Jan Ambrus facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ján Ambruš
|
|
|---|---|
.png) |
|
| Born | 19 May 1899 Gorna Mitropolia, Bulgaria |
| Died | 2 January 1994 (aged 94) Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Buried |
Slávičie údolie cemetery, Bratislava
|
| Allegiance | .svg){kind=small} Austria-Hungary Czechoslovakia France United Kingdom Czechoslovakia |
| Service/ |
Royal Hungarian Honvéd Czechoslovak Army |
| Years of service | 1918–48 |
| Rank | Brigadier-General |
| Service number | 81883 (RAF) |
| Unit | No. 310 Squadron RAF No. 312 Squadron RAF |
| Commands held | No. 312 Squadron RAF |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order, 3rd class Czechoslovak War Cross |
| Other work | design engineer |
Ján Ambruš (born May 19, 1899 – died January 2, 1994) was a brave Slovak aerobatics and fighter pilot. He flew with the French Air Force during the Battle of France. Later, he joined the Royal Air Force and fought in the famous Battle of Britain. After the Communist government took over Czechoslovakia, he moved to the United States. There, he worked as a design engineer, helping to plan important projects.
Contents
Early Life and Flying Career
Ján Ambruš was born on May 19, 1899, in a place called Gorna Mitropolia in Bulgaria. His family was part of a Slovak community that had moved to Bulgaria many years before.
During World War I, Ján studied at the Ludovica Military Academy in Budapest. After he finished in 1919, he became an officer in the new Czechoslovak Army.
In 1925, Ján Ambruš joined the Czechoslovak Air Force. He became a very skilled pilot, known for his amazing aerobatic flying. He even won awards at flying competitions, including one in France in 1934. He also competed at the 1936 Summer Olympics. In 1938, he led the Czechoslovak Air Force Test Group. He flew a special plane, the Tatra T.101, on a record-breaking flight from Prague to Khartoum, a city in Sudan.
Fighting in World War II
In 1939, Ján Ambruš was a squadron commander in Prague. When Germany took over Czechoslovakia, he bravely escaped. He traveled through Yugoslavia to France. There, he worked for the Czechoslovak government that was in exile. He also fought as a pilot in the Battle of France.
When France surrendered to Germany, Ján Ambruš was evacuated by ship. He sailed from Bordeaux, France, to Falmouth in England.
Once in England, he joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. In July 1940, he was sent to No. 310 Squadron RAF at Duxford Aerodrome. He learned to fly the Hawker Hurricane Mk I fighter plane. Soon after, he joined the new No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF and became its leader in September 1940.
On October 11, Ján Ambruš led his Hurricane fighters on a patrol. They helped another squadron shoot down a German Luftwaffe plane called a Dornier Do 17 Z-3. This happened between Wales and England. Other pilots from his squadron also helped in this victory.
A few days later, Ján Ambruš led another patrol. During this flight, his group accidentally attacked two friendly British planes. Sadly, one of these planes crashed into the sea, and its crew did not survive. The other plane was only slightly damaged.
Because of this accident, Ján Ambruš was removed from his command of 312 Squadron in December. He then worked for the Czechoslovak Air Force in London until the end of 1941. In 1942, he was promoted and sent to Canada. He worked there as an Air Attaché at the Czechoslovak Embassy in Ottawa until the war ended.
Life After the War
After World War II, Ján Ambruš went back to Czechoslovakia. He was put in charge of the 4th Aviation military wing.
However, in 1948, the Communists took control of Czechoslovakia. Ján Ambruš had to escape again, this time to the UK. He then moved to the United States and settled in Chicago. He started a new career as a design engineer. He helped plan big projects like highways, airports, and systems to control air pollution.
In 1985, Ján Ambruš moved to a retirement home in Chicago. He passed away there on January 2, 1994. After his death, his body was taken to Slovakia. He was buried in the Slávičie údolie cemetery in Bratislava.
Awards and Recognition
Ján Ambruš received many awards for his bravery and service from Czechoslovakia, France, Britain, and Romania. Here are some of his decorations:
Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order, third class
Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945
Československá medaile Za chrabrost před nepřítelem (Medal for Bravery in Face of the Enemy)
Československá medaile za zásluhy, 1. stupně (Medal of Merit, First Class)
Pamětní medaile československé armády v zahraničí (Commemorative Medal of the Czechoslovak Army Abroad) with France and Great Britain bars
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE)
1939–1945 Star with Battle of Britain clasp
Defence Medal
War Medal 1939–1945
Order of the Crown, Fifth Class
_BAR.svg){kind=small}
_Ribbon.png){kind=small}
