* 09.10.1914, Vlašim.
† 06.03.1943, St Vierge, France.
Pre WW2
Josef Příhoda was born at Vlašim, a small country town, some 55km south-east of Prague, on 9 October 1914. He struggled during his schooling as he was not academically oriented, preferring singing and physical education. He was successful as a sports cyclist where he excelled by winning several races. On completion of his schooling, he obtained an apprenticeship as a machine fitter and mechanic at a factory at Beroun, but like many young men of that period, aviation was to become his aspiration.
For his mandatory military service, he volunteered to join the Czechoslovak Air Force, on 1 October 1935 but, to his disappointed, he was selected for training as an aircraft mechanic at Prague-Kbely airbase. On completion of his training, he was posted to the 73rd and then 72nd squadrons who were deployed at the airbase. He volunteered and was selected for pilot training and on 1 July 1936 was sent to the Military Aviation Academy at Hradec Králove. Josef graduated from the course on 20 January 1937, and was selected for fighter pilot training. In July 1937, he completed his training and was posted, as an operational pilot, to the 32nd Fighter Squadron of the 4th Air Regiment, who were deployed at Hradec Králove airbase. On 11 November 1936 he was promoted to the rank of svobodník [LAC]. On 30 November 1937, he was transferred to the regiment’s 31st Sqn and later, on 15 December, to the regiment’s 34th Sqn.
Mobilisation
It was now a sensitive time in Central Europe and the build-up of military forces by Nazi Germany along the Czechoslovak borders, caused the Czechoslovak government to declare a partial mobilisation, on 20 May 1938, to counter that threat.
Later that year, the aggressive overtures by neighbouring Nazi Germany regarding the Sudeten regions – the German speaking areas – of Czechoslovakia caused the Czechoslovak Government to again declare a mobilisation on 23 September 1938.
With these mobilisations, Josef’s squadron, was re-organised as the 50th Squadron of the 1st ‘T.G. Masaryk’ Air Regiment and re-deployed, on 23 September, to Parabudice airbase. On 29 September they redeployed again to Trenčín, in Slovakia to undertake patrols in the Nitra region to protect the borders against possible attacks from Hungary. Whilst this mobilisation was taking place, Josef was promoted, on 16 August 1938, to the rank of četař (Sgt).
German Occupation
Despite assurances given by Hitler at the Munich Agreement, that he had no further interest in territorial gains for Germany, just a few months later he extended his demands that the remaining regions of Czechoslovakia become part of Germany.
On the evening before the invasion, on March 14, 1939, Czechoslovak intelligence officers called a meeting where they announced that the threat of invasion was imminent and recommended measures which would prevent most important assets from falling into German hands. However, no orders were handed down until too late. The Chief of the Czechoslovak Air Force General Fajfr and his deputy General Vicherek ordered that no aircraft were allowed to take-off. Department of the Ministry of National Defence started organising the transfer of the aircraft to several airfields in Moravia with the intention of getting the planes to Romania and Yugoslavia. However, none of these plans were carried out.
The Germans occupied Czechoslovakia on 15 March 1939. Under pressure, Emil Hácha, the Czechoslovak President, had acceded to their demands and, in the early hours of that day, he had ordered all Czechoslovak military units to stand down, remain in their barracks and not resist the occupation. Germanisation of Bohemia and Moravia began immediately: they were now the Reich Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia (Protektorat Böhmen und Mähren), while Slovakia in return for its allegiance to Nazi Germany, had become the ‘puppet’ independent state of Slovakia.
Resistance
After the German occupation on 15 March 1939, the Czechoslovak military was quickly disbanded by the Germans, and all personnel were dismissed. For the military personnel and many patriotic Czech citizens, this was a degrading period. Many wanted to redress this shame and humiliation and sought the liberation of their homeland. But by 19 March 1939, former senior officers of the now-disbanded Czechoslovak military had started to form an underground army known as Obrana Národa [Defence of the Nation]. One of their objectives was to assist as many airmen and soldiers as possible to get to neighbouring Poland, where Ludvík Svoboda, a former distinguished Czechoslovak Legionnaire from WW1, was planning the formation of Czechoslovak military units to fight for the liberation of their homeland. Within Czechoslovakia, former military personnel and civilian patriots covertly started to arrange for former Air Force and Army personnel to be smuggled over the border into Poland to join these newly formed Czechoslovak units.
Poland
At the time of the German occupation, Josef was stationed at Trenčín airbase in Slovakia. On 19 March, as a Czech, he was repatriated back to Czechoslovakia, now the German Reich Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia. There he joined other military and escaped over the border to Poland.
Disappointment in Poland
However, on reaching Poland, they they were informed that the formation of Czechoslovak military units in Poland were just rumours because the Polish authorities would not allow Czechoslovak military units to be formed on its territory for fear of provoking Nazi Germany.
