G/Cpt DUDA Josef

Duda Z. M.: Valecna ohlednuti

Official No.: 83 224 Date and place of birth: 9th August 1905, Praha Date and place of death: 7th December 1977, Prostejov

War Service

Unit	Since	To	Rank
312	05.09.1940	17.11.1940	P/O, F/Lt
No. 4 F.P.P.	17.11.1940	02.02.1941	F/Lt
No. 55 O.T.U.	08.02.1941	14.02.1941	F/Lt
BFSI	14.02.1941	15.12.1941	F/Lt
CIG	15.12.1941	22.06.1942	S/Ldr
Czechoslovak Depot	22.06.1942	15.06.1943	W/Cdr
CIG	15.06.1943	22.06.1943	W/Cdr
HQFC	22.06.1943	07.03.1945	G/Cpt
RAF Manston	09.03.1945	09.05.1945	G/Cpt

Retraining on Hurricane he passed at Duxford at No. 312 Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron and on 5th September 1940 he became the leader of flight "A" of this unit. On 17th November 1940 he finished operational service and from 17th November he served as test pilot at No. 4 F.P.P. (Ferry Pilot Pool) at Kemble. From 2nd February 1941 he flew as Staff Pilot at No. 8 M.U. (Maintanance Unit) at Little Rissington for six days. On 8th Feruary he was transfered to No. 55 O.T.U as instructor. There he stayed very short time because on 14 Ferbuary he became instructor at BFSI (Bristol Flying School for Instructors) at Jatesbury. There he flew exclusively on Proctor and except few days when he was at No. 32 M.U. he stayed at BFSI till December 1941. On 15th December 1941 he was promoted to the rank of S/Ldr and he became the training officer at Czechoslovak Inspectorate General (CIG) at London. On 22nd June 1942 he took command over Czechoslovak Depot at St. Athan in the rank of W/Cdr. In this position he stayed for one year, but in October, November, December 1942 and spring 1943 he made few flights at No. 32 M.U. On 15th June 1943 he was transfered back to Czechoslovak Inspectorate General (CIG) and on 22nd June he was appointed to the function of Commander of Czechoslovak Fighter Air Force. He was promoted to the rank of G/Cpt and he became the Liaison Officer between CIG and ADGB-HQFC (Air Defence of Great Britain-Head Quartes Fighter Command) at Bentley Priory. From 9th March 1945 he was on RAF Manston Station where was located Czechoslovak Fighter Wing. On 15th January 1947 he obtained Honorary Commander in the Military Division of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.). In April 1948 he was turned off from Czechoslovak Air Force and on 19th August 1949 he was degraded from colonel to private. He died lonely on 7th December 1977 in Prostejov.