The last Czech World War II veteran pilot Emil Bocek has died at the age of 100, DPA reported, citing a statement from the Ministry of Defense in Prague.

The former fighter pilot died a month after his birthday in the Czech city of Brno.

Boček was the last Czech pilot to fight in the British Royal Air Force against Nazi Germany while a member of the Czechoslovak Army in exile.

A 102-year-old World War II veteran has died

About four years ago, Bocek was awarded the honorary title of army general, the highest rank an officer can receive in the Czech army.

General Emil Boček died today at the age of 100.

Dovolujeme si tedy připomenout reportáž o tom, jak Emil Boček visited Mladou Boleslav: https://t.co/H3EcXURUgM pic.twitter.com/GPfrJqYvTn

— První Boleslavská (@Prv_Boleslavska) March 25, 2023

General Bocek fought for our country to become democratic, free and independent, the Prime Minister of the Czech Republic, Petar Fiala, said about him.

Boček left Nazi-occupied Czechoslovakia in 1939 at the age of 16.

First fought in France.

After training as a fighter pilot, he flew 26 missions for the British Air Force.

He later worked as a car mechanic.

In 2016, at the age of 93, he flew the legendary Supermarine Spitfire again on a tourist flight in England.

The planes were used by the allied countries during the Second World War, BTA informs.

Czech Republic

World War II

pilot

a veteran