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.
Plaque Inscription:
BOHUSLAV MRÁZ
NAR. 10.12.1920 v BORETÍNE
LETEC RAF
SESTRELEN +10.10.1944
PRI SNP
Note: on plaque is a mistake - he died October 7, 1944
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Bohuslav Mráz
* 10.12.1920 (Boretín, okres Kamenice nad Lipou)
† 7.10.1944 (Krahule, Slovensko)
Odveden 14.1.1939, Francie; Marseille, vojín cs., osobní císlo F-196. Ve Velké Británii príslušník 312 Sqdn, rotmistr, pilot, osobní císlo RAF/787603. Padl 7.10.1944, sestrelen pri útoku na pozemní cíle, La - 5, c. 74, Slovensko, Krahule (Slovenské národní povstání), podporucík, príslušník 1. cs. stíhací letecký pluk, kmenové císlo 646/d. Pohrben Praha – Hostivar.