RAF Pilot Reunited With The Spitfire | Forces TV
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- Опубліковано 25 лип 2016
- One of the last surviving pilots from Czechoslovakia that served in the RAF during the Second World War has taken to the skies once again. General Emil Bocek paid a visit to Biggin Hill recently and was given the chance to fly in a Spitfire for the first time in more than 70 years.
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"One last dance, old friend."
Yeah me too
*hand tapping the canopy*
That hit really hard for some reason, beautiful.
:'(
That gave me the chills and such feels as well :(
Veteran: ,,Can i take control now?''
Pilot: ,,Sure''
Veteran,,Thanks''
Veteran: *Removes gunsafety and heads to the next Lufthansa Jet*
Lmfaoooo
HAHAHAAAHAA YOU MADE MY DAY!!
:-) Schwer zu finden zur zeit
Lauch 43 how original
Bwhahaha! Old habits are hard to unlearn, they say...
General Boček, the last of the Czech RAF pilots, has died today at the age of 100 years. Rest in peace 🖤
Czechoslovak !
unbelieavable how youthful he looks! and how happy he apparently is to get this ride in spitfire
true hero
It's being near the bird again. In New Zealand one was restored some years ago and the guy who did it (the nephew of Al Deer) said an old man bent over with age walked into the workshop and moments later he was standing tall.
Love it.
you disgust me. you and everyone like you.
Loftworthy Yea he did..Only your beloved democrats are going to destroy European populations by forcibly injecting them with unassimilated backward populations that will outnumber and eventually making them a minority in their countries..
So what did he fought against for really..?
Your obsession and ignorance with fascism or the eventual enslavement of Europe to Islam?
Why don't you abuse the Arab countries that do not take in a single migrant. Its ok for you to want to keep your country for your own people except if its a European nation. The way its going Europe will no longer be Europe in 50 years you idiot. I agree with Ermias75 Ermis.
His voice still sounds pretty damn good and his wits are about him: he can fly. I want to age like him
Lossiemouth Beach There's a saying that, "God does not count against a pilot the time he spends in the air!" 💛
All the asbestos and lead in their diet helped with longevity.
My guess would be a rural situation in CZ
93 years old, smiling, waving, speed walking, and making a short speech about his flight in clear perfect english, what an absolute chad
The highest marks of respect for Czech pilots, our brothers in arms, from Poland :)
Brother's in arms don't take parts of each other like Poland did.
@@neinnein9306 Yes i agree the Chechs shouldn't have stolen Zaolzie
Don't forget the Slovaks!
@@seeb4486 we didnt really steal it, it was formaly divided mostly to us Czechs, in ww2 it was taken over by Poland
@@Wapak95 i dont know if you are slovak but, slovakia kinda backstabbed us czech people you know
True freedom fighters... I've got unlimited respect for these people...
i have respect for all soldiers also germans. If you dont u are not better ;)
It's ok. Not all German soldiers were psychotic fucks. Actually most of them were forced into service just like my great grandfather.
+Nicholas Knightley Watch 'The Greatest Story Never Told' and have a look at things from the other point of view. No side was guiltless, it was not black and white, all sides had innocent blood on their hands.
It's the nature of the war. That's why we should avoid the war at all cost it only brings the worst from us.
So in other words, don't protect your country or family. Brilliant! now go crawl back under that flat rock again.
"Over the battlefield, brave men, long way from home. You are the chosen ones, sent to the sky to die.."
I read Sabaton i Upvote.
Which song is that?
Aces in the exile
Tell their story again, tell of 310.
Men from Czechoslovakia in the Battle of Britain
Guarding the skies of the isle!
fighter pilot in exile
Thank you to all British people who comprise our pilot an impressive monument. Here in the Czech Republic, unfortunately, does not bind veterans. And my grandfather loved you and spitfire.
Maro Shinigami British * not English
Give him a break... for many in the rest of the world English = British...
Love, a Welshman!
