Alexander, Jan Robert

     
Příjmení:
Surname:
Alexander Alexander
Jméno:
Given Name:
Jan Robert Jan Robert
Jméno v originále:
Original Name:
Jan Robert Alexander
Fotografie či obrázek:
Photograph or Picture:
Hodnost:
Rank:
kapitán Flight Lieutenant
Akademický či vědecký titul:
Academic or Scientific Title:
- -
Šlechtický titul:
Hereditary Title:
- -
Datum, místo narození:
Date and Place of Birth:
06.06.1922 Teplice-Šanov /
06.06.1922 Teplice-Šanov /
Datum, místo úmrtí:
Date and Place of Decease:
12.01.2012 Salisbury
12.01.2012 Salisbury
Nejvýznamnější funkce:
(maximálně tři)
Most Important Appointments:
(up to three)
- příslušník 139. bombardovací perutě, navigátor - WW2 Navigator with 139 Sqn. RAF
Jiné významné skutečnosti:
(maximálně tři)
Other Notable Facts:
(up to three)
Držitel britských vyznamenání DFM (Záslužná letecká medaile) a DFC (Záslužný letecký kříž) Recipient of British awards Distinguished Flying Medal and Distinguished Flying Cross
Související články:
Related Articles:
Zdroje:
Sources:
www.zanikleobce.cz
fcafa.wordpress.com
J. Rajlich - Na nebi hrdého Albionu 5. - 7. díl
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Alexander-Jan-Robert-t70431#384025 Version : 0
(F/Lt John Robert Alexander


* 06. 06. 1922 in Teplice-šanov (Czech republic)
+ 12.01.2012, Of Salisbury, English


"F/Sgt Alexander now completed 36 actions against the enemy, 25 of which soon, the sith arrived in the framework of the Pathfinder Force. Most of these actions soon, the sith arrived as značkař and his crew were undoubtedly one of the most successful in this work. His navigátorská skill was usually decisive, and his decisiveness, and devotion to the service of a commendable...“

G/Cpt J. H. Searby, DSO, DFC
The commander of the 83rd squadron of the RAF
Quotes to a proposal to grant the DFM




Jan Robert Alexander was until recently one of the least known of the czechoslovak members of the RAF. This was mainly because of the second world war enlisted directly into the RAF and was not therefore a national of the czechoslovak air force within the RAF. The whole of the war also served exclusively by the british squadrons. However, he graduated from the czechoslovak airmen far the most operational events – an impressive 101 combat raids over Germany and the occupied territories, in the total length of the 478,1 hours...

The first mention of it I found up in the books of John Rajlicha, in the classic and excellent pentalogii 'On heaven proud Albionu". Back then, three years ago, would I have thought that you with this exceptional the lord I will once i personally correspond. The address I obtained through a friend and tried to sesmolit something at least a little bit reasonable, as I have a poor English vocabulary allowed (by This I thank John Lehovcovi for a substantial bailout. Without it and without a dictionary, who knows where I was...) Mr. Alexander sadly, she communicates only in English. Well, no wonder, after all these years. But I tried and after a few weeks of tense waiting from the clipboard caught in the net of a small bluish envelope. Just a few lines. For me however, should the price of gold...

John (originally Hans) Robert Alexander was born 6. June 1922 in Teplice-šanov (Czech republic), where at that time there were mainly German-speaking population. Thus teplice grammar school, which he graduated from, was German. After the fateful Munich agreement, the whole of this area, as well as the rest of the czechoslovak borderlands, the nazi Germany. Alexander's relatively well situovaní parents it because in October 1938 sent to study in England at Margate College. Graduated and successfully passed the exam, while he worked on the farm, but then in its destiny to the fullest hit by the raging war. Didn't want to stay on the sidelines and so along with many young English men came in August 1941 into the ranks of the RAF. As he recalls, he decided "play in the war a larger role..."

After completion of basic, vocational and operational training was in the function of the navigator in early 1943 assigned to the british 106. bomber squadron on the basis of RAF Syerston in Nottinghamshiru. In the framework of the 5. group of Bomber Command to attack this unit with its čtyřmotorovými Lancastery on Germany and the occupied territories. As the first Czechoslovak on this aircraft type, forming at that time the backbone of the british air force bomber, here he graduated in its first ten operational flights. Already 12. April 1943 was, however, with the entire crew transferred to the british 83. bomber squadron on the basis of RAF Wyton in the Huntingdownshiru...

83. squadron, belonging to 8. group of Bomber Command, belonged to the so-called "Značkařům" – units Pathfinder Force, which were preferably to be outsourced to you to try the most responsible tasks. Should always be the first over the designated objective and label it with colorful markers, světlicemi and combustible bombs nalétávající the main bomber union. On their accuracy and courage, therefore, mattered, will-if the target is precisely hit and destroyed or not. Here the young navigator, he underwent several tens of the nerves drásajících and dangerous night operations, in which the constantly honed their art. That it was the work of a very dangerous, one could say even this is a lost game to the death, no doubt about that. During one of the raids on the heavily bráněný target was the aircraft captured several lamps, of which the captain and at the same time, the pilot of the aircraft completely oslepily. The aircraft was hit by flakem and damaged. F/Sgt Alexander left his navigátorské place, rose for the pilot and brought him out of the deadly glare of the lamps before the German anti-aircraft defenses or night fighters beset their Lancaster was to kill him. Gradually, he was promoted to Flight Sergeanta and later, with the effect of to the 9. September 1943, and the Pilot of the Officera. For his performances and merit was 22. January 1944 awarded the highly prized the Meritorious air medal (DFM)...

