the squadron entered action in the last phase of the battle of britain. františek's first confirmed victory was shooting down a messerschmitt bf 109e fighter on 2 september 1940. his fifth victory nearly cost him his life. on 6 september he shot down a bf 109e of iii/jg 52 near sevenoaks in kent, but františek's hurricane was damaged so badly that he had to make a forced landing near falmer.