Of course... if an Englishman were to call me English... that there is fighting talk! :P
alganhar1 just pisses me off how people don't know this basic stuff we get taught in school from the age of 7 now days
Gentlemens excuse me. I already know what I did wrong. Even my country calls Czechoslovakia even though we are the Czech Republic. Go north to London. To West Hampstead. For one Czech beer for reconciliation.
So you have a generic name? In order not to hurt or embarrass someone. We have Czechs, Moravians, and Silesians here.
Bet he was a little disappointed they didn't let him takeoff and land. That general is probably better at flying the spitfire than any modern pilot.
Very true
He seemed so happy at the beginning where he thought he would actually fly it
Ikr. They let him control it for a moment? Tf
well, being objective seems you've never been in a non commercial aircraft; even less to actually fly it, things are quite different in a small plane, even more with a 70 yo machine, he probably does not have the strength and stamina, sight and reflexes for performing such physically challenging procedures, a landing cross wind on that and you have to pull really hard and press to be able to maneuver the thing, it would be dangerous, and is probably against regulations(to let someone that old to pilot), but I get your point that he deserves all the honors.
Ignorant comment.
There are old pilots and bold pilots, but there are no old, bold pilots.
I recently read an interview with general Bocek in Czech newspaper.
Asked about what are his feelings about the Spitfire, he explained:
"Spitfire is like an extremely beautiful woman crossing the street: there is an aura around her. She knows she is special, and everybody around knows it as well"
kinda sweet explanation from pre-politically correct era.
Reminds me of a quote from the 'Enemy Ace' graphic novel I once saw Hans Von Hammer comparing a Spitfire and a ME-163: *looking up at Spitfire* "The man who designed that looked to the sky and dreamed of eagles.' *looks to Komet* "And the man who designed that thought 'toad.'"
elegant way of saying 'shes hot and she knows it'
ehm ehm did u mean boček?
@@creex5334 Don't flex here, not everybody can write "č" on their keyboard
I think this people dont give a f×ck about these minor problems like political corrwction
General Bocek died today. He was 100 years old. R.I.P. and clear sky 😓
Thanks to this man and his comrades for their service in a time or Britain's great peril. We will never forget what you did for us....
troll
Plenty of Czechs and Poles in the RAF my friend... they fought the same enemy and sometimes died the same deaths. Yes, I am British, born in 1942 and grew up in London. Even at 3years old I can remember the doodlebugs, and the air raids.... and the VE day street party..... Some things you never forget..... My dad built Mosquitos at De Havilland's in Hatfield early in the war...In fact he was foreman on the job building the prototype.
We were all in it together, and the British could not have done it alone, not at the Battle of Britain and not afterwards.
That's right LITTLE willie, block those who have the superior and correct answer that your diminutive little brain cell is unable to reply to with anything approaching a coherent and accurate answer. At least you seem to be able to spell your own name. Guess 14 years of Primary School wasn't totally wasted on you.
The RAF had a "dire shortage" of staff even with the foreign help, let alone without it.
William Gruff, you ungrateful bag of shite
Rest in peace, mister general. Odpočívejte v pokoji, pane generále. † 23. 3. 2023
Just imagine old spitfire pilot and bf109 pilot flying side by side after 70 years... fuck who cut the onions
A wonderful piece. I miss my Grandfather as sadly he died earlier this year (General M.A.'Tony' Liskutin) He used to tell me everything each time I came to visit. I loved listening to his accounts and his ideas. God bless all of them! we owe much to their . sacrifice. 'Non Multi Sed Multa' Not many but Much!
Vet: “can I take control now?”
Pilot: “yes go ahead”
*removes gun safety hard left towards Germany*
Pilot: “why are we going east?”
Vet: “sir, finishing this fight”
Erm he's a general. I'm sure he outranked the pilot. He should be calling the pilot son
Imagine stealing a 3 year old comment.
Ghost Dude lol, copied the format, different content. By your definition every meme is stolen. No one else incorporated halo into their comment. Sorry it annoyed you lol.
@@josephddd117 telling people not to be jealous I think you are the jealous one so jealous of the originals comments likes that you stole it to get a few because you don't have a creative mind I would be jealous too
REEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE.
