The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. M Kopecky

Miroslav Kopecky was born on 12th August 1911 in Hrejkovice, south of Prague, Czechoslovakia. He joined the Czech Air Force in 1929, training at Prostejov and qualifying in 1931 as an NCO pilot.

After the Germans took over Czechoslovakia in March 1939 Kopecky was demobilised. He escaped to Poland and later went to France.

Following the outbreak of war, he joined l’Armée de l’Air and in the fighting of May 1940 he served with GC I/55.

When France fell, Kopecky made his way to England and was enlisted in the RAFVR. He was one of the fourteen pilots who joined 310 Squadron at Duxford from the Czech Depot at Cosford on 6th August 1940.

He was detached to 6 OTU Sutton Bridge from Duxford on 17th August 1940. After converting to Hurricanes he was posted to 111 Squadron at Drem on 12th September.

Above: 111 Squadron at Drem, September 1940

Rear four: P/O KJ Vykoukal, P/O RJW Brown, F/O JA Walker DFC, P/O JK Kay

Mid five: P/O J Poplawski, P/O R Atkinson, unknown, Sgt. AD Page, P/O S Stegman,

Seated: Sgt. M Kopecky

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Kopecky moved to 253 Squadron at Kenley on the 25th and remained with it until May 1941, when he was posted away to instruct.

His subsequent service is currently undocumented though it is known that he was commissioned in late 1941. He was released from the RAF after the war and returned to Czechoslovakia. Like many other Czech pilots he left his country in 1948 after the Communist coup.

Kopecky settled in Rhodesia and died there on 19th August 1983.