The names of the pilot of Czechoslovak No 313 Fighter Sqn Arnost Mrtvy and four more local victims of WWII can be seen to the right of an local chapel´s entrance. Ranked W/O. The chapel is situated in the centre of the village. About twenty metres from a crossroads. One road goes from No 18 Prostejov - Prerov road´s exit near a local cemetery. Another one goes from the villages Vrbatky and Stetovice to one of Biskupice intersecting No 18.
No 47 native house of Col. Vojtech Kubalik is just at this crossroads. He served with No 311 Bomber Sqn. Nos 47 and 55 native houses of both the RAF pilots are within stone throw. They left them together on June 30, 1939 to fight Hitler. Walking via Stetovice to Vrbatky they entrained at this stop heading for the town of Ostrava.
They got separated in France. Arnost joined other Czech airmen living under canvas near the Pau airbase. Afterwards posted to Chateauroux. On June 19, 1940 he embarked an Arry Schaeffer coaster at Bordeaux. He arrived at Falmouth four days later.
Vojtech Kubalik embarked the Appapa at Port Vendres on June 24. Waiting for convoying at Gibraltar for two days. Setting for UK bound cruise on June 28. The Appapa arrived in Liverpool on July 7, 1940.
The pilot of No 313 Sqn Sgt Arnost Mrtvy is mentioned by Gen frantisek Fajtl on Nos 163 - 166 pgs of his ´Vzpomínky na padlé kamarády´ Book ie Recalls of the fallen comrades. This chapter was dedicated to Prokop Brazda.
A picture of No 4A.C.7 grave of W/O Arnost Mrtvy at the Schoonselholf Cem in Antwerpen Belgium
has been seen at the www.fcafa.wordpress.com/not-forgotten-belgium/ in the Schoonselhof text since Jan 12, 2011.
An symbolic urn containing soil from this grave was put in an urn vault of the RAF men Memorial in Prostejov by Mr Boleslav Povolny in 1998. The more detailed text incl. a picture of a black cover of the vault with a name of Arnost Mrtvy in white - via : Links, Memorials Museums, Czech Rep, PAF men Memorial Prosteyov
Ceskoslovensti letci ve Francii 1939 - 940 ie Cz Airmen in Franc e 1939 - 1940 by Joseph Vana Jan Rail the AVIS MoD Publ 2005
Vzpominky na padle kamarady ie Recalls of the Fallen Comrades- by Frantisek Fajtl The Mlada fronta Publ 1980
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Unveiled a year following the end of hostilities. All five families as well as other locals among the attendees.
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Unveiled on Apr 27, 20117. Brainchild of the Olomouc Military Rehabilitated Association. Col. Kubalik was its founding member. |
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