františek was posted to a polish airbase at clermont-ferrand where he served as a mechanic. he tried to learn to fly as many types of french aircraft as he could. he also got into trouble several times for going absent without leave. there are no official french records to confirm he flew combat missions during the battle of france, though some older sources credit him with 11 victories: nine in the air and two on the ground. in his home town of otaslavice there is a museum in his memory, and its collection of his medals includes a croix de guerre. but his french air force records are known to have been destroyed, so there is no official confirmation of whether or why the cross was awarded to him.