Exactly seventy five years after death of Sgt Joseph Talab the memorial plaque dedicated also to him was unveiled. The names of three residents - the RAF airmen - are engraved in this plaque. Joseph Talab used to live at Slatinice only several years prior to WWII. Stanislav Havlicek served at the Military Aviation Academy Prostejov after the end of hostilities. He fell victim to Communist purges after they had seized power on Feb 25, 1948. He was both fired and evicted from his flat at Prostejov. He found dwelling at the village of Lipy - a district village of Slatinice. Only No 312 Sqn´s Fitter E Bernard Misak had been born at Slatinice. A member of his family met his death in the Buchenwald Concentration Camp in 1945.
The plaque had been sited last year but unveiled on Apr 15, 2017. It had been turned out by the Otruba Mason Co. from the town of Plumlov Co. Paid by the Slatinice Local Council. Unveiled by Mr Ondrej Mikmek and Mr Stanislav Havlicek - the RAF airman´s son.
The ceremony was commenced by the Slaticice Voluntary Firefighter Brass Band. The Mayor´s speech followed depicting escapades of these three heroes. Poems were cited by pupils of the Local Elementary School. Afterwards attendees listened to the Anthem. The Ceremony came to its climax by the band´s playing the Hussite song ´Who are the Warriors of the Lord´
NOTE :Two weapons of the Hussite warriors can be seen in the cz No 311 Sqn´s badge - a flail and a ball mace. Their slogan ´Never Regard their Numbers´ is added below.
The event was attended by the Slatinice Voluntary Firefighters, members of Nos 276th /re-enacted/ RAF and 45 re-enactment as well as the Biskupsti Manove Groups. Cz Legionaries, members of the Sokol Sports Group as well as some of the Cz Air Force Ret and Cz Forces. Tribute was paid both by visitors and residents to the village. Eg. a son of No 310 Sqn´s armourer Cyril Sklenar encountered one of Stanislav Havlicek on this occasion.
After the event some attendees went to see the Ćz RAF Airmen in WWII´ Exhibition. It was held at the Local Townhall´s Conference Hall. Not only eighteen panels with pictures.could be seen. Plenty of things belonging to Cz RAF servicemen were there. The Exhibition was a brainchild of the 276th /re-enacted/RAF Group and Mr Filip Prochazka, member of No 26 Branch of Cz Airmen Association
It can be also seen on www.wingsinexile.co.uk Both in Czech and English. Worth seeing.