Description
Object description
Czechoslovakian NCO served as pilot with Czechoslovakian Air Force in Czechoslovakia, 1937-1939; aircraftsman served with French Air Force in France, 1940; NCO served as pilot with 601 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1940-1942; officer served with 313 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1942-1944
Content description
REEL 1 Background in Czechoslovakia, 1919-1937: family; education; early interest in aviation; learning to fly, 1935; awareness of German interest in Sudentenland. Aspects of period as pilot with Czechoslovakian Air Force in Czechoslovakia, 1937-1939: becoming national service pilot; reaction to surrendering to Germans, 3/1939; return to civilian employment; decision to leave Czechoslovakia for Poland; crossing into Poland, 1939. Aspects of period as aircraftsman with French Air Force in France, 1939-1940: attempts to join French Air Force in Paris; escape from train taking his group to North Africa to join Foreign Legion; return to Paris.
REEL 2 Continues: enlistment in French Air Force; decision to go to GB, 1940; arrest by French squadron commander on requesting aircraft to fly to GB. Aspects of period of training with RAF in GB, 1940: arrival in Liverpool, 25/6/1940; degree of flying training, 9/1940-10/1940; importance of becoming fighter pilot; influence of Winston Churchill's speeches. Recollections of operations as pilot with 601 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1940-1942: joining squadron at Exeter; learning English for flying duties; opinion of air control staff.
REEL 3 Continues: reforming of squadron at Exeter; nature of squadron operations, 1940-1941; personal morale during operations; reaction to sight of bombers exploding in mid air; role defending aircraft; female voice reads out Mare's service record, 1940-1942; character of Rhubarb operations; volunteering for first Rhubarb operation; story of coming under attack by four Messerschmitt Me 109s during Rhubarb operation.
REEL 4 Continues: low level escape across Channel and landing; treatment for wound in hand; use of gyro compass; flying in low cloud; squadron comradeship; wish to fly Supermarine Spitfire; character of Bell P39 Airacobra; test flight in Bell P39 Airacobra; opinion of Bell P39 Airacobra.
REEL 5 Continues: opinion of leadership of squadron. Aspects of operations as pilot with 313 Sqdn, RAF in GB, 1942-1944: background into joining squadron; question of rank in RAF and Czechoslovakian Air Force; hospitalisation for eye wounds; dangers of flying delivery flights; story of crash landing in Hawker Hurricane in poor weather; operations over D-Day beaches, 6/6/1944. Demobilisation and return to civilian life from 1945.
REEL 6 Continues: further details of civilian employment. Reasons for not returning to Czechoslovakia and remaining in GB.