BFC

P3975, Sgt. Josef František, No. 303 (Polish) Squadron, RAF Northolt, United Kingdom,

September–October 1940

Czechoslovak pilot Josef František, member of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron during the Battle of Britain, achieved three Luftwaffe

kills flying this Hurricane. The first one was a Bf 109E shot down on September 2. The very next day had repeated this success by

victory over Bf 109E, and on September 9 he added a third kill of a Bf 109E fighter plus one He 111 bomber.

L2099, Sgt. Josef František, No. 303 (Polish) Squadron, RAF Northolt, United Kingdom, September 1940

Another Hurricane Sgt. František was flying during his time with No. 303 (Polish) Squadron was this aircraft from the early production batch, but with stressed-skin metal wing already fitted. Josef František flew this one on four missions, but he managed

to score only once. It happened on September 30, 1940, when flying this Hurricane for the last time. His victim was one Bf 109E,

another one was damaged. English commander of No. 303 (Polish) Squadron S/Ldr Ronald Gustave Kellett also flew this Hurricane several times.

R4175, Sgt. Josef František, No. 303 (Polish) Squadron, RAF Northolt, United Kingdom, September 1940

Probably the most famous František´s Hurricane was the one coded RF-R. The Czechoslovak fighter ace scored a total of seven

kills flying it (on September 5 one Ju 88 and one Bf 109E, on September 6 one Bf 109E, on September 26 two He 111 and on September 27 one Bf 110 and one Bf 109E). However, this Hurricane became František´s fate, as he crashed it on October 8, 1940 and

was killed.

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