Otto Smik
Czechoslovak World War II flying ace / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Otto Smik DFC (20 January 1922 – 28 November 1944) was a Czechoslovak pilot of Slovak-Russian Jew origin who became a fighter ace in the Royal Air Force. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in July 1940 and was in training until the end of 1942. Between March 1943 and June 1944 he shot down 13 Luftwaffe fighter aircraft probably shot down one more and shared in the shooting down of two others. In July 1944 he shot down three V-1 flying bombs. He became the highest-scoring Slovak fighter ace in the RAF.
Otto Smik | |
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Born | (1922-01-20)20 January 1922 Borjomi, Georgian SSSR |
Died | 28 November 1944(1944-11-28) (aged 22) Ittersum, Netherlands |
Buried | |
Allegiance | Czechoslovakia France United Kingdom |
Service/ | Czechoslovak Army Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1940–44 |
Rank | Squadron Leader |
Service number | 130678 |
Unit | No. 312 Squadron RAF No. 310 Squadron RAF |
Commands held | "B" Flight, No. 312 Sqn RAF No. 127 Squadron RAF |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Awards |
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In October 1944 Smik survived being shot down behind enemy lines in the Netherlands, successfully evaded capture and returned to Allied-held territory. In November 1944 the RAF promoted him to Squadron Leader and put him in command of No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF. On 28 November he was shot down again over the German-held territory in the Netherlands and was killed.