Everybody gangster till the German veteran in his Messerschmitt takes of at the same time
He is Czech btw
@@lysixstech9192 but he flew a British plane for the Britishs
20% of the RAF’s fighter pilots were foreign. Including pilots who lived in commonwealth nations, Canada, Australia, New Zealand etc. People from German occupied nations also joined the RAF, like France, Poland, Czechoslovakia etc.
@@Noah-jj9ix yup
It was never called that, why do people call it that.
"Never in the field of human conflict, has so much been owed by so many to so few."
-Former PM Winston Churchill, during the Battle of Britain.
REST IN PEACE OUR HERO, TRUE LEGEND, THANKS FOR YOUR SERVICE MR BOCEK. HAVE A CLEAR SKY
Thank you we all owe you a debt of gratitude
It is amazing that he remembers the year, month, and date of his last flight. What a hero and what an amazing man.
What a humble man. Much respect to you sir.
He's got more hair than me and he's twice my age.
Translation: "My alopecia gene is active while his isn't, it has nothing to do with anything, but I'm ignorant so I'll link age to my ailment."
There is no such thing as "Alopecia gene". If there was, it would have been cured already.
SuperEdge67 he's a general, his hair is still on duty and isn't allowed to fall out.
He's got more hair than me and is almost 4 times my age!!!
+SuperEdge67 That wasn't mean to be an insult, I know it came out harsh but your body pumps DHT when you masturbate, which leads to early balding if you have an alopecia gene. There are other factors too obviously but guys mostly bald from fapping. Busy people tend to have less time for that so I'm assuming he was a very busy person in his youth. You can go bald without any sexual activity too ofc but that's unlikely.
Thank you for your service. From Sweden with respect.
Many of 'our' best pilots in the Battle of Britain were Czech and Polish. I salute this man, as he represents one of many of the 'few' that were from Europe and defended Britain in out hour of need. They were all determined, self minded and ruthless. Some were even reprimanded for their unforgiving attitude during a fight, for seeing every fight to a kill. We couldn't have won without them.
Raising a glass to you Emil in gratitude.
I think you'll find that the majority were British, not discrediting the chaps who fought for us at all. But our chaps put the guts in.
I lived in Prague at that time, and stood outside my apartment, watching the Spitfires fly up along the river, and climb over the castle. The days before they also had a Lancaster flying over the city. Absolutely fantastic, and better than sex (as far as I remember)
Lars Birkemose so ur 80 something
Legends don't die, they become eternal! Respect from Brazil!
Makes us Czechs proud! Massive amount of respect for this fine gentleman.
DĚKUJEME !
Can you imagine, just for a moment, being in your 20s again and absolutely invincible? These pilots who escorted fighters and defended cities were some of the craziest and bravest people out there. They'd be heading back to base for fuel and ammo, see another formation incoming, and go 'yeah I got this'. Bravo to this man, a living piece of history and a reminder we're not so far removed from the past yet. I hope he's resting in peace.
I am really honored to have this man´s signature up on the shelf. I met him on 2019 Slovak International Air Fest in Sliač. He was very nice and allowed me to shake his hand.
Hero him, Thank you brave Czechoslovaks... thankful Brit....
This story is 7 years old, its still warming hearts. Loved it!
It was so lovely to see this wonderful man have his flight in the aircraft he flew in! My mum died aged 95 last year and at 93 she was like this gentleman! Thank you for what you did for our freedom back then! We must never forget!
czech,canadian,polish,new zealand,australian pilots all took part in the battle of britian, indeed as winstin churchill so rightly stated and i quote: if man were to live for another thousand years they will still say that this was our FINEST HOUR!
South African airmen and US citizens (prior to US entry) as well.
And then British sold Poland, Czechoslovakia and other countries to Stalin. Enjoy.
Actually we sold ourselves by electing communist political party.
War will never be our finest hour.
Americans too. I'm not sure on the numbers, but quite a few went to Canada and the UK to enlist in their militaries before Pearl Harbor. It was the same in WWI too. The Eagle Squadron is a notable unit consisting of Americans and many other nationalities.
