The Airmen's Stories - P/O J E Hybler

Josef Emil Hybler was born on September 18th 1913 in Prague and joined the Czech Air Force at Prostejov on September 29th 1932. He trained as an observer, serving in 2/1 and 1/1 Squadrons from June 1933 to September 1935. He then went to the Military Academy until July 1937. He had his civilian flying licence before he began military pilot training on August 1st 1937. In March 1938 he was posted to III/4 Fighter Squadron of the 4th Regiment at Pardubice. Hybler escaped to Cracow, Poland in June 1939 and in mid-August he arrived in France. After joining the Armee de l'Air, he was posted to Chartres on October 10th to train on French aircraft. On May 10th 1940 Hybler joined Groupe de Chasse II/2 at Laon. The unit retreated via Paris and Chateaudun and ended up at Chissey. After the French collapse, Hybler flew south. He left his aircraft at Montpelier and on June 20th went by coach to Port Vendres and boarded a ship for Oran. Hybler went by train to Casablanca, got on a ship to Gibraltar and then sailed in a convoy to Liverpool, arriving there on July 12th.

He went to a reception centre at RAF Cosford, was commissioned in the RAF on August 2nd and on September 28th he was posted to 6 OTU, Sutton Bridge to convert to Hurricanes. Hybler joined 310 Squadron at Duxford on October 15th. He stayed with the squadron until April 28th 1942, when he was posted to 234 Squadron at Portreath. He moved to 286 Squadron on September 14th and then went to 57 OTU, Eshott, as an instructor.

He was posted to RAF Coltishall on Flying Control on January 10th 1944. Hybler remained on control duties, at Fairwood Common, Castle Camps and other stations before his release in August 1945, when he returned to Czechoslovia.

He rejoined the Czech Air Force but was dismissed in the 1948 Communist putsch. Arrested in 1949 he was tried and sentenced to 20 years imprisonment. He was released in 1960 but allowed to do only menial jobs until 1966, when he became a teacher of languages.

In 1968 Hybler went to England. The Russians marched into Czechoslovakia and he did not go back. He settled in England and became a technical author for Lucas Industries. He died on January 9th 1984 and is buried at Brookwood alongdside his Czech comrades.