The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. J Rechka

Josef Rechka was in the Czech Air Force when the Germans took over his country on March 15th 1939. He later went to Poland and joined the Czech Air Force there. When Poland fell he made his way to France and enlisted in the Armee de l'Air in late 1939. After the French collapse in June 1940, Rechka went to England and enlisted in the RAF.

He joined 310 Squadron at Duxford at its formation on July 10th and shared in the destruction of a He111 on September 15th.

He returned to Czechoslovakia after the war and became a pilot with Czech Airlines. In 1950 Rechka escaped to England with his family and two other Czech airline pilots, Kaucky and Prchal, and their families. Rechka died in Britain in 1984 and is buried at Brookwood alongside his wartime Czech comrades.