Spitfire accident records of 65 and 257 RAF Sqns

[Marcellus]

I am digging into the live of W/O Arnost Mrtvy who died in Belgium on 19 April 1944 during a bomber escort mission above Brussels and Mechelen (Malines).
Arnost ended up in 313 Sqn after a passage through 65 and 257 Sqn. On 11.11.1941 he had an landing accident in which 2 British civilians died. However according to a report from the Czech Inspectorate General in London this was not his first flying accident. However, I am not able to reconstruct the previous flying accidents assuming of course that these happened in 65 and/or in 257 Sqn.
Is there anybody out there that could help me with this?

Thanks in advance,

Marcellus

[paulmcmillan]

P7530 65 Sqn, Kirton-in-Lindsey Cat C. Taxied into dispersal pen. Sheer carelessness pilot grounded, does not understand English 19.8.41 (17:15), Sgt Mrtvy 78787 safe;

AD192 313.Sqn, Portreath 1145 hrs. Cat C. High altitude formation flight. Overshot with flaps up, failed to stop collided with lorry 12.11.41 (11:45), Sgt A Mrtvy 787187 (Czech) safe;

MJ558 313.Sqn, Escort for B-26, shot down in combat with Fw190 of JG26 and Me110 near Malines (now Mechelen), Belgium 19.4.44 (evening), W/O A MRTVY killed (buried in Schoonselhof Cemetery, Antwerp, Belgium)

[David Sumerauer]

Hello,

in excellent Henry Boot and Ray Sturtivant book Gifts of War, Presentation Aircraft' in Two World Wars (ISBN 0 85130 248 3) is identified one of Sgt Mrtvy crashes, I presume the one on August 16, 1941 and not the one given above. The name of pilot is misspelled.
I don't have the book with me right now but I presume someone can easily check for details. Please refer to the index of pilots in the book under the misspelled name of Mrtyv

Regards. David

[Marcellus]

Hello David and Paul,
thanks a lot for the quick update. I will try to get a hand on the book somewhere somehow.
On the P7530 65 Sqn, Kirton-in-Lindsey Cat C accident dated 19.8.41 is there a way to get more details or do I need to get into the Operational Records and get to London? Sorry if I am asking perhaps clumsy questions but I am just new here!
I have the full details on the accident in 313 Sqn but the report of the Czech Inspectorate General speaks about more then the 1 accident then the 65 Sqn accident. As he passed in 24 Sqn from 29.08.40 till 3.5.41 and N1 ??? from 3.5.41 till 21.5.41 and 52 OTU from 4.6.41 till 14.7.41, there might be some more references? Any ideas, suggestions??

Cheers,

Marc

[David Sumerauer]

Hello Marcellus,

I finaly got to my Sturtivant book and can correct my information given before. Page 218

August 17, 1941
Spitfire IIa, P8165
presentation aircraft "MARY P LYLE, LUCK"

.. on 17 August Sgt A. Mrtyv (!) (Czechoslovak) undershot landing at North Coates Fitties and hit a ridge on the boundary tearing the undercarrige legs off on returning from operational flight .. Category C damage

Regards. David

[VoyTech]

I presume after "Dark Blue World" everybody is well aware that "mrtvy" means "dead" in Czech...

Both 65 Sqn accidents (P8165 on 17/8/41 and P7530 on 19/8/41) seem to have been recorded for Sgt Mrtvy 787187, but in one case the name and in the other the service number were misspelled (78787 would have been an RAF VR officer's number).

I think I might have a scan of a photo of AD192 RY-K.
IIRC the pic was published in Zdenek Hurt's book "Czechs in the RAF".

Why is it W/O Mrtvy you're interested in?

[Marcellus]

David,
VoyTech,
thanks both for the update. Mrtvy's RAFVR number was indeed 78787. I have the book 'Czechs in the RAF' and I have pictures of the crash when he was in 313 Sqn to which you are refering to.
Why I am doing this?
Well, the BEL institute for veterans wants to bring back memories of Allied soldiers who died on Belgian soil to live through a facebook page. As most are taking USA, Commonwealth and Belgian soldiers, airmen, etc I wanted to emphasise that a lot of other nations have made the ultimate sacrifice.
I am just starting to put all the bits and pieces together with great help out of the Czech Republic. I am planning to come back to the forum to find out more details on RAMROD 753 to Malines Marshalling area on 19.04.1944 and trying to find out why he was shot down approx 35 to 40 Km behind the bombing area? Still escorting bombers on the way back??

Cheers and thanks again,

Marc

[VoyTech]

Marc,
Either it's a misspelling again or you're wrong.
78787 (five digit number) was that of a commissioned officer.
Czech NCOs and WOs had six digit numbers. Mrtvy's no. was 787187.