Zdenek Kothera was born on 16 march 1919 in tětina, Czechoslovakia. Apparantly he was a pilot in the Czechoslovkian Air Force when the Germans invaded. He then fled to France with a number of other Czechoslovakian pilots.

In France he was part of 2 squadron of Groupe de Chassee I/5 from at least 18 May 1940 till June 1940. He held the rank of "Corporal-Chef". On 15 June 1940, flying a H-75A, he shot down a German HS126 reconnassaince plane.

After the fall of France he went to England and joined the Royal Air Force. He participated in the Battle of Britain but it is not known with what squadron.

124 Squadron

Sometime later he joined 124 squadron, which operated Spitfires from Biggin Hill. In the first half of 1942, the squadron was tasked with escorting convoys in the North Sea and flying escort mission for bombers over France.

Sgt Zdenek Kothera lost his life on 27 April 1942. The circumstances of his death are not known. His body washed ashore on the beach of Texel on 16 June 1942.

He is buried at Den Burg Cemetery.

This plaque was erected at the house were Zdenek was born ((C) www.vets.estranky.cz)

 

See Also:
FL Svatopluk Bachurek

all casualties of 124 squadron

Sources:
http://www.histavia21.net
http://www.cieldegloire.com
http://www.vets.estranky.cz/

Directions to Den Burg Cemetery

Posted 4 January 2009

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This website is dedicated to the men and women who died and/or are buried in The Netherlands during World War II.

 

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