Good day. This is my first post here. My father passed away many years ago, he was drafted into the British army. He participated in the D-Day Normandy landings. I wish they would guide me where I could get some additional information. I only have of him some cloth or canvas bags with some printed; one "Z-10, 501,332," another "R-1332 Stonek" and a small military bag "stonek-R1332-33641" Thank you very much
Have you got anymore info to share? Any photos of him in uniform? Stonek isnt a British surname is it?
Thanks Owen for your answer. He died in 1957. I have a few photos of him, I don't remember one wearing uniform. I will look. Stonek in Czech
http://www.radio.cz/en/section/czechs/the-longest-day-a-look-back-at-the-heroic-czech-contribution-to-the-d-day-landings Czechoslovak participation in the first weeks of Operation Overlord was almost exclusively limited to the air, as soldiers from the occupied country's 1st Armoured Brigade did not deploy to Normandy until several weeks after the Allied landing. That brigade would see its heaviest fighting months later in Dunkirk. But hundreds more Czech fighting men took part in the D-Day landings doing battle under the flags of other Allied nations. A Czech captain by the name of F. O. Miksche serving in England with the Fighting French Forces came very close to predicting key aspects of the Normandy airborne plan in his book, "Paratroops". He had accurately identified much of the drop zone area in a theoretical airborne assault into Normandy and amphibious landings, near Utah Beach for the sea-borne assault. .............................................................................................................................................................................................................. There was also many Czech aircrew involved in the landings and the protection of shipping in the channel, so knowing if he was army, paratrooper or air would be a help. Do we have any forenames for him?? TD edited to add: http://zpravy.aktualne.cz/obituary-from-d-day-participant-to-anti-soviet-agent/r~i:article:610599/ Only few Czech soldiers participated in one of the largest seaborne military invasion in history - the Invasion of Normandy in 1944, dubbed D-Day. Among them was Czech soldier Miloš Knorr. He was the only Czech that was in the second disembarkment phase. In the first wave there was none, in the third only two.
At a guess I would say this is his name and service number - stonek-R1332-33641 Have you checked out - http://www.czechfamilytree.com/military.htm or http://www.iabsi.com/gen/public/military_records_in_upper_hungar.htm If he was a member of the Czech Air Force then: Czechoslovakian Records Royal Air Force: Records for Czech Officers were returned to the Czech Republic at the end of the Second World War. They are archived at: Vojensky Historicky Archiv Ulica Sokolska 136 18600 Praha8 Karlin Czech Republic Records for some Czech Airmen are retained by the RAF and enquiries should be made to: RAF Disclosures Section Room 221b Trenchard Hall RAF Cranwell Sleaford LINCS NG34 8HB Perhaps there is also a veterans association in Czech.... TD
I am very grateful for your help and information. I'm going to read it carefully. Something I can add is that his birth place was Vienna, Austria. I can confirm he was part of the Royal Air Force.
Do you know: His date of birth? (above you have said he was born in Vienna) Where he died? (above you have said he died in 1957) Your mothers maiden name and details? Any details help to search TD
You mention that he was in the Czech Air Force, I presume that you mean the Czech Air Force in exile under RAF command. R1332 is the serial number of a Wellington bomber, probably a Mk Ic version and 33641 looks very much like a Polish Airman's serial number - but Czech numbers may have been similar. Not much, but I hope it helps. Neville
If it is of any help, Wellington 1c R1332 (KO-X) was in service with 115 Squadron when it was shot down. He was obviously not on board at the time but it may provide a link. In spite of having their own squadrons, some non British nationals also served in the regular RAF Squadrons. Neville
