Prev           BATTLE OF BRITAIN PILOTS           Next

Josef František
(1914 - 1940)

Date of Birth: 07/10/1914
Nationality: Czechoslovakian
Nickname: -
Career Rank: Sergeant
BoB Kills: 17
Total Kills: -

Josef František was born on the 7th October 1914 in Otaslavice, Czechoslovakia. In 1934 he joined the Czechoslovak Air Force and after basic training joined Air Regiment 2 and then later in 1935 he joined Air Regiment 1 as a Corporal. In 1937 he re-joined Air Regiment 2 as a sergeant.

During June of 1938, Josef joined the 40th Squadron based in Prague as a fighter pilot flying Avia B 534 and Bk 534 fighters. Josef escaped to Poland after the German occupation to serve with the Polish Air Force flying training aircraft and later reconnaissance. During the invasion of Poland by German forces, he was shot down on the 20th September 1939 near Zloczów and subsequently rescued by a Polish air crew who managed to land nearby.

As the Germans advanced on Poland, Frantisek's unit and all serviceable aircraft were ordered to Romania to be interned, however, Josef avoided the internment camp and set out for France reaching his goal in October of 1939.

Once in France Frantisek remained with the Poles joining the Armee de l'Air scoring 11 kills and being awarded the Croix de Guerre (Awarded for a first kill).

After the German invasion of France, Frantisek escaped to Britain and received further training and was then posted to 303 Polish Squadron on the 2nd August 1940. The squadron was based at Northolt and was equipped with Hawker Hurricanes entering action in the latter part of the Battle of Britain with Sergeant Josef Frantisek claiming his first BoB kill on 2nd September 1940 when he shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109E.

Frantisek was an ill-disciplined pilot and not liked by his commanding officers who tried to have him removed from their Squadron. As pilots were in very short supply and all were needed, a compromise was reached and Frantisek was allowed to fly with the Squadron as and when he liked as a 'Guest', in effect giving him the opportunity to break off from the Squadron after take-off and fly alone to pursue his own personal objectives.

He tended to patrol over Kent in an area where he knew German aircraft would be returning to base low on fuel and ammunition and possibly damaged. This tactic saw him shoot down 17 German aircraft during the month of September 1940, his last kill on 30th September 1940. For this feat he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM).
On 8th October 1940, Frantisek was on approach to land after a patrol in his Hurricane when he crashed and was killed in Ewell, Surrey. The reason for the crash is unknown.




"Lest we forget"

Brian John George Carbury
(1918 - 1962)

Date of Birth: 27/02/1918
Nationality: New Zealander
Nickname: -
Career Rank: Flight Lieutenant
BoB Kills: 15
Total Kills: 15

Brian John George Carbury was born on 27th February 1918 in Wellington, New Zealand. In 1937 he travelled to Britain to join the Royal Navy but was not accepted and so joined the Royal Air Force as an acting Pilot Officer.

In June 1938, Brian was posted to 41 Squadron flying the Hawker Fury and later during August 1939 to Auxiliary Air Force 603 Squadron as a Training Officer flying Supermarine Spitfires. As the war approached, 603 Squadron's status was changed from 'part-time' to full time duty with Carbury being posted permanently to 603 Squadron from September 1939.

As 603 Squadron was based at RAF Turnhouse in Scotland, its main operational area was Northern Scotland and the North Sea patrolling for long range German Bombers and Reconnaissance aircraft. Carbury had a 'probable' kill on the 7th December and a share of a kill during January 1940 and was promoted to Flying Office in April 1940.

Due to the extreme shortage of pilots during the Battle of Britain, 603 Squadron were moved to RAF Hornchurch in a London district known as 'Sutton's Farm' and were ready for action from 27th August 1940.

Brian Carbury achieved his first kill by shooting down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 on 29th August 1940. He shot down another Messerschmitt Bf 109 on the 30th August and another 3 Messerschmitt Bf 109's and 2 Heinkel He 111's on the 31st August 1940.

