The Airmen's Stories - Sgt. K Korber

Karel Korber was born in Pecs, Czechoslovakia on 26th October 1917. He was in the Czech Air Force when the Germans took over Czechoslovakia on 15th March 1939. He later escaped to France and joined L'Armee de l'Air, being allocated to Groupe de Chasse II/3.

On the 3rd March 1940 he was injured when his Morane 406 was shot down at Toul. On 21st May he shared in the destruction of a He111 from 1(F)/121 but five days later his Morane 406 was shot down at Villers-Bocage, he escaped unhurt.

Still with GC II/3, he was flying a Dewotine 520 on 8th June when it was shot down by flak near Montlhery. He was again unhurt and made his way to England, being sent 6 OTU Sutton Bridge from RAF Cosford on 21st September. After converting to Hurricanes he was posted to 32 Squadron at Acklington on 9th October.

Korber was killed on 3rd May 1943 as a Warrant Officer with 310 Squadron. His aircraft was observed in the Guernsey/Sept Isles area, with the engine stopped. He was seen to bale out into the sea. Another Czech pilot circled above him and believed him to be all right. He was never found and is presumed to have drowned.

Korber is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 134.

He was the first Czech to be awarded the Croix de Guerre (France).

(Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner).