Expozice „Dvořák“

 

PANEL I

 Alois Dvorak [Ulloys Dvorzhahk] was born on May 23, 1916 at the village of Plumlov, Central Moravia. He lost his life on Sept 24, 1941 hitting the Leachie Hill near Stoneheaven by the right wing of his NN-V Hurricanne Mk II A ferrying in nill visibility from Montrose to Dyce.He was said to be excellent at flying the instruments.
    Two snaps were borrowed to our Plumlov Czech Airmen Association by Alois`s step-brother Josef Dvorak, all the others including Sgt`s Service Books by the daughter of Antonin Dvorak Jr  - Alois`s niece Mrs Vlasta Mikesova. We would like to express our gratitude not only to them, but also to Mr Popelka, an expert in the Mid-War Czechoslovak Air Force Mr Miroslav Fiala as well as a publisher Vaclav Kolesa.
The booklets on Zdenek Skarvada, Josef Stehlik, Karel Schor, Karel Bednarik, Jaroslav Sala, Otmar Kucera, Frantisek Burda, Jaroslav Chmelik, Otakar  Hruby DFC, Frantisek Vavrinek armourer Frantisek Zivela, tank trooper Josef Kristek and Wolfram paragroup member Oldrich Matula have been issued by the Vaclav Kolesa Publishing.
- a pilot of No 310 Sqn Zdenek Skarvada had to take the silk over the Channel on February 4, 1942 because the engine of his Spitfire jammed. He was saved by an German
  Torpedo Boat. As a POW Zdenek Skarvada [Zdaennyeck Shkarvada] succeded to celebrate the V-E Day. Though persecuted by the Communist Regime not only in 50s, he still lives   in the town of  Ostrava, N Moravia.

- Josef Stehlik opened fire at the German Junkers 88 bomber on October 8, 1940 over Speke AF,claiming the the first German kill of the Czechoslovak 312 Fighter Sqn together with Vasatko and Gillom [Yozzaeph Staehlleek, Vashahtko]. After clocking up the tour, he acted as a flying instructor. When 20 Czech pilots left the UK for Soviet Union early Febr  1944 and underwent conversion onto the Lavochkin 5 FN fighters there, Stehlik became o CO of the No 1 Fighter Squadron of the First Czechoslovak Fighter Regiment. After the Slovak Uprising broke out in the Central Slovakia on August 29, 1944, also Stehlik was ordered to ferry from Poland to the Tri Duby air base on September 15, 1944.   He commanded the raid of La 5 fighters on the Piestany AF nearby used by the Luftwaffe on Sept 18, 1944, because he had served there in 30s. Josef Stehlik survived the war, but after the Communist Coup on Febr 25, 1948 he was made a private and jailed for seven months. Though hunting was his passion, the Communist Regime confiscated his rifle and Stehlik had to make his living doing second class jobs. Josef Stehlik visited Duxford AF on July 13, 1990. Nos 310 and 312 Czechoslovak Fighter Squadrons came into existence here in summer 1940.A passionate hunter Josef Stehlik died at the town of Slavicin E Moravia on May 30, 1991.
  Further infos on the books issued or underway by the Kolesa Publ. can be found at : www.mujweb.cz/www/kolesa   as well as : www.simcentrum.info
            A shot of Sgt Dvorakś [Dvorzhahk] serial No 2766 Hurricane NN-V in the hangar of the Duxford RAF can be seen in the booklet " Keep floating " on Sgt. Zdenek Skarvada [Zdaennyaeck Shkarvada]. He recalls also Sgt. Dvorak`s last flight - page 16.
" It was on September 24, 1941. We both flew together. The first pair departed for Dyce several minute ago.I was No 2 commanded by Lojza [Loyzza] ie Alois. We left Montrose and took the course northwards as usual. We flew there every day, so we knew the route off hand. Dyce-bound,our altitude was low. Suddenly veil of fog to the ground level TURNED UP. And Loyzza stubbornly went on at this tiny altitude in nill visibility. A gesticulated we should turn right to the shore, where there was no risk of hitting the hill, but Loyzza went on flying in the same direction. I was not of the same opinion so I breached the Flying Code and left him. I took the course by 90 to the right and flew at this course for about five minutes.
From my point of view, it was enough to be over the coast. I took the turn to the original course and decreased cautiously, till the sea was spotted by me. I flew over the sea level towards the shore and trailed it at the height of about 30 ft. in direction of Aberdeen.The harbour was not so large to endanger me.I made a circiut and landed.
        But Loyza did not arrive, neither till one hour or he ran out of petrol. None station confirmed his landing there. The fact of his crashing in the mountains came to light later. A tophill was hit by him. Parts of his machine were scattered on 600 - 900 feet. He was losing piece by piece after the top of the Leachie Hill was hit by his Hurricane on flat.
It is such a sad memory ".
           141 black and white photographs of the A4 format and three pages of text on Sgt. Dvorak as well as the 1918 - 1939 and 1945- 1993 periods of the Czechoslovak Air Force` history were glued to twelve panels by the members of Plumlov Airman Association, whose patron the niece of Sgt. Dvorak Mrs. Mikesova is.
Other members are welcomed. Contact me please – Mr. Kaspar 00420 582 360 292

-  Jiří Kaspar

 

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