Jan Ambrus
Encyclopedia
Wing Commander
Jan K Ambrus (1899–1994)OBE
was a Czechoslovakian fighter pilot who flew with the Royal Air Force
during the Battle of Britain
.
in 1899. After leaving school, he studied at the Budapest Academy Lodovika Military Academy. Upon graduation in 1923, he was commissioned as an officer in the Czechoslovakian Air Forcem.
In 1938, Ambrus was commanding officer of the Czech Air Force Test Group in Prague. He was a highly resepcted pilot and had won awards at aerobatic competitions, inclding at Vincennes
in 1934, and at the 1936 Summer Olympics
.
Among the medals award to Gen. Ambrus was the Order of the British Empire
.
After serving in France in mid 1940, Squadron Leader Ambrus was posted to command No 312 (Czech) Squadron RAF at Duxford in September 1940.
He was posted to the Czech Ministry of Defence in December 1940 and became the Czech Air Attaché in Canada during 1943-45 with the rank of Wing Commander, settling there after the war.
After the war he became commander of the 4th Aviation military wing.
.He worked as a design engineer, planning for highways, airports, air-pollution control systems and chemical plants.
He died, aged 94, at the Bohemian Home for the Aged in Chicago, where he had been resident since 1985. After his death his remains were repatriated to his homeland and buried in the Slavičím valley, near Bratislava
(in the present-day Slovak Republic).
Wing Commander (rank)
Wing commander is a commissioned rank in the Royal Air Force and the air forces of many other Commonwealth countries...
Jan K Ambrus (1899–1994)OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
was a Czechoslovakian fighter pilot who flew with the Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
during the Battle of Britain
Battle of Britain
The Battle of Britain is the name given to the World War II air campaign waged by the German Air Force against the United Kingdom during the summer and autumn of 1940...
.
Early life
Ambrus was born in Gorna Mitropolia, BulgariaBulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
in 1899. After leaving school, he studied at the Budapest Academy Lodovika Military Academy. Upon graduation in 1923, he was commissioned as an officer in the Czechoslovakian Air Forcem.
In 1938, Ambrus was commanding officer of the Czech Air Force Test Group in Prague. He was a highly resepcted pilot and had won awards at aerobatic competitions, inclding at Vincennes
Vincennes
Vincennes is a commune in the Val-de-Marne department in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe.-History:...
in 1934, and at the 1936 Summer Olympics
1936 Summer Olympics
The 1936 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XI Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was held in 1936 in Berlin, Germany. Berlin won the bid to host the Games over Barcelona, Spain on April 26, 1931, at the 29th IOC Session in Barcelona...
.
Among the medals award to Gen. Ambrus was the Order of the British Empire
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
World War II
In 1939, he became a squadron commander in Prague.After serving in France in mid 1940, Squadron Leader Ambrus was posted to command No 312 (Czech) Squadron RAF at Duxford in September 1940.
He was posted to the Czech Ministry of Defence in December 1940 and became the Czech Air Attaché in Canada during 1943-45 with the rank of Wing Commander, settling there after the war.
After the war he became commander of the 4th Aviation military wing.
Later Life and Death
He left Czechoslovakia after the Communist takeover. Ambrus emigrated to the USA in 1948, and settled in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.He worked as a design engineer, planning for highways, airports, air-pollution control systems and chemical plants.
He died, aged 94, at the Bohemian Home for the Aged in Chicago, where he had been resident since 1985. After his death his remains were repatriated to his homeland and buried in the Slavičím valley, near Bratislava
Bratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
(in the present-day Slovak Republic).
Honours, Awards and Legacy
Ambrus was awarded the following:- Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British EmpireOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
- 21 January 1945 - The 1939-45 Star (with Battle of Britain Clasp)
- Defence Medal (United Kingdom)
- War Medal 1939–1945 (United Kingdom)War Medal 1939–1945The War Medal 1939–1945 was a British decoration awarded to those who had served in the Armed Forces or Merchant Navy full-time for at least 28 days between 3 September 1939 and 2 September 1945. In the Merchant Navy, the 28 days must have been served at sea...
- Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945The Czechoslovak War Cross 1939-1945 is a military decoration of the former state of Czechoslovakia which was issued for those who had provided great service the Czechoslovak state during the years of World War II.- Description :On December 20, 1940, the Czech government in exile in London ordered...
- Czechoslovak Medal for valor ,
- Czechoslovakia Medals of Merit 1.st. ,
- Commemorative Medals MS. Foreign armies are labeled F and VB
- Milan Rastislav Stefanik OrderMilan Rastislav Stefanik OrderThe Milan Rastislav Stefanik Order is an award given "to recognize eminent contributions to the defence and security of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic". It was bestowed by the President of the Czech and Slovak Federal Republic...
, third class (1992) - Corona Romana