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Archive Report: Allied Forces

Compiled from official National Archive and Service sources, contemporary press reports, personal logbooks, diaries and correspondence, reference books, other sources, and interviews.
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602 squadron badge
28.03.1942 No. 602 Squadron Spitfire Vb BM148 W/O. Ptáček

Operation: Rodeo

Date: 28th March 1942 (Saturday)

Unit: No. 602 Squadron

Type: Spitfire Vb

Serial: BM148

Base: RAF Redhill, Surrey

Location: English Channel, off France

Pilot: W/O. Rudolf Ptáček 787434 RAFVR (Czech) Age ? Missing

REASON FOR LOSS:

The then Sgt. Ptáček was shot down earlier on the 19th August 1941 at St. Omer. Flying a Spitfire IIa with 222 Squadron (Wigan and District) he was taking part in a Circus when shot down by a member of JG26. He managed to force land the aircraft and was able to return to his unit with the aid of local resistance fighters.

This time sadly he was not so lucky. Taking part in a Rodeo during the afternoon he was shot down, again by pilots of JG26, over the English Channel. His body was never recovered.

Burial Details:

Sgt. Rudolf Ptáček. Runnymede Memorial. Panel 73. Born in Czechoslovakia. NOK Details not currently available.

Researched for relatives of the pilot. With thanks to the following for further information supplied, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses' Vol. 2, Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

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Acknowledgements
Sources used by us in compiling Archive Reports include: Bill Chorley - 'Bomber Command Losses Vols. 1-9, plus ongoing revisions', Dr. Theo E.W. Boiten and Mr. Roderick J. Mackenzie - 'Nightfighter War Diaries Vols. 1 and 2', Martin Middlebrook and Chris Everitt - 'Bomber Command War Diaries', Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Tom Kracker - Kracker Luftwaffe Archives, Michel Beckers, Major Fred Paradie (RCAF) and MWO François Dutil (RCAF) - Paradie Archive (on this site), Jean Schadskaje, Major Jack O'Connor USAF (Retd.), Robert Gretzyngier, Wojtek Matusiak, Waldemar Wójcik and Józef Zieliński - 'Ku Czci Połeglyçh Lotnikow 1939-1945', Archiwum - Polish Air Force Archive (on this site), Anna Krzystek, Tadeusz Krzystek - 'Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii', Franek Grabowski, Norman L.R. Franks 'Fighter Command Losses', Stan D. Bishop, John A. Hey MBE, Gerrie Franken and Maco Cillessen - Losses of the US 8th and 9th Air Forces, Vols 1-6, Dr. Theo E.W. Boiton - Nachtjagd Combat Archives, Vols 1-13. Aircrew Remembered Databases and our own archives. We are grateful for the support and encouragement of CWGC, UK Imperial War Museum, Australian War Memorial, Australian National Archives, New Zealand National Archives, UK National Archives and Fold3 and countless dedicated friends and researchers across the world.
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