Freedom in the air : a Czech flyer and his aircrew dog

Overview: This biography tells of the life of a Czech airman who escapes from the Nazi invasion, fights with the French and finally arrives in Britain to fly as an air-gunner with the RAF during WWII. He returns to his homeland after WWII but escapes back to the UK again when the communists gained control. Again he joins the RAF and rose to the rank of WO. The unique part of this is that from his time in France, throughout WWII and until half way through his second tour with the RAF he was inseparable from his Alsatian dog, an animal that became famous and was awarded a dog equivalent to the VC. The animal flew with his owner on many bomber raids, became the squadron mascot and was officially a serving RAF dog. It played an amazing part in the second escape from the Czech communists regime when the author was lucky to make it over the border to the US zone in Germany. “Deals with a little-known aspect of the war . . . alongside the moving story of one man’s relationship with a very special animal.”—Sqn Ldr Paul Scott, Spirit of the Air This biography tells of the life of Václav Robert Bozděch, a Czech airman who escaped from the Nazi invasion, fought with the French and finally arrived in Britain to fly as an air-gunner with the RAF during World War II. He returned to his homeland after World War II but escaped back to the UK again when the communists gained control. Again he joined the RAF and rose to the rank of Warrant Officer. The unique part of this is that from his time in France, throughout World War II and until halfway through his second tour with the RAF, Bozděch was inseparable from his Alsatian dog, Antis, who became famous and was awarded a dog equivalent to the VC. Antis flew with his owner on many bomber raids, became the squadron mascot and was officially a serving RAF dog. He played an amazing part in the second escape from the Czech communist regime, when Bozděch was lucky to make it over the border to the US zone in Germany. “The main hero of the book is not Bozděch himself, but his Alsatian, Antis . . . This book makes clear the extent of wartime and post-war suffering endured by Czechs and others fulfilling their roles in the overall search for freedom.”—Aircraft Owner & Pilot “This absorbing account of flying in WWII is based on the inseparable bond between man and dog. It is a moving story with humor and sadness. A Great Read that is Highly Recommended.”—Firetrench "Deals with a little-known aspect of the war . . . alongside the moving story of one man's relationship with a very special animal."— Sqn Ldr Paul Scott , Spirit of the Air This biography tells of the life of Václav Robert Bozděch, a Czech airman who escaped from the Nazi invasion, fought with the French and finally arrived in Britain to fly as an air-gunner with the RAF during World War II. He returned to his homeland after World War II but escaped back to the UK again when the communists gained control. Again he joined the RAF and rose to the rank of Warrant Officer. The unique part of this is that from his time in France, throughout World War II and until halfway through his second tour with the RAF, Bozděch was inseparable from his Alsatian dog, Antis, who became famous and was awarded a dog equivalent to the VC. Antis flew with his owner on many bomber raids, became the squadron mascot and was officially a serving RAF dog. He played an amazing part in the second escape from the Czech communist regime, when Bozděch was lucky to make it over the border to the US zone in Germany. "The main hero of the book is not Bozděch himself, but his Alsatian, Antis . . . This book makes clear the extent of wartime and post-war suffering endured by Czechs and others fulfilling their roles in the overall search for freedom."—Aircraft Owner & Pilot "This absorbing account of flying in WWII is based on the inseparable bond between man and dog. It is a moving story with humor and sadness. A Great Read that is Highly Recommended."— Firetrench This biography tells of the life of a Czech airman who escapes from the Nazi invasion, fights with the French and finally arrives in Britain to fly as an air-gunner with the RAF during World War II. He returns to his homeland after World War II but escapes back to the UK again when the communists gained control. Again he joins the RAF and rose to the rank of Warrant OfficerThe unique part of this is that from his time in France, throughout World War II and until half way through his second tour with the RAF he was inseparable from his Alsatian dog, an animal that became famous and was awarded a dog equivalent to the VC. The animal flew with his owner on many bomber raids, became the squadron mascot and was officially a serving RAF dog. It played an amazing part in the second escape from the Czech communists regime when the author was lucky to make it over the border to the US zone in Germany. [Elib] This biography tells of the life of a Czech airman who escapes from the Nazi invasion, fights with the French and finally arrives in Britain to fly as an air-gunner with the RAF during WWII. He returns to his homeland after WWII but escapes back to the UK again when the communists gained control. Again he joined the RAF and rose to the rank of WO.The unique part of this is that from his time in France, throughout WWII and until half way through his second tour with the RAF he was inseparable from his Alsatian dog, an animal that became famous and was awarded the dog equivalent of the VC. The animal flew with his owner on many bomber raids, became the squadron mascot and was officially a serving RAF dog. It played an amazing part in the second escape from the Czech communists regime when the author was lucky to make it over the border to the US zone in Germany--Amazon Freedom in the Air is the inspiring story of a Czech airman, Vaclav Robert Bozdech, and the Alsatian dog, Antis, that flew with him in Bomber Command during WWII. Field Marshall Wavell later pinned the ribbon of the PDSA's Dickin Medal, the animals' Victoria Cross, to Antis' collar for courage and outstanding service. The Incrediable story of a Czech Pilot and his dog during WW2. Includes escapes from Nazi invasion and then again from his homeland after the communists gained control.