ČESKÝ SVAZ LETECTVÍ

The author of the book „ Again In the Resistance “ Zbysek Necas was born on March 6, 1921 at the hamlet of Lazy nr Orlova. In 1956 he met the Soviet leader Nikkita Krhrushchov at the Marham AFB. Drawn by the airman`s distinctions on his chest, Nikkita asked what reason for Zbysek had not joined his own country`s  AF and where he belonged to. Necas replied, that in his homeland  all former war RAF airmen had been sacked for their taking part in liberating their country from Hitler. „And the second reason is, here in England  I can vote any political country in the election and even freely“. Nikkita was made to laugh and replied, that in Russia he also could vote anyone he would like to and he would take a great advantage of knowing the winner of the election in advance. Zbysek earned his CO´s acclamation and the fellow airmen`s admiration. Zbysek served with the RAF till the age of fifty. The image with courtesy of Mr Vrana – 68 Sqnś pilot Bobek`s grandson, text by Mr Vesely – a CO`s nephew.

Zbysek Necas met F/Lt Vesely at the Cz RAF London Inspectorate who was „resting“ there after his having been shot by He 111`s burst. F/Lt proposed Zbysek to join No 68 Sqn as his AI radar operator. First they flew Blenheim night fighters and later Beaufighter ones. Necas regarded Vesely to be one of the best Cz airmen and respected him as an human being too. Necas made up and drew as No 68 Sqn`s emblem -an owl- as its slogan -Be on allert- even in Czech, nodded even by His Majesty George VI. Necas served with No 68 Sqn nearly whole war. In 1944 he joined a Special Navigation Course in Shawbury. On Mar 7, 1947 Necas was granted the British citizenship and on Jun 9 1949 re-entered the RAF in its Hendon HQ and took part in his second resistance.

The owl on 68 Sqn`s emblem is a rememberance of Her Majesty`s visit to No 68 Sqn on Jan 28, 1943. Parting, she uttered : „You Czechs have owl`s eyesight. I could see really nothing“. After the Majesties´coming to the base, the King George VI got entangled into socializing with the officers, so Her Majesty approached NCOs  Serhant and Bednarik and adressed them. But  their conversation was getting to a halt, so the Sqn`s „inteligent“ proposed to show the „cinema“ to Her Majesty, where No 68 Sqn`s members honed their skill of distinguishing  friendly aircraft from the hostile one . Both airmen sitting next to Her Majesty on the bench were identifying the aircraft on the screen for an hour. While leaving, she shook hands with all the members of No 68 Sqn.  

The first CO of No 68 Sqn`s Cz B Flight F/Lt Vlastimil Vesely DFC AFC was a pilot pupil of the Prostejov EFTS, his wife was from this town and his urn was brought from Australia to be laid here.  Serving with No 96 Sqn piloting Boulton Paul Defiant night fighters and stint at the Cz Inspectorate having been wounded, he left for the No 68 Sqn. At last, early 1942 the number of Cz pilots and radar operators was sufficient enough to enable reorganizing of No 68 Sqn and on March 1 the Cz B Flight came into existence. L to R F/Lts Jan Klan and Vlastimil Vesely

A picture of F/O Vlastimil Vesely at the controls of No 96 Sqn`s Defiant fighter. On Mar  12, 1941 his gunner coming from the course in peace-time Canada did not make his machine guns ready, neither opened fire at the He 111 nor responded to the pilot by intercom. The pilot was shot in his arm, chest and above his ear- a bullet bounced by his goggles - did not take the silk that reason for and made wheels -up landing one-handed. His bullet torn tie was framed. As the picture as the story by Mr Jaroslav Vesely.

F/Lt Vlastimil Vesely  was not only the B Flight`s CO. He played a role of a mediator between the Czechs and Brits and made decision after how many training flights honing cooperation not only between the pilot and his radar operator, but also the ground control can be crew made operational. Vesely made schedule of the following night – which crew gets aloft at dusk and which one later at night. But matching three pilots and radar operators in summer 1942 was performed by operators´casting a lot.