Can only imagine what he was feeling during that flight. Hearing that he loved it kind of brightens my day a little bit.
Amazing man died today. When he flew in this spitfire a few years ago he was In incredible shape for his age.
As a German, I salute you. Thank you for restoring peace and democracy in our country. We will be forever grateful. May you live a long life.
Hello mr high ground
Amen, were it not for these brave men, the people of London today might be speaking German instead of Urdu.
The Spit is one BEAUTIFUL aircraft...
My great grandpa made their technology
Everybody gangsta until a stuka pilot is reunited with his plane
That would be nice tho
@@wisemankugelmemicus1701 Ngl it does
@@T4ckyy The German vets all are good men. That's the true tragedy of World War II, that even Hitler thought he was doing good. When men who think they're all justified come to arms with strong armies, millions die.
@@wisemankugelmemicus1701 many soldiers of the Wehrmacht were terrible people whom Hitler gave complete freedom of action and who committed war crimes. they have no forgiveness. Bastards must be remembered as bastards
@@redcoldriver21 you do know that warcrimes where comitted on every side and you are probably thinking about the SS where most people where nazis in the wehrmacht most people especially near the end where drafted soldies where alot of them didnt believe into hitler.
2:00 final czechs complete
I'm sure here's a joke somewhere.
*SO AWESOME*
Only me whos cutting onions? ok....
only me whos cutting the cheese?
cooking noodles here mate
Claystead nooooo....
Maybe I've got grit in my eyes as well
Good Lad!
No.
I simply can't put into words how much admiration I have for these old timers..... living history. They did what they had to do in the face of certain death...... compare it to some ofthe pathetic gripes you hear in 2017 and you shake your head.
What a fabulous video, thank you for uploading. I got goosebumps watching him stride toward the aircraft, and seeing his face when they were airborne was amazing.
thank you for all you did for us
Emil Boček! ❤ so proud of him 👍💪
He will remember that moment for the rest of his life
Incredible to see him sat there in the cockpit, looking out and to think that he was doing this not for fun, but to actually look for enemy fighters etc to shoot down. Incredible man and a whole generation
so sad to lose the last of the generation of heroes that saved the world, I wish my children had the chance to know these heroic men like I did
I was smiling so much for this man when he started speaking, true happiness of a true hero
0:15 I gotta get myself a cape one of these days.
Cloak.
of invisibility
I dearly hope and pray that children in Czech schoolchildren are taught about the heroes fight against the Nazis.
@@motorcop505 We kinda were, but not enough... I mean we had many of such heroes on each front and not only in the air, so I kinda get it. But RAF pilots are mentioned for sure during classes.
@@Echo-01 I was just thinking that! XD
What a hero.
What a man
What a great man
I salute you sir.
The UK salutes you and all the others.
How anyone can dislike this is beyond comprehension. Létejte vysoko obecně!
Thank you everyone for making this happen!! We owe them so much, this cannot even begin to count as a repayment for what they did for us!
Great man. My grand grand father fought in 302 division :) Thank you for your service heroes of the skies! :)
it is strange to hear that with someone with your nickname...
What a badass man. I enjoy talking to old vets from my country and others. They are truly cut from a different cloth.
Respect to the Czech's from New Zealand. Our pilots fought alongside yours (different squadrons) in the Battle of Britain. You were significant contributors along with the Poles. Us three nations and the Canadians were the biggest non-British contributors to the R.A.F. in the Battle of Britain.
*Wartime*
Spitfire: Hello
RAF pilot: Hello
Spitfire: Let’s go!!!
RAF pilot: Yup!
*End of War*
Spitfire: I’m gonna miss you bye!
RAF pilot: Bye!
*Reunification many decades later*
Spitfire: Is that you?
RAF pilot: Yes!
*flight once again occurs*
Nice
So many Great pilots came from Eastern Europe. There where Czech and Polish pilots in the RAF flying Spitfires during The Battle of Britain. Brave Men.🇨🇿🇮🇩🏴🏴🏴
@@brucekilby9957 very true
Terrific story!
