Cheb 1917-1947 - Aviatici a letadla prvního vojenského letiště v Českých zemích – Rajlich Jiří (2020)

The significance of the old, now non-existent Cheb airport for our aviation history far exceeds the West Bohemian region. It was established during World War I as the very first permanent military airport in the Czech lands. However, it did not serve the aviators of the Habsburg monarchy for long. Initially, it seemed that it would not have promising prospects even in the new republic. The reason was its disadvantageous geographical location and the related fact that it was located in a 'land full of elements hostile to the republic.' Nevertheless, during the interwar period, it ultimately served not only as a base for combat units but primarily as a significant center for the aviation training of the Czechoslovak Air Force, at one time even the only one. At that time, it hosted almost all types of aircraft that roamed the skies over Czechoslovakia – both domestic and numerous foreign ones. And also perhaps all the significant, now forgotten aviators who helped write the history of the then 'golden age' of aviation. The airport was also used predominantly for training and auxiliary purposes by the German Luftwaffe, and eventually, the air units of the Russian Liberation Army were formed here. Although the old Cheb airport was practically completely destroyed by American air attacks at the end of World War II, in...