Alois Vašátko
Czechoslovak artillery officer (1908–1942) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Alois Vašátko DFC (25 August 1908 – 23 June 1942) was a Czechoslovak artillery officer who became an air force pilot. In the Second World War he was a fighter ace, first in the French Air Force in the Battle of France and then in the Royal Air Force.
Alois Vašátko | |
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Nickname(s) | Lojzek Amos The Great Amos |
Born | (1908-08-25)25 August 1908 Čelákovice, Austria-Hungary |
Died | 23 June 1942(1942-06-23) (aged 33) English Channel, off Start Point, England |
Allegiance | Czechoslovakia France United Kingdom |
Service/ | Czechoslovak Army Czechoslovak Air Force French Foreign Legion Armée de l'Air Royal Air Force |
Years of service | 1928–42 |
Rank | Wing Commander |
Service number | 83233 |
Unit | 22nd Infantry Regiment 3rd Artillery Regiment |
Commands held | 14th Observation Squadron "B" Flight, 312 Squadron |
Battles/wars | Second World War |
Awards |
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In the French Air Force Vašátko shot down at least 12 enemy aircraft in May and June 1940. In the RAF he shot down another 14 enemy aircraft between October 1940 and his death in June 1942. He commanded No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF from June 1941 and RAF Fighter Command's Czechoslovak fighter wing from May 1942.
France awarded Vašátko the Croix de guerre 1939–1945 with seven palms, two gold stars and one silver star, and made him a Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur. The United Kingdom awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross.
Vašátko was killed in action in June 1942 by a mid-air collision over the English Channel between his Supermarine Spitfire and an enemy Focke-Wulf Fw 190.