Strana 25
gradually involved in ongoing operational activities together with their
original Mk.IIa aircraft. During the process of rearmament, No. 313 Sqn
received new aircraft from the Castle Bromwich facility in the AD series
(AD192, AD353, AD361, AD380, AD384, AD390, AD391, AD394, AD424, AD465,
AD464, AD547), one AB series airframe (AB916), those from Eastleigh
factory in the AA series (AA865, AA869) and AA series units coming out of
Chattis Hill (AA757, AA765). These were supplemented by older W series
machines (W3177, W3962, W3965, W3969) assembled at High Post Aerodrome
and P8537 from the Castle Bromwich factory. No. 313 Sqn remained at
Portreath after conversion until December 15, 1941 when it moved south
to Hornchurch. By re-arming all three squadrons, one of the conditions
for the future creation of a higher Czechoslovak Fighter Wing was fulfilled.
At that time, few would have believed that the Spitfire Mk.V would remain
the main piece of equipment of Czechoslovak fighter squadrons until the
beginning of 1944, when the pilots received the much desired Spitfire Mk.IX.
Czechoslovak pilots fought on Spitfire Mk.Vbs and Mk.Vcs for more than
two years.
With the strength of WingWith the strength of Wing
Over the course of those two years, the stocks of Spitfire Mk.Vb and later
Vc fighters were replenished at all three squadrons, and when moving to
new areas of operation, these aircraft were also often exchanged with
other units. And so machines from different series from basically all
manufacturers gradually appeared in the inventory of the Czechoslovak
fighter units. In the case of the Mk.Vb, these were machines produced
by Castle Bromwich (series P, AB, AD, BL, BM, EN, EP), Eastleigh (series
R, W, X, AA, AB), Chattis Hill (series W, AA, AB), High Post Aerodrome
(W, AB series) and Westland (AR series). The Vc version aircraft came from
the production facilities of Westland (series AR, EE), Eastleigh (series AA,
AB), High Post Aerodrome (series AB) and Chattis Hill (series BP). On May 3,
1942, the Czechoslovaks saw the creation of a higher Czechoslovak Fighter
Wing, established at RAF Exeter (Exeter Czechoslovak Fighter Wing).
It consisted of the above-mentioned Czechoslovak squadrons, Nos. 310, 312
and 313, which in the period from May 7 to June 7, 1942 was supplemented
by No. 154 Sqn. All three squadrons operated as the Exeter Czechoslovak
Fighter Wing until June 26, 1943. After that, they separately stood down for
a period of R and R. Czechoslovak units met up again in the period from
September 18 to November 8, 1943, when together they formed the Ibsley
Czechoslovak Fighter Wing. The Wing was commanded by W/Cdr Alois
Vašátko (who from May 3 to June 23, 1942 flew a personal Spitfire Mk.Vb
BM592 coded with his initials AV), W/Cdr Karel Mrázek (June 26, 1942 to
March 31, 1943 with personal Spitfire Mk.Vbs EN765 and EP461 and Mk.Vcs
AR502 and EE626, all coded KM) and W/Cdr František Doležal (March 31,
1943 to February 1, 1944, Spitfire Mk.Vb EP461 and Vc EE626; both coded FD).
During the period when Czechoslovak squadrons flew the Spitfire Mk.V,
they took part in a number of important operations. For example, on August
19, 1942, the pilots of Nos. 310 and 312 Sqn with the Spitfire Mk.V flew out
of Redhill in support of Operation Jubilee and on the 9 of September, 1943,
No. 313 Sqn from Hawkinge Airfield took part in support of Operation
Starkey which saw black and white stripes used on the wings for the first
time as a rapid identification feature. At the time of the use of the Spitfire
Mk.Vb, personal artwork also appeared on Czechoslovak Spitfires, even if
only for a short time. This happened at the beginning of 1942 at No. 313 Sqn,
commanded at the time by S/Ldr Karel Mrázek. On several Spitfire Mk.Vbs,
artwork inspired by characters from Walt Disney cartoons appeared at the
request of the pilots. The author of the drawings was a pilot with the unit,
Sgt Karel Pavlík, a calligrapher by profession in civilian life.
Modifications and modernisationsModifications and modernisations
The Spitfire Mk.V also underwent a number of upgrades during their
relatively long service career with the Czechoslovak squadrons, increasing
the combat value of the aircraft. For example, there was a modification to
the fuel system, which allowed the use of auxiliary fuel tanks, which greatly
increased the operational radius of the aircraft. A number of aircraft
got their wings clipped, which increased their maneuverability during
operations at lower flight levels. The system of supplying ammunition to
the wing cannons was also changed, which increased the reliability of the
weapons and the number of rounds carried, and there were many other
modifications. The period of use of the Spitfire Mk.V by Czechoslovak units
is, in addition to a number of successes, also associated with significant
losses of flight personnel, which did not escape even the command corps.
For the Czechoslovak Air Force, major losses came with the death of
W/Cdr Alois Vašátko, the first commander of the Czechoslovak Fighter Wing,
who died on June 23, 1942 in his personal Spitfire Mk.Vb BM592 coded AV
after a collision with a German Fw 190 during Operation Ramrod 23 and also
S/Ldr Jaroslav Himr, who died on the 27 of September, 1943 in the cockpit
W/Cdr Karel Mrázek, DFC, commander of the Exeter
(Czechoslovak) Wing, next to his Spitfire Mk.Vb EN765 marked
with his personal monogram “KM”. July 1942.
Close-up of the front of Dolezal’s Spitfire MK.Vb EP461 “FD” at
Exeter airfield in May 1943. The Wing Commander’s emblem is
drawn under the left cockpit visor of EP461. In the background are
Spitfires of No.310 Squadron. The first in the line of Spitfires Mk.Vb
is BM121 „NN
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A“.
HISTORY
INFO Eduard
25
October 2024