No XXXVI Panel - With other RAF units
468. This type was flown by Czechoslovak airmen between Nos 540-544 Sqns
. in the 1943-45 period – A fast, unarmed photo recce DH 98 Mosquito
469. In 1940 were evoked long range meteorological flights RAF by him
- F/Lt Erik Kraus [Errick Krows]
470. The crew of No 544 Photo Recce Sqn looks at the tail of its Mosquito which was
attacked by a Messeschmitt 109 – F/O Kepka /R/ and F/Lt Vokoun [Kaepka, Vokkown]
in March 1945.
471. A Group of Czechoslovak pilotS and navigators carried out 24 ferry flights from
Canadian Dorwall to Prestwick in Scotland - P/O Rechka and F/O Kacir
[Rzhaekhka, Katseerzh] by a Douglas Boston bomber in Nov 1942
472. The heavy was piloted by F/Lt Prchal [Prkhal] on routes leading from Britain to
Gibraltar and to and from North Africa –a B 24 Mk.II of the No 511 Transport Sqn at
the Cairo West air base.
473. He was the only survivor of disaster of a 511 Sqnś Liberator at Gibraltar on July the 4th
1943. The Polish Prime Minister Sikorsky and his daughter were among the victims
- F/Lt Eduard Prchal [Aedduard Prkhal]
474. The No 138 Special Duty Sqn`s main duty was agents a troops dropping over enemy
territory – F/O Leo Anderle DFC [Leo Andrle] went missing on Dec 10, 1942 on its
Egypt – Malta route.
475. A plane of No 138 Special Duty Sqn modified for troop dropping
- Handley Page Halifax
476. The Duke of Gloucester arrived at the USAF air base onboard of the No 24 Sqnś
Lockheed airplane piloted by the Czechoslovak airman P/O Frantisek Altman
[Frantyishek Altman] - Polebroke June 4, 1943
477. The crews of No 511 Sqn. Also Czechoslovak pilots among them carried out long
distance flights to India, Burma and Ceylon as well
– the Lyneham air base and an Avro York transport plane 1944
478. The crew of a Dakota belonging to No 24 Transport Sqn in 1944 at the Maison Blanche
air base – L to R : F/O Hafenden, F/Lt. Hubacek, F/O Hannah and F/O Altman
[Hubbahcheck, Altman]
479. He acted as an instructor with No 1530 Beam Approach Training Flight in 1943
- W/O Zdenek Bachurek [Zdaennyek Bakhoorraeck] and an Airspeed Oxford
480. This pilot became the first Commanding Officer to the newly established No1684
Bomber Defence Training Flight in September 43 – F/Lt Frantisek Bernard /M/
[Frantyishaeck Baernard] and a Curtiss Tomahawk Mk.II at the Leighton Buzzard AS
481. As a test pilot, he checked in the air 1287 Spitfires and flew here Wellington and
Lancaster bombers too – F/Lt Vaclav Jicha [Vahtslav Yeekha] in a Spitfire Mk IX at
Castle Bromwich. NOTE : Picked for the team by Alan Hanshaw, he was awarded AFC
for his serving here.
No XXXVII Panel - The 1st Fighter Regiment of the 1st Czechoslovak Mixed Air Division
482. Group of members of the 1st “Zvolensky” Fighter Regiment in USSR. From L : fourth
Jan Setvak, eighth Antonin Vendl, ninth Leopold Srom [Yan Saettvahk, Antonnyeen
Vaendl, Leoppold Shrom]
483. Over 14 thousand fighter planes of this version were made during WWII
- a Lavochkin La 5 FN type NOTE – Lifespan only of 100 hrs due to wooden airframe
484. These La 5 FN fighter planes were flown by the airmen of the 1st Czechoslovak Fighter
Regiment
485. Ground crew taken at work on a La 5 FN fighter after her operational flight
- the Poremba airfield, Poland
486. From L : P/O Srom, S/Ldr Fajtl, F/Lt Koza, F/O Chabera at Poremba, Poland, Apr 1945
[Shrom, Fightl, Kozza, Khahbaerra]
487. Front of a La 5 FN fighter after return from combat mission in April 1945
- From L : P/O Skopal, P/O Droppa [Skoppal, Droppa]
488. A La 5 FN fighter at the detached field base
489. No 1 Czechoslovak Fighter Regiment´s CO is presenting himself
– S/Ldr Frantisek Fajtl [Frantyishek Fightl]
NOTE : See more in his book “ Podruhe doma “ = On the soil of the homeland for the
second time Nase Vojsko Publ. 1984 circulation of 60 th.