Instead, they learnt that Vladimír Znojemský, the Czechoslovak Consul, had, via his counterpart in Paris, negotiated with the French Government that the escaped Czechoslovak military would be permitted to travel to France. But there was a condition: as French Law did not permit foreign military personnel on its territory during peacetime, the Czechoslovaks would be required to enlist in the French Foreign Legion for a period of five years – but with the assurance that in the event of war being declared, the Czechoslovaks would be released from the Legion and transferred into French military units. The alternative was that they would be sent back to the German Protectorate of Czechoslovakia, where their execution or deportation to a concentration camp would be the most likely outcome.
Josef, like most of the Czechoslovak escapees, decided that his best choice was to go to France. At first Josef was accommodated at the ‘Dom Turystczny’, a cheap tourist hostel near the Czechoslovak Consulate whilst preparations were made for their onward journey to France.
He was then transferred to Bronowice Małe, a derelict former Polish Army barracks from the Austro-Hungarian era, on the outskirts of Krákow, which was then being utilised as a temporary transit camp for the escaped Czechoslovak military prior to their transfer to France. Josef arrived there on 11 June 1939, the 284th Czechoslovak escapee to arrive. The barracks, which were in poor condition, were already well inhabited by escapees whilst arrangements were made for their transportation, by sea, to France.
After a short stay in Poland, Josef, along with 138 other Czechoslovak military escapees, 42 of whom were airmen, travelled by train to the Polish Baltic port of Gdynia, where on 17 June they boarded the ‘Sobieski’, a Polish passenger ship and sailed to Boulogne, France, arriving on 19 June.
France
On arrival, Josef and his fellow escapees were met by the Air Attaché from the Czechoslovak Consulate, Paris. Each escapee was given 20 francs to cover their immediate needs, and after two days there, they travelled by train to the French Foreign Legion’s recruitment barracks at Place Balard, in the south-west of Paris, for medical examination and recruitment documentation to be completed for their acceptance into the Foreign Legion. This time was to serve as a familiarisation period to learn the ways of the Legion and to study French on crash courses, and they took every opportunity to practise their new language skills with French girls. Josef was accepted into the 1st Regiment of the French Foreign Legion, and on 28 June transferred to Marseille and then onto the Legion’s 1st Regiment’s training base at Sidi-bel-Abbès, Algeria, arriving there on 3 July 1939.
With the German invasion of Poland on 1 September 1939, the British and French declared war on Germany on 3 September 1939. Josef was released from his Foreign Legion service and transferred to l’Armée de l’Air where he was posted to Escardrille Régionalle de Chasse 572 [ERC 572] of their Colonial Air Force deployed at Oran La Sénia airbase, Algeria. Shortly after he was transferred to their Centre d’instruction at Blida airbase for re-training on French fighter aircraft.
Further training followed at Maison Blanche airbase at Algiers and on 16 November 1939 Josef was posted to ERC 571, along with fellow Czechoslovaks Karel Čap, Ondřej Poslužný, František Vindiš and Ladislav Zadrobílek.
The Germans invaded France on 10 May 1940 and the rapid advance of their Blitzkrieg quickly indicated that the collapse of France was imminent. Encouraged by the German success, Mussolini declared war on Britain and France on 10 May.
On 17 May, ERC 571 was re-designated GC III/4 and redeployed to Casablanca, on the Moroccan Atlantic coast and was equipped with outdated Nieuport-Delage NiD-622 biplane fighter aircraft. These were later replaced with Dewoitine Dw-510 s which, although mono-planes, were still outdated when compared to contemporary fighter aircraft of that time. On 10 June, GC III /4 redeployed to Mansouriah airbase, in north-west Algeria, in anticipation of attacks by the Regia Aeronautica [Italian Air Force].
Evacuation to England
It was there that they learned that France had capitulated on 22 June. Winston Churchill, the British Prime Minister, appealed to all the evacuated Czechoslovak airmen to come to Britain and continue the fight from there. The l’Armée de l’Air released the Czechoslovak airmen from their service so that they could make their way to Britain. The five Czechoslovaks left on 23 June 1940 for a four-day train journey to Casablanca. There, on 29 June, with more Czechoslovak airmen, they boarded the ship ‘Brittanic’ which took them to Gibraltar, arriving on 30 June. There they transferred to the ‘Neuralia’, which sailed on 2 July in a convoy of 30 ships going deep out into the Atlantic to avoid air attacks from French-based Luftwaffe aircraft and safely reached Liverpool, on 12 July 1940.