Note the RCAF roundel in front of the cockpit. This is copied from Wing Commander Johnny Johnson's Spitfire which he flew during the war when he led the Canadian Spitfire squadrons during the really hairy days of the air war over Europe--1942-1944. Johnson the the highest scoring Allied fighter pilot of WW2 in Europe with 38 kills and many more unconfirmed.
was wondering about that
Saw that one too, i have that roundel in War thunder i really love the spitfires
nice to see your reactions here, people..this man in one of last living czech RAF pilots..theese men are truly heroes
Respect, old timer...and thank you.
Veteran: can i have the control now?
Pilot: sure
Safety: *click*
He's 93 and flying a spitfire 🙌🏼🙌🏼🙌🏼🛩🛩🛩🛩
What a beautiful thing to do for such a hero. Fantastic video
Brings a tear to my eyes every time I watch it
The fact that people hit dislike sickens me, they should be made to apologise to every single fallen servicemen’s grave!!!!
Don't worry, I doubt they would give a damn about it
If nothing else, it might hit home the sacrifice of life
Every video on UA-cam with over 1,000 views has at least 1 dislike. It's just how it is regardless of the video quality or message
No words...
It is amazing how much the surviving pilots talk of their love for flying the Spitfire even 70 years on
this really did bring a tear to my eye. such a lovely gentleman.
Honor to you Sir, From Australia 😄
A generation apart. When I look at what has become of my beloved Great Britain and what these men fought to keep free it just makes me weep.
All that sacrificed have no equal, Polish and Czech pilots must NEVER been forgotten nor their betrayal.
Thank you for your service
salute u sir
I am from the good old U S of A, but the Spitfire was a bad ass WWII airplane
Thank you sir...
No more words
Such an hero in such an iconic airplane. God bless him.
70 Yrs is a lot of time. .. Awfull lot... Good on him...
That's a former Irish Air Corps Spitfire TR9 number 158.
then why's there a Canadian maple leaf on the side 2:03
The info is a few years out of date now, seeing as she's at Biggin Hill currently. But, she has a varied history, which did indeed involve the Irish Air Corps at one point.
Get ready, wall of text incoming!
"MJ627 was built at Castle Bromwich, England, during the autumn of 1943 as part of the serial batch MJ602 to MJ646. As an LF.IXc, she was fitted with a Rolls-Royce Merlin 66 engine and first flown on November 27. Shortly afterwards, the aircraft was delivered to number 9 Maintenance Unit (MU), Royal Air Force (RAF) Cosford, where it was stored until the spring of 1944. On March 13, MJ627 arrived at General Aircraft for further checks which were almost certainly conducted at Hanworth, Middlesex.
MJ627 entered service with number 441(Silver Fox) Sqn, Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) on September 25, 1944 and served with the RAF from Advanced Landing Ground B70 located in Belgium. She was given the codes ‘9G-Q’ and the first operational sortie was flown by Flight Lieutenant A.A.Smith on a patrol in the Venloe/Nijmegen area.
On September 27, 1944 Pilot Officer Bregman took off in MJ627 to patrol the Arnhem area. At around 6000 feet, some fifteen Bf 109’s and Fw 190’s were engaged to the east of Arnhem and Bregman was later credited with the downing of a single Bf 109. Remaining with 441 Sqn, MJ627 was kept busy during the latter part of 1944 and the following sorties were recorded:
> November 6 - Flying Officer F.E.Manette was tasked to cover 216 Lancaster Bomber aircraft thatwere targeting Gelsenkirchen.
> November 10 - Flight Lieutenant Smith flew an ‘op’ to Minoru, escorting Dakotas to Paris.
> November 27 - Flying Officer B.M Mackenzie gave top cover for Lancasters to Cologne.
> November 29 - Flying Officer Bregman flew as a withdrawal escort for 270 Lancasters.
> December 8 - Flying Officer Bregman escorted 220 Lancasters to the Heinbach Dam with the Squadron then landing at Brussells as the weather had closed in at home base.
