No XXXI Panel - No 313 Fighter Squadron
403. Being helped by a flight mechanic, the Flight B´s CO is getting ready to take off
– F/Lt Vaclav Bergman [Vahtslav Baergman]
404. L to R sitting : Stefan, Prihoda, Raba, Mrazek, Hajek, Hochmal, Kucera [Shtaeffan
Przheehhodda, Rabba, Mrahzzek, Hahyaeck, Hokhmal, Kuchaerra] Standing :
Hlouzek, Vendl, Kocfelda, Jerabek, Cap, Foglar, Dohnal, Reznicek ,Valasek, Mrtvy,
Prerost [Hlowzhaeck, Vaendl, Kotsfaelda, Yerzhahbaeck, Czahp, Fogglar, Dohhnal,
Rzhaeznyeechaek, Vallahshaek, Mrtvee, Przhaerrost] – CO Mrazek`s [Mrahzzek]
No 313 Sqn at Churchstanton, June 1942
405. Having been hit by flak over the Lanion Luftwaffe airport he crashed into sea
Sgt. Jaroslav Hlouzek [Yarroslav Hlowzhaek] on Nov 18, 1942
406. He lost life over the Channel shot down by Fockewulf 190s - F/Lt Miroslav Stusak
[Mirroslav Shtussahk] on Feb 27, 1943
407. He went missing while escorting Marauder bombers over Beauvais on Sep 27
1943 - Sgt. Tomas Zrnik [Tommahsh Zrnyeek] – Ibsley, 1943
408. Sgt. Antonin Vendl launched flying with No 313 Sqn in June 1942 – Sgt. Antonin
Vendl [Antonnyeen Vaendl]
409. Pilots of the Flight A´s detachment at Sumburgh in the Shetlands, July 1943
From L : F/Lt Muzika, P/O Cochrane, P/O Pipa, Sgt. Hlucka, F/Lt. Hochmal
[Muzzikka, Peeppa, Hluchka, Hokhmall]
410. Three Czechoslovak aces. Members of No 313 Sqn awarded the DFCs. From L : F/O
Vaclav Jicha, F/O Otmar Kucera, F/O Josef Prihoda [Vahtslav Yeekha, Otmar
Koocherra, Yozzaeph Przheehhodda]
411. A No 313 Sqn`s Spitfire MkIX shortly before the “ D “ Day
– Appledram satellite
412. Fighters of No 313 Sqn escorting British bombers over Germany – spring 1942
413. Sgts Stajner, Palicka, Stryk and Stefanek [Shtaynnaer, Pallichka, Strik, Shtaeffahnaek]
by a high fighter Spitfire MkVII at Skeabre, Sep 1944
414. Spitfires of No 313 Sqn at Manston, spring 1945. Stand on a wing L to R : S/Ldr Otmar
Kucera DFC, F/Lt Karel Zouhar, F/Lt Jaroslav Dobrovolny, F/O Oldrich Vychodil
[Otmar Kucherra, Karrael Zowhhar, Yarroslav Dobbrovvolnee, Oldrzhikh Vikhoddyil]
415. From left sit : Skopal, Spacek, Bergman, Bernard. Stand : Smolka, Foglar, Jilek
[Skoppal, Shpachaek, Baergman, Baernard, Shmolka, Fogglar, Yeehllaek]
at the Churchstanton Action Station, May 1943
No XXXII Panel - The Czechoslovak Fighter Wing
416. Spitfires Mk VB of No 310 Sqn took off three times as an air support to the Jubilee
Seaborne Operation on August 19, 1942 – Redhill satellite
417. W/Cdr Arnost Vasatko [Arnosht Vashahtko] was the first CO and founder of this higher
Czechoslovak Fighter Formation formed by Nos 310, 312 and 313 Sqns. He met his
death on June 23, 1942 – see the text ´Trejtnar vs Faber Jun 23, 1942´
418. The first success of No 312 Sqn in the Jubille operation on Aug 19, 1942
- Sgt. Pipa`s attack [Peeppa]
419. The second CO of the Exeter Wing till March 1943 – W/Cdr Karel Mrazek DFC
[Karrael Mrahzzek]
420. A No 310 Sqn`s pilot looks at the wingtip of his Spitfire hit by flak on July 23, 1942
- Sgt. Josef Stivar [Yozzaeph Shtivvar] at the Exeter AF
421. The Czechoslovak Fighter Wing was under his command from April 1943 to Jan 1944
- W/Cdr Frantisek “ Dolly “ Dolezal [Frantyisheck Dollaezhal]
422. A shot from Miroslav Liskutin`s [Mirroslav Lishkuttyin] camera gun with visible signs
of a hit in the wing of a Dornier 217 over the Channel on August 19, 1942
NOTE : Running out of amo, he spotted another Do 217 bomber several seconds later.
