P/O Rudolf Zima - Jindrichuv Hradec, Czech Republic - Specific Veteran Memorials on Waymarking.com

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 (visit link) . But many Czechoslovak airmen got themselves smuggled into Poland. Of these a few joined the Polish Air Force but most continued to France. (visit link)

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 (visit link) and immediately joined in the Battle of Britain (visit link) . A bomber unit, No. 311 Squadron RAF (visit link) a further Czechoslovak fighter units No. 312 Squadron (visit link) and No. 313 Squadron (visit link) soon followed.

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
PLUKOVNÍK LETECTVA

RUDOLF ZIMA
*6.3.1904 +11.6.1972

OD ROKU 1926 VOJENSKÝ LETEC
ÚCASTNÍK BITVY O FRANCII A ANGLII
VÁLECNÝ PILOT 310. CS. STÍHACÍ PERUTE
INSTRUKTOR CS. LETCU RAF V KANADE
PO ROCE 1948 PERZEKUOVÁN


The memorial plaque is located on the wall of childhood home of Rudolf Zima


See also: (visit link) (visit link)

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Rudolf Zima (1904–1972) se stal vojenským letcem z povolání. V srpnu 1939 odešel do zahranicí, zúcastnil se již leteckých boju ve Francii, kde byl 13. kvetna 1940 zranen. Po pádu Francie odešel do Velké Británie, kde bojoval v radách 310. stíhací perute RAF. Od cervna 1941 do konce války byl leteckým instruktorem a sloužil ve výcvikových strediscích v Anglii a v Kanade. Jako ucitel létání pusobil i po návratu do republiky v Prostejove, pozdeji zde velel poddustojnické škole. V únoru 1949 byl odeslán na dovolenou a na zacátku roku 1950 propušten z armády. Musel nastoupit do prostejovských železáren. Po sovetské okupaci v roce 1968 vrátil na protest válecnou medaili. Zemrel v Prostejove 11. cervna 1972.

Website pertaining to the memorial: [Web Link] List if there are any visiting hours: 24*7 Entrance fees (if it applies): free Type of memorial: Plaque

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Date Logged Log User Rating   07/14/2021 pavlikVB visited it