490. Air mechanics and armourers servicing La 5 FN fighters at the Poremba “ aerodrome”
491. From L : F/Lt Cvacho, F/Lt Koza, S/Ldr Fajtl, S/Ldr Triponov, F/Lt Vinogradov
at Letnany AS, Prague [Tsvakho, Kozza, Fightl]
492. Having rest after their operational flight at the Poremba detached field base
From L : Pridala, Skopal, Droppa [Przhiddalla, Skoppal, Droppa]
493. Anton Droppa by a La 5 FN at the Przemysl air base in winter 1944
No XXXVIII Panel - Not only the No 1 Fighter Regiment
494. At right : CO of the Uprising Sqn F/O Singlovic, the back of S/L Fajtl
next to him AF Commander-in-Chief S/Ldr Toth at the Tri Duby aerodrome, Slovakia
[Shinglovvich, Fightl, Taught]
495. Prior to their flight to Slovakia at the Przeworsk AS, Poland on Sep 17, 1944
496. P/O Sticka [Shtyichka] in the cockpit of a La 5 FN at the Tri Duby airfield
497. A La 5 FN ready to take off from the detached field base Zolna [Zollnah], Slovakia
498. The Zolna field base, lacking drainage
499. A La 5 FN fighter plane of No 1 Fighter Reg over Zolna
500. P/O Chabera`s [Khahbaerra] La 5 FN at the Tri Duby aerodrome
501. No 1 Fighter Reg´s Score
TEXT : Czechoslovak No 1 Fighter Regiment commanded by S/Ldr Fajtl [Fightl] was the
first foreign unit deployed on the Uprising Territory of Central Slovakia on Sep 17,
1944. Its 563 combat missions lasted till Oct 25, 1944. Score : 9 sure, 3 probables,
damaged 7, grounded 6 enemy planes, 74 trucks destroyed and 125 ones damaged, 8
destroyed and 13 damaged gun posts, 2 tanks destroyed and 11 damaged, 12 steam
engines destroyed and 3 ones damaged, 5 machine guns destroyed and 5 ones
damaged, 3 damaged amo supplies. The Squadron dropped 624 bombs
NOTE : Two Lavochkin pilots lacking armour fell victim to German ground fire –
Vaculik [Vatsulleek] was killed Sep 20 and his firm friend Mraz [Mrahz] on Oct 7 .
The third pilot killed in action was P/O Motycka [Mottichka]. He crashed, hitting
electricity high lines on Oct 15, 1944, when his attention was drawn by a German
supply column. The fourth killed member of the Regiment was P/O Rudolf Borovec
[Ruddolph Borrovaets]. He lost his life on Nov 9, 1944 being ambushed by German
army in the mountains of Central Slovakia after Insurgents´ retreat. Borovec offered
his plane to P/O Chabera on Oct 25, when Chabera did damage to its undercarriage
while taxiing before Poland-bound take off. Read more in the book by Stanislav
Rejthar [Stannyislav Raythar] “ The good soldiers have been killed “ OSTROV
Publ 2002, circ. 90 th.
502. From L : S/Ldr Klan, P/O Sticka, P/O Motycka [Klahn, Shtyichka, Mottichka]
503. Prior to their flight to Slovakia on Sep 17, 1944
NOTE : S/Ldr Fajtl, S/Ldr Klan, F/O Stehlik and P/O Chabera [Fightl, Klahn, Staehleek,
Khahbaerra] had been ordered by Soviet HQ on Sep 14, 1944 to fly to the Tri Duby
aerodrome on the next day to inspect operational conditions for the entire Fighter Reg
of 22 planes on the spot. Jumping eagerly on the ground of the homeland, Stehlil gave a
wrench to his ankle and that reason for only three fighter planes returned to Poland on
Sep 16 leaving him on the Slovakian soil to cure his injury. Because the Tri Duby air
base had been several times damaged by Luftwaffe bombers flying from the Piestany AF
nearby, an pre-emptive air raid was master-minded by these four airmen on Sep 15.
