No XLVI Panel USA Air Force 1944
618. In cooperation with the Freya system this radar equipment served for closer
determination of the position of bomber groups – a Wuerzburg/Reise radar at Vejprnice
619. Similar printed materials informed about the danger of air raids - to civilians
620. An aid for population which supplemented information about the distance of enemy
bombers – A Scheme
621. Fortunately not all the bombs exploded hitting the ground – Thanks God
622. An 88 millimetres bore cannon of German flak ie a dangerous weapon
623. A wreckage of one of the first American aircraft shot down over our territory -
No 42-40662 B 24 Liberator MkII of the 98th BG of No 15 USAAF - Lhenice on Feb
22, 1944
624. This objective was seriously hit for the first time on May 12, 1944. During WWII this oil
refinery - the Sudetenlaendische Treibstoffwerke/STW/ Zaluzi /Zahluzhee/ called Bruex
located nr the town of Most was the most frequently bombed target in this country.
625. An unique photograph of a Liberator of the Bomber Wing 55 of No 15 USAAF over the
Pardubice refinery - August 24th ,1944
NOTE ; The Italy -bound bunch of B 24 heavies was attacked by Luftwaffe fighters at
the village of Strmilov South Bohemia eyewitnessed by 11-year old Boleslav Povolny
– see his side of the story “ Aug 24, 1944 Vlcice “- Texts and Essays
626. The ships of the 97 BG dropping their bombload on Pardubice
- a Boeings B17G on Aug 24, 1944
627. The first Mustang shot down on our territory made an emergency landing at Kyjov
- the P 51D 44-13487 on June 30, 1944
628. An official record of the route of the flight of the 15th USAAF during its air raid on
Pardubice and Kolin – Aug 24,1944
629. After the raid - The Fanto Refinery Pardubice
630. The wreckage of the B-24 No 42-52479 of BG 464 of the 15th USAAF
- the hamlet of Vlcice /Vlchitse/ on Aug 24,1944
631. The wreckage of the same bomber. Only Sgt Amer survived, his nine crewmates
perished – Lt. J.W. James`s aircraft
632. The wreckage of the B-17G No.42-107282 at Osek. Five crewmen lost their lives.
- Lt. C.W. Edwards
633. This bomber was shot down on the bank of the Becva River between Osek and Lipnik
upon Becva [Baechva] at noon of August 22, 1944 – B-24 No. 42-51692
634. Making emergency landing at Napajedla on Oct 14, 1944, two crewmen were shot dead
by the Gestapo Secret Police – No. 44804, B 17 G of Lt. W. J. Wjenieg
635. The crew of Lt. T. West. He and other four men were killed at Troubky on Dec 17,1944
- No. 44-41016, B-24
636. The ruins of houses after the attack of the 15th USAAF – Hodonin, November 1944
in the Region of SE Moravia.
No XLVII Panel - The Air Battle of November 11, 1944
637. A Route of the Bunch
638. B-17s at flight
639. A Messerschmitt Bf 109G fighter of No 4 JG
TEXT : The most important Air Battle over the territory of Bohemain a Moravian Lands
took place over the Krusne Mts Border Region on Sep 11, 1944 between the 100 th BG
and No 4 Jagd Gruppe of the Luftwaffe. 14 B-17s of 36 were shot down by these
fighters. Most of the ships crashed near the border village of Kovarska. The other
bombers of the BG 100 kept flying towards their objective in Germany.
640. The Mustangs of the “Tiger” Fighter Group 339 as well as the FG 55 prevented the No
100 BG from being annihilated – 16 victories claimed by the FG 339
641. The airship of Lt A. Rommer exploded over Kovarska. Its tail fell onto the roof of a
local school – the B 17 G of No 102667
642. One engine of another plane was found near the No 2 house at Crottendorf – 42-102695
NOTE : Though in a stone throw distance from the village of Kovarska, the site is on
the territory of the former Democratic Republic of Germany, after Nov 1989 - FRG.
643. Another engine of the No 42-102667 B-17 bomber. Four Lt Rommer`s crewmen were
safe, five of nine KIA.
644. Getting the hit from the American fighter planes escorting the 100 th BG, the fighter
made a wheels-up landing – P/O Kinner of JG 4
645. The cabin of the Lt Holliday`s B-17G that exploded over the village of Crottendorf. Only
four crewmen survived – 42-102695
646. This pilot of the Jagd Gruppe 4 was shot down and killed at Kinnheide
- F/Sgt Heinz Schliefen
647. This B-17G of Captain Harress crashed on a shore making an attempt to return to her AS
- No 43-37823
648. The part of the Staffel 5 Sturmangruppe 2 JG 4 claimed several bombers on Sep 11, 1944
- an armoured Fockewulf A8RG ´Steinbock´ ie a ´Ram´ in English.
