Strana 49
EP461, W/Cdr František Doležal, CO of Exeter (Czechoslovak) Wing, RAF Exeter, Devon,
United Kingdom, April-July 1943
AD325, F/Lt Emil Foit, No. 310 Squadron, RAF Perranporth, Cornwall, United Kingdom,
December 1941-February 1942
The first user of Spitfire EP461 was a veteran
of the Battle of Britain and France, S/Ldr Jack
Rose, Acting Squadron Leader of Exeter Station.
Although without the appropriate rank, he filled
in for W/Cdr Mrazek both functionally and as Wing
Commander. In the period August-November 1942
Jack Rose led 15 sweeps as Wing Commander
and marked his Spitfire with his initials JR.
S/Ldr Frantisek "Dolly" Doležal, Commander of
No. 310 Squadron, also used EP461 occasionally
in December 1942 and early January 1943 without
changing his markings. In January the JR became
KM and was used by W/Cdr Karel Mrázek as his
last personal Spitfire in the Czechoslovak Wing.
On April 1, 1943, W/Cdr František Doležal became
the new Wing Commander and took over the
EP461 from Mrázek. At the time, the aircraft
had its wingtips cut and a new round rear-view
mirror installed. The Wing Commander's badge
was painted under the left windshield. The
code letters FD were in front of the fuselage
cockade on both sides and their appearance
varied on the starboard and port. The FD marking
was placed also on the bottom of the engine
cowling. The serial number EP461 was largely
repainted in Ocean Grey camouflage paint on the
right side after numerous changes of the code.
W/Cdr Frantisek Doležal achieved his last aerial
victory with this Spitfire when he damaged an
Fw 190A from 8./JG 2 Richthofen on May 3, 1943.
He ended the war with a total score of six
confirmed victories, four probable and four
enemy aircraft damaged. He was one of the first
to return to Czechoslovakia after the war as
early as May 17, 1945, but died aboard a transport
Siebel on October 4, 1945.
Emil Foit was born in 1913 in Brno and after
graduating from the business academy and
military schools he became a fighter pilot. After
the occupation of Czechoslovakia in May 1939
he made his way to Great Britain via Poland
and Sweden and then France in August, where
he joined the Foreign Legion. He served in Tunis,
Blida in Algeria and Oran. After the surrender of
France, he went via Casablanca and Gibraltar to
the UK, where he was accepted into the RAF in
August 1940. He underwent brief combat training
with Hurricanes, served briefly with the British
No. 85 Squadron and in October 1940 was posted
to Duxford with No. 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron.
From February 1942 to November 1942, he was
B Squadron Commander. From January 1943
to January 1944, he served as commander of
No. 310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron. During air
combat he shot down three enemy aircraft and
damaged five. He received numerous medals and
decorations for his combat activities, including
the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). On his
return to his homeland in 1945 he was appointed
commander of the 10 Air Regiment at Kbely. After
February 1948 he went into exile in Great Britain
and served again in the RAF. Emil Foit died in
1976 in England. The Spitfire AD325, which he
flew at the turn of 1941-1942, was a brand new
aircraft, delivered to No. 310 Squadron during
the rearmament to the Mk.Vb version. It bore the
donation inscription WESTMORLAND II on the tank
cover and most likely had the Czechoslovakian
emblem on the engine cowling.
KITS 10/2024
INFO Eduard
49
October 2024