After odlétání the first operating tours (Which in the odlétaných 48 of bombing events in the overall time 279,14 hour surpassed by almost 14 %!) he went to a well-deserved six-month operating rest. He joined at 17. Found in charles in the Upwoodu as an instructor of navigation. 9. march 1944 he was promoted to Flying Oficíra... After their compulsory rest he took back to active combat service. Učaroval him the "wooden wonder" De Havilland Mosquito, in the bomber version, although without the barrel room equipment, but with the speed, that for him to successfully escape not only the flaku but also hostile stíhačům. "Lancaster was the best heavy bomber, which during the war flew. He was quick and kidnapped more than double what the american Liberatory and Flying Fortressy. I had but I prefer the Mosquito. It was fast, so we could flaku fly away..." On this type of brainwashed u Well. 1655 Mosquito Training Unit at Warboys and 17. June 1944 with his future captain of the F/Lt W. E. M. Edym, DSO joined again in Upwoodu to 139. bomber squadron "značkařů". Again in the context of the 8. group of Bomber Command...

Jan Robert Alexander led again great. Eight of them participated as značkař of special equipment (radar H2S for the bombing of the blind) in an airstrike against the main city of the Third reich. And therefore, he was already 17. September 1944, after the odlétání 70 operational flights, designed to grant of Merit of the air of the cross (DFC). This, he was awarded 26. January 1945, thus at the time, F/Lt Alexander became the first of only three czechoslovak holders of both of these honours (the two others were Alois Šedivý, pilot 311. czechoslovak bomber squadron, and Slavomil Janáček, a radar operator with the 68. squadron)...

17. December 1944 left F/Lt Alexander a number of 139. squadron. He was transferred to the newly formed 162. bomber squadron on the base at RAF Bourn in Cambridgeshiru. The license produced by the canadian Mosquitech B.Mk.XX and B.Mk.XXV performed in the framework of the Light Night Striking Force disruptive night raids on enemy territory. The last of the eleven operational flights by the squadron performed, at the same time, and the last years of its second operating turnusu, he graduated from Alexander the night of the 2. 3. may 1945 (Mosquito B.Mk.XXV, No.KB551, codename CR°M). This raid was also the last bomber of the actions of the Bomber Command of the RAF in the second world war. 142 bomber Mosquit from 8. group and 126 heavy fighter Mosquit from 100. the group bombed the north German confederation port of Kiel and adjacent to the airport. Alexander started off with Mosquitem, in a controlled F/Lt Blandem, in 21.29, in 23.14 dropped from a height of 8300 metres three 500liberní bombs (a fourth markup brought back for the malfunction of the radar H2S back to base...) and in the 00.45 landed in order on a home base in Bournu...

After the end of war operations was the squadron moved to the airport of Blackbushe and subordinate to the Transport Command. Here her Mosquita served mainly as a quick "postal" aircraft between Great Britain, Germany, Norway, Denmark, Italy, Austria and also Czechoslovakia. Czechoslovakia visited F/Lt Alexander several times, a few times even for a few days. First time it happened was 10. November 1945, as last 26. June 1946. Then, specifically, 14. July 1946, was the 162. squadron disbanded and Alexander transferred to 107. squadron, acting with their Mosquity FB.Mk.VI in Germany, as part of the occupying forces...

Jan Robert Alexander remained in the RAF continue. First, after the reorganization of the Royal air force, in the rank of a Flying Officer, 19. June 1947, however, he was again the last war rank Flying Lieutenant. He graduated successfully the annual special navigation course, then the RAF Staff College. After her graduation, he was promoted to Squadron Leader. In 1957, successfully completed studies at the RAF College of Air Warfare and was assigned to the sent to planning department of the headquarters of Bomber Command. Later he served in the RAF for the Middle east. The latest types of bombers, which actively flew before his retirement in June 1973 (after almost 32 years of service) were the current types of Canberra and a Vulcan...


Dopisuji the last lines, I offer my list dopisního of paper and place it in an envelope. Along with the book and the photographs which, to me, mr. Alexander, for a couple of days age an impressive 86 years, promised to sign. The venerable man, of respectable age, respectable service even for a lifetime. It is no longer in this world many such. Remains now only the proverbial "Handful"...


Sources:
J. Rajlich – In heaven proud Albionu 5. – 7. part
History and military 1/2005
The archive of the author
.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Alexander-Jan-Robert-t70431#247910 Version : 0

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I live 2 houses from Jan Alexander and you may wish to know that sadly, he died on the 12 January 2012. His funeral will be held in Salisbury on 27 January 2012.
URL : https://www.valka.cz/Alexander-Jan-Robert-t70431#422781 Version : 0

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Thank you for information.


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