649. The Fighter pilot Lt Francis Goddard downed four Luftwaffe fighter planes on 11th Sep
1944 – No 503 Fighter Squadron of 39th FG
No XLVIII Panel - Air War over Europe at End
650. This “Stuka” Junkers 87 diver bomber had been in use by the Luftwaffe from the first
day of WWII, but later she was condemned to stay – Ruzyne, Prague in May 1945
651. TEXT : The leaflet issued before the V-E Day informing the population, that a new gvt
had been established on the territories freed by the Soviet Army. The government will
be reformed definitely, comprising not only the Resistance Representatives, but
also these ones fighting the Nazis abroad. NOTE : This Communist Propaganda made
statement proved to be a lie. Not only General George Patton at Plzen, but also Cz RAF
airmen were barred from liberating the capital of Prague when the uprising had broken
out there on May 5, 1945. Non-communist representatives of the Czech resistence
nation-wide were sidelined -eg. The Platinum-Pewter Para agent Cpt. Nechansky who
had been member of the Prague Uprising “Bartos” HQ was hanged by the Communist
regime in June 1950
652. Luftwaffe`s jet planes after emergency landing in May 1945 – a Me 262 nr Melnik
653. An tail of an destroyed Fockewulf 190 German fighter plane.
654. Scraps of Luftwaffe fighters of No 52 Jagdgruppe
- the town of Nemecky ie German, nowadays re-named for Havlickuv Brod
655. Emergency landing of a Fockewulf 190 fighter plane
- the Slatina AS Brno in April 1945
656. The 339 Fighter Group attacked as railway network as Me 262s. Cpt R.F. Rauffer was
killed in his Mustang at Borsov upon Vltava on April 17, 1945
657. This P 51D of FG 350 made her wheels-up landing near Prague
- Lt. Monnahan, Apr 17, 1945
658. An engine after explosion of the ammo train at the Kaznejov railway station
- USAAF`s air raid on April 17, 1945
659. The No 44-14227 fighter plane of Lt B. L. Griffin was downed south of Prague on Apr
16, 1945 – P-51D
660. This pilot of 339th Fighter Group downed one jet Messerschmitt 262 over the terrritory
of Bohemia on April 17, 1945 – Lt. J. C. Campbell
661. A formation of the BG 398 heavies on one of the last missions of the 8th USAAF
- the SKODA Plzen Arm Works on April 25, 1945
662. The Skoda Plzen Works were nearly destroyed by the Apr 25, 1945 air raid – several
days prior to the V-E Day.
663. The crew of Lt A. G. Lovett was safe after emergency landing at Albertsdorf
- No 43-385101 B-17 of 384 Bomber Group
664. The crashsite of the last American airman who lost life in the WW II in Europe
- Lt W. P. Kirkham at Trhanov on April 30
665. A leaflet instructing Czech civilian population to inform the Allies about German
troops, their minefields, etc – Your Liberation can be helped by you
666. The Soviet P/O S.G. Stepanov was the last airman of the Allied Air Forces killed on
this ETO – His P-39 was downed at the village of Kliny on May 8, 1945
No IL Panel - Czechoslovak airmen back on the soil of their homeland
667. Low altitude armoured bombers at the Letnany airfield, Prague
– Ilyushin Il2m3 belonging to No 3 Regiment of the 1st Mixed Air Division
668. The Defence Secretary Ludvik Svoboda [Ludveek Svobbodda] having his speech
at the No 1 MAD´s Parade at the Letnany AF Prague on May 22, 1945
669. A greeting parade of the members of No 1 MAD at the Letnany air base on May 22
670. The crew of one from two Avro Anson transport planes that landed at Ruzyne airport
on June 14, 1945 – P/O Ludikar, F/O Pavelka, F/Lt Hrebacka [Luddyikkar, Pavvaelka,
Hrzhaebbachka]
671. The General Inspector of the Czechoslovak Air Force in Great Britain shortly before his
departure to Prague from the Hendon AS – Karel Janousek KCB Aug 13, 1945
NOTE : Also this top shelf CzAF officer was jailed by the Communist Regime in 1950s
672. A warm welcome to Czechoslovak airmen from England
– the Ruzyne aerodrome on Aug 13, 1945 NOTE : Several 311 Sqn´s crews still in
Great Britain for intended use in the Far East War Theatre against Japan.
673. New Spitfire Mk IXEs at the Ruzyne airport on Aug 13, 1945. From L : W/Cdr Dolezal,
Generals Janousek and Bocek [Dollaezhal, Yannowshaeck, Bocheck]
674. A view of cheering crowds in foreground and Spitfires as Liberators belonging to Nos
310-313 Sqns in the background – Ruzyne
NOTE : The Soviet Army obstructed the RAF airmens` earlier return by all means.
