War hero Imrich Gablech dies at 101

One of the country’s last remaining war heroes, General Imrich Gablech has died at the age of 101. Gablech joined the RAF in 1941, flying with the 312 Czechoslovak Squadron. After the war he received a number of high state distinctions, among them the Order of the White Lion, and briefly served as head of air traffic control at Prague airport. Like many Czechoslovak pilots who flew with the RAF he was persecuted by the communist regime, released from the army and forced into manual labour.