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Alois Vašátko
Alois Vašátko DFC (25 August 1908 – 23 June 1942) was a Czechoslovak artillery officer who became an air force pilot. In the Second World War he was a fighter ace, first in the French Air Force in the Battle of France and then in the Royal Air Force. In the French Air Force Vašátko shot down at least 12 enemy aircraft in May and June 1940. In the RAF he shot down another 14 enemy aircraft between October 1940 and his death in June 1942. He commanded No. 312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF from June 1941 and RAF Fighter Command's Czechoslovak fighter wing from May 1942. France awarded Vašátko the ''Croix de guerre 1939–1945'' with seven palms, two gold stars and one silver star, and made him a ''Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur''. The United Kingdom awarded him the Distinguished Flying Cross. Vašátko was killed in action in June 1942 by a mid-air collision over the English Channel between his Supermarine Spitfire and an enemy Focke-Wulf Fw 190. Early life Vašátko ...
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Čelákovice
Čelákovice () is a town in Prague-East District in the Central Bohemian Region of the Czech Republic. It has about 12,000 inhabitants. The town is part of the Prague metropolitan area. Administrative parts Villages of Císařská Kuchyně, Sedlčánky and Záluží are administrative parts of Čelákovice. Geography Čelákovice is located on the left bank of the Elbe River, about east of Prague. It lies in the Central Elbe Table, in the Polabí lowlands. History The site of the town has been inhabited since the Stone Age. During 9th century an early Slavic settlement was established. The first written mention of Čelákovice is from 1290. The inhabitants subsisted on fishing and agriculture, and from the mid-19th century also on the production of baskets. Demographics Economy In 1910 the engineering factory known as TOS (''Továrna obráběcích strojů'') was founded, becoming and remaining the largest industrial plant of the town. Sights Around 1300, a stone fortre ...
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Second World War
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the World War II by country, vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II was a total war that directly involved more than 100 million Military personnel, personnel from more than 30 countries. The major participants in the war threw their entire economic, industrial, and scientific capabilities behind the war effort, blurring the distinction between civilian and military resources. Air warfare of World War II, Aircraft played a major role in the conflict, enabling the strategic bombing of population centres and deploying the Atomic bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, only two nuclear weapons ever used in war. World War II was by far the List of wars by death toll, deadliest conflict in hu ...
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Artillery
Artillery is a class of heavy military ranged weapons that launch munitions far beyond the range and power of infantry firearms. Early artillery development focused on the ability to breach defensive walls and fortifications during sieges, and led to heavy, fairly immobile siege engines. As technology improved, lighter, more mobile field artillery cannons developed for battlefield use. This development continues today; modern self-propelled artillery vehicles are highly mobile weapons of great versatility generally providing the largest share of an army's total firepower. Originally, the word "artillery" referred to any group of soldiers primarily armed with some form of manufactured weapon or armor. Since the introduction of gunpowder and cannon, "artillery" has largely meant cannons, and in contemporary usage, usually refers to shell-firing guns, howitzers, and mortars (collectively called ''barrel artillery'', ''cannon artillery'', ''gun artillery'', or - a lay ...
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Air Crew Europe Star
The Air Crew Europe Star is a military campaign medal, instituted by the United Kingdom in May 1945 for award to British and Commonwealth air crews who participated in operational flights over Europe from bases in the United Kingdom during the Second World War.New Zealand Defence Force - British Commonwealth War And Campaign Medals Awarded To New Zealanders - The Air Crew Europe Star
(Access date 5 April 2015)
Two clasps were instituted to be worn on the medal ribbon: Atlantic and France and Germany.


The Second World War Stars

On 8 July 1943, the Star (later named the Star) and the Africa Star became the first two campaign stars instituted, and ...
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Medal Bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It most commonly indicates the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the recipient has met the criteria for receiving the medal in multiple theatres. When used in conjunction with decorations for exceptional service, such as gallantry medals, the term "and bar" means that the award has been bestowed multiple times. In the example, "Group Captain Leonard Cheshire, VC, OM, DSO and two bars, DFC", "DSO and two bars" means that the Distinguished Service Order was awarded on three occasions. A British convention is to indicate bars by the use of asterisks; thus, DSO** would denote a DSO and two bars. Bars are also used on long-service medals to indicate the length of service rendered. The two terms are used because terms "bar" and "clasp" both refer to two parts of ...
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1939–1945 Star
The 1939–1945 Star is a military campaign medal instituted by the United Kingdom on 8 July 1943 for award to British and Commonwealth forces for service in the Second World War. Two clasps were instituted to be worn on the medal ribbon, Battle of Britain and Bomber Command.Stephen Stratford Medals site: British Military & Criminal History, 1900 to 1999. 1939–45 Star
(Access date 1 April 2015)
Forces War Records, Medals, 1939–1945 Star
(Access date 2 April 2015)


