

ŠPINKA Dobromil, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 03/03/42, aged 22, Wellington KX-A Z1167 lost without trace on bombing raid on Paris.

STANEK Arnošt, F/Sgt, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 22/09/42, aged 22, aircraft hit by flak over France and crashed into sea.

Panel 95:

TOFEL Pavel, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 18/08/42, aged 27, Wellington KX-B DV665 missing on patrol in the Bay of Biscay, probably shot down by fighter.

VRTIŠ [Uris] Karel, Sgt, Pilot, 501 Sqn. – † 25/04/42, aged 23, flying Spitfire AB251, shot down off French coast into English Channel.

Panel 118:

BREITCEIL Jindřich, W/Cdr, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 21/08/43, aged 30, Liberator O BZ780 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

HIMR Jaroslav, S/Ldr, Pilot, 313 Sqn. – † 24/09/43, aged 26, missing in Spitfire BP856, probably shot down by fighter off the French coast near Brest.

Panel 119:

CHOCHOLÍN Vladislav, F/Lt, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 24/09/43, aged 27, shot down in Spitfire AR355, off the coast of France near Brest.

FENCL František, F/Lt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 21/08/43, aged 28, Liberator O BZ780 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 120:

ŘÍDKOŠIL Václav Jan Petr, F/Lt, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 27/02/43, aged 28, aircraft hit by flak over France, crashed into English Channel off Brest.

Panel 121:

ŠEBELA Metoděj, F/Lt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 18/11/43, aged 28, aircraft went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay probably shot down by fighter.

ŠTUSÁK Miloslav, F/Lt, Pilot, 313 Sqn. – † 27/02/43, aged 31, Spitfire damaged in aerial combat near Brest, killed when trying to parachute from his aircraft.

Panel 125:

KRÁTKORUKÝ Bedřich, F/O, Pilot, 313 Sqn. – † 15/01/43, aged 29, On operational flight over France, in Spitfire AR546, involved in mid air collision with Josef BLÁHA’s Spitfire, EP546 near Cherbourg, crashed in English Channel.

Panel 127:

NOVÁK Jaroslav, F/O, Pilot, 312 Sqn. – † 14/05/43, aged 27, aircraft damaged by flak, crashed in English Channel near Guernsey.

Panel 128:

PAPOUŠEK Karel, F/O, Pilot, 167 Sqn. – † 05/05/43, aged 28, Missing during operational flight.

PAVELKA Eduard, F/O, Navigator, 311 Sqn. – † 21/08/43, aged 31, Liberator O BZ780 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

PAVLŮ Otto, F/O, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 28/04/43, aged 27, Spitfire damaged by flak over France, crashed in English Channel 20 miles North of Channel Islands.

Panel 129:

PŘÍHODA Josef, F/O, Pilot, 313 Sqn. – † 06/03/43, aged 28, missing on operational flight near Brest, in Spitfire BP682.

ŠŤASTNÝ Jan, F/O, Pilot, 312 Sqn. – † 21/08/43, aged 30, shot down by fighter whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 130:

URBAN Emerich Hanuš, F/O, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 18/11/43, aged 26, aircraft went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay probably shot down by fighter.

VÁVRA Alois, F/O, Navigator, 311 Sqn. – † 18/11/43, aged 29, aircraft went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay probably shot down by fighter.

Panel 132:

HOLNA Alois Vladimír, P/O, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 12/01/43, aged 29, Wellington KX-Z DV799 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol over the Bay of Biscay.

JELÍNEK Jaroslav, P/O, Navigator, 311 Sqn. – † 12/01/43, aged 22, Wellington KX-Z DV799 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol over the Bay of Biscay.

KŘEPEL Jindřich, P/O, Navigator, 6 OTU – † 24/04/43, aged 28 missing after training flight in Solway Bay, Cumbria.

MRÁZEK Emilián, P/O, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 21/08/43, aged 22, Liberator O BZ780 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 134:

CHLUP Jaroslav, W/O, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 04/05/43, aged 23, accident during operational flight over English Channel.

JAKŠ Vilém, W/O, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 21/08/43, aged 33, Liberator O BZ780 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

KÖRBER Karel, W/O, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 03/05/43, aged 28, shot down over English Channel, crashed near Guernsey, Channel Islands.

PETR Miloslav, W/O, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 29/01/43, aged 31, shot down by fighter over France near Morlaix.

