A Good 1942 'Evader's' D.F.C. Group of Twelve to Hurricane and Spitfire Pilot, Squadron Leader F. Fajtl, Czechslovakian Air Force and Royal Air Force, Who Shared 2 Destroyed Do. 17's During the Battle of Britain, And Was in Command of 122 Squadron When He Was Shot Down, 5.5.1942, Over Occupied France. He Evaded Capture For Over Three Months Before Successfully Returning to The UK. Fajtl Formed a Czech Squadron Attached to the Russian Air Force, and Flew With Them On the Eastern Front During 1944a) Distinguished Flying Cross, G.VI.R., reverse officially engraved '1942'b) 1939-1945 Star, with old copy Battle of Britain Barc) Air Crew Europe Stard) War Medal, M.I.D. Oak Leafe) Czechoslovakia, Republic, War Cross 1939, bronze, with four gilt linden sprays on ribandf) Czechoslovakia, Republic, Bravery Medal, bronze, with two gilt linden sprays on ribandg) Czechoslovakia, Republic, Military Merit Medal, First Class, silvered-bronzeh) Czechoslovakia, Republic, Army Commemorative Medal, one clasp, VB, bronzei) Czechoslovakia, People's Republic, Military Order of the Red Star, breast Badge, 43mm, silvered and enamelj) Romania, Kingdom, Order of the Crown, 2nd type, Officer's breast Badge, 55mm including crown suspension x 38mm, silver, gold, and enamel, with rosette on ribandk) Russia, Soviet Union, Medal for Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941-45, giltl) France, Republic, War Medal 1939-1945, two clasps, France, Liberation, bronze, good very fine, with the following related items:- Czechoslovakian Air Force No. 1 Uniform, complete with trousers and cap, the latter slightly moth-eaten- M.I.D. Certificate, 'A/Wing Commander F. Fajtl, D.F.C., Czechoslovak Air Force, dated 14.1.1944- Three Commissions appointing recipient, Lieutenant, Lieutenant Pilot and Major, dated 26.2.1934, 7.6.1940 and 30.8.1945 respectively- Two Czechoslovakian Air Force Flying Log Books (28.8.1934-21.8.1938 and 21.8.1938-4.3.1939), with a bound photo-copy of recipient's French flying Log Book (14.10.1939-19.6.1940)- A number of photographic images, mostly with annotations in pencil, and other ephemera (lot) D.F.C. Approved 1942. 82544 Acting Squadron Leader Frantisek Fajtl, Czechoslovak Air Force, 122 Squadron, Fighter Command, the Recommendation states, 'Squadron Leader Fajtl throughout the period in which he operated from Hornchurch Sector showed unfailing resolution, dash and determination in the face of the enemy, first as a Flight Commander and then as Squadron Commander. In all he has flown 191 hours of offensive patrols and has destroyed one enemy aircraft, shared in the destruction of three others and a damaged a fifth.It is recommended that his services be rewarded by the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross.'The following additional recommendation gives the following, 'This officer was in command of a fighter squadron escorting a bomber force in a daylight raid over Lille, on the 5th May 1942, when after destroying two Me. 109'S, his aircraft was damaged and he crash-landed in Northern France.Leaving his parachute near the airplane, he ran a short distance in one direction, dropping his gloves on the ground, and then re-tracing his steps, ran in the opposite direction. In this way he mislead the enemy as to the direction of his escape. He later hid in a ditch within a stone's throw of enemy headquarters until nightfall, when, despite a thorough search during which patrols stood within ten yards of him, he commenced his journey southwards by using the flashes from the torches of the search parties as a guide. He finally got clear by crawling five hundred yards to pass between two sentries.Although by now a hue and cry had been raised, he succeeded in obtaining a disguise and eventually reached Paris.<b
