Ladislav Larry Světlík, a colonel and pilot of the 312th Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron of the RAF, was born in Pilsen 108 years ago.

108 years ago, a colonel and pilot Ladislav "Larry" Světlík was born in Pilsen. He was a member of the 312th Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron of the RAF.

He was trained as a turner at Škoda factory. After work, he visited the airfield of the West Bohemian Aero Club at Plzeň-Bory Airport. He also underwent pilot training there as part of the 1000 New Pilots event. In 1936-37, he completed military training at the School for Professional Air Force Youth at VLU in Prostějov. After that, until the occupation, he served in the 38th Fighter Squadron of Aviation Regiment 3 at the airports of Vajnory, Piešt'any and Boleráz.

After the German army occupied Czechoslovakia, he fled to Poland and then sailed to France. In Chartres, he received training on American fighter planes, the Curtiss Hawk H-75. On December 2, 1939, he left with the first group of Czechoslovak pilots to join the fight. He was assigned to GC II/5 with J. Klán and F. Chábera. Although he started flying during the Second Boer War, he did not achieve his first victory until six days after the German attack on France. In France, Světlík flew for 45.20 hours and shot down seven enemy planes (four of which were certain and three of which were probable).

After Germany occupied Czechoslovakia, he fled to Poland and then sailed to France. In Chartres, he retrained on the American fighter Curtiss Hawk H-75. On December 2, 1939, he left with the first group of Czechoslovak airmen to join the front. He was assigned to GC II/5 with J. Klán and F. Chábera. Although he started flying during the Second Boer War, he did not achieve his first victory until six days after the German attack on France. In France, Světlík flew for 45.20 hours and shot down seven enemy planes (four of which he was certain he had shot down and three of which he was probably sure he had shot down).108 years ago, Colonel and pilot of the 312th Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron of the RAF Ladislav "Larry" Světlík was born in Pilsen.

Like other Czechoslovak pilots, he sailed to Great Britain via Gibraltar. There, he joined the RAF and on September 19, 1940, was assigned to the newly formed 312th Czechoslovak Fighter Squadron. He participated in many war operations with the squadron, such as the Battle of Britain and bomber escorts over the continent. However, his next and last victory came during the preparations for the Normandy invasion. From August 1942 to January 1943, he was a fighter pilot with the 38th 20. MU.

He was trained as a turner at Škoda factory. After work, he visited the airfield of the West Bohemian Aero Club at Plzeň-Bory Airport. He also underwent pilot training there as part of the 1000 New Pilots event. In 1936-37, he completed military training at the School for Professional Air Force Youth at VLU in Prostějov. After that, until the occupation, he served in the 38th Fighter Squadron of Aviation Regiment 3 at the airports of Vajnory, Piešt'any and Boleráz.

After the German army occupied Czechoslovakia, he fled to Poland and then sailed to France. In Chartres, he received training on American fighter planes, the Curtiss Hawk H-75. On December 2, 1939, he left with the first group of Czechoslovak pilots to join the fight. He was assigned to GC II/5 with J. Klan and F. Chabera. Although he started flying during the Second Boer War, he did not achieve his first victory until six days after the German attack on France. In France, Svetlik flew for 45.20 hours and shot down seven enemy planes (four of which were certain and three of which were probable).

In January 1944, the 312th Squadron, like the other Czechoslovak squadrons, received new Spitfire Mk.IX planes and attacked important targets in Normandy. On March 23, 1944, the 134th Czechoslovak Wing escorted 72 American B-26 Marauder bombers over Haine St. Pierre station in La Louviere. While turning around to return, several Focke-Wulf Fw 190As attacked the formation, leading to a intense aerial battle. During this battle, Světlík, flying a Spitfire IXC MJ931 DU-L, chased one German fighter to the ground. The Czech uses all his ammunition, and the result is in. The German pilot, Lt. Georg Kiefner of 1./JG 26 and winner of 11 aerial dogfights, throws off the cockpit cover and leaves his damaged aircraft on a parachute. He is wounded, but soon returns to duty as commander of 1./JG 26. Svetlik achieves his fifth kill, becoming a highly successful pilot in air combat.

After that, he briefly participates in the invasion, but on July 3, 1944, his second operational tour ends. Then, he joins the air transport. Between November 7, 1944, and February 2, 1945, he trained with the 105th (T) OTU on Wellingtons Mk.X. Then, until May 3, 1945, he served with the 11th Ferry Unit at Talbenny, flying Wellingtons Mk.X and XIII. Then, he was sent to 147 Squadron, where he flew the famous Dakota Mk.III and IV until August 1945, when he returned home.

He received the Czechoslovak War Cross four times, the Czechoslovak Medal for Valour four times, and the Czechoslovak Medal for Merit four times for his outstanding service in the war. He also received the Commemorative Medal of the Czechoslovak Foreign Army (F-VB), the French Croix de Guerre with one gold and two silver stars, the British 1939-1945 Star with Battle of Britain Clasp, the Air Crew Europe Star, and the Defence Medal. He shot down five aircraft (one on his own and four with others) and probably shot down three more.

After returning to Czechoslovakia, he flew with the Air Transport Group in Prague-Ruzyně. In 1946, he retired from the military and joined CSA as a captain. He flew the Siebel Si 204D, Ju 52/3m, and mainly Dakotas. However, the purges after February 1948 did not avoid western pilots at CSA. On March 24, 1950, he was part of a group of pilots who flew three CSA Dakotas out of the country from Brno, Ostrava, and Bratislava. All the planes landed at Erding Airport near Munich. Six Western airmen and several others managed to escape into exile.

In the UK, he rejoined the RAF and first flew Ansons for Central Navigation School and 5.Advance Navigation School. He then flew Spitfires, Vampires, Venoms, and Meteors at Central Gunnery School in Leconfield. From 1954 onward, he served with the Communication Squadron in Malta, where he flew various types of aircraft throughout the Mediterranean. From 1960 to 1962, he served in the Far East with the 52 Supply Dropping Squadron. He was involved in supplying British troops in Malaya, and he received the Malay Medal for his service. When he returned to England, he worked as a dispatcher at Colerne Airfield. He retired from the RAF in July 1966 as Commander of RAF Base Theddlethorp. After retiring, he moved to Malta, and then to New Zealand in 1973.

Ladislav Svetlik died in Warkworth on July 27, 2008.

We will always remember him.

Source and photo: Classic Trainers