Stehlik had served at the Piestany aerodrome before the War and his terrain knowledge
was crucial for succeeding in this unexpected and daring raid. That is why Stehlik
[Staehleek] was excused from returning back to Poland o September 16. More in the
´Prvni doma´ Book = The first ones on their homeland`s soil by Frantisek Fajtl – Nase
vojsko Publ. 1989, circulation 45 th.
504. Wheels up landing of F/O Borovec at Tri Duby. The aircraft had to be written off
505. From L : Col. Prikryl, S/Ldr Fajtl, F/O Stehlik [Przhikril, Fightl, Staehleek] – Zolna
NOTE : No 1 Para Brigade commanded by Col Prikryl had been air lifted onto soil of
Central Slovakia several days before the No 1 Fighter Regiment. Our fighter pilots
helped the paras several times to repell attacks of the Germans. That reason for talks of
coordination between S/Ldr Fajtl and Col. Prikryl like this one.
NOTE : Also the latter was persecuted by the Communist Regime not only in the 50s.
506. A La 5 FN camouflaged at the Zolna airstrip
507. With Soviet guerilla fighters – Zolna Sep 1944 NOTE : Even Zolna proved to be
endangered by the Germans dropped to carry out sabotage here.That reason for the area
was guarded by the Soviet troops. There was no drainage at the Zolna [Zolnah] meadow
Due to heavy rains the No 1 Flight commanded by F/O Stehlik moved to the Tri Duby air
base on Oct 13, No 2 one six days later.
No XXXIX Panel - The Uprising Combined Squadron
508. The Uprising Combined Sqn´s CO F/O Mikulas Singlovic/Mikkullahsh Shinglovvich/
509. A Bf 109 G fighter plane at Tri Duby. NOTE : Belonging to S/Ldr Trnka´s group which
had escaped to Poland on Aug 30, two Me 109Gs piloted by Bozik and Hanovec
/Bozzheek Hannovvaets/ ferried from Poland to Tri Duby on Sep 6, 1944.
510. Anton Matusek and Mikolas Singlovic /Mattushek, Shinglovvich/
511. Both Ju 52 transport planes were destroyed by Luftwaffe air raid on Sep 10
512. W/O Ľudovit Jasik /Luddovveet Yasseek/
513. A Petjakov Pe - 2 fast bomber flew to the Tri Duby air base exceptionally
514. The Slovakian Uprising was lead by Col. Jan Golian/Yahn Golliahn/-
515. Map of the area taken by Insurgents on August 29, 1944
516. Lisunov Li - 2 USSR-made transport Dakotas ferried the Para Brigade early Sep 1944
517. Two B-17 bombers of No 483 BG landed on the Tri Duby aerodrom on September 17
to bring the American airmen who avoided being made POW by the Germans on the
territory of Slovakia, Hungary or Moravia and succeeded in getting to Central Slovakia
Five B-17s landed there on October 5 for the same reason and brought arms and amo
Being guarded by the Mustangs, the bombers headed for Italy immediately after the
airmens`getting onboard. One P 51D was damaged and left there.
518. La 5 FNs at Tri Duby
519. The Insurgents were supplied also by airdrops
520. F/O Droppa metes the British POWs liberated in Poland - winter 1945
521. Luftwaffe air raid on Tri Duby claimed lives of 28 people including Chief Technician
F/Sgt Jozef Krist [Yozzaeph Krist] on Sep 10, 1944.
522. An obsolete Avia B 534 biplane was the last one downing the enemy in the history of
WW II air combat. Piloted by Sgt. Fero Cyprich [Phaerro Tsiprikh] on Sep 2, 1944
An Hungarian Ju 52 transport fell prey to her. One of four crewmen was killed.
