IDET
24.-26.5. 2023

At 7th of April 1937 the pilots of the Czechoslovakia manifested for a mighty air force, which should be a base and support of the state. As a premonition of the big historical times they were in sworn to the state and their nation:

WE PILOTS of the Czechoslovakia, PROMISE that we never betray the task, given us the success and the development of the Republic. We will always faithfully perform our obligation as citizens of the democratic state, our obligation to the nation, from which we came out, and also to the voted government. We promise that we will lead the aerial youth on the way we went until now. We want to keep working for bigger honor and glory of the Republic and for the permanent increase of the noble aerial idea. And if there were clouds over our Republic and the enemy wanted to touch unalienable rights of the independent nation, we promise that we keep on our mission of the honest fighters till the last man, we will bravely accept a first attack of an enemy and we will manage our airplanes fearless against the enemy, as our man honor and the famous tradition of the Czechoslovak pilots orders to us.

THEY PROMISED: One thousand seven hundred of the Czechoslovak pilots hade gone away in little groups over Poland and Yugoslavia in the spring 1939 in the friendly foreign countries in the west and east. It was not escape, but beginning of the way to the new comeback. Beginning of the way, which was difficult and painful, where was necessary to overcome many personal troubles, and on which remained many wooden crosses. One year of the fights in France and five years of the big and glorious battles in England. But not only five years of the battles, but also five years of learning, discovering of a new world, collecting experiences. And together six years of the desire and believe in every moment. Poland felt down, Norway, Denmark, France, whole Europe shaked by the thundering of the boots of Nazis, but the Czechoslovak pilots who received their airplanes, always knew that the last victory belongs to them. They were fewer, only a half, then a quarter and the number of them who promised in April 1937 was permanently decreasing. How many were swallowed by the oceans, how many remained on the enemy’s space, how many of them lay in all countries in West Europe. And in the East it was the same. Combats of the Czechoslovak pilots of the 1st mixed air division in the Soviet Union and the Czechoslovak tank men in the composition of the Red Army concluded Czechoslovak foreign resistance. Czechoslovak pilots kept their ceremonial promise. Strengthened by the hard fights they came, are coming and will come in the free fatherland, ready to fulfil their peace tasks, which are waiting for them. They will not disappoint, so as they have until yet never disappointed.

The Airman Union of the Czech Republic invites you in the hall P to visit our anniversary exhibition on the occasion of the end of World War II in the year 1945.

www.csletci.ipraxe.com