On Aug 9, 2007 the Cz No 311 Sqn´s Airmen Memorial was unveiled by the Embassador to the Czech Republic Mr Jan Winkler and John Thurso, MP, the grandson of Archibald Sinclair, Secretary of State for Air in the time frame of 1940 – 1945. The date was not a chance, it coincided with No 311 Sqn´s move to its seventh and last air base in 1944, stationed here till June 4, 1945.
About a hundred people took part in this Ceremony, the oldest one was a vet William Kauders aged ninety seven who flew from NYC accompanied by his wife Inge. Also A/M Sir John Harris and A/V/M George Chessworth were among the attendees. They both served with No 201 Sqn, whose another member - an U-boat killer F/Lt Leslie Baveystock - bombed a German blockade runner Alsterufer on Dec 27, 1943. Shortly afterwards was Alsterufer hit by a bomb dropped by a Liberator of the Czechoslovak No 311 Sqn flown by P/O Oldrich Dolezal. This was the Squadron´s achievement of the utmost importance during WWII.
As an editor of The Herald Scottish Daily as one of a The Northern Star local paper were on the scene. The event drew attention of the Edinburgh Evening Paper and the BBC.
NOTE :
We express our gratitude to Sq Ld John Fielding who has been looking after all the eighteen graves of the Cz airmen in the St Duthus Cem, Higland.
We were provided with both the text and the http://www.svazletcu.cz/images by a Chairman of the Free Czechoslovak Airmen Association Lt Col Arnost Polak. Thanks a lot.
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A No 311 Sqn´s member and a Secretary of the Free Czechoslovak Air Force Association Lt Col Arnost Pollak is having his short speech. |
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The Memorial is being unveiled by Mr John Thurso, MP and Embassador to the Czech Republic Mr Jan Winkler. A Cz Military Atttache Col. Robert Vagner and a RAF cadet at left. |
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At left a badge of Coastal Command, at right of No 311 Sqn with two Hussite arms and a their slogan ´Disregard their numbers´ from the fifteenth century. |
| L to R : Mr Jan Winkler, a vet William Kauders and Mrs Inge Kauders at the grave of F/Lt Joseph Simet who was burried here on April 13, 1945. |  |