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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visit link) . A bomber unit, No. 311 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.
Plaque Inscription:
V TOMTO DOME
SE NARODIL 13.7.1921
KAREL STANISLAV OTTA
PRÍSLUŠNÍK
11. PEŠÍHO PRAPORU VÝCHODNÍHO
A 311. CESKOSLOVENSKÉ
BOMBARDOVACÍ PERUTE RAF
ZEMREL 1.4.1977 V USA
This plaque is located on the wall of childhood home of Karel Stanislav Otta
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Karel Stanislav Otta
* 13.7.1921 (Mnichovo Hradište)
† 1.4.1997 (Longwood, Florida, USA)
- po obecné škole se vyucil v boleslavské automobilce strojním zámecníkem
- po okupaci odešel pres Polsko do odboje
- po pádu Polska ustoupil s dalšími vojáky na východ kde se dostal do sovetského zajetí
- po propuštení odjezd pres Libanon do Haify, príslušníkem 11. pešího praporu – Východního
- pusobil jako ridic, težce zranen po najetí na minu
- prihlásil se do RAF, prijat 2. ledna 1943 a pridelen k 311. ceskoslovenské bombardovací peruti
- po výcviku v Kanade - palubním strelcem, toto zarazení - do konce války
- v zárí 1945 propušten z armády na trvalou studijní dovolenou
- údajne pracoval pro organizaci UNRRA
- v roce 1946 odešel pres Velkou Británii do USA
- od 17. cervence 1946 do 9. dubna 1947 sloužil v americké armáde
- v roce 1950 byl degradován, nicméne to byl již nejaký cas v exilu v USA, kde žil již v roce 1949,
- se svou snoubenkou Christine se vzali 14. února 1948 v New Yorku. 8. února 1949 se jim v Miami na Floride, kde celá rodina žila, narodil syn Stanley
- v roce 1977 se manželé Ottovi prestehovali na strední Floridu
- Karel Stanislav Otta zemrel v úterý 1. dubna 1997, na adrese 75 Grant Street, Longwood
- pohrben na hrbitove Florida National Cemetery, sekce 319, Site 10, který se nachází ve meste Bushnell