AN ARTICLE dating back to 2010 related to a Czechoslovak airman by the name Valentin Kubin.

The article - dating back to December 18, 2010 - featured Mr Christopher Short who has been researching Mr Kubin for six years and asked readers for any additional information.

I came across Valentin’s grave last year and decided to do some of my own research on this brave young man - I am ready to share with you all what I have found out about him.

Valentin was born in Lešná, Moravia in Czechoslovakia on November 6, 1920, to father Valentin Kubin and mother Zofie Kubinova, and he was the youngest of seven children.

Penarth Times:

After the Germans invaded Poland in September 1939, he escaped from Czechoslovakia via Slovenia, Hungary, Yugoslavia, Greece and then to France, arriving on March 30, 1940.

After he had escaped, it wasn’t long before the Germans came and arrested both of his parents. They were sent to Svatoborice Concentration Camp.

The reason given was "that their son had escaped to fight against Germany and that he was a traitor". His parents were released on January 30, 1943.

On arrival in France, he was at the Czechoslovak Depot at Agde, from where Czechoslovak army units were formed to serve in the French Army.

When Germany invaded France in May 1940 and it became obvious that France was losing the British stepped in and proceded to evacuate as many military personnel as possible.

Valentin was one of the lucky ones and was evacuated on July 13, 1940.

He arrived into the port of Liverpool and was sent to the Czechoslovak  camp at Cholmondley Park, then onto Beeston Castle.

Valentin was accepted into the RAF VR, at the rank of AC2, on August 26, 1940, and sent to Czechoslovak Depot at RAF Cosford. 

  • On September 21, 1940, he went to No 2 Signal School at Yatesbury for wireless training;
  • On January 25, 1941, he went to No 1 Signal School at Cranwell;
  • On June 20, 1941, he went to 4 Bombing & Gunnery School, at RAF West Freugh, near Stranraer;
  • On July 19, 1941, he returned to Czechoslovak Depot;
  • He was posted to 311 Sqn on August 8, 1941;
  • He was posted to 1429 COTF (Czechoslovak Operational Training Flight) at East Wretham on December 16, 1941;
  • He returned to 311 Sqn on April 18, 1942.

He was then sent to 311(Czech) Squadron RAF based at RAF East Wretham in Norfolk; being a part of Bomber Command he was sent on bombing sorties from bombing the docks in Brest to bombing runs to Cologne, Germany.

He flew 36 operational flights with 311 Sqn when in RAF Bomber Command, when he became ill with TB - a serious lung disease, which was common at that time. 

This made him unfit for flying duties and so was transferred from the RAF on December 29, 1942 to Czech Army.

When his condition deteriorated he ended up at Sully Sanatorium which specialised in the treatment of Tuberculosis. Then, on March 17, 1945, he sadly died at the age of 24 years old.

Penarth Times:

Thank you to the Free Czech Air Force Associates Ltd for all their help in the research of Valentin. Thank you also to Tom Dolezal and Filip Prochazka.