Sergeant Albín Nasswetter
Albín was born in Prague on 21st August, 1919. He was the son of MUDr. Albín Nasswetter and Anna Èapková Nasswetter. His Father was the local doctor in Dolan, Olomouc, where Albin was brought up.
Although he was a member of the Haná Aeroclub Olomouc, Albin aspired to follow in his Father’s footsteps, but the German occupation of the Czechoslovak Republic put paid to all thoughts of a career in medicine and, like many pilots, he fled the country.
After a period in France with l’Armee de l’Air, he arrived in England, joined the RAF and after converting to Hurricanes, was posted to No.1 Squadron in April 1941.
On 16th June, 1941, the Hurricanes of No.1 Squadron were tasked with providing an escort to an Air Sea Rescue Lysander, looking for pilots shot down during an earlier operation (Circus 13). At 5.15pm, they encountered a Heinkel He.59 seaplane (W.Nr.1976) also looking for downed pilots. It was accompanied by a fighter escort of Bf.109’s from 1/JG26 and 8/JG26. In the ensuing dogfight, Albín was shot down, but baled out of his Hurricane IIb, Z3460.
Sgt. Josef Novotný, saw that Albín had managed to get into his dinghy and guided an ASR launch to his location. Nasswetter was rescued and taken to Dover Hospital, but he had suffered severe burns and succumbed to his injuries late the following day.
Rest in peace Sir and thank you for your service.
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