December 27, 1944 saw number 441 Sqn. being posted to Skeabrae, Orkney Islands, Scotland for defence of the Naval Fleet. However, on March 9, 1945, following a routine patrol, MJ627 experienced engine problems that resulted in a forced-landing in heather. The resulting damage to the airframe was initially declared Category E, but later re-categorised as ‘B’.... “beyond repair on site”. At this point, the total flying hours were recorded as 245.05.
On September 11, 1945, MJ627 was eventually sent to Air Service Training, Hamble, Hants for repairs and then issued to number 29 MU at High Ercall, Shropshire for storage. The aircraft was sold to Vickers Armstrong Ltd on July 19, 1950 and subsequently moved by road to Southampton. The company then converted the airframe into a T9 Trainer aircraft with 2-seats and it bore the B-Conditions marking G-15-171. The conversion necessitated the removal of the centre fuel tank and the repositioning of the front seat some 12 inches forward.
Having been converted to a 2-seat trainer, MJ627 was sold to the Irish Air Corps, given the markings IAC 158 and delivered to Baldonnel, near Dublin on June 5, 1951. She stayed with the Irish air Corps until April 20, 1960 before being withdrawn from service. At this point records show a total of 1036.10 flying hours.
On November 13, 1963 MJ627 seemed destined for a film career and was delivered to Elstree Studios where on February 19, 1964 she was reregistered by Film Aviation Services as G-ASOZ. Although such films as the Battle of Britain were being produced, MJ627 was not used in any flying sequence but instead robbed of her parts for other film-star aircraft such as MH343 (G-ASIV). In September 1964 Mr Tim Davies bought the remaining airframe and remnants of MJ627 which he stored at various locations until she was purchased by the current owner, Mr Maurice Bayliss, in1976.
Purchased by Mr Bayliss as a long-term restoration project, work commenced in earnest at Kenilworth. Fitted with Rolls-Royce Merlin 76 engine, the aircraft was given her current civilian registration of G-BMSB on May 3, 1978.
In 1989 MJ627 was moved to Coventry, Warks, for assembly at Dollar Air Services hangar and had its first engine runs in 1992. Piloted by Squadron Leader Paul Day, MJ627’s first post-restoration flight was flown on November 8 1993 - timed to coincide with its original first flight 50 years previously at Castle Bromwich. In view of MJ627’s operational history it was finished in number 441 Sqn colours, and coded 9G-P with invasion stripes.
On May 6, 1994 MJ627 was flown to Bruntingthorpe, Leicestershire, and lodged in the main hangar along with Vulcan XH558 and Victor XM715. August 1997 saw her being relocated to Coventry Airport where she enjoyed mixed fortunes. Following a demonstration on April 25, 1998 MJ627 crashed landed at Coventry Airport at about 1300 hrs. Squadron Leader Paul Day was flying her but to his horror found that the undercarriage would not lower despite several airtests in recent weeks. After jettisoning the front canopy he and his passenger, Mr Tom Goodwin the aircraft’s ground engineer, prepared for the inevitable. As MJ627 neared the ground Day kept the nose high, for a gentle touchdown and to protect the Merlin engine as long as possible. Finally with the tailwheel tickling along the ground, the throttle was shut early enough to slow the propeller and MJ627 settled on the soft grass. The four wooden propeller blades shattered, each £2000 blade turning to matchwood in an instant. MJ627 came to rest and thankfully both Day and Goodwin were able to get out unhurt. The cause ? A tuppenny 6BA bolt had fallen out and into the undercarriage selector, jamming it. Despite this unfortunate and costly incident, there was never any question that Mr Bayliss would restore MJ627 back to full airworthiness.
On February 14, 2002 Sqn.Ldr.Paul Day carried out a post repair air test and landed at RAF Coningsby. On May 7, 2003 MJ627 was flown into East Kirby airfield where she became a main attraction at The Lincolnshire Aviation Heritage Centre for the next 5 years.
