Many Czech airmen were stationed at Tain Drome. They tended to be much older than other aircrews because they were already trained pilots in the Czechoslovakian airforce when Germany invaded. Many of them then escaped from Czechoslovakia by different routes. Some came to England through North Africa and others to Scotland through Scandinavia.

There are 21 graves to Czech airmen in Tain (St Duthas) Cemetery. They are under the care of the Commonwealth Graves Commission. Each stone bears the national emblem of their country, which is not too unlike a Scottish emblem with its rampant lion but with two tails instead of one. Their names and date of birth are also recorded with their rank in Czech.

The first row of stones are to men from 311 Squadron who were killed when their Liberator crashed on take off from the drome on 4th December 1944. Seven men died in the crash with five of them being buried at Tain. Their coffins were carried to the cemetery on low loaders draped with their national flag.

Frantisek Benedikt

Frantisek Havranek

Josen Sebestik

Stepan Petrasek

Valtea [?]

Another set of four stones dated the 29th of October 1944 were again to men of 311 Squadron. They died when their Liberator crashed at Berriedale in Caithness. The pilot Josef Kostal had to fight with the changing air pressures between land and sea and his plane crashed killing four of the crew. However, four were to survive this time.

Rudolf Barvia

Josef Kustal

Varlav Cerny

Stepan Marko Stetka

On New Year’s Day in 1945 another loss was suffered by 311 Squadron as one of their liberators crashed at Hoy in Orkney. It had been out looking for submarines in the Atlantic. Five of the crew were buried in Tain others were buried in Orkney.

After the crash there were so many reports of wreckage being spotted at the site and crashes being reported that the plane was bulldozed over the cliff. This was because they didn’t have the facilities to recover the plane. However, later the estate owner had the fuselage pulled out of the sea and sold for scrap with the proceeds going to the Red Cross.

Ivo Karel Englander

Antonin Bednar