The annual ceremony to commemorate the fallen Czechoslovak’s of two world wars was held at the Czechoslovak Military Cemetery, La Targette, Neuville-Saint-Vaast, Pas de Calais, France.
Attending the ceremony were Mr Jean-Pierre Puchois, Mayor of Neuville St Vaast, :- Mr Jean Richerts, Sous-prefet de la région Nord Pas de Calais, representing the Czech Republic from the Czech Embassy, Paris, was Mr Tomáš Chrobák, 1st secretary, and Col Radka Lainová, Defence Attaché and from the Slovak Republic Embassy, Paris was Mrs Lenka Turaz, 1st secretary and Col Ján Žarnovický Attaché. Mr Michel Andre represented the Association des volontaires tchécoslovaques en France and Mr Benoit Colin representing the Free Czechoslovak Air Force Associates ltd. For the ceremony, a military band from the Czech Republic had travelled by coach, Also attending were numerous local well-wishers.
The ceremony started at 10:00, and opening speech by Mr Jean-Pierre Puchois, followed by Mr Tomáš Chrobák, Mrs Lenka Turaz and Mr Jean Richerts. Wreaths were then laid followed by a minutes silence and then the playing of The Last Post, and concluded with the playing of the National Anthems of the Czech Republic, the Slovak Republic and France.
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Background to La Targette :
La Targette Czechoslovak Memorial
When Poland fell some of the Czechoslovak airmen travelled South along the ‘Balkan’ route to France where, due to war having now been declared, where enlisted into l’Armée de l’Air – the French Air Force where they joined their compatriots who had previously had joined the French Foreign Legion. Whilst the emphasis of this site is very much about the Czechoslovaks who left their homeland and arrived in Britain where they joined the Royal Air Force, it must be remembered that some where unable to complete that journey as they had had already paid the ultimate sacrifice whilst serving with l’Armée de l’Air.
It is estimated that about 40% of the airmen serving in the Czechoslovak Air Force at the time Hitler occupied Czechoslovakia in 1939, managed to cross the border to Poland. Here, some used this as a staging post before following the ‘Balkan’ route to Yugoslavia where they boarded ships which took them to France and usually enlistment into the French Foreign Legion.
In 1970, Czechoslovak airmen and soldiers who had died in France during the Battle for France in WW2, were re-interred at the Czechoslovak Military Cemetery, La Targette, , Neuville-Saint-Vaast, Pas de Calais, France.
The Bohemian Cross, May 1939
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The Czechoslovak airmen at La Targette :
BARTOŇ František, lieutenant.
* 14/08/14, Mošnov, Novy Jicin.
† 06/10/39, Chartres.
25 years old.
Killed on training flight in Curtis Hawk H75, which lost speed and crashed near Chartres.
Grave ref: grave 143
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BENDL Josef, sergent.
* 27/03/14, Miškovice, Prague.
† 07/06/40, Amiens.
26 years old.
Was killed when his MS-406C, no. 898, fighter aircraft was shot down near Moliens whilst attacking German tanks between Formerie and Forges les Eaux.
Interred at grave 144
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BÍEBERLE František, lieutenant.
* 23/02/12, Zjoř.
† 25/05/40, Arras.
28 years old.
Pilot with GC I/6. Shot down during combat flight. Achieved 1+0=1 victories.
Interred at grave 145
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ČERNÝ Jan, sergent.
* 25/01/15, Heřmanice, Moravsky Krumlov.
† 11/05/40, Châeauroux.
25 years old.
Pilot with CIB Châeauroux, severely wounded in air raid attack on Ste Anne airfield, died in local hospital from his injuries.
Interred at grave 146
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DEKASTELLO Josef, lieutenant.
24/06/10, Prague.
† 03/06/40, Thieux.
29 years old.
Pilot with GC I/8. Shot down by allied anti aircraft fire. Achieved 1+0=1 victories.
Interred at grave 148
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DÝMA František, lieutenant.
* 28/12/16, Olomouc.
† 21/05/40, Senlis.
23 years old.
Pilot with GC III/7, and between 17/06/40 to 18/0640 with GC I/6. Shot down, suffered head injuries and died in hospital.
Interred at grave 147
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EICHELMAN Zdeněk, sergent.
* 10/04/19, Rynholec, Slany.
† 29/04/40, Toulouse.
21 years old.
ilot with CIB Toulouse, killed in a training accident.
Interred at grave 149
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FLANEK. Leopold, sergent.
* 13/12/02, Bieżanów, Poland.
† 15/05/40, Ardennes.
27 years old.
Pilot with GC III/2, killed when his MS 406 crash landed in the Ardenes.
Interred at grave 150
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GLEICH Jaroslav, lieutenant.
* 04/03/13, Kunčice, Ostrava.
† 13/06/40, Avord-Beaugi.
27 years old.
Pilot with GC II/3, Killed when aircraft crashed. Achieved 2+0=2 victories.
Interred at grave 01061
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HAMŠÍK Timoteus, capitaine.