Having retired from the RAF, Sqn Leader Day declared his intention to continue flying MJ627 and in the summer of 2008 flew her into her new base at RAF Waddington where she is currently located. A team of willing volunteers led by Mr Keith Brenchley help keep the aircraft in an airworthy condition and, having been fitted with a new engine in the winter of 2010, she can be regularly seen and more often heard gracing the Lincolnshire sky line"
1:30 Part of the training was in Canada. It's more traditional mark/show up for the plane(remember). That's one reason why it stands so long because used as training plane and probably sell to Czech and then used for museum.
I was prepared for a wall of text. But goodness, that was actually a barrage! Haha. Thanks for researching all the info.
++Private Custard++ How would a fighter aircraft bomb anybody?? Thanks for the exhaustive and highly detailed history. Am I right in thinking there is only the Grace spitfire, this one and one other which are two seaters? If so then this one must also have featured in one of Top Gears extravaganzas.
To this man.
He might only be an old person but he was a part of the Victory of the allies, he might be a small part of the reason that we are alive.
If the allies were a sea then he is just a little drop of water in the sea, but what is a sea if not a large amount of drops?
Thank you for literally saving our lives before we existed.
Thank you for all you did Sir!!!
“One last dance, old friend”
I wonder if in 80 years they’ll have drone pilots doing this same thing.
thank you for your service brother
Fantastic and thank you for what you did for all of us.
2,500 Czech pilots flew for the RAF in WW2!?!? Man I have clearly been ignorant to how many pilots must have been enlisted in the RAF in WW2.
I think that was slightely confusing. I belive that by 2500 pilots they actually meant whole Czech RAF staff: pilots + mechanics + flying staff (navigators, gunners, ...). There were not only pilots of spitfires/hurricanes but also bomber squadrons.
Many from Poland, Australia, New Zealand....and many more.
@@MyYTwatcher just checked it and no, it was 1000 czech regular pilots and nearly 1500 army personel joined for retraining as pilot... and yes, there were many more soldiers working as airfield staff
@Moto Guzzi Read more books
@Moto Guzzi honestly, huge amounts have been written in virtually every facet of the conflict. I know revisionism is fashionable at the moment but the holocaust is rightly flagged as the headline outcome of such horror because of the numbers, the systemic nature of it and the civilian predominance. If there is one warning of what extreme ideologies etc can last to, or is the holocaust. But as I say - there are many libraries worth on the battles, personal consequences of war, tales of heroism, tactical analysis etc!
I mean yeah its a trainer model but a dual cockpit just looks so....unnatural
No doubt, and they made it seam like he took off and landed it but he only took control of the plane up in the air
This guy is very much still all there! looks brilliant. thank you for your service
Thank you for you're service!
Can I just point out the stupid amount of hatred in the comments? America this, Russia that. Rather than point out the great things our BRAVE soldiers sacrificed their lives for.
They fought to stop a tyrant killing people because they were Jewish..because they were disabled, or gay. Atrocities were committed by all sides. But here are some things I would love to point out.
1- If America hadn't joined the war, how long would we have lasted against the all the nations siding with hitler? Be thankful that they joined, even if it wasn't till later on.
2- Before people slander other nations and say that the British fought of the nazis in the Battle of Britain, do some research, a fairly large part of our defense were from other countries.
3- How about we recognise the fact that MILLIONS of people died for OUR freedom and all we have are whiny little men and women who probably would never have the courage to do what those men and women have done.
Also to end I have a massive amount of respect to ALL service men, women and the animals they work with, thank you for protecting my freedom and my way of life and I hope that should the need ever arise that I would have the same courage to stand up and fight.
Chelsea Pickering agree 100% ❤
That is well worded and said and I feel if we dont rember all their sacrifces we will experience the same things they did.
I know I’m late to this comment but I agree 100%. Thank you to ALL servicemen and women who participated in the war effort and stood up to the axis, who threatened our freedom, from all allied countries, and making the ultimate sacrifice to save the world. 🇺🇸🇬🇧🇷🇺🇦🇺🇨🇦🇨🇳🇨🇿🇵🇱🇫🇷
Best wishes from the USA
@Jon Snow Not taking away any of that. I'm actually American, not British, and despite that I have a lot of respect for the sacrifice that the British people made during World War II. Please don't get me wrong in that regard.
