KITS 09/2023

AR502, W/Cdr Karel Mrázek,CO of Exeter (Czechoslovak) Wing, Great Britain, July–October 1942

Second Mrázek’s “Wing Commander” Spitfire is,

thanks to the survived film archive, fairly well

documented. He flew his new Spitfire Mk.Vc s/n

AR502 from the end of July till October 1942.

On August 28, at its controls he achieved his

last combat success when, in the cooperation

with S/Ldr František Doležal, No. 310 Squadron

commander, he shot down a Bf 109F-4 from

the 1.(F)124 reconnaissance unit. Same as his

predecessor, this personal aircraft carried the

pilot’s initials, “KM” painted on both sides of the

fuselage, between the fuselage cockade and

Sky S fuselage band sprayed in front of the tails

surfaces. The letters “KM” were also painted in

yellow on the lower part of the engine cowling.

In October “Charlie” Mrázek was assigned a new

“C“ model serial number EE626 with which he flew

16 combat missions. Also In this case, thanks to the

film archive, the appearance of this aircraft can

be fairly well documented. Besides the standard

camouflage of Dark Green/Ocean Grey/Medium

Sea Grey the code letters “KM” were this time

painted in Sky on both sides of the fuselage in front

of the fuselage cockade and in the smaller size on

the lower part of the engine cowling. Under the

windshield, on the port side, a Wing Commander

pennant was painted as a new marking. Unlike

all Mrazek’s previous Spitfires, this aircraft

featured de Havilland propeller with the short

spinner. EE626 flew with No. 310 Squadron

until February 3, 1943, when it was rammed be

a No. 307 Squadron’s Mosquito. It was repaired at

the Air Service Training and the repair included

the wind modification consisting of removing the

wingtips and thus shortening the wingspan to 9.93

meters. A circular rear mirror was installed as

well. During the months of October and November

1943, such modified EE626 flew as a personal

mount of Mrázek’s deputy, W/Cdr František Doležal

who had it marked by his initials “FD”. EE626

remained in the No. 310 Squadron inventory until

December 24, 1943, when it was handed over to the

Polish No. 316 Squadron. The service with No. 63

and No. 587 Squadrons followed and on August 14,

1945, the aircraft was officially struck off charge.

EE626, W/Cdr Karel Mrázek, CO of Exeter (Czechoslovak) Wing, Great Britain, October 1942–January 1943

EE626, W/Cdr František Doležal, CO of Ibsley (Czechoslovak) Wing, Great Britain, October–November 1943

The first pilot of EE626 was W/Cdr Karel Mrázek,

commander of the Exeter (Czechoslovak) Wing who

flew it from October to November 1943. On February

3, 1943, in Exeter, the aircraft was rammed by

a Mosquito from the No. 307 Squadron. The airplane

was repaired by the Air Service Training and the

job included the wing modification consisting of

removing the wingtips and thus shortening the

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INFO Eduard

wingspan to 9.93 meters. A circular rear mirror

was also installed. During the months of October

and November 1943, such modified EE626 flew as a

personal mount of Mrázek’s deputy, W/Cdr František

Doležal who had it marked with his initials “FD”

painted in Sky color on both sides of the fuselage

in front of the fuselage cockade and in smaller size

in black on the lower part of the engine cowling.

Under the “FD” fuselage code letters the original

Mrázek’s initials “KM” can still be recognized having

been repainted in Dark Green. Under the windshield,

on both sides, a Czechoslovak national insignia and

a Wing Commander pennant, moved to the fuel tank

access panel, were painted. The port engine cowling

shows a fresh repaint on the entire surface, most

likely in Ocean Grey.

September 2023