ŠÁLA Jaroslav, W/O, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 29/01/43, aged 28, shot down by fighter over France near Morlaix.

Panel 135:

BLÁHA Josef, F/Sgt, Pilot, 313 Sqn. – † 15/01/43, aged 28, On operational flight over France, in Spitfire EP546, involved in mid air collision with Bedřich KRÁTKORUKÝ’s Spitfire, AR546 near Cherbourg, crashed in English Channel.

ČERNOHORSKÝ Ladislav, F/Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 18/11/43, aged 24, aircraft went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay probably shot down by fighter.

ČERVINKA Miroslav, F/Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 12/01/43, aged 28, Wellington KX-Z DV799 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol over the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 136:

FUKSA Albert, F/Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 18/11/43, aged 22, Liberator went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay probably shot down by fighter.

HALADA Jozef, F/Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 21/08/43, aged 35, Liberator O BZ780 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 138:

PIZUR Michal, F/Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 21/08/43, aged 28, Liberator O BZ780 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

PROCHÁZKA Miroslav, F/Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 18/11/43, aged 24, Liberator went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay probably shot down by fighter.

Panel 140:

ZRNÍK Tomáš, F/Sgt, Pilot, 313 Sqn. – † 27/09/43, aged 24, shot down by fighter off coast of France near Beauvais.

Panel 147:

DOMANSKÝ Jan, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 6 OTU – † 24/04/43, aged 28, Missing from training flight over Solway Bay, Cumbria.

Panel 149:

FELKL Josef, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 21/08/43, aged 27, Liberator O BZ780 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 153:

HELLER Felix Arnošt, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 18/11/43, aged 19, Liberator went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay probably shot down by fighter.

Panel 154:

JANDA Zdeněk, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 12/01/43, aged 30, Wellington KX-Z DV799 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol over the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 156:

KMEC Ján, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 6 OTU – † 21/05/43, aged 19, Missing from training flight over sea near Castle Ross, Lincolnshire.

KŘÍŽ Ladislav, Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 12/01/43, aged 30, Wellington KX-Z DV799 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol over the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 158:

MARTINOVIČ Leopold, Sgt, Pilot, 6 OTU – † 24/04/43, aged 28, missing from training flight over Solway Bay, Cumbria.

Panel 160:

NOVÁK Josef, Sgt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 18/11/43, aged 21, aircraft went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay probably shot down by fighter.

Panel 161:

PODBORSKÝ Miroslav, Sgt, Pilot, 6 OTU – † 21/05/43, aged 23, accident whilst on a low level bombing exercise on a moving target, crashed in sea 3 miles off Castle Ross, Linconshire.

Panel 166:

STIESS Jan, F/Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 12/01/43, aged 28, Wellington KX-Z DV799 shot down by fighter whilst on patrol over the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 203:

UVÍZL Alois Fantišek, F/Lt, Wireless Operator/Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 13/03/43, aged 28, Liberator J BZ995 went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 207:

KORANDA František, F/O, Navigator, 311 Sqn. – † 03/10/44, aged 31, Liberator PP-X FL937 shot down by fighter off the Norwegian coast.

KUBÍN [Kohn] Pavel, F/O, Navigator, 311 Sqn. – † 13/03/44, aged 30, Liberator J BZ995 went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 211:

HALA Jaroslav, P/O, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 03/10/44, aged 30, Liberator PP-X FL937 shot down by fighter off the Norwegian coast.

Panel 212:

RUPRECHT Václav, P/O, Pilot, 312 Sqn. – † 25/08/44, aged 26, crashed in North Sea after operational flight over Holland.

TIMKO Ján, P/O, Wireless Operator, 311 Sqn. – † 13/03/44, aged 25, Liberator J BZ995 went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 213:

ŽANTA Otto, P/O, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 13/03/44, aged 28, Liberator J BZ995 went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 214:

JAROŠ Štěpán, W/O, Wireless Operator, 311 Sqn. – † 03/10/44, aged 25, Liberator PP-X FL937 shot down by fighter off the Norwegian coast.

KADLEC Ladislav, W/O, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 13/03/44, aged 26, Liberator J BZ995 went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

KEPÁK Vladimír, W/O, Wireless Operator, 307 Sqn. – † 13/03/44, aged 30, Mosquito EW-E, DZ302, lost on early morning patrol over North Sea, probably shot down by fighter.

