on 8 october 1940, františek's hurricane crashed in ewell, surrey, on return from a patrol. the cause is not known. it has been suggested that he may have been making aerobatic figures to impress his girlfriend, who lived nearby, or it might have been a result of battle fatigue and physical exhaustion. františek is buried in the military section of northwood cemetery in middlesex, with a polish headstone and alongside polish and british raf colleagues.