Commander, Vašátko was one of the RAF's most senior Czechoslovak officers in front-line service. Vašátko had just been awarded his DFC on the day of his death. The Inspector-General of the Czechoslovak Air Force, Air Commodore Karel Janoušek, called Vašátko's death "the most cruel blow to our entire air force". Monuments and memorials In 1945 after Germany surrendered, two Czechoslovak postage stamps commemorating Vašátko were issued. The first has a face value of 50 hellers and the second has a face value of five Czechoslovak crowns. On 23 June 1946, the fourth anniversary of Vašátko's death, a memorial plaque was unveiled at his birthplace in Čelákovice. On 23 June 2012 the 70th anniversary of his death was commemorated with a ceremony at his monument, which included a flypast by two Czech Air Force Saab JAS 39 Gripen multirole combat aircraft. Three streets are named "Vašátkova" after him. One is in Čelákovice where he was born and another is in Týniště nad Orlicí where he grew up. The other is in the Černý Most suburb of Prague, which has streets named after numerous Second World War Czechoslovak airmen who served in the French Air Force or the RAF. On 3 March 1948 the Czechoslovak Air Force named its 4th Fighter Regiment "Vašátko", but in a reorganisation in 1950 it was renumbered the 6th Air Regiment and ceased to carry his name. As Vašátko has no known grave, his name is recorded on the Air Forces Memorial at Runnymede in Surrey. Honours and awards Chevalier de la Légion d'honneur. Croix de guerre with seven palm leaves, two golden stars and one silver star Distinguished Flying Cross 1939–1945 Star with Battle of Britain clasp Air Crew Europe Star Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945 three times Československá medaile Za chrabrost před nepřítelem ("Bravery in Face of the Enemy") twice Československá medaile za zásluhy, 1. stupně ("Medal of Merit, First Class") Pamětní medaile československé armády v zahraničí ("Commemorative Medal of the Czechoslovak Army Abroad") with France and Great Britain bars Vašátko has received numerous posthumous awards. The Czechoslovak government-in-exile promoted to him to Major on 28 October 1942 and Lieutenant-Colonel on 1 May 1944. On 11 November 1949 Vašátko was awarded the Military Order of the White Lion 1st class. In 1991 the Czech and Slovak Federative Republic promoted him to Colonel. On 7 March 1992 it promoted him again to Major-General and awarded him the