No XVI Panel Battle of Britain August - September 1940
182.Hurricannes of the 242nd Squadron at low pass over the airport
- Duxford
183.As 242Sqn´s as Canadian Wing´s CO to the left of No 310Sqn´s CO
- S/Ldr. Douglas Bader and Alexander Hess in Sept 1940
184.Landing after a combat mission - Spitfire Mark I
185."Kill every German you meet " said on his visit to Duxford
- Vice-Marshall Trafford Leigh Mallory on July 22, 1940
186.President Edvard Benes [Edward Baennaesh] paid a visit to the first Czech Fighter
Sqn on Aug 6, 1940 - speaking to P/O Kordula [ Kordoolla]
187.The members of No 310 Sqn - L to R : P/O Zimprich, P/O Bergman and P/O Fechtner
[Zimprikh, Baergman and Faekhtnaer]
188.A section of Hurricannes of the 312Sqn on training flight
- near Liverpool Oct 1940
189.The British instructors with the 310Sqn. F/O Boulton was killed on Sep 9, 1940
- L to R : F/O Boulton, F/Lt. Jeffries DFC, F/Lt Sinclair
190.As F/O Fejfar as P/O Bergman [ Faeyffar, Baergman] downed one German plane with
this Hurricanne - NN-B September 1940
191.Armourers prepare inciary ammunition - a Hurricanne of No 312 Sq.
192.Establishing members of the 312 Squadron. Some of them still wear French uniforms.
- Duxford Sep 1940
193.The Rudder of the Junkers 88 bomber downed on Oct 8, 1940 is being nailed - Sgt. Stehlik
/L/ and P/O Vasatko [ Staehleek and Vashahtko] at the Speke AF
No XVII Panel Not only Battle of Britain
194.On the patrol
195.The armourers are servicing a Hurricanne
196.A Section of Paul Boulton Defiants
197.Scramble !
198-200.September 30
201.No 311 Sqnś Wellington at the East Wreatham field air base
202.Busy as usual
204.A Bomber of Czechoslovak No 311 Sqn
205.Front of a Miles Master III advanced training plane.
From L : Ing. Chrast, Secky, Puda [ BE Khrahst, Saetskee, Poodda]
206.Frantisek Dolezal is being decorated with DFC by Mr Klebar
[Frantyishaeck Dollaezhal, Klaebbar]
TEXT : September 30. Another night-time attack was delivered on London and Liverpool.
Thirty bombers escorted by 100 fighters arrived at the scene at 9 am, followed by the bunch
of 60. Target - London. The RAF brought in four squadrons of Spitfires and eight ones of Hurricannes. Enemy was made to retreat.
At noon another group of Germans was heading for London. Several bombers succeeded to
reach the outskirts of the capital thanks to fighter screen. At half past four about 40 Heinkel
bombers escorted by Messerschmit 110s made an attempt to drop bombs on the Westland
Aircraft Factory at Yeovill. The bombers were attacked by 23 RAF fighter planes. Shattered,
the Heinkels turned back. The bombload was dropped beyond the target. The Fighter Command lost 18 aircraft, Luftwaffe 43 planes. The enemy could not afford such losses any
more and that`s why night-time raids were preferred by him. Defiance of the RAF made Hitler to cancel invasion on the shores of British Isles, although lives of British civilians
were still endangered.
No XVIII Panel Not only No 311 Bomber Squadron
207.Several dozens members of former Czech Infantry Regiment who in the late Oct 1941 -
late April 1942 period had successfully defended the port of Tobruq against Rommel.
They signed for the RAF in September 42 and came to the St. Athan 311 Depot, Wales.
NOTE: Due to the conversions on B 24s to come, the need of newly trained WOP became
imminent. There were three WOP/AGs aboard. That reason for overwhelming majority of
these newcomers to St. Athan underwent training for WOP.
