The following notes are to assist readers to have some understanding as to the background of why this hijacking took place:
In October 1938 Hitler occupied Czechoslovakia following the signing of the Munich Agreement that September. A few Czechoslovaks managed to leave the country prior to this happening, or during the early days of the occupation, and made their way to Poland, some joining the Polish military forces, and others going to other countries. After World War 2 was declared, on 3 September 1939 and a few days later Poland fell to the invading German military, many of these Czechoslovaks were able to make their way to France and when France fell those who were able to went to England. Here some joined the Royal Air Force and the majority served in the Czechoslovak Fighter Squadrons of 310, 312, or 313. Many others served in 311 Squadron which was a Bomber and later Coastal Command Squadron. By 8 May 1945, when the war in Europe had ended, approximately 2500 Czechoslovaks had served in the RAF and just over 500 had made the ultimate sacrifice.
Czechoslovakia had been liberated by the Russians but the Czechoslovak RAF personnel were unable to return to their homeland till August 1945 due to 'technical reasons' and 'difficulties; claimed by these new occupiers. When they did return, some continued their Military Service careers and remained in the Czechoslovak Air Force while others, once demobilised, returned to civilian life. During the wartime years there had been no Czechoslovak national airline [ČSA] in operation post war and there was a urgent need for trained flying and maintenance personnel - a natural new employment for many of the former RAF personnel. Thus many resumed their aviation careers as they started to rebuild their lives in their post war homeland.
Sadly things were going to change very soon as the Russian 'liberators' were ensuring that their Communist ideology was their to stay. This led to the Communists taking power in a coup d'état in February 1948. Under this new regime those who had served their country by fighting in the West with the RAF or British Army were considered to be tainted with Western capitalist ideology and seen as undesirable citizens in the new regime. Some were soon arrested and imprisoned, demoted to menial low paid work or executed - some more information is here. Others were kept under observation by the StB - the Czechoslovak Secret Service - and gradually they were arrested, detained, imprisoned or killed. Just expressing pro Western comments was sufficient reason to be visited by the StB and this, in many cases, would lead to some form of detention and other penalties. It could have been a vindictive work colleague, malicious 'friend' or grievous family member who contacted the StB about your alleged tainted Western view - you never knew who could be trusted.
Many of the Czechoslovak ex-RAF and ex-Army made the choice to leave and go into exile again. In numerous cases this also meant wives, girlfriends and children going as well. Trying to smuggle yourself across the Western Czechoslovak border to Austria or Germany was a common route - some were successful, but many were not and ended tragically. Other ways to cross this border were often sought. By 1950 some ex-RAF aircrew were still flying domestic flights for the Czechoslovak national airline [ČSA] - they had already been banned from undertaking international flights. Some chose to use an aeroplane as a means to escape - this is the story of one such attempt.
Hopefully the above background will give the reader some insight as to the motivation for this escape.
Contrary to the stories circulating after this escape, it was not planned the afternoon before it took place; it had in fact involved many months of careful and cautious planning.
But now to the actual story of this escape - http://www.fcafa.co.uk/erding/english.html
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J.Š.24.3.2018
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