Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
Hello again,
Another question! I'm trying to find a definitive answer to the above question, i.e. what medals and awards did Sgt Josef Frantisek have? The DFM & Bar and 39-45 star with the BoB clasp are the easy bit, along with the Virtuti Militari 5th Class. However, there are also reports of him having won the Polish Valour Cross with three bars and the French Croix De Guerre. I also read somewhere on the net that he won several Czech awards from the Czech Government in Exile, but I can't get a definitive answer. Please can anyone answer this one for me please or at least point me at a source that can help? Many thanks, Jon |
Re: Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
Hello,
just use google: http://www.epsomandewellhistoryexplo...Frantisek.html http://pl.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Franti%C5%A1ek It seems that you will find more at: Jiří Rajlich: "Josef František" w: Lotnictwo Wojskowe nr 2/1999, s. 49 regards |
Re: Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
Thanks very much for the links.
I found the first link when I did my own trawl, but it seems to be incomplete compared to other sources. However, the Polish Wikipedia seems to have more info. The other site I found (which lists even more awards) is this one. http://www.cieldegloire.com/002t_frantisek_j.php As you can see, there seem to be a few differing opinions, hence my request for a definitive source! Regards, Jon |
Re: Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
Československý válečný kříž (25.11.1940)
Virtuti Militari 5th Class (18.9.1940) three times Krzyz Waleczny (21.9.1939, 18.9.1940, 1.2.1941) Croix de Guerre (unconfirmed) DFM and bar (11.9.1940, 4.10.1940) The 1939-1945 Star with Battle of Britain Clasp |
Re: Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
Thank you very much for this info Michal. Please can you tell me the source?
Many thanks, Jon |
Re: Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
Vojenské osobnosti československého odboje 1939-1945. Praha : Ministerstvo obrany ČR - AVIS, 2005. ISBN 80-7278-233-9 (váz.)
This book was published by Czech Defence Ministry with cooperation of Military Historical Institutes Czech Republic and Slovak Republic. First Class Information... |
Re: Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
Thanks again Michal.
Jon |
Re: Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
Michel,
How can one obtain a copy of the book? Do any bookstores with an Internet presence carry it? Frank. |
Re: Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
As far as I know the book is (was) distributed free of charge. The book is not in any bookstore and could be ordered only directly from (for example) Military Historical Institute Prague (see http://www.vhu.cz/en/). The book is both in printing version and on CD. I have got a CD version. And I am not sure if this book is not totally out. Maybe Jiri from TOCH could tell you more.
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Re: Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
Hello again.
Sorry to drag-up my old post, but I'm having a bit of trouble with this one! I orginally said "The DFM & Bar and 39-45 star with the BoB clasp are the easy bit" but now I'm not so sure! Frantisek's DFM is easy to find in the London Gazette http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34958/pages/5791 on 1 Oct 1940 but I can't find his alleged bar to the DFM anywhere in the Gazette. I know that the search feature isn't too good on the Gazette site, but I've looked at all the alleged dates of the award that I can find, but no joy. Can anyone help with this one please? Thanks, Jon |
Re: Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
A book about Sgt Josef Frantisek, DFM and bar just published (in English)
Title:Hurricane Ace Josef František: The True StoryAuthor:Jiří RajlichPublisherMushroom Model PublicationsPriceŁ13.99Reviewer:Scott Van AkenNotes:7109 in the blue series, 144 pages ISBN 978-83-89450-71-5 http://modelingmadness.com/scotts/bo.../frantisek.htm |
Re: Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
Thanks Jiri, I've been waiting for this book for ages so I'm glad that its now in print!
Jon |
Re: Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
Josef Frantisek was awarded by following medals:
Distinguished Flying Medal - gazetted 1 Oct 1940 but not received personally as he was killied in accident on 8 Oct 1940 (members of No 303 Sqdn were decorated by previously gazetted RAF decorations during Dec 1940). Distinguished Medal and Bar - 28 Oct 1940 Krzyz Walecznych (Polish War Cross) - posthum 1 July 1941 Virtuti Militari V. kl. - Krzyz Srebrny (Silver Cross of the Order "To Military Valour", a Poland's highest military decoration for courage in the face of the enemy) - awarded 17 Sept 1940, a sole award which was personaly decorated during his life (by General Sikorski, Northolt 18 Sept 1940) Ceskoslovensky valecny kriz (Czechoslovak War Cross) - posthum 25 Nov 1940 All of these decorations were send to family after the WW2. Many secondary sources also states that he was awarded also by French Croix de Guerre. According French sources (Journal Officiel - "French London Gazette") there are no trace about any French decoration to Frantisek. |
Re: Czech Pilot Josef Frantisek - What Medals?
Thanks for the summary of his awards Jiri.
I bought your book about Frantisek and I found it facinating. The section dealing with Frantisek's time in France was very interesting. There are lots of conflicting stories about that period of his life, so your research and conclusions are the first well researched account of that time that I've read. Thank you for your time and effort in writing the book and I thoroughly recommend it to anyone else on the forum and anyone interested in this remarkable airman. Jon |
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