The place
The Elementary school is located in Prague-Repy District. It is a two-storey building.
The school attends approx 900 pupils, the school offers an extended language teaching and specialized classes for children with specific developmental learning disabilities. Part of the school is a school club, a club and a dining room. In front of school is located the memorial dedicated to Wing Commander General František Perina.
Plaque Inscription:
Generálporucík
FRANTIŠEK PERINA
1911-2006
jeden z nejúspešnejších cs. stíhacích pilotu 2. svetové války
The Person
Wing Commander General František Perina (8 April 1911, Morkuvky u Breclavi; died 6 May 2006 in Prague) was a Czech fighter pilot, an ace during World War II with the French Armée de l'Air, who also served twice with Britain's Royal Air Force.
After the first dissolution of Czechoslovakia and after Germany invaded Poland in September 1939, France declared war on Germany. The Czechoslovak government-in-exile obtained an agreement from the French Government for Czechoslovak airmen to be transferred from the Foreign Legion to the Armée de l'Air.
On operations after 10 May 1940, Perina shot down four planes in two sorties. He was also promoted to sergent-chef. The next day he shot down his fifth, thus becoming the first Czech ace in the Second World War. A day after that he shot down two more planes. Promoted to Adjutant, he became well known throughout France through media coverage of his exploits.
On 3 June 1942 while escorting bombers he claimed two Focke-Wulf Fw 190s from a formation of four, one of which was confirmed destroyed and a second as 'probable'.
His victory claims totalled 12, and consisted of 3 solo and 9 shared destroyed, 2 probables, and 1 damaged.
However, as the communists took power and the Cold War developed there was a questioning of the loyalty of those 'westernised' pilots who had served with the Allies. In December 1949, Perina was expelled from the army and forced to flee. In April 1949 Perina, his wife Anna and a friend flew to West Germany, belly landing at Passau, eight miles from the Soviet zone.
Perina applied for a United States visa in London in 1949 and emigrated to Canada,
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