Ladislav Bobek DFC born at Mala Skala on Aug 28 1910, gained his piloting skills at the Prosteyov EFTS in the 1927-29 time frame. During  WWII No 68 Sqn`s pilot. In 1948 an instructor of the Pardubice Training Flight - twin-engine Siebel trainers. Dismissed on Aug 1, 1949. Only menial jobs of a road mender, night watchman, tar stoker or a coolie. Partly rehabilitated on Nov 11, 1965 and promoted to the rank of Sqn/Ldr Ret. Died on Dec 12, 1981. Full rehabilitation on Sept 14, 1991 and post humously advanced to the rank of W/Cmdr Ret. Courtesy of Mr Martin Vrana. 

After conversion on multi-engine aircraft with the No 12 P/AFU and No 51 OTU P/O Standera paired a crew with Charles Bednarik in Nov 1943 and on Dec 28 sent to the Twinwood OTU. From Feb 1944 serving with No 68 Sqn. After end of hostilities he served in Pilsen, fired in spring of 1949, fled to the West and in April 1950 signed for the RAF for five years. 1983 moved to Kaltenbrunn Bavaria and 1995 returned to his Motherland.  Brigadier since May 2000.

Bohuslav Kovarik DFM born on Oct 31 1915 in Prostyeyov was a No 311 Sqn´s gunner and made his first op on Sept 10,1940 in a S/Ldr Scheybal´s crew, heading for the Brusselles marshalling yard. He made 31 ops over the Continent and reached his 200 hrs operational duty as one of the first 311 Sqn´s members. In Nov 1941 trained for an AI radar operator and on Feb 9, 1942 deployed to the Cz B Flight of No 68 Sqn. His pilot was Ladislav Bobek DFC, 6 kills on 34 ops. During the 1944 operational duty flying Mosquitos no kill added. Ops terminated on Sept 4, 1944. On Oct 9, 1946 he moved to England. Exact date of his death unknown.

A picture of L to R Bohuslav Kovarik DFM, Ladislav Bobek DFC, Miss Roche and Josef Capka DFM – courtesy of Mr Vrana who writes a book on his grandpa LB.  Miss Roche was a WAAF and was permitted to be flown on day-time check flights. She married Capka and after his death another No 68 Sqn´s pilot married her. We were provided with the info on Miss Roche by Zbysek Necas Pemberton. 

Three most successful night fighter pilots of Cz B Flight of No 68 Sqn. L to R F/Lt Ladislav Bobek DFC, S/Ldr Vlastimil Vesely DFC,AFC and Miloslav Mansfeld DSO,DFC,AFC. „ Chieftain“ Vesely and Mansfeld are seen also on the No 35 panel of the “Wings of Victory“ Exhibition. Such a score would not be achieved by them without an excellent job done by their AI radar operators W/Os Bohuslav Kovarik, Zbysek Necas and Slavomil Janacek.

Maison Blanche  North Africa on Jan 20, 1940. Front of a Dewoitine 510 fighter  L to R: Vindis Frank, Posluzny Andrew, Lamonnerie, Cap Charles, Prihoda Joe, Davy? Alik/ an Arabian coolie/ From Nov 16 they flew Nieuport 622s and a week later they picked up new Dewoitine 510s at Sidi Ahmed. Group Flying nearly daily, up to 21 th ft as well as sleeve shooting practice. Nill visibility flying on a MS 230 trainer. If no flying, another acticvity on schedule. Constant French lessons. Courtesy of Mrs Zadrobilkova 

L to R: Posluzhnee Andrew, Girard, Vindis Frank, Prihoda Joe, Cap Charles at  Maison Blanche nr Alger. Taken by Ladislav Zadrobilek.  No 571 Fighter Flight´s CO was Cpt Davy, his second in command a former WWI pilot S/Ldr Res De Tonac and P/O Avon, W/O Lamonnerie, Sgts Girard and Girardeau. Flying here till May 8, 1940 and nine days later they ferried to Casablanka. Text from the book „ My journey to the RAF“ by Ladislav Zadrobilek.

