Strana 10
Ore Mountains, and aviation history enthusiasts.
Kovářská has become one of the key places for
families of veterans—not just from the 100th
Bomb Group—to visit. However, time is relentless,
and after eighty years, very few veterans remain.
That’s why I’m even more fascinated when I see
recent footage from the USA of 102-year-old
John „Lucky“ Luckadoo, a former pilot from the
100th BG, presenting historical topics. He stands
tall, without a cane, speaking confidently into
a microphone without notes. That’s the kind of
form I hope to be in at 102 as well.
80th Anniversary
This year‘s international aviation meeting,
commemorating the 80th anniversary of the air
battle, attracted significant interest from both
the Czech and German public. Although none
of the veterans were able to attend in person,
it was heartwarming to see their family mem-
bers as honoured guests.
The ceremony, symbolically opened after
a parade of historic vehicles at the exact moment
the tragic battle took place over the town, inclu-
ded speeches in Czech, English, and German. The
names of all the fallen airmen from both sides
were also read aloud, with their descendants ta-
king part in this moving tribute.
Due to the overwhelming interest, it was ini-
tially difficult to enter the museum, which had
expanded its exhibition and added a charming
aviation-themed café. The public‘s enthusiasm
was evident, with displays of combat gear and
military equipment from the Second World War
set up in and around Kovářská.
I was particularly interested in the presen-
tations and equipment demonstrations by the
international team of Army Nurse Corps volun-
teers. This time, they focused on the work of U.S.
Army flight nurses. Their presence is a highlight
at many major events across Europe, and I highly
recommend seeing them in action. Another me-
morable display was the demonstration of U.S.
survival equipment used after parachute jumps—
something you don‘t often see. In fact, I suspect
some modern air forces may not even have such
advanced gear today.
The program also featured an exhibition of
plastic models, demonstrations of RC models,
a group parachute jump, and musical performan-
ces.
In the afternoon, a convoy of historic vehic-
les took the family members of the 100th Bomb
Group to the site where one of the unit‘s bombers
crashed. The families of three airmen who died in
the crash were present, along with several do-
zen members of the public attending the event.
At a memorial service at the crash site, the Ame-
rican guests received small pieces of the plane
that had carried their ancestors on their last
combat flight.
I was intrigued by two presentations that took
place under an overcrowded U.S. Army WWII tent,
which from a distance appeared to stand on do-
zens of human feet. In the first presentation, Jan
Zdiarský, director of the Museum of the Air Battle
over the Ore Mountains, described the bac-
kground and course of the battle. Like every pre-
sentation by Jan, this one was exceptional. For
instance, I had not previously understood why
one of the Me 163 Komet pilots had been invited
among the air battle veterans. In fact, during the
Reenactment groups from the Czech Republic and Germany have a strong presence at events in Kovářská. Some
of them bring their original equipment and accessories to the extreme. Such as the group of fighter pilots orient-
ed here on Jagdgeschwader 4 in the period summer/autumn 1944.
The Allied armies, especially the US Army and its part, the USAAF, have a major presence in the reenactment.
For example, this year’s premiere was the amazing reenactment by the ladies of the Flying Nurses, whose tents
are in the background of the bottom photo.
A discussion with 100th Bomb Group historian and expert advisor to the Masters of the Air movie series,
Michael P. Faley, drew great interest. It was held in a large WWII US Army tent.
INFO Eduard10
October 2024