The Reunion of not only RAF veterans and their families 6.10.2006

 

The Reunion of not only RAF veterans and their families was orchestrated by the Olomouc Region Education Councillor Ing. Pavel Sekanina. Names of families had been provided mostly by me after a two-year detective work, some of them responded to the newspaper`s article published by the Olomouc Region Authorities.
So the former veterans of No 311 Czechoslovak Bomber Squadron Karel Kadlec and Frantisek Vanicek met each other after more than 50 years in the DUHA Club, Prostejov on October 6, 2006.
Even the No 310  Fighter Squadron veteran Zdenek Skarvada came from Ostrava, having the opportunity to meet here families of other No 310 Sqn`s members – Frantisek Adam, Frantisek Brezovsky, Miroslav Divis, Alois Dvorak, Ladislav Valousek, Vladimir Zaoral and Rudolf Zima.
In addition to the two veterans mentioned above, No 311 Sqn, there were seen the families of Jaroslav Andrasek, Miroslav and Jan Ctvrtlik, Antonin Dvorak, Florian Jahoda, Vaclav Knoll, Vilem Konstacky, Teofil Kavulok, Frantisek Krejci, Rudolf Lanz, Stanislav Mikula and Karel Rychnovsky there.
No 312 Fighter Squadron was represented by Frantisek Oplocky and Joseph Zeleny.
Nephew of  the first Czechoslovak Flight of No 68 Sqn Vlastimil VeselyDFC  and a grandson of one of its pilots – Ladislav Bobek DFC – met on that day there.
Also a nephew of the No 242 Sqn pilot Josef BryksMBE as well as a son of General Karel Janousek KBC  DSO responded Yes to the invitation.

Also members of Land Army - eg. The Czechoslovak Legion Association Chairman gen. Antonin Spacek, Jiri Louda, Karel Volena and Stan Liska, Alfred Jansky in person, families of gen. Sacher as well as Mrs Kamarad and Faerber imprisoned by the Communist regime in 50s came. 
A great-nephew of Sgt. Josef Frantisek arrived from Brno to watch not only an half-hour film on the Prostejov EFTS, but also an hour one on the 1944-1945 Czech Armoured Brigade`s Dunkerque campaign and at the end of meeting also the 12 minute film on the visit of Czech Airmen Association`s members to the Northwood Cemetery and the St. Clement Danes Church.

Some of the visitors were jailed in the Svatoborice internation camp for the families of the ones fighting abroad and Miroslav Knoll in Auschwitz. His father had been gassed there.

[  TOP   ]