By Rudi Jaeger, 12 May 2011, from my original template:

3 skins for the Avia B-534 Type IV serving with the Czechoslovakian Aviation Police, circa 1938. All skins are individually weathered, and are coded-serialed according to historical documentation. 

These are intended only for the Avia B534 Type IV. They will not display correctly along the aft fuselage of the 'Early Avia mod', which is a Type III, nor would they be historically correct for the open-pit Type III.   


History: 

- The first Czech police aviation squadrons (called "Cetnicke letecke hlidky" - Gendarme aviation patrols) were officially established 1 July 1935 in cooperation with the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defence. The tasks were very varied as to oversee the compliance of air corridors, help with natural disasters, to search for criminals, and in particular to intercept intruders of airspace. They were abolished in 1939 because of WWII. After the war a new police aviation squadron was established called "Letectvo sboru narodni bezpecnosti" - The Aviation Corps of National Security.

- National Insignia; a 'pointed' version ("sfericky trojuhelnik") is carried on the rear fuselage of Police aircraft and helicopters, and has been used since 1935. A white outline is used when applied to darker schemes, and a blue outline when applied over light backgrounds.

- Police aircraft used in the period 1935-1939 carried civil registrations in the series OK-Pxx. The registered operator was Bezpecnostni Letectvo Ministerstva Vnitra (Security Aircraft of the Ministry of the Interior). Between 1945 and 1972 civil registrations were again carried, but in the OK-Bxx series.

- Air bases:

1935: Cheb, Ruzodol u Liberce, Hradec Kralove, Dolni Benesov and Bratislava Vajnory.

1938: As in 1935, with the addition of Terezin, Stare Mesto u Moravske Trebove, Brno, Zvolen.
(After the signing of the Munich Agreement (when part of the Czech area was seized by Germany) the unit at Ruzodol u Liberce was relocated to Milovice)

A total of 26 B-534's were used for police duties between 1937-1939. There were two aircraft bearing the code 'OK-PAR'; serial no.195 and serial no.371; and two aircraft coded as 'OK-PAS' , serial no.196 (initially 'OK-PAX'), and serial no.339. The aircraft coded 'OK-PAT', serial no.199, was one of a kind.

The pilot of 'OK-PAR', serial no.195, was (then) Captain Francis Ryplova (listed as 'Rypl' in RAF records). See included jpeg for photo with his B534 aircraft, OK-PAR, ser.195.

He was born on 2 April 1903 in Czech Krumlov. After graduating from Business College was admitted to the Military Academy in Hranice. In 1932 he graduated from pilot school in Prostejov in Cheb. He would serve with the 'Aviation Police' from 1935 until the Nazi Occupation in 1939, finally joining the resistance in the UK.

On February 7, 1938 at 16:12 pm, near Kralove, he had to land no.195 in heavy fog, over uncertain terrain. It was a good landing onto a snow covered furrowed field, until the undercarriage hit soft ground which caused the aircraft to flip over. He walked away with a dislocated left shoulder and a fractured rib. Photo documentaion of the crash, reveals the absence of wheel spats on his aircraft; they were likely removed during the winter months to eliminate having the wheels fouled with mud and snow.

Captain Ryplova would go on to command 310 Squadron and bag a 109 on 9 SEP 1940, while flying a Hurricane during the Battle of Britain. Later in 1942, he flew a Beaufighter with the 307th Polish Night Fighter Squadron. In SEP 1944, he went to the VVS Mixed Air Division in the USSR, flew Sturmoviks, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. After the war, in November 1947, he became commander of the newly completed Leteck Military Academy in Hradec Kralove.

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INSTALLATION: 

IL-2 Sturmovik 1946 (main folder)/Paint Schemes/Skins/AviaB534 

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"Brother can you spare a dime":

I've been creating skins for 'IL2' for a few years now, and like just about every other IL2 skinner on the planet, have never asked compensation for my work.. but if you like what you see, and would care to support a very worthy cause; please visit the website for The National Museum of World II Aviation, in Colorado Springs, to learn the many ways you may contribute. And if you can't contribute, that's okay too; but please show your support by visiting. Thank You!

http://www.worldwariiaviation.org/

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TERMS OF USE:

PLEASE; You have downloaded these skins "free of charge" with my compliments. I only ask, that if you wish to alter them in any way, that they remain solely for your own use. I have no objections to the FREE (as in NOT payware) distribution of campaigns which include these skins, that's why I made them..but please do not rename the files without consulting me, or upload them to any other site as a 'stand alone' product (outside of any campaign packs); this work is exclusive to 'Axis & Allies Paintworks'. If you wish to credit my work, that would be nice, although my signature is on every skin.

The above stipulation's primary purpose, is solely to support the efforts of 'Axis & Allies Paintworks', and enable me to keep track of my files to provide any updates as they become available. This is also my intelectual property, so please respect my terms.  

I hope you will enjoy these. Several hours of work and research went into them and it's a pleasure to share them with you. If any questions, please contact me via pm at Axis & Allies Paintworks.  

Good Hunting! ~ Rudi.