675. The Czechoslovak Wing´s CO - W/Cdr Jaroslav Hlado presents himself to General
[Yarroslav Hladdyo, Bocheck] after landing at Ruzyne aerodrome
676. Returned to their homeland – Members of No 312 Sqn
677. Front of their Liberator heavies – Members of the 311th Bomber Squadron
678. A parade of RAF airmen in the Old Town Square on Aug 18, 1945 - The first row from
L : W/Cdrs Kubita, Hlobil, Cermak, Duda [Kubbitta, Hlobbil, Chermahk, Dudda]
No L Panel - Back home at Peace Time Garrisons
679. Brand new Spitfire Mk IXEs of No 312 Sqn at the Plana air base nr Ceske
Budejovice - Sep 22, 1945
680. A group of former RAF war pilots stand front of a Fockewulf 44 biplane on
the occasion of the Ceske Budejovice Air Show 1946
681. Till 1946 were B-24s of the No 311 Sqn used for transport duties on the
Blackbush-Bourget-Prague route
682. Various types of planes at the Ceske Budejovice Flying school in 1947
- Spitfire Mk IXEs, C 104s, C 106s and C 2s
683. The Commander of the 24 Bomber Regiment equipped with Mosquitos
S/Ldr Mansfeld [Mansphaeld] – the Plzen-Bory aerodrome 1947
684. The Second Air Division´s Commander W/Cdr Hlado having his speech by a
Memorial of Czechoslovak Airmen at the town of Ceske Budejovice 1946
685. A famous post war aerobatic pilot Staff Captain Josef Flekal before his show
on an Aero C 4 biplane [Yozzaeph Phlaekkal]
686. A bomber belonging to the 24th Bomber Regiment in 1947
- an Aero C 3B Siebel
687. These Soviet dive bombers were used by the No 25 Plzen Bomber Regiment
from the 1947 year – Petljakov [Paetlyakkov] Pe 2
688. A shot of De Havilland Mosquito fighter bombers of the 24th Bomber Regiment
at the 1947 Plzen Air Show
Open the film HERE
No LI Panel - They will never be forgotten
689. A wreckage of a Il2m3 low altitude bomber at Petrovice – Zavada
690. A gunner of an Ilyushin 2m3 armoured ground attack aircraft Cpl Jan Valko /Yahn
Valko/ perished here on Apr 28, 1945
691. An Illyushin10 armoured low altitude bomber in the town of Ostrava
692. Stary Hrozenkov ?
693. The Olsany Cemetery, Prague
694. Two crewmen of B17G 43-37597 Earthqake Mc Goon KIA Apr 17, 1945 - The Most airfield
695. decorated by an airscrew
696. where ?
697. Six crewmen of 1st Lt. John West met their death at Troubky on Dec 17, 1944
698. The village of Dubec
699. Transport Pilots Memorial at the Old Ruzyne Airport, Prague
700. Prerov – General Janousek St.
701. Prosteyov Cemetery in Brnenska St
702. Prerov – a plaque in Gen. Janousek St.
703. Pardubice Airshow and RAF veterans
704. Prague, Dejvice /Dayvvitse/ District
705. Cesky Tesin
706. The Prague Ruzyne Old Airport
707. Petrovice Apr 19, 1945
708. Petrovice nr Karvina N Moravia – Apr 28
709. Petrovice – a memorial at the local Cem, where F/Sgt Pavol Slatinsky and Cpl Jan
/Pavvol Slattyinskee, Yahn Bilko/ were laid to rest in April 1945.
TEXT heard: Dozens of plaques and monuments scattered around the whole country
have arisen as a symbol of thanks and respect. They remind us of towns and villages,
proud of their heroes who in their prime did not hesitate and left their homeland to
defend this country so let down by the 1938 Munich Agreement. Looking at the
monuments and into the old eyes of those who survived we must ask : Have our thanks
been really sufficient ?
Plaques and monuments of those who had lost their lives in WWII were created shortly
after the war. Lots of monuments were destroyed after the Communist Coup in 1948 and
only some of them were rebuilt after 1989. Since then several dozens of new plaques as
well as large monuments have come into existence paid by individuals, municipalities or
NOTE : On Nov 30, 2012 the article ´Czechoslovak RAF airmen remembered in their
homeland in 2012´ was posted by Mr Tom Dolezal on the www.fcafa.wordpress.com
website. The pictures of the Airmen´s Memorials in Prague – Dejvice, Prostejov,
Zatec and the ones at Jackov and Otaslavice as well as the plaques at Celakovice and
Luze can be seen there.
Open the excerpt HERE