F/O Josef Gruden - Celina, Czech Republic
Posted by: ToRo61
N 49° 43.963 E 014° 19.502
33U E 451359 N 5509132
F/O Josef Gruden (* 12/10/1914 Cimelice - † 4/30/1997 Tessalon, Canada), a pilot, was a member of No. 311 Squadron RAF
Waymark Code: WMYG6A
Location: Středočeský kraj, Czechia
Date Posted: 06/12/2018
Views: 11
About Czechoslovak pilots during WWII
On 15 March 1939 Germany occupied Czechoslovakia (now Czech Republic), the Luftwaffe confiscated all Czechoslovak Air Force aircraft. Emigration was strictly controlled and former air force personnel were not allowed to leave the country Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (
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After France capitulated to Germany on 22 June 1940, many Czechoslovak airmen escaped to the United Kingdom. The RAF quickly created new squadrons formed of Czechoslovak pilots. The first fighter unit was No. 310 Squadron RAF (
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Many of the Czechoslovak pilots died during WWII. Their memorials are located in many places in Western Europe, but also in Czech Republic. The monuments have different shapes and sizes. One of the typical forms is the memorial plaque located on the houses where the pilot was born or where they lived for some time.
This plaque is located on the wall of childhood home of Josef Gruden.
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Plaque Inscription:
V TOMTO DOME SE NARODIL
10.12.1914
KPT. JOSEF GRUDEN
HRDINA ZAHRANICNÍHO PROTINACISTICKÉHO
ODBOJE 1939 – 1945
LETEC CS. 311. BOMBARDOVACÍ PERUTE
ROYAL AIR FORCE
ZEMREL 30.4.1997 V KANADSKÉM
TESSALONU