Another beautiful snapshot from a memorial ceremony at the Olšany cemetery. Behind Prince of Wales's back, a part of Jiří Maňák's face is showing, Jan Irving is smiling at one of his best friends, "tough guy" Bohumil Jaroš aka "Suchar" [~dry wit], at whose left, with a coat over his hands, colonel Malý is standing; on his right, wearing a beret, colonel Petr Uruba. Along with Zdeněk Škarvada, Vilda Bufka and others, they were imprisoned at the Sagan camp and later, they were moved to the famous German castle where officers were imprisoned, Coldwitz, and they shared the cells there.

A beautiful group photo from the very first Memorial Air Show in Roudnice nad Labem on the 23th September, 1991. It was a wonderful event for our airmen and the founder and airport director, Vlasta Dvořák, put his heart into organising this event not only that year but for many years after. The event got called "Second Britain", even. The truth is, for the air fans, the event is made rarer by happening only every other year. Iveta cannot remember all the names after so many years. After the parked Hurricane from The Netherlands, she recognised her dad (second from right) and his colleague from the B-24, Ivan Schwarz (United Kingdom), at her dad's right, colonel Petr (United Kingdom), further from him, Viktor Kent (United Kingdom), colonel Antonín Vendl, and in the RAF uniform, colonel Dvorský. In the centre under the propeller, colonel František Fajtl with his indispensable goatee. From the left, Iveta can identify colonel Krézek (second from left), colonel J. Hofrichter (fourth from left), in grey suit next to him, another pilot legend, colonel Karel Šeda. From those sitting, she can recall colonel J. Vyhnis (who was born in Stod) and fourth from left, František Knap.

The first army air show in a free country in the modern history of Czechosolovakia at the Kbely airport on the 13th September, 1991. For the photograph, men from one crew assembled. From the left: Arnošt Polák, Rudolf Nedoma, Jan Irving, Ing. G. Shaw a Ivan Schwarz.

The first army air show in a free country in the modern history of Czechosolovakia at the Kbely airport on the 13th September, 1991. The airmen kept looking towards the sky where one airplane after another whizzed by. In the row behind colonel Irving, colonel Jirousek is standing. They knew each other from their studies and training in the army school in Prostějov.

The photograph shows colonel Josef Šnajdr (United Kingdom), one of the former commanders of the No. 311. Squadron, in a lively debate with colonel Irving. He was a strict but fair commander who was respected by everyone. Now, after that many years, they chatted like old friend regardless of the former rank.

Contemporary photograph of commander Šnajdr from the war years; he appears pensive here - or wondering whether his boys will return alive from the action. His face shows constant tension and great responsibility.

Photograph of another commander of the 311th, colonel Vladimír Nedvěd. Hardly anyone would guess that such a puny gentleman held this high a rank. He was an exact opposite of colonel Šnajdr who was almost 190 centimetres tall. They had one thing in common, though, all airmen liked them and respected them.

The air show brought many airmen from the UK and other corners of the world. There was the air show itself, meetings both formal and informal and quite a handful of other events. One of them was a celebratory mass, Te Deum, in the St. Vitus cathedral at the Prague Castle. Another strong experience. The Irving family is sitting in the first row. Next to Blanka, Jan's wireless operator, Arnošt Polák, is seated and at his right, Viktor Kent whose wartime nickname was „Vydrář“ [~otter catcher]

On the 15th September, 1991, there was a reunion at the Irvings' home at Vinohrady in Prague which was indeed memorable. Mrs. Blanka destroyed the airmen by wonderful roasted duck with dumplings, both red and white cabbage, and spinach, so that they could choose. She had guessed that this festive meal would meet with appreciation so there were two ducks in the oven. Her feeling was good, there was nothing left and she even packed some for the guests for later. The reunion was all over great, it was full of emotions, there we tears and laugh in one about the article Iveta had sent to Kanadské listy [Canadian Letters] which published them. On the porch, from the left, standing, Jan Irving, Iveta, Marcel Ludikar (a future general as well), Blanka Irvingová, Arnošt Polák, Ing. G. Shaw and Rudolf Nedoma, eighty percent of the most frequent crew of the Liberator. (This was photographed by Jan Horal, another invited guest.)

