ČESKÝ SVAZ LETECTVÍ

P/O Vladimir Zaoral  met his death on Nov 19, 1941 at Dyce AFB while carrying out practice attack on a glider. As the last fighter pilot of No 310 Sqn he attacked the glider once more and then flew through the only cloud over the airfield. He got into the spin and piloting his Spitfire MK II P7837, he failed to get out of that, though fought for his life till the last second. His plane hit the ground upside down. Courtesy of Joe Buchek, emailed by Jaroslav Nedbal and Petra Buchek. There was Vladimir`s handwritingbeyond.

An  Alois Dvorak pilot pupil front of a BH 39 trainer at Prosteyov AF. The type was in production from 1931 to 1937 powered by the engines : a 120 hp Walter NZ or a 140 hp Walter Gemma and Mars or a 150 hp Armstrong Siddeley Gannet Major. Problems not only with the ailerons falling off, so BH 39s were withdrawn by its manufacturer for redesigning. Meanwhile the older type of S 218 was being in use. Courtesy of Vlasta Mikesova.  

Signatures of members of No 310 Sqn`s Flight A. Identified by Mr Jaroslav Popelka – the Brits Woodhall, Riley, Harrison, Pullman, Yanning, D.J. Johnson. Pilots - Miroslav Jiroudek, Frank Trejtnar, Charles Valasek, Vojtech Lisicky, Frank Vancl, George Manak, Jaroslav Kucera, Joe Kominek and Sniechowski of Polish nationality. Armourers - Joe Krejci, Charles Jankovic and Frank Novotny, Fitters – Frank Vrstala and Joe Kudelka, Electrician George Gavalec, Flight Mechanics E-  Michal Hradsky and Augustin Lukan, Flight Mechanics A – Jan Barcaj, Oto Regner and Jindrich Houska. Photographer Oto Wolf, Clerk Frank Daricek and Flight Mech Jaroslav Kosarek.

No doubt the wives of RAF men, who dug in after Febr 1948 and did not divorce from their marked husbands, deserve paying tribute.  L to R - speaking to me Alex Kucera, grey haired Olga Zadrobilek, RAF Ex-Serviceman Bocek above her, extreme right No. One man of the South Moravia Region met on the occasion of issuing the book on the late RAF  as well as Cz. Fighter Reg  Leopold Srom at his native village of Chrlice on March 15, 2008. His wife Dagmar and the Skarvadas present too. Courtesy of Mr Kosek.

No 312 Sqn`s Founding member Miroslav Krejci was born on Oct 7, 1914 at the town of Konice. He underwent the Prosteyov EFTS and left his Motherland on July 14, 1939, two weeks later departed from the Gdynia harbor to Bologne. On Sept 11 Miroslav launched his pilot training on  M.S. 406 fighter plane at the Chartres Pilot School and Nov 30 deployed to the No II/3 Group de Chasse stationed at Dijon. In June 1940 retreat to Marseille. June 26 embarked the Rod-el-Faraq ship, July 12 in Liverpool. Miroslav was already July 21 at the Cosford RAF Station and four days later he was enrolled into the RAF in the rank of Sgt. Awarded twice Military Cross and Cz Medal for Valour. After WWII he acted as a flying instructor at Ceske Budejovice AFB. He left the Forces on Feb 28, 1947. Arrested and demoted to the rank of private in the 50s, his allegations were not proved due to lack of evidence. Courtesy of Leopold Faerber, emailed by Jaroslav Nedbal.

Rudolf Zima born at Jindrichuv Hradec on March 6, 1904 served at Prosteyov EFTS as a flying instructor from 1934. Thanks to his experiences sent to Canada in 1942 to instruct pilot pupils there. After war Commander of the single engined SFTS Prosteyov and in 1948 instructed the Israeli cadets in the town of Olomouc. The Communist mincer sent him for the eternal leave ie. pilloried him as professionally as materially. Nobody wanted give a job to him, then as a stock-keeper, lost this job and worked as a bike lot watchman. Finally deprived even of this post. Died on June 11, 1972 and burried in his native town. Courtesy of Mr Povolny.

W/Cdr Charles Vildomec at right in 1947. After WWII the Second-in-Command of the Prosteyov single-engined SFTS. After Communist Coup dismissed from the Forces and as indicted of spying for the Imperialistic Powers, endangered even by the death penalty. Luckilly not proven, but sent to do his two year military service with so-called Auxiliary Technical Batallions, working in a quarry. Charles worked at the Olomouc Construction Co. and in 1960 he served apprenticeship as an electrician. He died Jan 16, 1979 in Prosteyov. Courtesy of Charles Vildomec Jr who was enrolled in the University of Medicine after his appeal to the Education Minister. 

Ex-Servicemen in England 1970. L-R : Charles Vildomec, Rudolf Zima, Frank Altman AFC, Frank Fajtl DFC and Alois Konopicky MBE. The trip was being prepared by G/Cpt Joe Duda CBE under backing of The Czechoslovak Association of Anti-Fasists Campaigners, but he was barred from going and seeing his British son. This group was lead by Rudolf Zima that reson for. Not looking round, Altman was knocked down at the pedestrián crossing and run over by a car in Prague on Jan 24, 1980. Text by Ladislav Zima and Jaroslav Popelka. 

After conversion on multi-engined aircraft at No 12/P/AFU at Grantham Spittalgate and  No 51 OTU at Cranfield Miroslav Standera joined No 68 Sqn. Commisioned on Oct 1, 1943 and after a month crewed for Radar Operator W/O Charles Bednarik. Their first familiarizing flight on Nov 9, 1943. Dec 28 both sent to OTU Twinwood and with No 68 Sqn from Feb 1944. From Feb 1946 Standera served with No 24 Bomber Reg stationed in Pilsen.  In Sept 1948 deployed to Trencin Flying School as flying instructor. Sacked in spring 1949, he left his Motherland for the second time. He re-enroled the RAF in April 1950 for the five years. Miroslav moved to Kaltenbrunn, Bavaria in 1983 and 1995 returned to Pilsen. Promoted to the rank of Brigadier in May 2000.

Charles Stoces served with No 313 Sqn as a Engineering Officer. After end of hostilities he returned to the Czecho with his English wife and daughter. Charles served as a pilot at the Kbely air base. After the Communists seized the power, Charles was deprived of his flat and made to move to the distant town of Rumburk. After years he succeeded in returning to Prague and petting a job in the Aero Plane Manufacturer. Thanks to his fluent English Charles was sent by his Company for the Brusselles Expo World Exhibition in 1968. He did not returned to Prague and joined his family in England. Mr Gabriel´s courtesy.

Ladislav Holman born at the town of Prosteyov on March 23, 1912 was one of the „Bata“ Staff. He served with No 312 Sqn as Fitter II E under the Service No of 787731. He died on April 8, 1969 in Prague. Cz Military Cross, Medal for Valour, Merit one 2nd Class, F.VB Commemorative Medal. Courtesy Mrs Jana Verbicka and Mr Yaroslav Popelka.