Because the new formation of Spits just arriving at the scene had no chance to see the
; Hun, Liskutin radioed them, instructing them with the Dornier`s precise location.
The section of Spitfires downed this bomber within seconds. See Liskutin`s book
Bourliva oblaka – Touzimsky and Moravec Publishers
423. Flying through the tops of poplar trees in Northern France, F/O Liskutin [Lishkuttyin]
succeeded in flying his machine back on May 21, 1944 – the Appledram field base
424. No 312 Sqn`s Fitter II E Sgt Bernard Misak [ Mishahk] inspects the F/O Jan Stastny`s
Spitfire Mk VB having been hit six times by a Fw 190 on June 13, 1943 - Churchstanton
425. A Spitfire Mk IX of No 313 Sqn taking off on a long distance bomber escort
- at Bradwell Bay,beginning of 1945
426. A fighter plane of No 310 Cz Sqn in her low level pass – a Spitfire Mk IX
427. In the April – June 1944 period was the Appledram airfield the Field Base of the No
134 Czechoslovak Wing
No XXXIII Panel - Czechoslovak pilots with other RAF Sqns
428. This most successful Czechoslovak fighter pilot shot down 17 enemy bombers in spring
1942 over Northern France F/Lt Karel Kuttelwascher [Karrael Kuttlvasher] seen as Sgt.
at the Kenley Action Station with No 1 Sqn.
429. Another No 1 Sqn`s ace was W/O Josef Dygryn DFM. [Yozzaeph Digreen]. He reached
five victories and further partial claims there till Sep 1941.
430. Pilot in readiness. Sgt. Vaclav Jicha [Vahtslav Yeekha] in the cockpit of a Hurricanne
Mk I of No 17 Sqn at Matlesham Heath, summer 1941
431. F/O Josef Hanus [Yozzaeph Hannush] as a member of No 32 Sqn standing by his
Hurricane Mk IIB at Angle in summer 1941
432. In the cockpit of a No 19 Sqn`s Spitfire is taken F/Sgt Karel Kosina [Karrael Kossinna]
- Fowlmere satellite in spring 1941
433. Czechoslovak pilots flew this type also with Nos 32 and 245 Sqns in the 1941-1942
period – No 1 Sqn`s Hurricanne IIC with four 20 mm cannons.
434. Sgts Vojtech Lysicky and Bohumil Netopil [Voyttyekh Lissitskee, Bohhummil
Nettoppil] took off from the Matlaske air base with No 19 Sqn to offensive missions over
Holland - August 1941
NOTE : Because the latter one was enlisted by the British Depot only, Sgt. Netopil was
not endangered by the Death Sentence in accordance with the Nazi Decree labelling
traitors all the Czechs who had left the “Protectorate of Czech and Moravia Lands “ to
fight against Hitler. Only Churchill`s determination to shoot two Germans for each Czech
prevented all the Czechs but one from being executed - F/O Arnost Valenta [Arnosht
Vallaenta] was one of the Sagan Mass Escape`s 50 victims.
Caught and shot dead on March 31,1944.