208. A compliment made not only by Czech visitors to the base - North Weald the 1944 year.
209-210.First from R stands Sgt. Josef Fisera [ Yozzaef Fishera]. He lost life on Aug 30, 1943 with
three more pilots and two WOPs while training rocket firing at Beaulieu air base.
211.F/Lt Metodej Sebela [Maettodyey Shaebbaella] was proclaimed missing after his
Nov 18, 1943 sortie over the Gulf of Biscay.
212.L to R : Gen Janousek [Yannoushaek], parson Pouchly [ Powkhlee], Ellen Svobodova
[Svobboddovah]. NOTE : Her husband front gunner Sgt. Pavel Svoboda [ Pavvael
Svobboda] ditched returning from the Bremen nightly air raid on Dec 29, 1941.
Together with F/Lt. Josef Scerba [Yozzaef Shcherba] and Sgt. Alois Siska [ Alloys
Shishka] was taken prisoner by Germans on a Dutch coast after 5 days in their dinghy.
All three survived the war. Svoboda`s and his wife`s names can be seen on their grave in
the distance of several meters beyond the fence of the Brookwood Military Cemetery, not
far from the Czechs who had lost their lives in WWII and were laid to rest within the
Cemetery mentioned above. Losts of Czech RAF veterans who died after the War, found
their final resting place outside the fence in this lot. See our document June 2004.
213.Ready to take off
214.Endless
215.L to R : F/Lt Fajtl, gen. Viest, Beaumont, ?, gen. Janousek at Exeter 1942.
[Fightl, Veest, Yannoushaeck] NOTE : Gen. Viest was appointed the Slovakian
Insurgent Army`s Commander in Chief after the Slovakian Uprising had broken out in
The Central Slovakia on August 29, 1944. Having been driven by Germans into the
Low Tatra Mtns late October, the Insurgents swapped to guerilla war. Gen.Viest was
taken prisoner and shot dead somewhere in Germany together with the General Jan Golian
[Yahn Golliahn]
216.An two-engine B 25 Mitchell bomber proved to be an ideal plane for conversion onto B
24s due to its nose undercarriage - 111 OTU at the Oakes Field air base, the Bahamas.
After two-month flying B 25, pupil pilots swapped for B 24s at the Windsor Field on the
same island.
217.Not always did the slogan work. NOTE : Drawn by a script decorator by trade Sgt. Karel
Pavlik [Karrael Pavleek]. Escorting Boston bombers over Lille with No 313 Sqn on May
5, 1942, he was downed by Fockewulf 190s and killed.
No XIX Panel 310 Fighter Squadron
218-219.Spitfires of the No 310 Squadron
220.A cup of tea for the Commander of A Flight S/Ldr. Frantisek Dolezal [Frantyishaeck
Dollaezhall] at Perranporth AF beginning of 1942
221.L to R : W/O Mlejnecky, F/Sgt. Popelka, W/O Sala, W/O Stirka, W/O Skach
[Mlaynneatskee, Poppaelka, Shahla, Styirka, Shkakh] by a Spitfire Mk. VC at Exeter
RAF autumn 1942
222.Escorting bombers to Brest on February 27, 1943, he was downed by an enemy Fw 190
fighter - F/Lt Vaclav Ridkosil [Vahtslav Rzheedkkoshill]
223.At Perranporth AF in spring 1942. From L : Chlup, ? , Foit, ?[Khloop, Phoyt]
224.Spitfires VB of No 310 Sqn - Exeter 1942
225.On June 23, 1942 W/O Trejtnar [ Traytnar] was shot down by a Fw 190 near his Exeter
base and saved his life. The snap was taken at Exeter in 1943.
NOTE : This Fockewulf 190 A3-313 type flown Oberleutnant Armin Faber was running
out of petrol and its France bound route was blocked by dozens of Spitfires. Due to his
former spine injury Oblt. Faber [Phahbr] did not want to bail. That reason for he made
three wheel landing at the Pembrey Trainig Station, Wales. His machine was the first one
of this type being seized by Brits intact.
