The Airmen's Stories - P/O K J Vykoukal

Karel Jan Vykoukal was born at Chotebor, Czechoslovakia on 20th December 1916. He was in the Czech Air Force when the Germans took over his country on 15th March 1939. He later escaped to Poland and joined the Czech Air Force contingent there.

When Poland fell, he went to France and joined l'Armee de 1'Air in late 1939. In June 1940 he made his way to England and was commissioned in the RAF on 12th July.

Vykoukal arrived at 6 OTU Sutton Bridge from RAF Duxford on 17th August. After converting to Hurricanes he joined 111 Squadron on 12th September and then moved to 73 Squadron on the 25th.

He was killed on a sortie over France on 21st May 1942 as a Flight Lieutenant with 41 Squadron.

He was killed whilst flying in Spitfire Vb BL998 which was shot down by flak over the Seine Estuary on an anti-shipping patrol.

Vykoukal is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, panel 66.

Above image courtesy of Dean Sumner.