Czech Television produces film about most successful Czech RAF pilot Josef František

He was one of the most successful pilots in the Battle of Britain, but the Czechs ignored and forgot about him, according to the creators of a new docudrama about RAF pilot Josef František. The film, Lone Wolf (Osamělý vlk), is being produced by Czech Television and is scheduled to premiere next year.

The film is directed by Ondřej Veverka, who co-wrote the screenplay together with producer Vítězslav Jandák. Speaking to Czech Radio, Jandák says the film is intended to commemorate a powerful human story and the role of Czechs in the British Air Force. He showed Czech Radio the behind the scenes of the film set:

Photo: Petr Gavel, Czech Television

"Here we have the pilots' quarters; we are in Britain. And here we can see Josef František's bed, which we have marked with a Czech flag, even though there are Polish flags here, because he was a member of the 303rd Polish Squadron."

The docudrama is being filmed in the Moravian-Silesian Region, including a former barracks near Ostrava. The filmmakers have turned it into an air base. Actor Jan Nedbal, describes his role on the site:

"I play the lieutenant of the RAF squadron, and I basically tell young Josef he's irresponsible, that he owes me money, and that he's spent more time in prison than in the air."

Josef Trojan also appears in the same scene.

“Together with Honza Nedbal, there will be two of us for Josef František; both of us will scold him,” he adds.

Photo: Petr Gavel, Czech Television

The script does not portray Josef František as a genius pilot. Instead, the creators focused primarily on his humanity, says Czech Television creative producer Lenka Poláková:

“He was also a normal young guy who felt sadness, loved his parents even though he sometimes made them angry, and loved women.”

Photo: Martin Kusyn, Czech Television

Josef František's story is also extraordinary in that he did not serve in the Czechoslovak Air Force, but in the Polish Air Force. Jandák says that this contributed to their willingness to write the script:

"The Czechs as a nation stood their ground. I'm more disappointed that we're filming so late. Because he was one of the most successful pilots in the Battle of Britain, and he was Czech. The Poles appropriated him a little, and now it's time for him to come home."

The filmmakers are planning to premiere Lone Wolf in 2026.

The RAF pilot shot down 17 German aircraft in just 28 days, making him one of the most successful Allied pilots in the Battle of Britain. He earned the nickname “Lone Wolf” for his combat style, often breaking away from his unit to fight independently. František died in a crash in 1940 at the age of 26.