F/Sgt Jan Stiess - Reporyje, Czech Republic
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ToRo61
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F/Sgt Jan Stiess was a Czech pilot, a member of No. 312 Squadron RAF
Waymark Code: WMZYXQ
Location: Hlavní město Praha, Czechia
Date Posted: 01/26/2019
Views: 10
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:
ZDE SE NARODIL 4.VII.1914
ŠRTM. LETEC II. ZAHRANICNÍHO ODBOJE
JAN STIESS
PADL 12.I.1943 BISKAJSKÝ ZÁLIV
JED. CSL. OBCE LEG. REPORYJE
F/Sgt Jan Stiess (*4/7/1914 Reporyje - †12/01/1943 Bay of Biscay) was a Czech pilot, a member of No. 311 Squadron RAF. He was shot down by fighter whilst on patrol over the Bay of Biscay.
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The memorial plaque is located on the wall of childhood home of Jan Stiess.