No 311 Cz Bomber Squadron`s pilot Karel Vildomec  was born at Svatoslav on May 1, 1912. Awarded his first Military Cross in France in spring 1940 for his close support ops flying fighter bombers, he was decorated with his third one in No 311  Sqn East Wreatham airfield. Serving with 311, Vildomec amassed 210 hrs 10 min on his 37 ops. June 14 still with No 1429 COTF. In Sept 1942 Charles Vildommets, Rudolf Zima and William Murcek on Queen Mary liner sailed to Canada to instruct pilot cadets there from Oct 24. Courtesy of Mr Karel Vildomec Jr

Vladimir Dominik born on Nov 14, 1919 at Konice was an EFTS´s  pilot pupil. After Occupation he fled abroad. During the  French campaign he was a radio man of  No 1 Inf Reg´s HQ Company. In England he signed for the RAF. Vladimir survived WWII and was the second-in-command at Havlickuv Brod AFB. He and G/Cpt Schneider should have been transferred to Czech Budweiss, but not realized due to seizure of power by Communists. Courtesy of Vitezslav Dominik .

Parade at Wilmslow July 1941 on graduation of the gunners course under participation of Gen. Janousek . Dominik first row center between Jebacek and Holka. Behind P/O - Rudolf Nemecek and John Shimko,between them Ludvik Kral. Gunner training was for all crewmen due to manning guns as well as recognizing friendly and enemy aircraft. This course predecessed to the others, underwent by Vladimir, but he always made his ops as a radioman.

No 311 Sqn of the Coastal Command at Talbenny RAF, Wales. L to R – Seitl, Riha, Federman, Dominik, Eichler, Pizur. Decorated three times by the Cz military Cross, Medal of Valour, One of Merit, Star 1939-45, Defence Medal and War Medals. Offered to prolong his RAF membership, he declined. Second from R  Fitter/Flight Engineer John Kubicek.

Vladimir Dominik served as an WOP instructor in the Bahamas from Feb 26, 1944 to Jul 11, 1945. He did not fly over the Iron Curtain from Havlickuv Brod AFB on May 1 or 9,1948 like his comrades. Again and again in a nick for 48 hrs or even 14 days. Fired from the Forces, only menial jobs in mining and farming. He saved his life by moving to the country and quitting all the contacts with his RAF comrades.  Then under constant watch „only“. He died at the village of Batelov on Dec 8, 1983.

No 312 Sqn´s wireless mechanic Josef Loska was born at the village of Suchdol on Aug 17, 1909. Abroad on Aug 15, 1939, at the Agde French Depot on Feb 14, 1940. June 28 left France to UK. Aug 13 he signed for the RAF at Cosford, Sept 15 deployed to No 312 Sqn, on Sept 3, 1943 to No 3113 Service Echelon. Demobilized in May 1945 and he and his wife fled after the Communist Coup. He made his living as an electrician in Canada. Courtesy of Leopold Faerber emailed by Jaroslav Nedbal – in 1980. 

Vojtech Novotny was born on April 21 1920 at the village of Olsany nr Prosteyov. Together with other nine employees of the Sigmund Pumps Co sent to UK in 1939 for three weeks  to establish a subsidiary there. Returned in seven years. Service with Newcastle Home Guard as well as the Reserves, but with the RAF only for three months in the Cosford Depot as a ground staff. His first wife Cathleen left the post-war Czechoslovakia soon.  Courtesy of his second wife Mary.

No 312 Sqn´s radio mechanic Frank Oplocky was born at the village of Nemcice upon Hana on Jan 9, 1914. During WWII he married Joan and that reason for he demobilized just on ending hostilities. They have two sons. He died on Dec 6, 1993. Courtesy of John and Dobroslava Oplockys.