On Friday 24 August 2012 a Ceremony was held in Děčín, Czech Republic, to unveil a Memorial plaque at the birthplace of Sgt Emil Türkl. Attending the Ceremony was plk. Pavel Vranský [Wechsberg] who served as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner with 311 Sqn and now one of the few living veterans of that squadron.
Sgt Emil Türkl was born in Děčín on 24 August 1922.
On the night of 13 October 1942, as a wireless operator/ air gunner with 27 OTU, he was killed in a night training flight accident, in a Wellington Mk 1C bomber, KX-V Z8854, near Church Broughton airfield, Derby. He was 20 years old. All six of the aircraft’s crew were killed in the accident.
Amongst those attending the Ceremony were representatives of Czech RAF and Army veteran Associations who laid commemorative wreaths.
Jirinka:
I am Marianne Manas. I hope you remember me, you used to call me Marenka. My deceased husband Frank, and your mother were cousins. I am sure you remember my children Frank and Karen. I have pictures of your family when you and your sister were small. If you are interested, I can mail them to you after I make myself copies. They are from the early 1970’s. I wonder also where your mother is at now. I suppose she is living in Arkansas. Hope to hear from you.
Sincerely, Marianne
You can mail the pictures to box 15, Joyce, Wn.98343
Jirinka
I am still wanting any Information on my father Frantisek Pohlodek
Bonjour Jirinka,
Je suis un ami de Bret qui est le fils de Frantisek Pohlodek, et votre père aussi. En 2017, Bret m’a demandé de faire des recherches sur son père car il ne savait rien, sa mère ayant bloqué toute information. Je découvrais progressivement un véritable héro du 311th escadron en 1941 et une histoire hors du commun. Arrivé en France à Boulogne sur mer le 1er aout 1939, à bord du paquebot MS Chrobry, il fut engagé dans la légion française, puis a suivi les entrainements de pilote bombardier de nuit à Istres et à Chateauroux jusqu’à la capitulation de la France. Le 19 juin 1940, avec son petit groupe d’amis pilotes, et aux ordres du capitaine Scheibals il embarqua à Bordeaux pour rejoindre la RAF. A partir de quelques documents communiqués par Tessa, informations des archives WW2, articles de journaux, et livres qui parlent de votre père, j’ai maintenant beaucoup de détails sur son incroyable itinéraire depuis sa fuite de Brno en 1939 avec trois amis à travers les montagnes, passant par la Pologne, la France puis l’Angleterre, jusqu’en Arkensas où il a tenu une station service avant de finir sa vie en 1975…
Sa vie affective après la guerre est très compliquée et je ne peux pas m’étendre ici, mais elle est très importante pour comprendre ce qui s’est passé.
Bret est très affaibli, Tessa est décédée et je viens de découvrir votre demande d’information avec 10 ans de retard… Très cordialement, Patrick L.
Dear madam,
I have sent this question to plk. Pavel Vranský and his response can be translated as follows:
“Unfortunately I have never met František Pohlodka. When I came to 311 sq. he had already finished his operation tours. I just heard that he worked on headquarters in London.”
Best regards.
Thank You
I just came across this website and read that “Pavel Vranský [Wechsberg] who served as a Wireless Operator/Air Gunner with 311 Sqn and now one of the few living veterans of that squadron.” I know that many years have passed but I am hoping that possibly Pavel if he is still living may give me some information about my father Frantisek Josef Pohlodek who also served in Sqn 311. Frantisek Pohlodek passed away when I was 10 year old and even though I have several fond memories of him I have been searching for any information I can get and my days are numbered with the surviving members of Sqn 311. Many thanks.