Czech Pilot in The Battle of Britain

Battle of Britain aside, staying in Britain and avoiding the Soviet Union messing up his own country was perhaps his best decision.

He didn’t stay in Britain, he came back here in 1948 after the communist coup.

So many czechs with us in late ’40 – so few qualified.

= Tim

The saddest part of the article is that this isn’t about honoring the man so much as making sure to make the most money when auctioning his logbook and medals. Connect him to the Battle and the value goe up.

I hate that.

The log book entries appear to have been faked then..?

Hi Jerry,
Normally I would agree.
However i think you would feel differently if you saw the log book.
The AHB records are reliable as well.
Gerry

Hi
Well I think most of the records need sometime to be taken with a pinch of salt, there are many occasions where the Sqn diaries are not exactly right.

One I recall is the recorded non op flight of a lancaster that crashed on dartmoor, one of the recovery crew recalled rolling a full bombload down the hillside, as did a farmer.

And as most now there are many instances of wrong serials in Sqn diaries.

Personally I vote for the guys pilot logbook.

cheers
Jerry

Battle of Britain aside, staying in Britain and avoiding the Soviet Union messing up his own country was perhaps his best decision.

So it’s his word against theirs? presumably this must have happened at some point, afterall it’s in the film, so it must be true!

Its a little more complicated than that….!

On the face of it, he was with operational squadrons in the right period. However, he was with a “Training Flight” on those Czech squadrons where some pilots were not yet declared operational although some in the same squadron were already operational. He is not shown as having flown any operational flights in the squadron ORB, although in his logbook he states that he was diverted from training flights to engage the enemy. Unfortunately, there is nothing else to substantiate his own logbook entries and given the lack of any corroborative evidence it is not likely, at this stage, that he will ever be listed as an accredited Battle of Britain pilot.

I think thats about the gist of it.

Thanks for the clarification, I suppose the the only conclusion one could draw, is that entries in the log book either match or don’t match sqn records.

I am wholly certain that the position set out by Gerry Burke and the BofB Fighter Association, AHB etc etc is the correct one. I am sure that Gerry will elaborate.

When the story first emerged (and long before its publication yesterday) there was a prima facie case for his inclusion. Now, it seems that there is no evidence (at least, none that has come to light) to support Kimlicka’s ‘claim’ to have been a Battle of Britain pilot; ie having flown at least one operational flight with an accredited squadron within the period 10 July to 31October 1940. I am sure that if any such confirmatory evidence later emerged then he would be considered. As it is, there is none.

Could you elaborate on that?

Hi all,

I have been fortunate to assist Ken Wynn and the Fighter Association with the new edition of Men of the Battle of Britain.
I have been asked to post the following statement.

“The Battle of Britain Memorial trust (following discussions with Air historical branch(RAF) and the Battle of Britain Fighter Association) will not be putting Squadron Leader Kimlicka in the new edition of Wynn3.”

Having seen the pictures of the log book entry and comparing it to records of other 310 squadron personnel that I have I can see why they have come to this decision.
Gerry

P/O Bohuslav Kimlicka RAF No 82553.

Prewar CzAF in 6th Air Regiment. With FAF 1939-40 serving with ELD Chartres, GC II/10 on Blochs and GC I/6 On Moranes then to UK. Posted 310 Sqn from August 1940 but in September 1940 went to 312 Sqn for a week. Posted to 313 Sqn in September 1942 becoming B Flight leader. Second tour 310 Sqn June 1943. B Flight leader 24/9/43 succeeding V Chocholin. Relaced by V Raba 6/12/43 for rest. Returned 310 Sqn in January 1944 finishing second tour the same month. Rest of war with Czechoslovak Inspectorate General. Emigrated UK 1948.

Could he have been serving under a false name and that name is on the memorial. Is it possible to tell what name the medal was issued to.

So is he or not?
interesting artical and I would bet many more could be considered operational during the Battle.
Now steer 230 and follow me