Josef František was born a carpenter's son in Otaslavice near Prostejov in Czechoslovakia on 7 October 1914. After his initial trainingas a locksmith, Josef volunteered for the air force, and went through the VLU Flying School in Prostejov in 1934-1936. He was then assigned to the 2nd "Dr. Edvard Benes" regiment in Olomouc lately in June, 1938 he was assigned to the 40th Fighter Flight in Praha-Kbely. He was under the command of Staff Captain Korcak, and the pre-war Czechoslovak "king of the air" - Lieutenant Frantisek Novak. In March 1939, when Czechoslovakia was taken by Germany without a fight. Josef Frantisek wasted no time escaping to neighboring Poland. On 29 July 1939, preparing to travel to France, Frantisek received a offer to join the Polish Air Force. For all their bravery and determination, Polish resistance was coming to an end. On 22 September 1939 his unit escaping to Romania. Frantisek and his brothers in arms were interned, but escaped on 26 September. They got to Bucharest, obtained documents and on 3 October 1939, boarded the steamer "Dacia" leaving Constanta for Beirut. They continued to Marseilles on board the "Theophile Gautier", entering France on 20 October 1940. Frantisek stayed with the Polish Air Force in France, which was part of L'Armee de l'Air. He was retrained at Lyon-Bronand Clermont-Ferrand, where he reportedly test-flew aircraft after repairs. There are conflicting reports regarding his combat activities. Some witnesses claimed Frantisek shot down 10 or 11 enemy aircraft flying with the French. These published reports have never been disproved; yet official French and Polish documents have neither confirmed the claims. Some witnesses recall that Frantisek changed his name temporarily in April, 1940 to protect his family in Otaslavice from persecution by the Gestapo. His cover name is unknown. As long as this question remains unanswered, Frantisek's French period cannot be closed. On 18 June 1940, after the fall of France, Frantisek took a Polish ship from Bordeaux to England. He arrived at Falmouth on 21 June. Frantisek was sent to a Polish aviation depot in Blackpool, and on 2 August 1940 left for Northolt airfield, where the 303rd Polish Fighter Squadron was being formed. The squadron was equipped with "Hurricane" Mk. I fighters and coded with the letters "RF". Frantisek scored his first kill under British skies on 2 September 1940. In only four weeks, from September 2nd through the 30th, Frantisek achieved 17 certain kills and 1 probable . It is often mentioned that Frantisek's excellent results were due to his lack of discipline in the air. He often left the formation and hunted for the enemy on his own. It is by no means true that Frantisek gained all his victories in individual actions - many kills were scored in group missions. On 8th October 1940, one day after his 27th birthday, his Hurricane I R4175 (RF-R) touched down in high speed and crashed on the end of airfield in Cuddington Way at Ewell. Frantisek's sudden death in this accident remains incomprehensible, as is the case with some other excellent pilots. Squadron 303 was flying a routine patrol that morning. Frantisek's machine disappeared from the view of his fellow pilots, so he was never again seen alive. At 9:40 a.m. his "Hurricane" Mk.I R4175 (RF-R) crashed on Cuddington Way in Ewell, Surrey. Frantisek was thrown from the cockpit and his body was found in a hedge nearby. At first glance he had only scratches on his face, and his uniform was slightly charred. But Frantisek's neck had been broken in the impact and he died immediately. There has been no definitive cause to the crash of his plane. Some sources say he failed an acrobatic exhibition in front of his girlfriend's house, other witnesses mention his absolute exhaustion from previous fighting. A combination of these two factors is a possibility. On 28th October he received a bar to his DFM in memoriam. His Polish friends buried Frantisek at the Polish Airforce Cemetery in Northolt on October 10, 1940, where he is still resting.

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