435. An two from Czechoslovak pilots serving with No 46 Sqn – from L Sgts Stanislav Uher
and Josef Gutvald [Stannyislav Uhhaer, Yozzaeph Gutvald] - Digby AS, spring 1941
436. Pilots of No 32 Flight of the 32nd Squadron. First from L stands later Flight Commander
F/Lt Ondrej Posluzny [Ondrzhey Posluzhnee] – Angle, Sep 1941
437. A member of No 65 “ East India “ Sqn Sgt. Frantisek Loucky [Frantyishaek Lowtskee]
carried out with this unit 35 sweeps over enemy territorry – Debden, early 1942
NOTE : His book “ Mnozi nedoleteli = “Lots of them did not complete their fligt “
published on the verge of collapse of the Communist regime in Central Europe early
1989 was the first work of Cz literature surveying graves of our RAF members abroad.
438. The first Czechoslovak night fighter in the cockpit of a Hurricanne belonging to the 96th
Sqn F/O Josef Kloboucnik [Yozzaeph Klobbowchnyeek] at the Cranage AS Feb 1941
439. A 96 Sqn`s Boulton Paul Defiant night fighter plane with F/O Vlastinil Vesely at the
controls - while he served at Cranage, July 1941 [Vlastyimmil Vaessaellee]
440. No 122 “ City of Bombay “ Squadron`s Flight Commander F/Lt Tomas Kruml
[Tommahsh Kruml] with his Spitfire Mk IX - Hornchurch, spring 1943
No XXXIV Panel The Czechoslovak pilots serving with other British Sqns
441. From L : Sgt. Zadrobilek, F/Lt Kellet, S/Ldr Brotchie, Sgt Zouhar, F/Lt Pilkington DFM
[Zadrobbeellek, Zowhhar] – No 111 Sqn`s pilots North Weald Sep 1941
442. Sgt. Otakar Hruby [Ottakkar Hrubbee] standing front of a No 111 Sqn`s Hurricane Mk
I at Dyce, spring 1941
443. Czechoslovak fighter ace as a member of No 222 “ Natal “ Squadron. He shot down six
and half enemy aircraft over France – F/O Otto Smik [Otto Smik] - Hornchurch
444. F/Lt Svatopluk Bachurek [Svattoppluk Bakhoorraek] – the third from L – seen among
the pilots of No124 Sqn – Biggin Hill, early 1942
445. No 198 Sqn´ CO S/Ldr. Jiri Manak [Yirzhee Mannyahk] watches his pilot describing
his combat mission shortly after his return – the Martlesham aerodrome
NOTE : Manak was the sole Czech who flew a fast Hawker Typhoon fighter bomber
operationally.
446. Three Czechoslovak Sgts serving with No 245 Sqn at Aldergrove early 1941 – from L :
Leopold Srom, Vaclav Bauman, Karel Cap [Leoppold Shrom, Vahtslav Bawmman,
Karrael Czahp]
447. Czechoslovak pilot Sgt. Vaclav Brejcha [Vahtslav Braykha] – first from L – with No
257 “Burma” Sqn – S/Ldr Stanford-Tuck DSO, DFC /R/, Jan 1941
448. Seated L to R : fourth Vendl, fifth Rocovsky [Vaendl, Rochovskee], standing : first
Dvorak, ninth Raba [ Dvorzhahk, Rabba] – No 501Sqn`s members at Ibsley, spring 1942
449. Flying twin engine Beaufighters of No 600 Sqn from Algerian Satif, they downed four
German bombers / F/Lt Josef Hanus /L/, radio operator P/O Eylesboth [Yozzaeph
Hannush]
450. Czechoslovak fighter pilots serving with No 601Sqn. From L : Drbohlav, Michalek,
Borovec, Manak [Drbohhlav, Mikhahlaek, Borrovvets, Mannyahk] - Norholt, Mar 1941
451. F/Sgt Vaclav Bauman [Vahtslav Bawmman] by a Spitfire Mk VB of 501 No Sqn
- the Ibsley aerodrome, spring 1942
452. Acting as a Flight Commander of No 601 Sqn F/Lt Jaroslav Himr [Yarroslav Himr] is
seen by an Airacobra Mk I at the Matlaska AS in Aug 1941
453. Reaching one and a half victories with No 601 Squadron, he moved to No 610 Sqn to
assist here in shooting down three enemies
– F/Sgt Frantisek Mares [Frantyishaeck Marraesh] 1940 – 1942
454. Sgt Rudolf Ptacek [Ruddolph Ptahcheck] here taken at Kenley as a member of No 615
Sqn. He met his death over France on Mar 28, 1942 as a member of 602 Sqn.
