Jan Irving in cockpit of "his" Liberator during a guard

On leave. From the left, Arnošt Polák, wireless operator, with his girlfriend, Jan Irving and at far right, engineer G. Shaw, navigator, the only Englishman in Irving's crew, shown here with his future wife Patt

Jan Irving's crew at the Beaulieu base in 1943. From the left: G. Shaw, A. Polák, Václav Spitz, Jan Irving, Jaroslav Hájek and far right, laughing Zdeněk Sedlák who suffered a sad end - he took the flight from England on the 5th October of 1945, the plane crashed and all persons on board were killed, including Zdeněk Sedlák and his wife Edita (WAAF)

Memorial to those who perished in the 5th October of 1945 airplane crash during a flight from Britain, among them were Zdeněk and Edita Sedlák

President Edvard Beneš congratulates Jan Irving after he was, along with others, awarded the Czechoslovak War Cross 1939

The last studio photograph of Jan before he left Britain in 1944

Jan on board of the RMS Queen Elizabeth

Jan on board of the RMS Queen Elizabeth

Jan on board of the RMS Queen Elizabeth

Evening at the Windsor Field base in Nassau. Standing, from the left: Karel Truxa, Ladislav Snídal, Josef Klesnil, Jan Irving (wearing a white tank top), Ilja Hrušák, an unknown man, probably British. Sitting, from the left: Karel Spitzkopf, Oskar Krebs, unknown Englishman

Very rare photograph showing the unadorned reality of lodging in the pilots' barracks

Aerial photography was Jan's lifetime passion. This photograph shows a stunning view of the right side of the B-24 flying low over Nassau.

Jan with the embassy Pontiac in front of the Czechoslovak embassy in Nassau

A "treasure island" adjacent to Nassau as seen from the pilot's cabin

The one and only preserved photograph that depicts Jan Irving's return to his homeland: the Nýřany railway station in September 1945. Only one of the little girls in folk costumes is still alive (in 2019). A few from the bigger ones are those orphans who were later raised by Jan's children

The grandest of military parades was overseen by President Beneš and Mrs. Beneš, state and army dignitaries and thousands of cheering people standing at the sides of Old Town Square. Later, some of the parades took place at Wenceslas' Square

The grandest of military parades was overseen by President Beneš and Mrs. Beneš (in the first row), state and army dignitaries and thousands of cheering people standing at the sides of Old Town Square. Later, some of the parades took place at Wenceslas' Square

The Czechoslovak airmen marching in the parade

The banner bearer is Viktor Kropš, armourer of the No 311 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF. His life would be worth a book as well, especially its dramatic turns after 1948. His squadron was transferred to the Plzeň – Bory air base in 1946. During a military parade held in Plzen in 1945, Viktor met his future wife Jiřina. After the February 1948 Communist coup, they tried to escape the country with the help of a guide but on their way across the Domažlice forests, they were arrested by the border guard. Both Viktor and Jiřina threw themselves at the guardsmen, a fight ensued and Victor even wanted to use his handgun but they were overpowered. Jiřina was sentenced to one year in women's prison and Viktor was held in a long custody, subjected to cruel interrogations and he ended up in the labour camp in the uranium mines of Jáchymov, which permanently damaged his health. Jan helped this family in the hardest times as much as he could and the friendship hardened to almost family bond. Viktor died from the health issues caused by imprisonment only a few years after his release and Jan was asked to lead his daughter Šárka to the altar as a substitute father and Jiřina was like a second mother to Iveta until her death in 2014.

The banner bearer is Viktor Kropš, armourer of the No 311 (Czechoslovak) Squadron RAF. His life would be worth a book as well, especially its dramatic turns after 1948. His squadron was transferred to the Plzeň – Bory air base in 1946. During a military parade held in Plzen in 1945, Viktor met his future wife Jiřina. After the February 1948 Communist coup, they tried to escape the country with the help of a guide but on their way across the Domažlice forests, they were arrested by the border guard. Both Viktor and Jiřina threw themselves at the guardsmen, a fight ensued and Victor even wanted to use his handgun but they were overpowered. Jiřina was sentenced to one year in women's prison and Viktor was held in a long custody, subjected to cruel interrogations and he ended up in the labour camp in the uranium mines of Jáchymov, which permanently damaged his health. Jan helped this family in the hardest times as much as he could and the friendship hardened to almost family bond. When Viktor died only a few years after his release from the health issues caused by imprisonment, Jak was asked to lead his daughter Šárka to the altar as a sort of second father and Jiřina was a second mother to Iveta until her death in 2014.

Chance meeting with colleagues in the downtown of Prague. Jan is wearing civilian clothes

The ruins of the Old Town City hall and its heart, the astronomical clock, deeply saddened Jan

Boxer Joe Baksi and his girlfriend after their arrival to Prague in 1946, with captain Irving and the second pilot after they got off the Dakota aircraft

Jan (standing, on the left) loved the majestic and allegedly easy to fly DC-3 Dakotas

Josef Klouček (in the front) REgional Chief Sokol in Rakovník