- Tri Duby AF. NOTE : Cyprich was a member of the first group of No 13/JG 52
Slovakian Flight deployed on the Eastern front from Nov 4, 1942 to July 7, 1943 - 1054
ops on Me 109 F and G fighter planes resulted in 206 engagements with the Soviet Air
Force 154 sures and 16 probables had been on their score. Not all the planes were of
USSR production though biplanes I-153 as well as I-16, LAGG-3, Il-2, DB-3, Pe-2,
Jak-1, La 5 and MIG 3s prevailed. The first US-made Boston bomber was downed on
Mar 20, 1943, the first P-39 Airacobra on May 12. Ratio of the US- and UK-made
aircraft on the scoresheet of the 2nd group of No 13 Slovakian Flight rose dramatically
– 15 Bostons, 10 Airacobras and two Spitfires. Only one Slovakian airman was killed,
The second group of the No 13 Flight arrived at the Eastern front on Jul 4, 1943. Its first
and last victorie were claimed by F/Sgt Frantisek Hanovec [Frantyishaeck Hannovvaets]
on Jul 22 and Oct 27, 1943. About 1100 operational flights made and 61 sure shots and
other 13 probables reached. Casualties : pilots Dobrovolny, Matusek and Geric
[Dobrovvolnee, Mattushaek, Gaerich] deserted. Also Rudo Bozik [Ruddo Bozheek]
was a member of this second group comprising 13 younger and less experienced pilots
compared with the first group. F/Sgts Matusek and Dobrovolny deserted on Sep 9, 1943,
Sgt Geric two days later.The former ones joined the group of former Czechoslovak RAF
fighter pilots who had come to Soviet Union from Britain via Cairo and Tehran at the
Ivanovo SFTS in May 1944 to undergo conversion onto La 5 FN fighter planes here. As
member of the No1 Zvolensky Fighter Reg deployed at Zolna resp.Tri Duby AFs in the
time space of Sep 17 – Oct 25, 1944, F/Sgt. Doborovolny [Dobrovvolnee] shot down one
Recce Fockewulf 189. Trying to escape to Poland on Oct 25, 1944, Lavochkin of F/Sgt
Matusek [Mattushaeck] was downed by flak over the territory of Eastern Slovakia. The
pilot joined the group of guerilla fighters.
523. Even this pre-war multi-role S 328 downed the Luftwaffe Recce Fockewulf 189 !
524. L to R : Pridala, Skopal, Droppa/Priddalla, Skoppal/ at the Krosno AS, Poland
525. Li 2 transport planes landed at the Tri Duby aerodrome nearly every night bringing not
only amo and bombs, but also petrol for Lavochkin fighter planes, because an attempt to
blend the petrol being at disposal on the spot with the special additive proved to be only
short- lived. Even bombs for the low altitude Il2m3 armoured bombers were delivered.
526. Biplanes being not airworthy were used as a hint for Luftwaffe invaders.
TEXT : The Uprising Combined Sqn was the first air formation fighting the Luftwaffe
when the Slovakian Uprising broke out in the Region of Central Slovakia on Aug 29,
1944. The staff comprised 18 pilots and 12 crewmen. In addition to the Slovaks there were
two Yugoslavs – S/Ldr Arsenij Boljevic and F/Lt Sava Poljanec [Arsaennyiy Bollyevvich,
Savva Pollyanaets] They succeeded in escaping from the German captivity. Three hundred
ops, eight German and Hungarian aircraft dowmed by them. The Sqn´s pool was outdated :
pre-war B-534s, seven S-328, two SM 84 bis, one SM 84, two Junkers 52/3m, two
Fockewulf 58Cs, two C 445 two Junkers W 34, two Kl 35 D. Only two Bf 109 Es, but
without any ammo ! The Insurgent Sqn was reinforced by two Messeschmitt 109Gs piloted
by F/Sgts Rudo Bozik and Frantisek Hanovec [Ruddo Bozheek, Frantyishek Hannovvaets]
ferrying from Poland. These two were members of the group of Slovakian airmen who had
fled to Poland from the Presov AS in Eastern Slovakia at night of Aug 30, 1944. This area
should have been under control of two Slovakian divisions including the Dukla Pass to
Poland. But the German “Dirlanger “ Armoured Division advanced into this region hastily
and disarmed two Slovak divisions. Seven S 328s, six Fw 189s, three B 534s, two Bf 109
Gs, two Kl 35Ds, one Fi 156, one Fw 58, one Fw 44, one E 39 and one Ju W34 took off
Poland-bound to cross the front line.