One year after the reunion in the United Kingdom, the Czechoslovak airmen were invited to France and it went in a similar vein as the year before. This time, though, only the airmen went there, without any companions. It was distressing for Jan's wife, mainly because she was worried about Jan's health and what if something happened there. His heart was quite damaged after several heart attacks and every strong experience, even if positive, was deleterious. Iveta was sad that she would not see the war fields and France as such. Shown on the photograph are Jan Irving, Bohumil Jaroš aka "Suchar" [Dry-wit], faithful friends, in front of the Notre-Dame cathedral in Paris. During those days, they visited, among others, two air force bases, jet fighter base, and a bomber base which was one of the most important contemporary air base in France where they posed, along with the staff, under the much admired Mirage 2000. They also visited the military cemetery at La Target and many other places.

Olšany cemetery again, the RAF section during the 1992 official visit of U. K. Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher. She is being escorted by Alois Konopický in a historical RAF uniform, representing the Czechoslovak airmen, and the Prime Minister, who had just greeted colonel Irving, is going to shake the hand of his friend Arnošt Polák, who is standing next to col. Irving. Allegedly, he whispered to Jan: "Bite it, I've been living in the United Kingdom for more than fifty years, with Margaret almost behind my back, and to shake her hand, I had to come to Prague!" One does not need to add that they both burst out laughing.

The Congress Centre at Pankrác in Prague again, and a meeting of the Czechoslovak airmen, including those who flew over from the United Kingdom in 1992.

There were way too many public events where the airmen were supposed to participate and it's only a narrow selection of them shown here. The public debates went on, though, and tens or hundreds of people would attend them across the whole country. Regardless of the size of the room where they took place, it was full to the last spot. This is a photograph from a debate with colonel Irving in 1994.

Kromě zde prezentovaného torza všech veřejných akcí, jichž se na naše letce po listopadu 1989 sesypalo nekonečné množství, samozřejmě průběžně probíhaly i již zmiňované veřejné besedy, kde se sešlo od několika desítek lidí až po stovky po celé republice. Ať byl sál však jakkoli kapacitně velký, vždy bylo plno do posledního místečka. Toto je snímek ze samostatné besedy plk. Irvinga v roce 1994. He was closely watched by his wife Blanka, she was worried because her husband was seriously ill by that time...

Kromě zde prezentovaného torza všech veřejných akcí, jichž se na naše letce po listopadu 1989 sesypalo nekonečné množství, samozřejmě průběžně probíhaly i již zmiňované veřejné besedy, kde se sešlo od několika desítek lidí až po stovky po celé republice. Ať byl sál však jakkoli kapacitně velký, vždy bylo plno do posledního místečka. Toto je snímek ze samostatné besedy plk. Irvinga v roce 1994. He was closely watched by his wife Blanka, she was worried because her husband was seriously ill by that time, and his daughter Iveta. At that time, she would book a videographer for these debates so that there would be recording of her father's war and post-war stories. Thanks to his idea, there are many hours of carefully preserved videos.

After the debates, which were certainly exhausting for colonel Irving, a book signing and chatting with guests followed, and this became a nice tradition. Every time, new contacts were made or new facts and unexpected links surfaced. Often, direct descendants of Jan's fellow fighters arrived to the meeting and asked about their life, addresses, contact information, photograps etc.

One of many airmen's balls in the Lucerna cultural centre. The tradition started soon after the Velvet Revolution and it is being continued, God be thanked, until these days. Here, Jan Irving took a photograph in front of the ball room. Shown are his good friend from the 311th, colonel Stanislav Mikula with his wife and son Vlastislav, and Iveta Irvingová.

And airmen's ball in the Lucerna cultural centre (1998 or 1999) again, after general Irving's death, though. However, Iveta tried hard not to keep her mother mourning for too long so whenever an occasion arose, she would involve her in airmen's social events so that she would not dwell on sad thoughts. Also shown brigadier general Zdeněk Škarvada who is already deceased as well, his wife, and Blanka Irvingová. On the right, shown from side, Alois Konopický..

The Irving family grave at the Olšany cemetery in Prague. After her mom's death, Iveta got the plaques with names of family members made so that everyone could easily undestand the family connections. And as she says with "dry English wit", "The last spot behind the glass is waiting only for me. I don't know though, how I will get myself there when nobody from the close family is still alive..."

Eva Pacovská with her mother Marta Škramovská, Prague, 1934

Eva Pacovská, 1937, historical photography

Jan Škramovský and Marta Škramovská, nee Gross; wedding of Eva Pacovská's parents, Prague, 1930

Eva Pacovská, Praha, cca 1949, historical photography

Eva Pacovská, Praha, cca 1955, historical photography

Jan Škramovský, father of Eva Pacovska, around 1940