[Michal]

No 310, 312 and No 313 (Cz) Squadrons were led by W/Cdr Tomáš Vybíral. During flight to target Allied Planes were attacked unsuccesfully by Bf 109s. Over Target Czechoslovak Squadrons were attacked by eight Fw 190s of I./JG 26.

Spitfire Mk. IX MJ558 piloted by W/O Arnošt Mrtvý, No. 313 (Cz) Squadron, was last seen at 18:53 some 10 miles north of Bruxelles. Later W/O Arnošt Mrtvý was burried by Germans in Schoonselhof Graveyard by Antwerpen (Grave No. IVa-C-7).

In fact his plane crashed in Herentals, Belgium.

Before WW2 he was one of Czechoslovak Pilots trained in so called "1000 nových pilotů" (1000 New Pilots) Project. Until March 1939 he served in Letecký pluk 2 (Air Regiment 2) in Olomouc as Pilot of Letov Š-328. Together with 3 Friends he escaped from occupated Bohemia and Moravia on July 1 1939. He crossed border to Poland. I n Poland he promised to served in Foreign Legion and hw was sent with other by SS Kastelholm from Polish Port Gdynia to French Port Calais on July 26 1939. Being in Foreign Legion he was after beginning of WW2 transferred to French Air Force but didn´t finish Pilot Training before evacution from France. He left French Port Bordeaux on deck of SS Arry Scheffer which docked on June 23 1940 in Falmouth. He was trained in RAF in No 24 (Communication) Squadron, No 2 School of Army-Cooperation and No 52 OTU.

From April 14 1941 he served as member of No 257 Squadron, from July 20 1941 in No 65 Squadron. On August 22 1941 he was transferred to newly created No 313 (Cz) Squadron. On September 8 1941 he was married.

W/O Mrtvý damaged his plane by strafing Morlaix A/F on September 28 1941. He was able with damaged propeller and wing of his Spitfire Mk. IIA P7973, RY-H, (he hit telegraph pole) succesfully landed at Predannack A/F. For this achievement he was decorated by Československá medaile za chrabrost (Czechoslovak Medal for Bravery) on November 14 1941.

He had bad landing on November 11 1941 in Portreath A/F. During training flight (Spitfire Mk.VB AD192, RY-K) he was to long during landing that he hit civil truck behind perimeter. Co-driver of truck died immediately, driver in hospital. W/O Mrtvý was in bad psychical condition and he was put out of flying for some time.

On March 11 1944 he had an engine defect that´s why he was able to force land in Spitfire LF.Mk.IXC MK173 by Reasby, not far from Mendlesham A/F, Suffolkshire.

Arnošt Mrtvý was born on January 12 1916 in Hrdibořice, District of Prostějov, Moravia, contemporary Czech Republic.

Spitfire LF.Mk. IXC MK248 (DU-R) piloted by F/Lt Bohuslav Budil, No. 310 (Cz) Squadron, was last seen at 18:55 South of Mallines. After attack of German Fighters his drop tank was burning. Later was known that he succesfully bailed out and was taken POW by Germans. Budil was liberated from POW Camp Stalag Luft 1 Barth in May 1 1945 by Red Army.

In fact his plane crashed 3 km South of Zarren by Diksmuide.

Gruppenkommandeur I./JG 26 Major Karl Borris almost sure shot down F/Lt Budil and Staffelkapitaen 4./JG 26 Oblt. Wolfgang Neu almost sure shot down W/O Mrtvý.

Sources: Jiří Rajlich: Na nebi hrdého Albionu. Part 5, P. 219nn and Part 7, P. 284-285, 305-306, 649, 658nn.

His short Bibliography was published by Jiří Rajlich: Československý Spitfire z Herentals. Historie a vojenství 58, 2009, P. 118-121.