Jindřich Bartoš facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jindřich Bartoš
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| Nickname | Henry |
| Born |
Jindřich Bartoš
16 November 1911 Lugansk, Russia
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| Died | 13 February 1941 (aged 29) Talacre, Prestatyn, United Kingdom
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| Allegiance |  Czechoslovakia |
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Branch
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 Royal Air Force |
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Rank
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Flying officer |
| Unit | No. 312 Squadron RAF |
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Conflicts
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World War II |
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Flying Officer Jindřich "Henry" Bartoš (born November 16, 1911 – died February 13, 1941) was a brave pilot from Czechoslovakia. He flew fighter planes with the Royal Air Force (RAF) during World War II. He was part of the famous Battle of Britain.
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Jindřich Bartoš: A Young Pilot's Journey
Jindřich Bartoš was born in 1911 in a city called Lugansk. At that time, Lugansk was part of the Russian Empire. He loved flying and became a pilot. In 1935, he finished his training at the Czechoslovak Army Academy. After that, he joined the Czech Air Force. He flew with their 2nd Air Regiment.
Escaping to Fight for Freedom
In 1938, Germany invaded Czechoslovakia. Jindřich knew he had to keep fighting for freedom. He bravely escaped to Poland. Then, in the summer of 1939, he traveled to France. In France, he first joined the French Foreign Legion. This was a special group of soldiers. Later, he moved to the Armee de l'Air, which was the French Air Force. He fought for the Allies in the Battle of France.
Joining the Royal Air Force
After France was taken over, Jindřich continued his journey. He sailed from Casablanca to Gibraltar. From there, he took another ship. He finally arrived in Cardiff, United Kingdom, on August 5, 1940. Another Czech pilot, Otto Hanzlíček, traveled with him.
Jindřich then joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). He trained to fly the fast Hawker Hurricane fighter plane. On September 5, 1940, he joined No. 312 Squadron RAF. This was a special squadron made up of Czechoslovak pilots. They were based at RAF Duxford. He became a full-time pilot on October 2, 1940.
Flying in the Battle of Britain
Jindřich flew with the 312 Squadron throughout the Battle of Britain. This was a very important air battle. At first, he was a section leader. This meant he led a small group of planes. Later, he was promoted to Flying Officer. He then became the deputy flight leader for "B" flight. This made him second-in-command of a larger group of planes.
A Tragic End
Sadly, Jindřich Bartoš died in a flying accident. This happened on February 13, 1941. He was on a training flight high in the sky. Another Czech pilot, Sergeant Bohumil Votruba, was with him. Witnesses said his Hurricane plane (tail number V6885) started spinning out of control. It might have been because his oxygen device failed. The plane crashed at 2:30 PM near Talacre, close to Prestatyn.
Resting Place
Jindřich Bartoš was buried on February 18, 1941. His grave is in a Commonwealth War Grave at West Derby Cemetery in Liverpool. It's a sad coincidence that he shares his grave with Otto Hanzlíček. Otto was the fellow Czech pilot he arrived in the UK with.
