Lot 164
Frantisek, Josef - World War II Flying Ace (1914-1940) Czech flying ace who was the first highest scoring flying ace in the Battle of Britain. Frantisek fought with the Czech, Polish, French, and British air forces, escaping from one to the other just ahead of the Germans. After the fall of France, he took a Polish ship from Bordeaux to England and on August 2, 1940, joined the 303rd Polish Fighter Squadron, which flew "Hurricane" Mk. 1 fighters coded with "RF" out of Northolt airfield. He scored his first kill on Sept. 2 and within four weeks achieved 17 certain kills and one probable kill. On Oct. 8, 1940, one day before his 27th birthday, after flying a routine patrol, his Hurricane Mk.1 R4175 (RF-R) crashed at the end of an airfield at Ewell, Surrey. Frantisek was thrown from the cockpit and died immediately from a broken neck. He was buried at the Polish Airforce Cemetery in Northolt and on Oct. 28, 1940, he received a bar to his DFM in memoriam.
Combat Report signed 20 days before Frantisek's death, one page, 12¾ x 7¼ in., Sept. 18, 1940. Reporting two enemy aircraft encountered at 17,000 feet at West Malling, a "DO 2.5 & ME 109" and "One ME 109 Destroyed." His report says, in part: "When the Squadron came upon the Dornier I was in the last section in search formation. I remained alone above them and on a course looking towards the Channel I saw a Messerschmidt 109 to the east of me proceeding Southwards. It was going fast and the engine was smoking a little. I dived towards it and caught it up near the coast. I attacked it from Starboard quarter behind. I gave it a burst into the engine without effect, then I gave it another burst into the engine and cockpit and it fell into the sea in flames…." He signed at lower right, "Serg. Frantisek Josef." The report is matted and framed to an overall size of 18 x 12½ in.
Accompanied by a limited edition color lithograph, No. 137/600, of the "Hurricane" Mk Ia "RF-U" P3975 flown by Sgt. Josef Frantisek, and signed by the artist. Matted with a small image of Frantisek by the nose of his plane and a printed biography and framed to an overall size of 28½ x 20¼ in.
Estimated Value $2,000 - 3,000.
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| Realized $1,200 |