NOTE : For the first time he had been downed over France in August 1941, but
succeeded in returning to the UK that time.
No XXXV Panel No 68 Night Fighter Squadron
455. The Czechoslovak Flight B of the 68th Sqn´ badge and the text : It was established on
Jan 20, 1942. Its first CO was S/Ldr Vlastimil Vesely [Vlastyimmil Vaesaelee] DFC
NOTE : The “ Ke hvezdam a do mraku “ book = Towards stars and into clouds by his
nephew Jaroslav Vesely was issued in 2007 by the GARAMON Publishing –
garamon@garamon.cz. More than 100 snaps taken by Vlastimil himself.
His first three Diaries contained here describe not only the September 1938 – October
1943 period
456. S/Ldr Vlastimil Vesely DFC
457. A rare air to air shot of a No 68 Sqn´s Beaufighter Mk VI F
458. The call sign “Fanco 28” belonged to the crew shooting down one Junkers 88 and one
Dornier 217 in Mar 1943 – F/O Josef Opalecky/R/, F/Sgt Rudolf Husar [Yozzaeph
Opahlaetskee,Ruddolph Hussahr]
459. F/Lt Josef Capka [Yozzaeph Chapka] in the cabine of his Beaufighter during a daily test
flight prior to night patrol service
460. The most successsful Czechoslovak crew of 68 Sqn credited 8 and a half victories on
Beaufighter and two V-1 Flying Bombs in a Mosquito – S/Ldr Miloslav Mansfeld DSO
DFC, F/Lt Slavomil Janacek DFC DFM [Milloslav Mansfeld, Slavvommil Yannahczek]
NOTE : Story of life of the latter is described in a book ´Rodaci z Holasek a Turan´ from
Vaclav Kolesa Publ – www.letci.simcentrum.info
461. Radar operator F/O Vladimir Cupak [Vladdyimmeer Tsuppahk] at his radar port in rear
fuselage bulkhead of a Beaufighter
462. The crew W/O Josef Adam, Sgt Fridolin Gemrot [Yozzaeph Addam, Friddolleen
Gaemrot succeeded in shooting down two dorneir 217s in the space of one and half hrs
463. Crews of 68 Sqn. Center its CO W/C Hayley Bell DFC, “A” Flight Commander S/Ldr
Wright DFC and “B” Flight Commander S/Ldr Mansfeld DFC [Manspheld]
464. The second most successful Czechoslovak crew F/O Ladislav Bobek/R/, W/O Bohuslav
Kovarik [Laddyislav Bobbek, Bohhuslav Kovvarzheek] – 5 shots sure, 1 probably, 3
damaged. NOTE : Bobek`s grandson Mr. Vrana [Vrahna] from Brno is going to write a
book on his grandpa. Infos on his crewman Kovarik would be appreciated – no kids left
465. The crew of a Mosquito before taking off for a night patrol
- the Coltishal air base winter 1944/45
466. From L : radio operators F/O Hradsky, W/O Bednarik, pilots F/O Seda, F/O Standera,
P/O Horak [Hradskee, Baednarzheek, Shaedda, Shtandaerra, Horrahk]
NOTE : More about Bednarik in a booklet “With Angel Saviour on ground as well as
aloft´ by the Vaclav Kolesa Publishing – www.letci.simcentrum.info
467. Radio operator W/O Fridolin Gemrot [Friddolleen Gaemrot] on tail of a DH Mosquito
- the Castle Camps AS summer 1944
Open the film HERE