bar added to his Distinguished Flying Medal when he posthumously received one on 28 October 1940. In 1942 Air Vice-Marshal Karel Janoušek called František an "almost legendary figure". Janoušek also quoted the anonymous author of the 1941 book Together we Fly, A Salute to Airmen, who called František "the greatest of all Czechoslovak pilots, perhaps one of the greatest fighters of all time". In Otaslavice there is a museum in František's memory, a monument outside the František family home, and a plaque outside the local primary school. A street in the Černý Most suburb of Prague is named "Františkova" after him. The centenary of his birth was commemorated in Otaslavice on 4 October 2014. On 6 October 2015 the Polish Institute in Prague commemorated the 75th anniversary of František's death. Wreaths and floral tributes continue to be laid on his birthday each year at the monument outside the family home in Otaslavice. On 4 September 2022 a memorial was unveiled on Priest Hill in Epsom, England, not far from the place he died. Honours and awards Virtuti Militari Silver Cross (Poland) Cross of Valour 4 times (Poland) Croix de guerre with palm leaf (France) Distinguished Flying Medal and bar (United Kingdom) (1 Oct. 1940, 28 Oct. 1940) 1939–1945 Star with Battle of Britain clasp Czechoslovak War Cross 1939–1945 Československá medaile Za chrabrost před nepřítelem ("Bravery in Face of the Enemy") Československá medaile za zásluhy, 2. stupně ("Medal of Merit, Second Class") Posthumously the president of Czech Republic, Miloš Zeman awarded him the Order of the White Lion 1st Class Military Division on 28 Oct. 2015. In 2017, the Czech Mint issued silver and gold commemorative coins (under the authority of Niue) paying tribute to Josef František. In popular culture Josef František was portrayed by Kryštof Hádek in the 2018 film Hurricane: 303 Squadron. He was also referenced by Polish rock band Elektryczne Gitary in the song "Pilot Josef František", as a part of their 2016 album "Czasowniki". References Notes Bibliography Tadeusz Jerzy Krzystek, Anna Krzystek: Polskie Siły Powietrzne w Wielkiej Brytanii w latach 1940-1947 łącznie z Pomocniczą Lotniczą Służbą Kobiet (PLSK-WAAF). Sandomierz: Stratus, 2012, s. 182. Piotr Sikora: Asy polskiego lotnictwa. Warszawa: Oficyna Wydawnicza Alma-Press. 2014, s. 404–405. External links Biography – Sgt FRANTISEK Josef (archived) 1914 births 1940 deaths Aviators killed in aviation accidents or incidents in England Royal Air Force personnel killed in World War II Czechoslovak World