The Airmen's Stories - F/Lt. J M Maly

Jaroslav Maly was born in Prague on 17th July 1905. He was serving in the Czech Air Force when the Germans took over his country on 15th March 1939. He was demobilised two days later and in June went to Poland and joined the Czech Air Force there.

When Poland fell he made his way to France and joined the Armee de l'Air in late 1939 (below).

After the French collapse in June 1940, Maly escaped to England and joined 310 Squadron at Duxford at its formation on 10th July. Maly was commissioned in the RAF on the 13th. He claimed a Me109 destroyed on 31st August and returned to base damaged after the combat over the Thames Estuary.

On 29th October, whilst formating for a wing patrol, Maly collided with P/O E Fechtner. He made a forced-landing near Duxford, injured. Fechtner was killed.

Maly died on 5th June 1941. He was then serving as a Wing Commander with the Inspectorate of the Czech Air Force. Perhaps unsettled by the death of Fechtner, he took his own life in the Cumberland Hotel in London.

Maly is buried in Brookwood Military Cemetery.