wounds was transported to

the hospital. His testimony

was the main source of the

information about the 133rd

Squadron fate above Brest.

It has to be said that with

many inaccuracies. Out of

eleven remaining pilots six

perished, four became POWs

and one successfully bailed

out of the damaged aircraft,

avoided the capture and returned back to Britain. F/L

Edward Brettell was among

POWs. During the night of

24-25 March, 1944 he participated in the „Great Escape“ from Sagan (Stalag Luft

III) but after the capture was

murdered by Gestapo.

Another pilot who had taken

off on the mission survived

the Morlaix disaster, P/O Dominic Gentile, who after the

fighter escort was formed

Bolt Head in the painting of Antonin Vendl, No. 313 Czechoslovak Sqadron RAF

serve. He finished the British pilot training after that was

posted to 501 Squadron RAF. In June 1942 he was reassigned to 313 Squadron and after finishing his tour of duty in

April 1943 he was temporarily attached to Ferry Command.

After „the rest“ at No. 1 Delivery Fligh RAF Tony Vendl started to seek another combat assignment. Coincidentally the

offer came from his respected and beloved commander

S/Lr Frantisek Fajtl who was recruiting volunteers to form

the fighter unit in the Soviet Union. After the two months long

journey to the East and following training on La-5FN the unit

was surprised by the outbreak of the Slovak National Uprising. The 1. Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron in the USSR broke

a record of being the fighter unit operating in the enemy’s

The airport also served as a gathering point of the RAF fighter rear for the longest time. Af the supression of the Uprising

squadrons participating in the support of the USAAF 8th AF on and unit’s withdrawal back behind the front lines Tony was

their missions to raid Morlaix and Cherebourg on September 26, busy with training new pilots at 1st Czechoslovak Combined

1942. RAF Bolt Head was closed in 1945. Nowadays there is a Air Division and also flying combat missions in support of the

memorial at the crossing point of the runways. A small private advancing ground troops, including the Ostrava Operation.

airdrome is located here.

After the WWII Antonin Vendl joined the transportation

Col. Antonin Vendl was born on June 9, 1919 in the village of squadron at Prague Kbely where he flew C-47 and Ju-52.

Skrivanek nearby Nemecky (nowadays Havlickuv) Brod. In 1937 After the communist coup Antonin Vendl did not avoid the

he enlisted in the persecution of the aviators who had fought in the West. In

School of the Avia- 1949 he was dismissed from the Army. The troubles to obtain

tion Youth with the a civilian job followed. Over the years he worked his way

objective to beco- up from a helper to a salesman and later manager of the

me a military pilot. Mototechna store in Prague. In his tiny office the former RAF

The training howe- comrades-in-arms secretely met. The communist police and

ver was interrupted their lackeys‘ harrassment continued until the end of 1989.

by the German oc- After the Revolution, together with many other members

cupation. The de- of Czechoslovak foreign resistance Tony was rehabilitated

sire to flee abroad and promoted to the rank of Colonel. At least once he used

and join the fight his contacts to prevent his promotion to General. „There

against the enemy is plenty of other chaps who would deserve it much more

materialized

only than myself“ he said. Until his death he worked hard so as

in June 1939 after his fallen comrads were remembered and he was an actiseveral unsuccessful ve member of the Czechoslovak Foreign Airmen Association

attempts. Then the 1039-45. He passed away on April 2, 2002 due to the compliusual calvary of the cations from an accident.

Czechoslovak pilots

in Poland and Fran- For his combat achievements Antonin Vendl was (among

ce followed. After many others) decorated with four Czechoslovak War Cross

France collapsed he 1939, three Medals for Bravery, British Star 1939-1945, Atlanmanaged to make tic Star, Defence Medal, Order of the Slovak National Upristo the Great Britain ing I. Class and Medal of Merit I. Class.

where he joined the

RAF Volunteer ReRAF airport Bolt Head was built in 1941 at the southern coast

of Devonshire County as a satellite airport for the RAF Exeter

base. The flying and ground personnel facilities were initially

minimal. During the war the wooden lodgings and hangars were

built. First unit to occupy the base was 16 Squadron RAF flying

Lysanders. Among other occupants was the 313 Czechoslovak

Squadron (June 10, 1942-June 28, 1943) and from this period

date the recollections of Antonin Vendl based on which he painted the attached picture featuring „his“ Spitfire Mk. V ‚RY-V“

in the foreground. In 1941 the RAF Hope Cove ground control

station was established nearby to support the fighter missions in

this sector of the Channel.

10

eduard

INFO Eduard - August 2021