Pomník českým válečným letcům RAF

The Memorial to Czech RAF War Pilots stands on Senovážné náměstí in the historic centre of České Budějovice. It honours local men who served in Britain's Royal Air Force during the Second World War and died fighting for their country's freedom.

What does the memorial look like?

The centrepiece is a fibreglass model of a Spitfire fuselage — the legendary fighter that defended Britain during the Battle of Britain. The model weighs around 300 kilograms and was built in a workshop in nearby Lišov, a project that took craftsmen four months to complete. The fuselage rests on a marble pedestal, and the path leading up to it is set with silhouettes of Royal Air Force aircraft embedded in the paving, so that visitors approaching the memorial effectively walk through a formation of the machines that defended English skies.

Who is commemorated here?

The memorial bears the names of four airmen connected to České Budějovice who died while serving in the RAF: František Marek (died 14 September 1940), Václav Štětka (died 17 April 1941), Jaroslav Jelínek (died 12 January 1943), and Josef Šimandl (died 23 November 1943). František Marek was the first pilot from České Budějovice to be killed, falling during the Battle of Britain — the 1940 air campaign in which Czechoslovak pilots serving with the RAF played a notable role.

When and why was the memorial built?

The memorial was unveiled on 12 September 2015, on the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain. Its construction was initiated by Vladimír Vopalecký, whose uncle Josef had served in the wartime RAF — this personal, family connection to the RAF's history drove years of effort to have a memorial erected in his home town; from the initial idea to the unveiling, the project took eight years of organisational work. The unveiling ceremony was attended by surviving war veterans, including General Emil Boček and Colonel Alois Dubec.

Why does the story of Czechoslovak RAF airmen matter?

The fates of the airmen honoured on Senovážné náměstí form part of a much broader, dramatic history of Czechoslovak RAF personnel. Those who survived the war and returned home were, after the communist takeover of power in 1948, persecuted and professionally discriminated against simply for having served in Western armed forces — many were imprisoned or demoted to the most menial manual labour. Some chose to flee back into exile, where more than a hundred former Czechoslovak RAF airmen returned to active service in the British Royal Air Force. The memorial in České Budějovice is therefore a tribute not only to those who fell in combat, but indirectly to an entire generation of airmen whose lives were shaped both by the war and by the persecution that followed it.

Where exactly is the memorial located?

The memorial stands on Senovážné náměstí, a small square in the historic centre of České Budějovice, easily reached on foot from the city's main square. The site is freely accessible year-round and forms a stop on walking routes tracing the city's wartime history.

Frequently asked questions

Is the memorial easy for tourists to visit? Yes, it stands in the city centre on Senovážné náměstí and can be freely visited at any time, with no restrictions.

How many airmen does the memorial commemorate? It lists the names of four airmen connected to České Budějovice who died while serving in the RAF between 1940 and 1943.

Why does the memorial take the shape of a Spitfire? The Spitfire was one of the key British fighters of the Battle of Britain, in which Czechoslovak RAF pilots fought and died — the fuselage model symbolises their service in that campaign.

When was the memorial unveiled? The memorial was unveiled on 12 September 2015, on the 75th anniversary of the Battle of Britain.