Sgt Alois Mezník - Križanov, Czech Republic
Posted by: ToRo61
N 49° 23.139 E 016° 06.570
33U E 580522 N 5470919
Sgt Alois Mezník (7.6.1911 Kundratice u Križanova - 12. 3. 1942)
was a Czech Wireless Operator/Air Gunner of No. 311 Sqd of RAF
Waymark Code: WMYWG2
Location: Kraj Vysočina, Czechia
Date Posted: 08/02/2018
Views: 13
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. (
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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 (
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 žil
rotmistr Alois Mezník * 7.6.1911
za 2. svetové války bojoval v Anglii
jako letecký strelec a radiotelegrafista.
Zahynul se svými druhy 12. brezna 1942
pri návratu z bojové akce
Cest jejich památce...
The plaque is located on the wall of childhood home of A. Mezník.
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Alois Mezník (7.6.1911 Kundratice u Križanova - 12. 3. 1942)
Vyucil se dámským krejcím. Jako krejcí si založil i živnost, a to ve Francii. Tam se také prihlásil do ceskoslovenské armády ve Francii, se kterou prodelal ústupové boje. I ve Velké Británii byl nejprve príslušníkem peší jednotky, ale prihlásil se do RAF. Dne 12. 3. 1942 odstartoval na svuj poslední let. Necelé dve hodiny po startu zacal telegrafista vysílat SOS. Poslední zpráva informovala o nouzovém pristání na more.