Miloslav Mansfeld
Czechoslovak fighter ace in World War II / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Miloslav Mansfeld DSO DFC AFC (14 December 1912 – 22 October 1991) was a Czechoslovak fighter pilot who became a flying ace in the UK's Royal Air Force (RAF) in the Second World War.
Miloslav Mansfeld | |
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Born | (1912-12-14)14 December 1912 Dalovice, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary |
Died | 22 October 1991(1991-10-22) (aged 78) London, England |
Buried | Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey |
Allegiance | Czechoslovakia France United Kingdom |
Service/ | Czechoslovak Air Force French Foreign Legion Armée de l'Air Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1930–1958 |
Rank | Squadron Leader |
Unit | No. 111 Squadron RAF No. 68 Squadron RAF |
Commands held | "A" Flight, No. 68 Squadron RAF |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Awards |
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Other work | Daily Express distribution manager |
Mansfeld was a Czechoslovak Air Force pilot in the 1930s, flying initially reconnaissance aircraft, then night fighters and latterly bombers. When Germany occupied and partitioned Czechoslovakia in 1939 he escaped via Poland to France. When France capitulated in 1940 Mansfeld was evacuated to Britain, where he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
From 1941 to 1944 Mansfeld flew Bristol Beaufighters with the Czechoslovak flight of No. 68 Squadron RAF and scored most of his victories. From 1944 he flew de Havilland Mosquitoes, with which he shot down two V-1 flying bombs.
In 1945 Mansfeld returned to Czechoslovakia, but after the Czechoslovak Communist Party seized power in 1948 he returned to Britain and the RAF. He flew Gloster Meteor jet fighters, specialised in photoreconnaissance and commanded a squadron. In 1958 he left the RAF for a civilian career. He retired in 1970 and died in 1991.