political power in February, 1948. He was arrested by the Stalinist government in 1950, because of his connections to Britain. He spent 17 months in a labour camp at Mírov. For many years, he was forced to live outside Prague and was subject to many other restrictions. He was partially rehabilitated in 1968 during the Prague Spring, but was only restored to his rank after the Velvet Revolution in 1989. Rehabilitation (1989–2006) František Fajtl became a chairman of the Czech Airmen Association and was promoted to lieutenant general, the second highest rank in the Czech Army. On 28 September 2004, he was awarded the highest order of the Czech Republic – the Order of the White Lion. František Fajtl died on 4 September 2006 in Prague, survived by his wife Hana and two daughters. Publications He wrote 14 mostly autobiographical books about his wartime experiences and also chronicles of the Czech soldiers fighting in foreign armies during the war and about his sad experience with communist persecution. Bitva o Británii ("Battle of Britain", 1991) Létal jsem s Třistatřináctkou ("I flew with the 313rd", 1991) Sestřelen ("Shot down", 1991) Generál nebe ("General of the sky", 1992) memoirs of another fighter, František Peřina První doma ("Home for the first time") Opět doma ("Home again") Vzpomínky na padlé kamarády ("Memories of comrades killed in the war") Boje a návraty ("Fighting and coming home") Dva údery pod pás ("Two deep hits") Pouta nebes ("Shackles of heaven") He was an inspiration for the 2001 film Tmavomodrý svět (Dark Blue World). Medals and honours Order of The White Lion 3rd class military (Řád bílého lva, vojenská skupina, III. třída Czech Republic) Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) Grand-Croix of the French Légion d'Honneur (France) Order of The White Lion "For Victory" (Řád bílého lva "Za vítězství", Czechoslovakia) Czechoslovak Military Cross (Československý válečný kříž, Czechoslovakia) – 4x Order of The Slovak National Uprising, 1st class (Řád Slovenského národního povstání 1. třídy, Czechoslovakia) Order of M.R.Štefánik (Czech and Slovak Federative Republic) Military units Czechoslovak Air Force 2nd Air Regiment "Edvard Beneš" – before World War II Armée De l´Air CIC Avord CIC No. 6 Chartres ELD Chartres (18 May 1940 – 27 May 1940) Groupe de Chasse III./9 (27 May 1940 – 6 June 1940) Groupe de Chasse III./7 (6 June 1940 – 17 June 1940) Groupe de Chasse I./6 (17 June 1940 – 20 June 1940) Royal Air