Spitfire R6604 at Catterick airfield.
On 30th June 1941 this 313 Squadron aircraft was taxying at Catterick when the undercarriage collapsed and the aircraft was slightly damaged.
Pilot - Sgt Vaclav Jicha RAF (787567). Of Dnesice, Czechoslovakia.
Vaclav Jicha was born on 10th February 1914 in Dnesice, Czechoslovakia, he arrived in the UK in August 1940 with many other Czech pilots who had escaped
their home nation and had already seen action in France. Many of these Czech pilots joined 310 Squadron in August 1940 and Jicha was one of these men but
few had been trained on Allied aircraft and they were soon posted out for a conversion course with 6 OTU at Sutton Bridge. Jicha was then posted to 1
Squadron on 10th September 1940, on 17th November 1940 he transfered to 17 Squadron and on 27th May 1941 he became one of founding members of 313
(Czech) Squadron, based initially at Catterick. On 17th August 1942 he finished operational duty and he was transfered to 41 Group HQ. On 29th September
1942 he was awarded the DFC. He later served as test pilot at Vickers Armstrong Supermarine Factory at Castle Bromwich where he served until May 1944,
during this period he tested 1287 Spitfires and a number of Lancasters. In May 1944 he transfered to 9 MU and served as a pilot again testing aircraft.
His final posting was to 45 MU. Sadly in early February he was involved in the crash of Anson NK945 on Turf Law, in the Lammermuir Hills in a snow storm.
He survived the crash and tried to seek help but the cold weather overcame him and his body was found six days later by a shepherd on 9th April 1945.
F/Lt Jicha (66486) is buried Haddington cemetery, Scotland. He was awarded an AFC after his death for his work as a test pilot, Gazetted on 28th November 1945.
Vaclav Jicha holding a section of damaged Spitfire wing.
Spitfire R6604 was built to contract B.19713/39 by Vickers Armstrong's (Supermarine) Ltd. at the Woolston/Eastleigh factory and on 13th May 1940 it
was delivered to 9 MU at Cosford. On 20th May 1940 it was taken on charge by 238 Squadron at Tangmere but on 12th June 1940 it was flown to 8 MU at
Little Rissington. Two days later it was take on charge by 7 OTU at Hawarden when unit formed but on 16th July 1940 it was back at 8 MU at Little Rissington.
On 1st August 1940 it was taken on charge by 41 Squadron at Hornchurch and on 8th August 1940 it moved with the unit to Catterick, then on 3rd September 1940
back with the unit to Hornchurch. On 24th September 1940 it sustained damage initially given as the most serious Cat.W/FB when it was shot down by a Bf109 in
combat over The Channel and its pilot crash landed near Dover. On 3rd October 1940 it was dismantled and transported by road to 1 CRU at Cowley for a full
assessment and was then Re-Cat.R/FB and repaired. On 25th November 1940 it was flown to 24 MU at Ternhill where it remained until 5th January 1941 when it
was taken on charge by 54 Squadron at Catterick. The aircraft's history states it was slight damaged on 5th April 1941 but no details are know how this came
about but is was probably at Catterick, minor Cat.A/FA damage was the result and it was repaired on site. On 30th April 1941 it was transferred to 452 Squadron
which was forming at Kirton in Lindsey, it then returned to Catterick on 22th May 1941 when it transferred to 313 Squadron. As a result of this mishap detailed
above on 30th June 1941 Cat.B/FA damage was recorded, it was dismantled and transported by road to Scottish Aviation Ltd. at Prestwick for repair on 3rd July
1941. On 31st August 1941 it was flown to 45 MU at Kinloss but does not appear to have gone back into full service as on 24th October 1941 it was flown to Vickers
Aircraft Ltd. at Castle Bromwich for either further repairs or modifications. On 8th November 1941 it was taken on charge by 61 OTU at Heston then on 15th April
1942 it moved with the unit to Rednal. On 9th June 1941 it sustained Cat.B/FA damage when it overshot on landing at Rednal and was repaired on site although it was
flown to 34 MU at Monkmoor for further work on 14th June 1942. This was complete by 1st July 1942 when it was awaiting collection, eight days later it was taken on
charge by 61 OTU at Rednal. On 27th October 1942 it was flown to Scottish Aviation Ltd at Prestwick for a major inspection. It passed by 12th November 1942 when it
was awaiting collection. On 17th November 1942 it was flown into storage at 45 MU at Kinloss. On 11th May 1943 it was transferred to the Royal Navy and on the same
date taken on charge by 879 Squadron FAA at Stretton. On 21st June 1943 it sustained damage - recorded as Cat.X/C whilst on detachment at Andover, on 9th July
1943 it was taken to the RNASU for repair. On 1st March 1944 it was taken on charge by 759 Squadron FAA at Yeovilton but nothing more of the aircraft is known
after 28th August 1944.