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EP785, P/O Ladislav Světlík, No. 312 Squadron, RAF Churchstanton, Somerset,
United Kingdom, January-April 1943
Pilsen native Ladislav Světlík was born on Pilsen native Ladislav Světlík was born on
March 23, 1917. He took advantage of the 1000 March 23, 1917. He took advantage of the 1000
new pilots for the country campaign and learned new pilots for the country campaign and learned
to fly. Between 1936 and 1937 he completed to fly. Between 1936 and 1937 he completed
military training in Prostějov and then served military training in Prostějov and then served
as a fighter pilot. After the German occupation, as a fighter pilot. After the German occupation,
he went to France via Poland, where he joined he went to France via Poland, where he joined
the Foreign Legion. After reassignment to the the Foreign Legion. After reassignment to the
Air Force, he was retrained at Chartres on the Air Force, he was retrained at Chartres on the
Curtiss Hawk H-75 and scored four confirmed Curtiss Hawk H-75 and scored four confirmed
and three probable kills in combat against the and three probable kills in combat against the
German Luftwaffe. After the fall of France, he German Luftwaffe. After the fall of France, he
moved to the UK. Here he was assigned to moved to the UK. Here he was assigned to
No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron. Despite the No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron. Despite the
amount of combat missions he completed, he amount of combat missions he completed, he
scored only one more kill when on May 23, 1944, scored only one more kill when on May 23, 1944,
in his new Spitfire Mk.IXc, he shot down an in his new Spitfire Mk.IXc, he shot down an
Fw 190 flown by German ace Lt. Georg Kiefner. Fw 190 flown by German ace Lt. Georg Kiefner.
After completing his second combat tour in After completing his second combat tour in
July 1944, he was ferrying Vickers Wellingtons July 1944, he was ferrying Vickers Wellingtons
and at the very end of the war he served with and at the very end of the war he served with
No. 147 Squadron as a transport pilot. He No. 147 Squadron as a transport pilot. He
returned to Czechoslovakia in August 1945 and returned to Czechoslovakia in August 1945 and
served with the Army Transport Group until served with the Army Transport Group until
1946. He then joined Czechoslovakian Airlines. 1946. He then joined Czechoslovakian Airlines.
After February 1948, he became one of the pilots After February 1948, he became one of the pilots
who carried out a coordinated emigration with who carried out a coordinated emigration with
the use of three transport aircraft. He returned the use of three transport aircraft. He returned
to the UK and rejoined the Royal Air Force. to the UK and rejoined the Royal Air Force.
He died on July 27, 2008 in New Zealand. He was He died on July 27, 2008 in New Zealand. He was
promoted in memoriam to the rank of Colonel promoted in memoriam to the rank of Colonel
in 1991. An interesting feature of Spitfire Mk.Vb in 1991. An interesting feature of Spitfire Mk.Vb
EP785, which Ladislav Světlík flew regularly EP785, which Ladislav Světlík flew regularly
in the spring of 1943, is the depiction of the in the spring of 1943, is the depiction of the
No. 312 Squadron emblem on the tank cover. No. 312 Squadron emblem on the tank cover.
The emblem is not known to have been drawn The emblem is not known to have been drawn
on any other Mk.Vb Spitfire serving with the on any other Mk.Vb Spitfire serving with the
unit.unit.
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October 2026