josef františek was born in 1914 in dolní otaslavice in moravia, the son of a carpenter. after leaving school he was apprenticed to a locksmith, but in 1934 he joined the czechoslovak air force. he was trained at the air training school at prostějov. in 1935 he was a corporal in 1st air regiment. in 1936 he completed training and was posted to the 2nd air regiment at olomouc in moravia, where he flew aero a.11 and letov š-328 reconnaissance biplanes. by 1937 he was a sergeant.