RAF
On arrival at Liverpool, Josef’s first path, as for most of the Czechoslovaks, led to the Czechoslovak resettlement camp at Cholmondeley Park, near Chester. The first Czechoslovaks boarded a train to Nantwich, Cheshire, some 30 miles away, and from there marched to Cholmondeley Castle, 8 miles away. Here they were billeted in a tented camp in the grounds where they were security vetted. The Battle of Britain was now in progress and there was an urgent need for fighter pilots. As a trained pilot he was quickly transferred to the Czechoslovak RAF Depot, Cosford, where, on 26 July 1940, he was admitted to the Volunteer Reserve of the RAF, with the rank of AC2, and began his RAF training and also English language classes.
On 21 September, having reached the standard required by the RAF, and also promoted to Sgt. Along with 19 other Czechoslovak pilots Josef was posted from RAF Cosford to 6 OTU at Sutton Bridge for re-training on Hawker Hurricane fighter aircraft.
Battle of Britain
Josef completed his training and on 10 October 1940 was posted with fellow Czechoslovak Jan Plášil to 1 Sqn who were deployed at RAF Wittering, near Peterborough. Josef flew during the final days of the Battle of Britain with his first flight being in Hurricane N2618 on 10 October for a 70min local flight.
After being heavily engaged in the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain, the squadron had, on 9 September, transferred from their 11 Group base at RAF Northolt, to RAF Wittering, part of 12 Group, to rest and recuperate its pilots and refit its Hurricane Mk I fighter aircraft. Already at the squadron were fellow Czechoslovaks Václav Jícha , Bedřich Krátkoruký, Karel Kuttelwascher, Jaroslav Novák and Otto Pavlů. Four days later František Běhal, Evžen Čížek, Jan Štefan and Antonín Zavoral also arrived to 1 Sqn from 6 OTU, and on 22 October they were joined by Josef Dygrýn and Antonín Velebnovský.
After the Battle
On 15 December, 1 Sqn returned to 11 Group after their rest period and was redeployed to RAF Northolt where they undertook daylight operational sweeps over the English Channel and northern France. The squadron was redeployed to Kenley where on 5 January 1941 from where they continued with daylight Circus and Rhubarb ?explain? intruder flights along the northern French coast as well as night-flying training. On 7 April, the squadron redeployed to Croydon, and then to Redhill on 1 May. In December 1940 the squadron commenced night intruder missions along the northern French coast, and from Spring 1941, now deployed at RAF Tangmere, they flew night defence patrols to protect London from Luftwaffe bombing raids.
During this period, Josef had mixed fortunes with his flying. On 1 February 1941, at 17:00, he had to make a forced landing near Bredhurst, Kent, due to bad weather whilst flying on a patrol in Hurricane Mk I P3042. He achieved combat success with a Me 109 probable over the English Channel on 21 April 1941. During this time he achieved his next promotion, to F/Sgt, on 1 March 1941.
Josef was shot down on 28 April 1941. Four Hurricanes from 1 Sqn, flown by Josef Dygrýn, František Běhal, Sgt Rex and Josef took off from RAF Croydon, Surrey, at 11:30 and were ordered to patrol a convoy over the Thames at 7000 ft. Later they were vectored by the Air Controller to the vicinity of Dungeness, Kent. At about 12:15, the Hurricanes were attacked by 4 Luftwaffe Me109Fs from JG 51. Josef was weaving at about 6000 ft when one of the Me109Fs attacked him. His Hurricane Mk IIa, Z2690 was hit, and had gone into a spin, but when he tried to bale out from his doomed aircraft, he found that the cockpit canopy was jammed. He managed to pull the aircraft out of its spin and made a forced landing on a farmer’s field at nearby New Romney. Josef was uninjured in that landing. Unknown to him, the Me109 was flown by JG 51 Gruppen kommandeur Hptm Werner Mölders, the most successful Luftwaffe fighter pilot at that time.
Further combat success came on 16 June 1941 when he shot down a Me 109. That day 12 Hurricanes from 1 Sqn, took off from RAF Redhill at 17:31 to provide high cover escort for Lysanders in mid-Channel. When over Tonbridge, the squadron was advised by Control that Luftwaffe aircraft were approaching the Lysanders. The Hurricanes proceeded at full boost at 3,000 ft to the English Channel, south of Folkestone. The Lysanders were being escorted by Spitfires and further out a Hs 59 seaplane escorted by 2 pairs of Me109s was sighted. The Hurricanes were ordered to attack. Josef’s combat report of this action reads:
I was red 1 in No 1 Sqn when about 10 miles South of Folkestone saw 2 Me 109’s on the tail of Blue 1. I attacked them at extreme ranges, fired straight at him from 100 yds at 1000 ft. E/A dived steeply, I followed him and fired the remainder of my ammunition into him from astern. E/A dived straight into sea.
