Second treble notches
A hundred years ago a Czech pilot of the Austro-Hungarian Empire´s AF Henry Kostrba became an air ace.
His three kills dated to Feb 18, 1916 were re-notched. Two Caproni and one Caudron IV bombers of the Italian AF had been downed by two synchronized machine guns of his Eindecker E I monoplane on that day. Now was Henry at the controls of a two seat Hansa Brandenburg recce biplane. Against the odds he downed as two ´little´ Farman bombers nr Mt. Pasubio and Vignola as one ´big´one over the Ronchi Valley. Airmanship indeed.
More about this leading figure of the Czechoslovak Air Force at the www.forum.valka.cz - Heinrich Kostrba website On Aug 18, 2009 a street was named after him at the Prague Cerny Most Housing Estate. It is situated between the Ocelkova and Arnosta Valenty ones. This name was proposed to a clerk of the Prague Magistrate by a Military historian Mr George Rajlich. It was nodded by the Councillors.
NOTE :
Rudolf Holeka St has been at this Housing Estate since Jan 11, 2011. Rudolf Holeka was another kingpin of the Czechoslovak Air Force. His first name is mentioned on purpose. Holeka St had been for decades at the Prague suburban disrict of Klanovice. But those person of the same surname had nothing with the Cz AF in common.
Assistence of Jaroslav Peterka and Monika Zidkova - the Prague Magistrate clerks - is appreciated.