1.2.1927 - First RAF Squadron

Hundreds of Czechoslovaks passed through the Royal Air Force (RAF). Thirty of them belonged to the 1st Fighter Squadron, which was disbanded in the autumn of 1926, but was re-established on 1 February the following year.

This squadron was the oldest and one of the most famous units of the RAF. It was formed in 1912 and has operated virtually continuously to this day, except for the aforementioned hiatus of about a quarter of a year. The first Czechoslovak soldiers were assigned to it at the height of the Battle of Britain 10. In less than two years until 25th July 1942, thirty of them joined the squadron. Such a large number of our soldiers, if we except the 68th Squadron, had not passed through any other British unit.

This also applies to the number of certain kills admitted, which was 33, no other RAF unit where Czechoslovaks served could compete with this group. Almost half of these victories were scored by the airmen during night actions. Members of the 1st Squadron flew mainly during the day, but occasionally helped out at night. This was between 1940 and 1941, when night fighter aviation was in its infancy. Help was needed mainly in the night defence of Great Britain. Such actions were called Fighter Night and the pilots were not very enthusiastic about them. "Flying Hurricane and Spitfire aircraft, which could not be fitted with on-board radars, the flames from the high"The pilots were excessively dazzled by the flames," write Jiří Rajlich and Jiří Sehnal in a book about RAF night fighters.

When visibility was poor or, paradoxically, burning cities did not improve their orientation, pilots could not achieve much success. In May 1941, our soldiers made up almost half of the 1st Squadron's personnel and the decision was made to form A Squadron, which was declared Czechoslovak. "It was headed by Antonín Velebovský until his death. The first night successes of the squadron date back to that time," Rajlich and Sehnal add.

A turning point in its activities came on 1 July 1941, when it was moved from Redhill in Sussex County to Tangmere, about five kilometres northeast of the picturesque Chichester. She remained there for a year, during which time she recorded good results. At the new location, the 1st Squadron was given the night defence of Portsmouth and Southampton harbours. The pilots therefore immediately began practising night flying and changed tactics several times. On 9 July 1942, the unit was moved to Acklington, where it was to be rearmed.

Our most successful representative in the RAF ranks was Karel Kuttelwascher, who was called "Kut". He was also a member of 1 Squadron. On night action he flew exclusively in his personal machine and after his first successes he had the right side of his motorof the engine cowling, he also painted a personal emblem - a yellow axis overlaid with a red flag with the inscription Night Reaper. It was fitting, as he wreaked havoc over German airfields at night. He was twice awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, a high British air decoration. Thanks to his successes during night operations, he climbed to the top of the Czechoslovak fighter aces. He shot down over two dozen enemies.

Sources: www.pinterest.com.mx, www.britmodeller.com, www.nam.ac.uk, Cat's Eyes: Czechoslovak Night Fighters in the RAF 1940-1945 (Jiří Rajlich and Jiří Sehnal)