The Second World War Stars


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Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom)
The Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers, and since 1993 to other ranks, of the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force and other services, and formerly to officers of other Commonwealth countries, for "an act or acts of valour, courage or devotion to duty whilst flying in active operations against the enemy". History The award was established on 3 June 1918, shortly after the formation of the Royal Air Force (RAF), with the Royal Warrant published on 5 December 1919. It was originally awarded to RAF commissioned and warrant officers, including officers in Commonwealth and allied forces. In March 1941 eligibility was extended to Naval Officers of the Fleet Air Arm, and in November 1942 to Army officers, including Royal Artillery officers serving on attachment to the RAF as pilots-cum- artillery observers. Posthumous awards were permitted from 1979. Since the 1993 review of the honours system as part of the drive to remove ...
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Croix De Guerre 1939–1945 (France)
Croix (French for "cross") may refer to: Belgium * Croix-lez-Rouveroy, a village in municipality of Estinnes in the province of Hainaut France * Croix, Nord, in the Nord department * Croix, Territoire de Belfort, in the Territoire de Belfort department * Croix-Caluyau, in the Nord department * Croix-Chapeau, in the Charente-Maritime department * Croix-en-Ternois, in the Pas-de-Calais department * Croix-Fonsomme, in the Aisne department * Croix-Mare, in the Seine-Maritime department * Croix-Moligneaux, in the Somme department * Canton of Croix, administrative division of the Nord department, northern France See also * Croix Scaille, a hill plateau in the Ardennes, Belgium * La Croix (other), including places called "La Croix" * St. Croix (other) * Lac à la Croix (other) Lac à la Croix or Lac-à-la-Croix (French for "Lake of the Cross") can refer to the following places in Quebec, Canada: * Lac-à-la-Croix, Quebec, an unorganized territory * Lac à ...
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Legion Of Honour
The National Order of the Legion of Honour (french: Ordre national de la Légion d'honneur), formerly the Royal Order of the Legion of Honour ('), is the highest French order of merit, both military and civil. Established in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, it has been retained (with occasional slight alterations) by all later French governments and regimes. The order's motto is ' ("Honour and Fatherland"); its seat is the Palais de la Légion d'Honneur next to the Musée d'Orsay, on the left bank of the Seine in Paris. The order is divided into five degrees of increasing distinction: ' (Knight), ' (Officer), ' (Commander), ' (Grand Officer) and ' ( Grand Cross). History Consulate During the French Revolution, all of the French orders of chivalry were abolished and replaced with Weapons of Honour. It was the wish of Napoleon Bonaparte, the First Consul, to create a reward to commend civilians and soldiers. From this wish was instituted a , a body of men that was not an ord ...
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Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945
The Czechoslovak War Cross 1939 (''Československý válečný kříž 1939'' in Czech, ''Československý vojnový kríž 1939'' in Slovak) is a military decoration of the former state of Czechoslovakia which was issued for those who had provided great service to the Czechoslovak state (in exile) during the years of World War II. Description On December 20, 1940, the Czechoslovak government in exile in London ordered the creation of a second version of the Czechoslovak War Cross. It was created and issued not as a general service medal, but as a meritorious decoration for those had provided great service to the Czechoslovak state during the years of World War II. The award was mainly intended for persons who had helped liberate Czechoslovakia from the rule of Nazi Germany. Several American officers received the award, such as Dwight D. Eisenhower or George S. Patton, and the decoration was also bestowed to national heroes, such as the men who had assassinated Reinhard Heydrich ...
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Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order
The Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order is an award given "to recognize eminent contributions to the defence and security of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic". It was bestowed by the President of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic. The award is named after Milan Rastislav Stefanik. List of recipients * President of the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic - First Class Insignia of the Order * Colonel Josef Adam - Third Class, 1991 * Lieutenant General Jan Ambrus - Third Class, 1992 * Colonel Zdenek Bachurek - Third Class, 1991 * Brigadier General Josef Balabán - Second Class, 1992 * Major Alfred Bartos - Third Class, 1992 * Colonel Vaclav Beran, M. Sc. - Fourth Class, 1992 * Army General Josef Bily - Second Class, 1992 * Colonel Frantisek Bogataj - Third Class, 1992 * Brigadier General Jozef Brunovsky - Third Class, 1991 * Brigadier General Josef Bursik - Third Class, 1991 * Colonel Vladimir Cupak - Third Class, 1991 * Brigadier General Vojtech Danielovic - ...
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