NOTE : As Hanovec as Bozik were members of the No 13 Slovakian Flight of the so-called
Slovakian State that came into existence on March 14, 1939 on Hitler`s orders.
Bozik [Bozheek] downed 8 Soviet planes on the Eastern front, later one German shortly
before and two and a half during the Slovakian Uprising. Hanovec [Hannovvaets] shot down
one Polish plane during the September 1939 campaign and five Soviet-piloted planes on the
Eastern front in summer and autumn of the 1943 year.
After the German army seized the Tri Duby AS, the Slovakian airmen who had no plane to
escape withdrew into the mountains. F/Sgt Hanovec [Hannovaets] was caught by Germans
and sent to a concentration camp. Luckilly he survived.
No XL Panel No 1 Mixed Air Division in USSR 1/4
527. Czech slogan “ The Truth Wins “on the standard presented by the Moscow Lomonosov
University
528. W/C Budin [ Buddyeen] at the Poremba detached airfield on Apr 26, 1945
529. Being undivided towards victory
530. Defence Minister Gen. Svoboda [Svobbodda] and COs of the 1st MAD :
From L : S/Ldr Klan, Lisicky, W/Cdr Rypl, S/Ldrs Fajtl, Haluzicky and Guljanic
/Klahn, Lissitskee, Ripl, Fightl, Halluzzitskee, Ghullyannich/
531. An airman being decorated by General Svoboda
532. Text on the 1st Mixed Air Division in Czech
533. Text on No 1 Czechoslovak MAD in English
534. A group of Slovakian airmen commanded by S/Ldr Trnka [Trnka] who flew their
obsolete planes from Presov, Eastern Slovakia to Lwow, Poland crossing the frontline.
TEXT : The First Cz Mixed Division came into existence on January 25, 1945, being
formed by the members of the Czechoslovak Airmen Group in the Soviet Union or by
the ones who were just joining this unit. Deployment of the Czechoslovak Air Force
units late 1944 : the 1st Regiment at Przeworsk, the 2nd one at Przemysl and the 3rd
Reg at Stubno. Nos 1 and 2 Regiments went on training on La 5 FN fighters, the Third
one on Il2m3 low flying armoured bombers. The Cz Reg was made a part of No 8 Soviet
Air Army on Dec 17, 1944. The 1st Fighter as well as 3rd Il2m3 Bomber Regiments were
moved to the frontline in April and their members were given an opportunity to take part
in liberation of the Ostrava Region launching April 15, 1945. No 2 Fighter Reg did not
engage at all though being trained on more sophisticated La 7 fighter planes.
535. In winter 1944/45 were our airmen accomodated in the Przemysl hospital L to R : F/Sgt
Dobrovodsky, P/O Droppa /wearing a fur hat/ [Dobrovvodskee, Droppa]
536. The Training Unit is lining up with S/Ldr Haluzicky [Halluzitskee] at its command
Przemysl Sep 22, 1944. Their training commenced on the next dax.
537. L - General Svoboda, R - gen. Budin [Svobboda, Buddyeen] - Poremba detached
´airfield´ on April 26, 1945
538. Readines at Przemysl, Poland in January 1945 - P/O Droppa at right
539. The Slovaks trained at the Telavi Trainig Unit
TEXT : The core of No 1 MAD personell was formed by the Slovakian airmen airlifted
from the Tri Duby aerodrome during the Slovakian Uprising as well as the ones,
commanded by S/Ldr Julius Trnka [Yoollius], who had flown their obsolete aircraft to
Poland from the Presov [Preashov] AS on Aug 30, 1944. S/Ldr Trnka intended to form
four regiments by two flights – two Fighter Regs and two bomber ones. The intensit
training of the Slovakian crewmen was launched on Sep 23, 1944, but was hampered by
bad weather conditions too often. That reason for were the by Slovaks crewed Il2m3
armoured bombers ready for deployment in the Region of Central Slovakia on 25 Oct
1944, when the German army advanced to the Tri Duby AS.
540. Po -2 biplane could land nearly everywhere due to her short hold off. That reason for
this type was used by the 1st MAD´s HQ for liasion duties. Nicknamed /kukkurruzznyik/
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