Commemorative ALCA

摘要

Aero L-159A 6053/DU-C of the Vzdusne Sdy Armady Ceske Republiky's (Czech Air Force) 212.tl (Takticka Letka or Tactical Squadron) based at Caslav Air Base has been temporarily repainted to represent World War Two Spitfire Vc, AD572/ DU-C, of No.312 Squadron RAF. For a time AD572 was the personal aircraft of Wing Commander Frantisek Pefina (later Czech Air Force General). Pefina destroyed one Focke-Wulf Fw 190 and damaged another while flying AD572 on June 3, 1942 and ended the war as an 'ace'. At the end of hostilities, he returned home to Czechoslovakia only to fall foul of the then-new communist regime. He and his wife then spent most of the next 45 years living in the United States but, after the collapse of communism in Czechoslovakia, the couple returned home to a heroes' welcome in 1993. Pefina was honoured with the rank of General in the Czech Air Force and became an active supporter of many Czech Air Force institutions, including his patronage of 212.tl. He died in May 2006 aged 95.