Josef Franti\u0161ek was born on the 7th<\/sup> October in Ostlavice, ca 60 km north west of Brno. Since his youth he was interested in technology. He learnt about his passion in his father\u2019s bodyshop, although he was more into engines than body. From 1929 to 1934 he worked in a factory Wikow in Prost\u011bjov. In 1934 he joined Czechoslovak Air Force and on 1st<\/sup> October started training in the School of Young Aviation Specialists (\u0160kola pro odborny dorost letectva). Eight months later he finished theoretical part of the course and started flying . On the 1st<\/sup> August 1935 he started military service in the 5th<\/sup> Observation Flight of the\u00a0 2nd<\/sup> Flying Regiment in Olomunec where he received the title of airman-pilot and the field airman-pilot badge. 14th February 1938 he went to Kbely, near Prague, where he started his fighter pilot training in the training flight of the 4th Flight Regiment which he finshed on the 19th<\/sup> May. After the training he received assignment to 40th<\/sup> Fighter Flight. His service there took place in the last months of free Czechoslovakia. In June and September his unit was moved to forward landing grounds. because Czechoslovak Army was preparing to fight for their country but country\u2019s fate was decided in Munich \u2013 leaders of France and Great Britain gave 3rd<\/sup> Reich Sudetenland to save the peace. Frantisek\u2019s flight came back to Kbely where it based until the 15th<\/sup> March 1939 when Czechoslovakia ceased to exist. On the 1st<\/sup> April 1939 svobodnik Josef Franti\u0161ek left air force. During his service he spent 400 hours in the air and made over 1000 flights<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Reconstruction of the most probable markings of the Hurricane R4175\/RF-R after delivery to 303 Squadron in August 1940, without squadron insignia on fuselage and roundels on wing udersurfaces. See info box “Markings of the Hurricane R4175\/RF-R” in text below. Artwork by Marcin Ciepierski, Arma Hobby.<\/em><\/p>\n On the 13th June 1939 Josef Franti\u0161ek started his wartime adventure. That day, just before midnight, he crossed Polish border. Originally he wanted to go to France, but together with other 92 airmen, decided to stay in Poland. He joined that group on the 25th<\/sup> July while he was boarding the ship to France. He was sent to Air Force Training Centre No 1 in D\u0119blin where he received the rank of plutonowy.<\/p>\n When the war broke he was in D\u0119blin where, while sitting it Potez 25 cockpit, he witnessed a Luftwaffe attack on the school. The following days he spent evacuating planes that survived the attack, flying reconnaissance and liaison\u00a0 missions. On the 22nd<\/sup> September he made his last flight in Poland \u2013 he flew gen. Strzeminiski\u2019s aide-de-camp to Romania. Three days later he got to the internment camp but the next day he escaped and went to Polish Embassy in Bucarest where he was given new ID. On the 2nd<\/sup> October, at night, Josef Franti\u0161ek boarded the ship \u201cDacia\u201d and started his voyage to France.<\/p>\n On the 22nd<\/sup> October he arrived in Le Bourget near Paris where Polish airmen concentrated after their arrival. At that time he wanted to join Czechoslovak unit but after the argument with Czechoslovak officers, who suggested that he and other Czech airmen who fought in Poland were deserters, he decided to stay in the Polish Army. Moreover, he had already made friends with Poles and did not want to make new friends. Also his personality was more Polish than Czech.<\/p>\n On the 3rd<\/sup> February he was assigned to the Polish Air Force Training Depot at Lyon-Bron airbase and a month later to Clermont-Ferrand where he flew planes after they were repaired.<\/p>\n The last entry in his logbook is dated on 16th<\/sup> April 1940 and after this date he did not make any flights. On the 18th<\/sup> June 1940, for the second time in his career, he boarded the ship and sailed to Great Britain.<\/p>\n .<\/p>\n Hurricane Mk I R4175\/RF-F, photo taken on 5 September 1940. Clearly visible lighter shade of the national insignia painted with pre-war colours in Gloster factory. Photo from\u00a0 Wojtek Matusiak collection.<\/em><\/p>\n On the 21st June 1940 Josef Franti\u0161ek got off the ship in Falmouth and went to Blackpool, Lancashire, where Polish Air Force Depot was organized. In Blackpool he received British rank of Sergeant and number 793451. Soon he received an assignment to No 303 Polish fighter squadron which was being formed at Northolt near London. He was one of 156 air and land personnel who were assigned to the unit and came there on the 2nd<\/sup> August. Next day the training started \u2013 pilots flew British aircraft, e.g, Miles Master, Miles Magister, Fairey Battle and Hawker Hurricane. The beginning of the process was problematic for some pilots \u2013 Polish pilots were used to throttle working the opposite way to British and some of them had not flew planes with retractable landing gear. On the 8th<\/sup> Franti\u0161ek, flying Hawker Hurricane V7245\/RF-M,\u00a0 forgot to lower undercarriage and made a belly landing damaging propeller and aircraft lower surface. Despite such mishaps, training continued. On the 30th<\/sup> August, after P\/O Ludwik Paszkiewicz\u2019s famous insubordination during training mission No 303 squadron became operational unit. On the 31st<\/sup> August the unit made its first combat mission. Sgt Franti\u0161ek flew with Flight B but without any contact with enemy. Similar situation took place the next day.<\/p>\n John \u201cKentowski\u201d Kent \u2013 a Canadian in No. 303 Squadron<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n![\"\"](\"http:\/\/armahobbynews.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/josef-frantisek.jpg\")
<\/a>Franti\u0161ek\u2019s death is an enigma as it happened a day after last squadron\u2019s combat in the Battle of Britain fought on the 7th<\/sup> October 1940. On the 8th<\/sup> October the unit was scrambled to intercept enemy\u2019s fighter-bomber raid. Before they reached the enemy, Spitfires from British squadrons had done it. Polish unit was ordered to return to base. Suddenly Franti\u0161ek broke and disappeared. It is possible that it did not get Polish pilots attention, although they probably noticed it. Frantisek\u2019s legend says that he was a lone wolf who had problems with subordination. It is said that his favourite tactics was hunting alone, which was tolerated by OC as it was effective. But what was the truth?<\/em><\/p><\/div><\/div>\nCzechoslovakia<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nPoland and France<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\nAlbion<\/h2>\n