Panel 215:

ZÁKRAVSKÝ Jindřich, W/O, Pilot, 667 Sqn. – † 26/09/44, aged 29, killed when his aircraft crashed into English Channel, West of Nab Tower, Spithead, Hampshire.

Panel 218:

HECL František, F/Sgt, Flight Engineer, 311 Sqn. – † 13/03/44, aged 29, Liberator J BZ995 went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 219:

KATZ Karel, F/Sgt, Wireless Operator, 311 Sqn. – † 03/10/44, aged 24, Liberator PP-X FL937 shot down by fighter off the Norwegian coast.

KUBINA Michal, F/Sgt, Wireless Operator, 311 Sqn. – † 03/10/44, aged 25, Liberator shot down by fighter off the Norwegian coast.

Panel 220:

MEIER Augustin, F/Sgt, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 21/05/44, aged 30, aircraft damaged by flak over France and crashed in English Channel.

Panel 221:

ŘEHOŘ František, F/Sgt, Pilot, 310 Sqn.- † 31/08/44, aged 24, crashed into English Channel on operational flight.

REMENÁR Jozef, F/Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 03/10/44, aged 33, Liberator PP-X FL937 shot down by fighter off the Norwegian coast.

Panel 222:

STOČEK Alois, F/Sgt, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 03/10/44, aged 26, Liberator PP-X FL937 shot down by fighter off the Norwegian coast.

Panel 223:

VEITL František, F/Sgt, Air Gunner, 311 Sqn. – † 03/10/44, aged 40, Liberator PP-X FL937 shot down by fighter off the Norwegian coast.

Panel 224:

BECK Herbert, Sgt, Wireless Operator, 311 Sqn. – † 13/03/44, aged 21, Liberator J BZ995 went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 233:

LOJKA Oskar, Sgt, Pilot, 311 Sqn. – † 13/03/44, aged 27, Liberator J BZ995 went missing whilst on patrol in the Bay of Biscay.

Panel 237:

SKLÁŘ Bedřich, Sgt, Flight Enginer, 311 Sqn. – † 03/10/44, aged 24, Liberator PP-X FL937 shot down by fighter off the Norwegian coast.

Panel 269:

LANDSMANN Jindřich, W/O, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 15/06/45, aged 23, mid air collision in Spitfire MH323 during training flight.

Panel 272:

ŠAMBERGER Ondřej, F/Sgt, Pilot, 312 Sqn. – † 09/02/45, aged 28, crashed over North Sea,  North East of Bradwell Bay, Essex during training flight.

Panel 276:

MACURA Karel, Sgt, Pilot, 310 Sqn. – † 23/02/45, aged 24, missing in Spitfire MA230 over Bradwell Bay, Essex.

 

An audio guide, in English, is available here

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GPS Location:- N 51 26 13, W 00 33 56

View Map Location

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More information on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission available here

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Article last updated 6 February 2012

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Night Hawk

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Night Hawk

 

The biography of Flight Lieutenant Karel Kuttelwascher DFC and Bar, the RAF’s greatest night intruder ace

by

Roger Darlington .,

.

…

Written by the son-in-law he never knew this is the story of Karel Kuttelwascher, a pilot in the Czechoslovak Air Force, who fled to Poland following the invasion of his homeland, and served in the French Foreign Legion before flying in the ferocious but short-lived Battle of France.  When the armistice came, Karel escaped to England via Algeria, Morocco and Gibraltar and joined the RAF.

Karel was assigned to the legendary  No 1 Squadron in time to participate in the final weeks of the decisive Battle of Britain.  Later he flew with the Squadron in a long-range Hurricane aptly named the ‘Night Reaper’ in the lauded but lonely night intruder role, in which on one memorable occasion he knocked out 3 Heinkel bombers in just 4 minutes.  Karel became the most successful Czech fighter pilot with 18 victories to his credit.

In 1943 Karel was assigned a special mission to recruit fellow countrymen in the U.S.A. and Canada to the RAF’s Czechoslovak Squadrons, and on his return became a member of a Test Flight responsible for testing bomber and fighter aircraft prior to allocation to RAF stations around the country.

Karel returned home on 18 August 1945 where he was assigned to the Air Force Military Academy, but he was deeply unhappy about the situation in Czechoslovakia.  Less than a year later he resigned from the Czechoslovak Air Force and returned to England where he joined British European Airways, initially as a First Officer and later as Captain.  Karel died tragically through illness at the young age of 42.