To 111 (Fighter) Sqn
On 23 September 1941 Josef was posted to 111 Sqn, known as ‘Treble One’, who were stationed at RAF North Weald, some 20 miles north-east of London. The squadron had participated in the Battle of France and then the Battle of Britain until early 1940, when they were redeployed to Scotland to rest, recuperate and re-equip. It returned South to RAF 11 Group in July 1941 and their role was offensive patrols over occupied northern France. The squadron was now equipped with Spitfire Mk IIa’s. Also posted from 1 Sqn were fellow Czechoslovaks Josef Dygrýn, Václav Kopecký and Jaroslav Šodek.
Josef was granted his Kings commission, at the junior officer rank of P/O, on 28 October 1941.
By mid Spring 1942, 111 Sqn was designated for posting overseas, and with the Czechoslovak restricted to the UK operational area, its Czechoslovak airmen were gradually posted from the squadron. In Josef’s case, this was on 14 April 1942 and he was posted to 313 (Czechoslovak) Sqn.
To 313 (Czechoslovak) Sqn
313 (Czechoslovak) Sqn, the third Czechoslovak fighter squadron to be formed in the RAF, was founded at RAF Catterick, Yorkshire, on 10 May 1941. The squadron was now deployed at RAF Hornchurch, Essex, equipped with Spitfire Mk Vcs and part of the Hornchurch Wing which was comprised of 64 Sqn, 122Sqn and 313 Sqn.
Josef was immediately assigned to operation flying duties. After three months, he completed his 200-hour operational tour and, after a mandatory rest, returned to 313 Squadron on 1 September 1942.
For his outstanding work, Josef was awarded a DFC on 29 September 1942. The citation for that award is “P/O Prihoda has completed 51 operational sorties over enemy occupied territory during which he has destroyed 4, probably destroyed 3 and damaged a further 2 enemy aircraft. He has at all times displayed great determination, courage and devotion to duty.”
Josef’s final RAF promotion, to the rank of F/O, was on 1 October 1942.
Fateful flight
Josef was killed on 6 March 1943 near the island of Vierge de l’Ille, France. That day, over Portreath, the Czechoslovak Fighter Wing – 310 Sqn, 312 Sqn and 313 Sqn – rendezvoued with 130 Sqn and 620 Sqn, to provide fighter escort to Liberator bombers for a raid on the docks at Brest, France. The fighters rendezvoued with the bombers 10 miles north of Ile de Vierge, Josef was flying Spitfire Vc BP862.
At 14:15, as they approached the French coast, Luftwaffe Fw 190s from 8 /JG2 Richthofen were seen coming out of the sun for an attack on the bombers. In the ensuing dog-fight, Josef was shot down at 14:20 and his Spitfire was seen in flames crashing into the sea. His body was not found.
His attacker had been Fw Friedrich May of 8 /JG2 Richthofen who, from Luftwaffe records, that day had shot down 2 Spitfires in the Brest area around that time.
F/O Josef Příhoda was 28 years old and is commemorated on panel 129 at the Runnymede Memorial.
Medals Awarded
Distinguished Flying Cross
1939 – 45 Star with Battle of Britain clasp
Defence Medal
1939-1945 War Medal
Válečný kříž 1939 and 2 bars
Za chrabrost and bar
Za zásluhy I.stupně
Pamětní medaile se štítky F–VB
Remembered
Great Britain:
Capel-le-Ferne:
He is commemorated, along with the other 2940 Battle of Britain aircrew, on the Christopher Foxley-Norris Memorial Wall at the National Battle of Britain Memorial at Capel-le-Ferne, Kent:
Hawkinge:
Josef is remembered on the Czechoslovak Battle of Britain pilots memorial at the Kent Battle of Britain Museum at Hawkinge, Kent. It was unveiled on 28 October 2025, to commemorate the 88 Czechoslovaks who flew in that battle.
London – Battle of Britain Memorial:
He is also commemorated on the London Battle of Britain Memorial:
London – St Clement Danes:
Karel Körber is remembered in the Remembrance book at St Clements Danes Church, London.
London – West Hampstead:
He is remembered on the Memorial Plaque at the Bohemia House, he former Czechoslovak National House, at West Hampstead, London.
Czech Republic:
Prague 1 – St Vitus Cathedral:
He is remembered in the Remembrance book at St Vitus Cathedral, Hradčany, Prague.
Prague 1 – Klárov:
In November 2017, his name, along with the names of 2533 other Czechoslovak men and women who had served in the RAF during WW2, was unveiled at the Winged Lion Monument at Klárov, Prague 1.
Prague 3 – The Army Museum:
He is remembered on the Memorial Plaque at the Military History Institute, at Žižkov Prague.
Prague 6 – Dejvice:
He is named on the Memorial for the fallen Czechoslovak airmen of 1939-1945, at Dejvice, Prague 6.
Vlašim:
He is named on a memorial plaque at the War Memorial at Vlašim.
Vlašim:
In 2017, a memorial plaque was unveiled for him at his former family home in Vlašim.
Article last updated: 31.10.2025.
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