Chelsea Pickering i havent seen a single comment about anything other than about england
"at one point, he took control of the plane"
I never understood that, you think the guy just forgot to drive an airplane he fought for his life in? They talk of honoring the veterans and remembering what they went through, but you didn't even consider what he actually went through, to the point where you think he's some kid at a flying school.
You must be joking... 70 years is quite a long time to remember how to maneuver an airplane
Not really. I was a mechanic in the British army for 7 years. Its been 20 years since I left. If you plonked me in a challenger tank today and told me to start it...... I know I wouldnt remember the sequence to start it correctly, and thats 100 time simpler than the controls of a spitfire!
@@shaunc07 the plane was ready ... that's all you need for takeoff and you in the air very simply
you both have some point , my answer would be ask the veteran : do you want to fly it all alone from takeoff to land ? or would you like some assistance ?
i bet he had some prep talk ...
it is only way how to honor service of thesee men
''Never was so much owed by so many to so few''
Bless you. from Australia.
Feb 2022: Emil will soon be 99 years young (26 Feb). He looked smart in his uniform and with his RAF wings.
God Bless him and his Czech comrades who fought alongside us in WWII.
We Will Remember Them.
I am sure he was glad there were no Messerschmitts around that day ;-)
After the war England charged Czechoslovakia with all the expenses for our pilots' training, housing, flying, etc., which we had to pay to the last penny, whereas German debts were being silently remised. This is how England showed their gratitude for saving their asses after they had sold us to Hitler in Munich.
Perhaps, but let us look at it another way... bear with me.
Of all the Allied Nations do you know how many of them actually paid the US back for their War Debts? The UK is pretty much the only one.
After the War the British Economy was shattered, and I am not joking about that. In Britain Food Rationing was still a thing until 1955. Britain had to pay Canada for the training of ALL pilots who learned how to fly in Canada, because thats partly how Canada could afford to buy her own aircraft.
But Britain was the only nation to fully repay her war debts to the US... and they were utterly crippling. In fact those debts were so crippling that we only finished paying our debts in 2006....
So, you want to complain about war debts you had to pay to the last penny? I will garuantee you that Britains made the Czech war debt look like pocket change.
Oh, and ignore that dickhead up above... he appears to be part of the British population that is the worst 10%.... I will defend my nation... but I will at least try to do so fairly.
alganhar1 I love my country and will defend it to my final breath
Long live Britannia!! 🇬🇧
***** that's because the Americans took the piss. The debt was so high that it was only payed off in 2006
You realise the dropping of the two atomic bombs probably actually ended up saving a few million in the long run? You understand the culture of the Japanese people at the time pretty much prohibited surrender, it's why the US took so few POW's most committed suicide or banzai charged them for an honourable death. Atomic weapons are dreadful, but in this case it perversely saved lives which would have been lost in the utter bloodbath that would have followed a US invasion of mainland Japan.
The Russians, yeah... they suffered unimaginable losses and sadly a great many of them were from their own political commissars and pretty much relying on the fact they had so many conscripts to throw against the Germans they won through sheer brute force in the face of horrific losses to secure victory, not through tactical prowess. Stalin was a monster, who ultimately got his just deserts later in life.
However, back to the main topic of this vid. That chap looked right at home in the Spitfire cockpit, I'd give almost anything to have such an experience dare I say a lot cooler than the Cessna 152 I used to fly.
England pricks took Polish gold which was evacuated to their country.
Dude looks amazing for 92!
Than you for your service 🇨🇿
EN: I'm thankful for his service at Arnhem. Partly thanks to his help the Dutch got rid of those Nazi bastards.
Greetings from the Netherlands.
CZ: Jsem vděčná za službu v Arnhemu. Částečně díky jeho pomoci se holandští zbavili těch nacistických ovčáků.
Pozdravy z Nizozemska.