Publisher:	William Kimber and Co Ltd
ISBN:	0-7183-0574-4
Format:	Hardback
Language:	English

** This book is now out-of-print. For the website visitor interested in learning more about the Czechoslovak Airmen in Great Britain during World War II, second-hand copies should be available through specialised book shops, book fairs, or on-line sources such as abebooks or amazon

More information on Karel Kuttelwasher here

Red Sky at Night by Jo Capka

Red Sky at Night

The Story of Josef Čapka

as told to Kendall McDonald

with a foreword by Sir Archibald McIndoe

by

Jo Capka D.F.M ..

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A Captain in the Czechoslovak Air Force, Jo Capka escaped to Poland following the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia  on 15^th March 1939.  Determined to continue the fight, he joined the French Foreign Legion where he experienced the cruel discipline of a Legionnaires life under the blazing heat of the desert.  Relief came with the declaration of war and secondment to the French Air Force, but when France was over-run Jo fled to the South of France where at Bordeaux he joined a group of Polish Airman on a ship bound for England.

Jo now joined the RAF and was posted to the newly formed 311 (Czech) Bomber Squadron. He flew 56 bombing missions in Wellingtons and was awarded the DFM.   Jo later switched to fighters, but returning from a patrol over Normandy in June 1944 his Mosquito was machine-gunned by a ‘pirate’ Liberator.  Blinded and severely injured in the face, Jo held one eye open with his fingers to see enough to crash-land in an English wood. He was treated by the pioneering plastic surgeon Sir Archibald McIndoe, becoming a member of his ‘guinea pig club’.

After the war Jo returned to Czechoslovakia with his wife, a former WAAF, to run a flying school.  Following the communist coup in 1948,  he was arrested as a British spy and charged with High Treason. Jo spent 7.5 years in prison, 14 months in solitary confinement, and was only released after the death of Stalin. The story concludes when Jo is finally permitted to return to England, and rejoins his wife on 30 May 1957.

Publisher:	Anthony Bond Ltd
Published:	1958
Format:	Paperback
Language:	English

** This book is now out-of-print. For the website visitor interested in learning more about the Czechoslovak Airmen in Great Britain during World War II, second-hand copies should be available through specialised book shops, book fairs, or on-line sources such as abebooks or amazon

Spitfires, Hurricanes and Czechs

When I was younger, I used to attend a couple of air displays each year in pursuance of my lifelong interest in aviation. But it’s been six years since I went to a display – until today.

My wife Vee and I spent the day at the Imperial War Museum Duxford in Cambridgeshire, partly to link up with some of her friends from the Czech Republic and partly to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Vee’s friends – Zdenek Sadecky and Josef Vochyan  – are from the Jihlava area of the Czech Republic and are members of the Czech Spitfire Club.

Last year, Zdenek hosted a visit to Jhilava by Vee and her twin sister for a series of events to mark the 50th anniversary of their father’s death and, in a week’s time, they will be back there to attend events marking the 70th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.

Vee and I have a particular personal interest in Second World War aviation because her Czech father Karel Kuttelwascher flew with the Royal Air Force in the Battle of Britain in 1940 and on night intruder operations in 1942 when he shot down 15 German bombers in three months. I researched and wrote his biography which was published in 1985.

Among the many stalls at Duxford was one listing the names and displaying the photographs of the 88 Czechoslovak pilots who flew in the Battle of Britain including Vee’s father. Then the flying display by the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight featured a Hawker Hurricane IIC painted in the colours of Kuttelwascher’s wartime aircraft.

Flying Spitfires and (even more so) Hurricanes are scarce so long after the war, but today’s air display at Duxford included an exciting flypast by four Hurricanes and a thrilling flypast by no less than 16 Spitfires. The sight and sound of these fighters was simply wonderful and a fitting remembrance to all the RAF pilots who defended Britain and prevented invasion in 1940.

© 2010 Roger Darlington

Many thanks to Roger for contributing this article from his own blog.

Some scenes from the 70th Anniversary at Duxford are here

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312 Czechoslovak Squadron RAF

70th Anniversary

5th September 2010

the 70th Anniversary of the formation of

312 Squadron,

the 2nd  Czechoslovak fighter Squadron

in the Royal Air Force

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