Vlkonice – 02.09.2023 – Matěj Pavlovič

On 2nd September, the fourth memorial plaque for the ‘Český čtyřlístek’ – the Czech four leaf clover. Josef Balejka, Josef František, Matěj Pavlovič and Vilém Košař. This time the plaque was unveiled at Vlkonice, a small town in the Karlovy Vary region of Czechoslovakia, about 75 miles west of Prague, which was the birth town of Matěj Pavlovič.

It was a well attended ceremony with military representatives, local dignitaries, well-wishers and supported by the Czech Spitfire Club, who brought their replica Spitfire to the event.

Several wreaths were then laid, including by the Klub Vojenské Historie at Otaslavice, the instigators of this series of memorial plaques and a bouquet was laid by Vladimír Ambros, on behalf of FCAFA.

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During the short Polish campaign of 1939 four Czechoslovak pilots: Josef Balejka, Josef František , Vilém Košař and Matěj Pavlovič, fought with distinction in that campaign and had become known as ‘Český čtyřlístek’ – the Czech four leaf clover.

V roce 1939, v kráké bitvě o Polsko bojovala i čtveřice českých pilotů Josef Balejka, Josef František, Vilém Košař a Matěj Pavlovič, která se stala známou jako Český čtyřlístek.

After their evacuation from Poland, with Polish Forces, they were evacuated to France and later, when France capitulated to England where they remained with the Polish Air Force and where Josef František and Vilém Košař’ flew in the Battle of Britain with 303 Sqn. Balejka and Pavlovič, were unable to complete their conversion to Hurricanes before the Battle finished on 31 October 1940.

Po porážce Polska byli spolu s polskými ozbrojenými silami evakuováni do Francie a po jejím pádu do Británie. Také zde zůstali přislušníky přílušníky polského letectva. Josef František a Vilém Košař bojovali v bitvě o Británii jako příslušníci 303. perutě, Balejka a Pavlovič nedokázali dokončit přeškolení na stroje Hawker Hurricane před koncem bitvy, tedy 10. říjnem 1940.

Of the four, only Josef Balejka was to survive the war:

Josef František, † 08/10/40, aged 26 / let

Vilém Košař, † 08/11/40, aged 32 / let

Matěj Pavlovič, † 20/04/41, aged 26 / let

A biography on Josef Balejka here.

A biography on Josef František here.

A biography on Vilém Košař here.

A biography on Matěj Pavlovič here.

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