Background
Štandera was born on October 5, 1918.
Štandera was born on October 5, 1918.
Štandera was one of the final two surviving Czechoslovakian combat pilots who flew for the Allies throughout the entire period of World World War World War II He was also the last surviving Czechoslovakian pilot who had flown for France during the war. In 1936, he enlisted in the Czechoslovak Air Force and became an air force pilot after completing aviation school. World World War II
He fled from Czechoslovakia to France in 1939 following the German invasion and occupation of the country.
Standera joined the French Air Force and fought against the Nazi German pilots during the invasion of France in May 1940.
In June 1940, Štandera was seriously wounded during an aerial dogfight, but survived the crash landing. Štandera was evacuated to the United Kingdom for medical treatment following the Fall of France.
312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron Royal Air Force, a Royal Air Force squadron made up of exiled Czechoslovak fighter pilots. He piloted twin-engine fighter bombers for nighttime bombing raids into Germany and occupied France throughout the war.
In total, Štandera flew 1,320 hours of combat during World World War World War II He also protected the air space over Allied forces during the Invasion of Normandy in June 1944.
Post-war life and career
Miroslav Štandera returned to his native Czechoslovakia following the end of World World War World War II However, he was expelled from the Czechoslovak Air Force by the new Communist government after the 1948 Czechoslovak coup d"état. Štandera fled to the United Kingdom in 1948, where he rejoined the Royal Air Force. Štandera retired from the Royal Air Force (Royal Air Force) in 1955.
Štandera became a silversmith in Britain after retiring from the Royal Air Force. He took and apprenticeship and repaired silver teapots.
He retired in the early 1980s. In 1984, Štandera moved from Britain to Bavaria, West Germany.
He returned to the Czechoslovakian Republic in 1994 to live with his daughter"s family in Plzeň. In 2000, President Vaclav Havel bestowed Štandera with the honorary rank of brigadier general.
Miroslav Štandera died in Plzeň, Czechoslovakian Republic, on February 19, 2014, at the age of 94.
His death was announced by officials from the Plzeň city hall. His funeral was held at the Cathedral of Saint Bartholomew in Plzen on February 26, 2014.
The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was seeking to purge members of the armed forces who had served for Western European countries during the war.
In 1940, he was one of 87 Czechoslovak fighter pilots who defended the United Kingdom during the Battle of Britain.
There he became one of the founding members of the Number.