Czech pilots in the RAF during WWII

[Marc SEGERS]

Sir,
the Belgian MOD is currently taking an initiative to bring back to live the soldiers that fell and are burried in Belgium. I started digging into W/O Arnost Mrtvy who died in Belgium on 19 April 1944 during a bomber escort mission above Brussels and Mechelen (Malines).
I know he evaded his country in 1939 to join the French Foreign Legion through Poland to finally end up in Britain where he served in 257, 65 Sqn before joining the 313 Sqn. I guess he did not fly operationally during the Battle of Britain. Other missions i.e. above Dieppe, the low countries are uncertain.
I am asking if anybody can help me completing the picture on his period in the UK and the RAF Sqns in particular. Any archives from Operations Record Books, Log Books, RAF Form 504, pictures, etc would be more then appreciated. Any additional information on the US Bomber Sqn that bombed Malines on April 19th 1944 is welcome as well.
If anybody could help me reaching out to his period in French Air Force instructions at PAU and Chateauroux would be equally appreciated.
Hoping you could help me keeping the memory of some unknown Czech heroes alive,

Marc SEGERS

[Icare9]

Welcome Marc
You may find Googling his name of use.
There is artwork covering his last flight plus discussions a couple of years ago here:- JG 26 against Marauders + Spitfires over Brusels [Archive] - Luftwaffe and Allied Air Forces Discussion Forum (http://forum.12oclockhigh.net/archive/index.php?t-15144.html)

W/O Arnost MRTVY's Spitfire wreckage was recovered last year in the hamlet called Wolfstee near the town of Herentals. He was probably claimed by Oblt. Wolfang NEU (Kapitän of the 4th Staffel, thus I./JG 26) on the 19th April 44.

Name: MRTVY, ARNOST
Initials: A
Nationality: United Kingdom
Rank: Warrant Officer
Regiment/Service: Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Unit Text: 313 (Czech) Sqdn.
Date of Death: 19/04/1944
Service No: 787187
Additional information: Of Czechoslovakia.
Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead
Grave/Memorial Reference: IVa. C. 7.
Cemetery: SCHOONSELHOF CEMETERY

You may be able to obtain a translation of this entry:
http://www.hao.cz/historie/za_valky.htm (http://www.hao.cz/historie/za_valky.html)l

It seems to indicate he was born 12th Jan 1916, presumably followed by Place Name and also has a photo.

Trust that helps you find out more.

[forget]

I'm curious to know why Warrant Officer Mrtvy has a non standard head-stone but with Royal Air Force inscribed.

Arnost Mrtvy graf.jpg 8*-*Planehunters (http://www.planehunters.be/index.php?option=com_zoom&Itemid=29&page=view&catid=2&key=3&hit=1)

[Marc SEGERS]

Many thanks Icare,
my partner is Czech and I have been at the HAO Aeroclub where he started back in pre-war Czechoslowakia. I have some pictures of two remaining Wagner flight hangars dated 1919 (at the kick of the Aeroclub Olomouc), apparently the oldest in Europe still in service. Through her and Czech archives I am trying to find out when he joined the club, but likley kinlked to the 1000 pilots campaign to build the Czechoslowakian Air Force related to the German threat.
Do you think you can help me to dig into Operational Record Books of the RAF Squadrons he passed? I am sure about 257, 65 and 313 Sqn.

Thanks again,

Marc

[Marc SEGERS]

Yeah, interesting point about the design of the headstone. It is the same for all Czechs and Slowaks burried. There is plenty of them at DePanne cemetery with soldiers from the 1 Czechoslowakian Independent Brigade who died in the siege of Dunkirk.
I will try to find out some more about the special head stone design.
Why RAF. Because he flew in the 313 Czech Squadron which was was an integral part of the RAF, I guess.

Cheers,

Marc

[forget]

It seems that there was a 'national' design for some headstones. See half way down, here -

Lost in France - Day 2 (http://www.nickcooper.org.uk/lifrance/lifday02.htm)

Very interesting snippet on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission;

The paths leading into the cemeteries are almost always grassed, a subtle yet necessary psychological device: once one has unavoidably walked on grass to go onto the cemetery, subconsciously one is not inhibited by then walking on the grass between the graves.