Sgt, Karel Macura - Trinec, 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.


Karel Macura (* 10.3.1920 Trinec - † 23.2.1945 Bradwell Bay - Manstonem)
No.310 Sqn Spitfire IX MA230 piloted by Sgt Karel Macura RAFVR (788497) was posted as missing, presumed ditched in the transfer between RAF Bradwell Bay and RAF Manston. Pilot lost. There is a suggestion that the Spitfire ran out of fuel. He is remembered on panel 276 of the Runnymede Memorial.
The memorial plaque is located in place where was formerly childhood home of Karel Macura.


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Karel Macura studoval na ceském gymnáziu v Ceském Tešíne, po polském záboru Tešínska dokoncil studium na gymnáziu ve Frýdku. Vecer 14. 3. 1939 byl svedkem boje o Cajánkova kasárna v Místku. Po maturite v kvetnu 1939 se vrátil k matce do Trince a pomáhal pri prevádení ceskoslovenských vojáku do Polska. V cervnu 1939 vstoupil do Ceskoslovenské vojenské skupiny v Polsku, tábor Male Bronowice u Krakova, pak Leszno u Baranovicu. 18. 9. 1939 se s tzv. Polským legionem pplk. Svobody dostal do sovetské internace (internacní táboy Jarmolince, Kamenec Podolský, Suzdal). Na jare 1941 odeslán s transportem na Strední východ, zarazen do 11. ceskoslovenského pešího praporu - Východního. Zúcastnil se tažení v Sýrii a obrany Tobruku. Od dubna 1942 u 200. cs. protiletadlového pluku - Východního. Absolvoval školu dustojníku v záloze. Na podzim 1942 podal prihlášku k letectvu, v transportu 170 dobrovolníku dorazil do Velké Británie 1. 1. 1943. Zarazen do RAF, osobní císlo 788497. Odeslán k pilotnímu výcviku do Elementary Flying Training School Shellingford (Kanada), pak prodelal další výcvik. V srpnu 1944 zarazen ke 310 cs. stíhací peruti jako operacní pilot v hodnosti Sgt., rt. asp. Padl 25. 2. 1945 na trase Bradwell Bay-Manston na Spitfire IX MA 230, když po startu na poplach v mlze ztratil spojení a spadl do more blízko základny.

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