Wing commander general František Peřina, Czech war hero, was born on 8 April 1911 in Morkůvky near Břeclav. During WW2 he became a famous fighter pilot nicknamed General Heaven. After qualifying as a machinist he joined the Czechoslovak Air Force and between 1929–1931 studied at the Military Aviation School in Prostějov. After graduation he served at Olomouc where he ranked among the Czechoslovak fighter elite – thanks to his outstanding pilot achievements. In 1937, he represented Czechoslovakia at the 4^th International Air Show in Curych. In June 1939 he fled from the Protectorate of Bohemia and Moravia to Poland and, at the end of July, he sailed to France where he joined the French Foreign Legion. Following the outbreak of WW2 he requalified in Chartres to aircraft Curtiss Hawk H. 75 C. 1. and in December 1939 was assigned to Groupe de Chasse I/5 where he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant at the proposal of captain A. Vašátko. On 3 June he was shot down in an air combat near Paris. After various events and experiences he managed to return to his unit and then to get through Africa to Great Britain. There he joined the 312^th (Czechoslovak) RAF Squadron . Peřina took part in the battle for Britain and then was transferred with his squadron to Liverpool to escort ship convoys and bombers operating above France and Germany.

The most difficult period in Peřina’s life came after the victory of the communists in the elections in February 1948. With the help of a friend he managed to emigrate together with his wife in a sports aircraft Sokol in April 1949. All three of them flew to Germany and landed in the American zone. After several years in the British RAF Peřina and his wife moved to Canada and then to the USA.

Peřina returned to the Czech Republic no sooner than in 1993. President Václav Havel awarded him the highest state order – The Order of the White Lion – for excellence in combat. General Peřina died on 6 May 2006 – at the age of 95. His wife, Anna Peřinová-Klimešová, who had been imprisoned during the war by the Nazis, died just a few weeks before him.

 The obverse side of the coin features the effigy of Queen Elizabeth II, around the rim there are fighter bombers from WW2 in outline. On the obverse side we can see the portrait of young František Peřina with the emblem of RAF and the 312^th Squadron.

Limited edition 400 pcs.