* 31/12/07, Zádveřice, Zlin.
† 14/05/40, Sedan.
32 years old.
Pilot with GC I/5. Killed after parachuting from his aircraft.
Interred at grave 151
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HRANIČKÁ Josef, sergent.
11/03/03, Vlašim, Benešov.
† 05/06/40, Compiègne.
37 years old.
Pilot with GC I/6. Separated from the rest of his Squadron during combat, was flying alone between Creil and Mondidiere, shot down in MS 406 C.1, no 1035 at 11:40 by a Me 109 and crashed at Compi%C3%A8gne. Achieved 1+0=1 victories.
Interred at grave 173
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KOREC Otakar, lieutenant
* 26/11/08, Nejdek.
† 05/06/40, Agrouves, Somme.
31 years old.
Pilot with GC I/3. Shot down in his D520 during aerial combat.
Interred at grave 174
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KOŠNAR Josef, caporal-chef.
* 03/09/16, Pečky.
† 05/06/40, Amiens.
23 years old.
Pilot with GC III/7, and between 17/06/40 to 18/0640 with GC I/6. Shot down during combat flight.
Interred at grave 175
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KRÁKORA Jan, caporal-chef.
* 12/04/14, Lysolaje, Prague.
† 23/04/40, Senlis.
25 years old.
Pilot with GC I/1. Killed during a training flight D520.
Interred at grave 178
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KRÁL Jiří, lieutenan.t
* 15/03/10, Polanka nad Odrou, Jičín.
† 08/06/40, Montdidier.
30 years old.
Pilot with GC I/1. Killed in combat. HIs Bloch MB 152, no 299, was shot %C2%A0down about 40 km NW of Paris, managed to escape from the burning aircraft but his parachute failed to open.
Interred at grave 176
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KRÁLÍK Antonín, caporal-chef.
* 16/06/16, Vranice, Kutná Hora.
† 27/05/40, Amiens.
23 years old.
Pilot with GC I/8, Killed on operational flight. Achieved 1+0=1 victories.
Interred at grave 177
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KŘÍŽEK Jaroslav, sergent.
* 10/06/14, Dolní Sytová.
† 15/11/39, Toulouse.
25 years old.
Pilot with CIB Toulouse, killed when his MB.200 bomber aircraft crashed near Toulouse.
Interred at grave 179
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KUČERA Vladimír, lieutenant.
* 07/05/11, Malá Černá, Ckum u Třeboně.
† 14/05/40, d’Etampes.
29 years old.
Pilot with CIB Toulouse, killed when his MB.200 bomber aircraft crashed near Toulouse.
Interred at grave 179
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MIKOLÁŠEK Antonín, lieutenant.
* 06/09/06, Prague.
† 25/05/40, Remigny.
33 years old.
Pilot with GC II/3. Shot down during operational flight. Achieved %C2%A02+0=2 victories.
Interred at grave 182
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MORÁVEK Emil, sergent-chef.
* 08/06/14, Slepotice.
† 15/06/40, Heuilley-le-Grand.
26 years old.
Pilot with GC I/5, from 01/06/40 with GC I/8. Shot down and crashed behind German lines, suspected of being shot later.
Interred at grave 167
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NOVÁK Jaroslav, sergent-chef.
* 08/07/15, Prague.
† 15/12/39, Villefort.
24 years old.
Pilot at EP Istres-Miramas, killed in a crash during bomber pilot training.
Interred at grave 185
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NOVÁK Josef, sergent.
* 06/03/12, Zboněk Boskovice.
† 02/06/40, Portet, Toulouse.
28 years old.
Pilot with GC III/3. Killed in training accident.
Interred at grave 184
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POPELKA Stanislav, sergent
* 12/12/17, Františky, Vysoké Mýto.
† 03/06/40, Ozoir-la-Ferrière.
23 years old.
Pilot with GC I/6. Killed in aerial combat. Achieved %C2%A00+1=1 victories.
Interred at grave 186
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RAJTR Miroslav, sergent
† 11/01/40, Chartres.* 26/08/03, Žerčice, Mlada Boleslav.
36 years old.
Pilot at CIC Chartres, killed in a training accident.
Interred at grave 168
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STOKLASA Jaroslav, sergent.
* 24/03/17, Lhota, Opava.
† 04/03/40, Pau.
22 years old.
Pilot at CIB Pau. Killed in training accident.
Interred at grave 169
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VAŠEK Vladimír, caporal-chef
* 08/08/14, Sedlec, Kutna Hora.
† 02/01/40, Meuse, Malancourt.
25 years old.
Pilot with GC I/5. Killed in aerial collision during combat flight.
Interred at grave 171
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Our thanks to FCAFA volunteer Benoit Colin for his assistance to achieve this remembrance.
Free Czechoslovak Air Force 
I felt Honoured to sit and view these photos and the words.Thank you.John T Walker.Oxford.UK.
Their Courage and Sacrifice Will Never be Forgotten.
Excellent photos – thanks.
Eternal Glory to them!