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. 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. In some cases the names of the pilots are listed on memorials dedicated to the fallen persons in WWII in their native village or city.
About Jan Vella
Jan Vella was born on May 10, 1906 in Kladno. As a pilot he served in the 31st Fighter Squadron of the Air Force Regiment 3 "General-Flight of M.R. Štefánik" in Vajnory near Bratislava, but in 1928, however, he left the army (the rank of the sergeant), as the army reduced states.
During the nazi occupation, he co-operated with the group "Obrana národa" he helped to ensure the departure of politicians, soldiers and persecuted rebels abroad. But he soon became persecuted, and on 6 November 1939 he escaped abroad. Through Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, Beirut and Marseilles came to England (19 June 1940).
Less than two months after his arrival in England, on August 2, 1940, he was admitted to the RAF and after the combat training he joined the 312th Czechoslovak fighter squadron. He served only five months, then he had to leave the service because of his age - he was 35 years old. He spent the next two years as a flying pilot, but eventually he managed to return to combat service. On April 14, 1943, he joined the 311th Czechoslovak Bomber Squadron as a bomber pilot (there the age limit was not so severe).
Over the Atlantic, he performed 71 combat flights, spending 817 hours of air in the air. He carried out attacks on surface ships and submarines, and he was demonstrably granted the sinking of submarine U-971 on June 24, 1944.
For his outstanding achievements he received the following awards:
Distinguished Flying Cross, DFC
Cs. medal For bravery
4 x Cs. war cross
Commemorative medal MS. foreign armies
Cs. Medal of Merit I. st.
The 1939-1945 Star
Atlantic Star
On January 10, 1945, he flew to London with a group of experienced Czechoslovak pilots (Karel Kvapil, Leo Linhart Rudolf Jelen and operator Valter Kauders) in the Oxford PH404. The crashed aircraft was found after seven months in the nearby Scottish town Beinn and 'Bhùird.
Monument Inscription:
CZ: Na pamet padlých hrdinu kterí - plníce odkaz velkých synu národa nezradili, bojovali a život položili za demokratickou a svobodnou Ceskoslovenskou republiku.
EN: In memory of the fallen heroes who, betraying the legacy of the great sons of the nation, did not betray, they fought and put their lives behind the democratic and free Czechoslovak Republic.
Jan Vella was an employee of Masaryk Train Station - this monument is located in the lobby of station.
See also:
(
visit link)
(
visit link)
(
visit link)
(
visit link)