Memorial of Czechoslovak Airmen and Parachutists - Pardubice, Czech Republic
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ToRo61
N 50° 01.485 E 015° 45.527
33U E 554351 N 5541658
Memorial of Czechoslovak Airmen and Parachutists - Pardubice
Waymark Code: WM105Y3
Location: Pardubický kraj, Czechia
Date Posted: 03/04/2019
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 (
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:
CESKOSLOVENSKÝM LETCUM A PARAŠUTISTUM DRUHÉ SVETOVÉ VÁLKY
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Pomník od sochare Jaroslava Brože byl odhalen roku 2004. Vzpomíná na letce a parašutisty bojující za vlast za 2. svetové války.