Foreign Officers in post war RAF service ?

Hello Jarolav

thank you for your very informative reply.
here are a couple of photos of the very man, pictures taken from the internet so i hope not copyright.

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Yes the Uniform is 1950’s

i will PM you

Jules

Hello,
I’m intrigued that you have Vojtěch Smolík’s service tunic, and yes I can provide some information about him. He was my “uncle”, (actually he married my mother’s cousin, but he was always an uncle to me). My parents left Czechoslovakia in 1946 and “declined” instructions to return after the communist coup. I was born in Cyprus.

He served in the Czechoslovak air force before the war. He had a reputation as an aerobatic flyer and on several occasions flew alongside František Novák (a flying legend in the 30s) at aerobatic displays. After Munich and the German invasion, he escaped, via Poland (I think, but am not sure about this chapter of his life). He served with the French air force in Syria initially, but was then transferred to France where he took part in the short lived defence against the German blitzkrieg. When France fell, he came to England and served in 312 (Czechoslovak) squadron in the RAF. He took part in the Battle of Britain, and flew in support of both the Dieppe raid and Operation Overlord.

At the end of the war, he commanded B flight when 312 squadron re-located to Czechoslovakia and formed one of the building blocks of the post war Czechoslovak air force. The squadron ceased to be part of the RAF in early 1946. Vojta was promoted and given charge of the air force training school in Olomouc (where he met and married my mother’s cousin). After the communist coup in 1948 he was warned by a friend in the police force “… do you remember that holiday you took about 10 years ago? It might be a good idea to pay that place a visit sooner than later.” He took the hint and left the next morning, expecting to be able to get his wife out later. It never happened and they never saw each other again. She divorced him, after coming under intense pressure from the communist authorities, and actually never made contact with my mother’s side of the family again.

He returned to the UK and was allowed to re-enlist in the RAF, but not as a commissioned officer. As far as I’m aware, none of the former Czechoslovaks who returned to the RAF were given officer status. There were numerous explanations, including the one given in the post above. He felt that the British authorities didn’t trust anyone from a country that was, by then, behind the iron curtain. Vojtech served in Cyprus, RAF Bovington (no longer there) and even did a couple of years on Gan. When he left the RAF in the late sixties, he worked for a number of years for BOAC. He died in Pinner, Middx in 1991. He buried in the post war veterans’ section of Brookwood cemetery.

I would guess that the jacket you have is one that he wore just after his return to the RAF after the communist coup. It doesn’t have all his decorations. It would explain the king’s crown too.
Medal ribbons:-
I recognise,
Top row Dfc, 39-45 Star with BoB clasp
bottom row
? , War Medal 1939–1945, French Croix de Guerre with oak leaf cluster, Váleční kříž (War cross)
I know he also had Za chrabrost před nepřítelem
 [For gallantry against the enemy] and Za Zásluhy (for service)
I’m pretty sure he also had the British Defence Medal. There were others, but I can’t remember them.
I’m no expert, but it seems to me that the ribbons have been sewn on in a bit of a haphazard fashion.
In conclusion, may I ask how you came to have/be offered my uncle’s old tunic?
Regards
Jaroslav (John) Andel

I notice that he kept the King’s Crown on his wings as opposed to changing it to the Queen’s crown as shown on the Tate and Lyle MACr badge. I wonder if this was the accepted form based upon date of award or if it was a snook being cocked at dress regulations?

great, thanks FL517

that ties in nicely.

Jules

The mystery ribbon is the French Croix de Guerre with bronze palm.

While I agree the ribbon second from right looks American (especially with its oak leaf cluster type device), I couldn’t find it during a quick look on a medals chart.

No, really annoyingly whilst surfing the net today I came across a Czech website listing all the Aces of the Czech squadrons and that red and green ribbon was illustrated, but upon clicking on a link I lost it, just could not find it again, however it is defiantly a Czech medal.
Job for tonight !

While I agree the ribbon second from right looks American (especially with its oak leaf cluster type device), I couldn’t find it during a quick look on a medals chart.

Glad to help Jules!

Thanks Dave

that really interesting and very useful.

regards

Jules

I sent a link to this thread to my friend Zdenek Hurt in Prague who researches Czechoslovaks in the RAF. He says:

“About W/O V. Smolik´s suit I´ve got a report already yesterday. He was really ranked F/Lt. when released from RAF in 1945. When escaped in 1948 and rejoined RAF he was offered only as Pilot 4 and then went up with his ranks as NCO until 1968 or so and gained W/O in his service final. Smolik´s fate in post-war RAF (concerning much lowered rank obtained) isn´t a big exception amongst other Czech ex-RAF involved. For sample, Karel Posta DFC who went across border to the West in 1948 started his service with 17(AAC) Sqdn. on Spit 16s as Pilot 2. After his exceptional performance in 1950 at Farnborough he obtained back his final wartime rank F/Lt. soon.”

Dave Smith

Thank you Both, that’s some very interesting background.

any more information on Flt Lt Vojtech Smolik DFC would be welcome, he is wearing the 1939-43 star with the BoB rosette, though he is not listed as flying through the BoB ?

Cheers

Jules

He may be one of those who returned to Czechoslavakia after the war and was a senior officer in the new Czech air force. They had to hastily get out when the Russians took over and rejoined the RAF. As I understand it they could not become commissioned officers because their names would appear on the London Gazette and the Russians would arrest their families.

The position of many Poles was a little bit similar, some had families still in what had been Poland, but which was now part of Ukraine.

A very complex situation as Poland had taken about a 50 mile step westward, with the Russians taking a slice of the east, and Poland taking back part of Germany which Hitler had annexed.

President Putin is taking advantage of this situation now, some of these countries were constructed after WW1 in the same manner as the Ottoman Middle East was parcelled out amongst the Bedouin potentates who had aided the Allies. This has caused the current problems.

The ‘mystery’ medal is definitely American. I’m pretty sure it’s some form of USAAC efficiency or commendation or air medal. The bronze oak leaf signifies a second award. So your man spent some time flying with the US, possibly as an instructor. I found it quite quickly via google images although I got bored scanning through all the various web sites looking for the decode. Good luck!

sorry i’ll add the photo !

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ok, so here’s the thing, i have been offered this named Czech pilots tunic, however he is listed as a Flt Lt Vojtech Smolik DFC, however the tunic is just post war and has these ‘Master Aircrew’ rank badges, i believe he stayed on in the RAF until 1950’s.
what is the medal second from right on the bottom row ?

anyone have any further information please ?

regards

Jules

I believe that this was (nearly) the case but it also depended on whether they wanted to stay flying or join a ground branch. In the latter case the chances of them retaining officer status were greater. The RAF training machine was still churning out new (young) aircrew in abundance, all of whom had to go somewhere. And in many cases the Polish & Czech officers were considerably older and the RAF could not afford demographic troughs in the years ahead. I understand that quite a few experienced Poles & Czechs were welcomed by civilian flying organisations working MOD contracts such as Marshalls, Flight Refueling and Martin Baker etc so the question of rank was irrelevant.

Also, it’s worth remembering that similarly harsh rules were applied to UK citizens holding acting rank. Most were immediately reverted to their substantive rank so it was not uncommon to be a Wing Commander on Monday and Pilot Officer by Friday! I once met a guy who finished the war as an acting Flt Lt with DFC on low level intruder Mosquitos. He left the RAF post war but couldn’t settle so rejoined. All they would offer him was NCO operations clerk. I believe he saw out his service on Gan in the Indian Ocean where he spent most of his time sailing. HTH.