226.Landing wheels-up in Normandy on May 21, 1944, S/Ldr. Hugo Hrbacek [Hooggo
Hrbahchaeck] escaped and later crossed the front-line.
227.In the cockpit of his Spitfire Mk IX is the Commander of A Flight F/Lt Karel Drbohlav
[Karrael Drbohhlav] - Manston AF spring 1945
228.The pilot Frantisek Burda [Frantyishaeck Boorda] was shot down over Brest on February
27, 1943 and taken prisoner.
229.The Commander of No 310 Sqn S/Ldr. Jiri Hartman [Yirzhee Hartman] ready to taxi at
the Northweald AF in autumn 1944.
230.A Spitfire of No 310 Sqn ready to taxi - Northweald autumn 1944
231.F/Sgt. Miroslav Moravec [Mirroslav Morravvets] was killed in a crash near Chichester
heading to Normandy. Taken at the Appledram field base May 1944.
NOTE : Pilot´s family was executed during so-called " Heydrich period " following
assasination of this Nazi Protector, carried out by the Anthropoid Agent Group members
Gabcik and Kubis/Gabcheek, Koobbish/ on May 27, 1942.
232.Spitftres Mk IX of No 310 Sqn shortly before the end of hostilities at the Manston AF
No XX Panel No 311 Bomber Squadron
233+234.A Badge of No 311 Sqn with the Hussite slogan : Disregard being outnumbered
NOTE ; The Hussite movement burst out of long-term discontent with conduct of
clergymen early the 15th century. A priest John Huss based his lectures on ideas of John
Wycliff. Johnn Huss was proclaimed to be a Heretic and burnt to death at the stake at
Constanz on July 6, 1415. The Hussite army, though heavily outnumbered, repelled
Several Crusades in the 1420 - 1434 period.
235.L to R Breicetl, Korda DFC, Mazurek, Sedivy DFM Talbenny air base on Oct 21, 1942
236.No 311 Sqn was not allowed to enjoy celebrating the V-E Day on May 8, 1945. There
+ was a need of combing the Atlantic and localize the German submarines that followed
237.the Surrender Order. Some crews were intended for the Far East Campaign, but Japan
had surrendered earlier. That reason for the F/Lt. Sedivy [Shaedyivee] landed with his
crew at the Prague Ruzyne airport [Roozzinnye] on September 1, 1945.
238-239.Text on No 311 Sqn in English
240.President of the Czech Republic Edvard Benes [Edward Beannaesh] at the controls
of a Wellington bomber.
241.The President Benes [Baennaesh] shakes hands with the CO of the 311th Squadron during
his and Hana Benesova [Hanna Baennaeshovvah] visit to the air base.
242.The most successful members of the Squadron ranked according to operational hours
with as the Bomber as the Coastal Commands.
243.Edvard Benes [ Edward Baennaesh] standing front of a Wellington bomber.
244.Prior to getting onboard. L to R : Sgts.Valach, Plzak, Bernat, P/O Konstacky, Sgts.Horak and Filler. [Vallakh, Plzahk, Baernaht, Konnshtatskee, Horrahk, Philler.
NOTES : - There were two members of the 311 Sq. born at the village of Lidice [Liddyitse] burnt to ashes by the Nazis on June 10, 1942 as a revenge for the assasination of theReich`s Protector Reinhard Heydrich [Highdrikh]. All men over 15 shot dead at the wallof the Horak`s barn. But they had nothing to do with the assassins.
As Joseph Horak as his cousin Joseph Stribrny [ Yozzaeph Horrahk, Strzheebrnee] survived
the WWII, but Horrahk fled his native country after the February 1948 Communist Coup,
reentered the RAF and perished in a plane crash on January 18, 1949.
- Horak as front gunner in this picture. Later he underwent his pilot course.
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