Medals & Honours

Medal for Heroism (in memoriam)

• 28 October 2023 · Vladislav Hall, Prague Castle

  Medal for Heroism — “for heroism in battle”

  President Petr Pavel awarded Colonel Josef Bernat the Medal for Heroism in memoriam at his first state honours ceremony, held on the 105th anniversary of the founding of Czechoslovakia. The official citation reads: “Colonel Josef Bernat (in memoriam), pilot of No. 311 (Czechoslovak) Bomber Squadron RAF — for heroism in battle.” Honoured alongside him were fellow 311 Squadron airmen Oldřich Doležal and Jiří Pavel Kafka, and fighter pilot Stanislav Zimprich of No. 310 Squadron.^{[5], [8], [9], [4]}

  The Medal for Heroism is a state decoration of the Czech Republic, conferred by the President for heroism in battle and for exceptional acts in saving human life or substantial property.

British decorations

• 15 September 1941

  Distinguished Flying Medal (DFM)

  For the night of 5/6 July 1941, when his Wellington R1532 (KX-R) was set on fire over Münster by a German night fighter: under his command the crew extinguished the fire in flight, and Bernat belly-landed the damaged aircraft, its hydraulics shot out, safely at East Wretham.^{[1], [10], [12]}

  The DFM was awarded to non-commissioned aircrew of the RAF for exceptional valour and devotion to duty while flying in active operations against the enemy; the officers' equivalent was the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC). Among Czechoslovak airmen it ranked among the most respected British honours.

• 1939–1945 Star

  ^{[1], [6]}

  British campaign star for operational service in the Second World War — for aircrew, two months of operational flying against the enemy sufficed.

• Air Crew Europe Star

  ^{[1], [6]}

  A star reserved exclusively for aircrew, for operational flying over Europe from British bases between 1939 and 1944 — one of the hardest-earned British campaign stars.

• Defence Medal

  ^{[1], [6]}

  Awarded for non-operational military service in territory exposed to enemy attack, typically three years' service in Britain — in Bernat's case covering his instructor years, among others.

• War Medal 1939–1945

  ^{[1], [6]}

  The War Medal was due to every member of the British and allied armed forces under British command who served full-time for at least 28 days during the war.

Czechoslovak decorations

• 25 Apr 1941 · 21 Jun 1941 · twice on 25 Jul 1941

  Czechoslovak War Cross 1939 — awarded four times

  For operational flights against the enemy with No. 311 (Czechoslovak) Bomber Squadron.^{[1], [6]}

  The foremost Czechoslovak war decoration, established by the exile government in London in 1940; awarded for personal bravery in combat and — as in Bernat's case — could be conferred repeatedly.

• 16 April 1941

  Czechoslovak Medal for Bravery in the Face of the Enemy

  ^{[1], [6]}

  Established by the Czechoslovak exile government in 1940 to recognise acts of personal bravery before the enemy, ranking one step below the War Cross.

• Czechoslovak Military Medal of Merit, 1st Class

  ^{[1], [6]}

  Awarded for outstanding military merit beyond direct combat — exemplary leadership, training or specialist service; the 1st Class is in silver.

• Commemorative Medal of the Czechoslovak Army Abroad

  With France and Great Britain clasps.^{[1], [6]}

  A commemorative decoration for all members of the Czechoslovak forces in exile 1939–1945; the clasps on the ribbon mark the theatres in which the recipient served.

Romanian decorations

• 1947

  National Order of the Star of Romania (Ordinul Steaua României)

  ^{[1], [6]}

  Romania's oldest and highest state order, conferred for exceptional civil and military merit — on foreigners typically for services to the Romanian state.

• 1947

  Order of Aeronautical Virtue (Virtutea Aeronautică), Gold Cross class

  Awarded during his post-war service with the air transport service — evidently in connection with flights between Prague and Bucharest.^{[1], [6]}

  A Romanian order for military and civilian aviators in recognition of aeronautical merit; the communist regime abolished it in 1948, making Bernat's award one of the last.

After 1989 Josef Bernat — sentenced in absentia for high treason in 1948 — was fully rehabilitated and given an extraordinary promotion to the rank of Colonel of the Air Force.^{[5], [4]} The exact date of the promotion has not yet been verified from public sources (an enquiry is directed to the Military Central Archives in Prague).