During September 1940, Brian Carbury shot down 3 more Messerschmitt Bf 109's but had wounds to his feet in the combat, he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) later that month. On the 2nd of October, Brian shot down 2 Messerschmitt Bf 109's and another Messerschmitt Bf 109 on the 7th October 1940. On the 10th October, Brian shot down 2 Messerschmitt Bf 109's whilst flying a Supermarine Spitfire from RAF Manston.

By the end of the Battle of Britain, Carbury had shot 15 enemy aircraft and was awarded a Bar to his DFC. Carbury was top ace against the Messerschmitt Bf 109's during the Battle of Britain along with Eric Lock.

In December 1940, 603 Squadron returned to Scotland. Early 1941 Carbury was posted as an instructor at the Central Flying School and later to 58 Operational Training Unit based at Grangemouth and did not fly further combat missions during the war.
"Lest we forget"

Colin Falkland Gray
(1914 - 1995)

Date of Birth: 27/02/1918
Nationality: New Zealander
Nickname: -
Career Rank: Wing Commander
BoB Kills: 15
Total Kills: 27

Colin Falkland Gray was born in Christchurch, New Zealand on 27th February 1918. In January 1939 Colin finished training as a pilot and was posted to 54 Squadron later that year.

On 25th May 1940 Colin achieved his first confirmed kill, shooting down a Messerschmitt Bf 109, although his Spitfire was seriously damaged during the combat resulting in a successful forced landing at his base in Hornchurch, at his second attempt.

His second kill was also a Messerschmitt Bf 109 which he shot down on 13th July and he also shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 on the 24th July 1940. A further 2 Messerschmitt Bf 109's were shot down on the 12th and 16th of August and he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) on the 15th August 1940.

On the 18th August 1940, Colin shot down 2 Messerschmitt Bf 110's and by early September, during a seven week period, Colin had shot down 15 kills. 54 Squadron were then sent North to be rested after the gruelling combat during the Battle of Britain.

After a brief stay at 43 Squadron, Colin was posted back to 54 Squadron in January 1941 as a flight commander, replacing Alan Deere who had been posted. In June 1941, Colin was posted to 1 Squadron as a flight commander.

On 22nd August 1941, Colin shot down a Messerschmitt Bf 109 whilst flying as a 'guest' of 41 Squadron and was then posted to 403 Squadron and then two days later he was sent to 616 Squadron as Commanding Officer. On 20th September Gray was awarded a Bar to his DFC at the time being credited with 17 confirmed kills.

Gray was sent to 616 Squadron as C.O. in August 1941 and then in February 1942 he was posted as Squadron Leader, Tactics, to HQ 9 Group. He returned to operations in September 1942 being attached briefly to 485 Squadron for operational experience before taking over No. 64 Squadron, flying the new Mark IX Spitfire.

In January 1943 Gray was posted to 81 Squadron as C.O. based in the Middle East, flying the Spitfire Mk IX. Claiming more confirmed kills, Gray was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) in May 1943 bring his confirmed kills to 22.

In May 1943 Gray was promoted to Wing Commander taking over 322 Wing in the Italian Campaign and in June and July he claimed a further 5 kills bringing his total victories to 27. These were to be his final kills as he left 322 Wing in September 1943 to return to Britain. He was awarded a second Bar to his DFC in November 1943.

In July 1944 Gray commanded 61 Operational Conversion Unit (OCU) at Rednal and later that month was appointed Wing Commander Flying of the Detling Wing which organised operations supporting the Army in Europe and also sorties against the V-1 'Flying Bomb' which were engaged by Griffon-engine Spitfires.

After the war, Gray continued in various command and staff posts until he retired as Group Captain in March 1961 returning to New Zealand.

Colin Gray wrote an autobiography, "Spitfire Patrol", accounting his exploits in the Royal Air Force.

Group Captain Colin Gray died in Waikanae, a small town on New Zealand's Kapiti Coast, on 1st August 1995.
"Lest we forget"