CZECH TELLS HOW HE FLEW TO FREEDOM

• Document Type: CREST
• Collection: General CIA Records
• Document Number (FOIA) /ESDN (CREST): CIA-RDP75-00001R000400290022-9
• Release Decision: RIPPUB
• Original Classification: K
• Document Page Count: 1
• Document Creation Date: November 17, 2016
• Document Release Date: July 14, 2000
• Sequence Number: 22
• Publication Date: September 6, 1959
• Content Type: NSPR

NEW YORK SEP 6 1959
i TF h A IIII WWO- elease 2000/08/03 CIA-RDP75-00001 R00040
l;zech Tells
How He Flew
To Freedom
He, 4 Pals Beat Off
Reds for Air Liner CPYRGHT
WASHINGTON, bept. 'I
(UPI) .-A young Czech,, who
made a daring escape from
communism, has gone to work
as a fliglit?engineetf0r a major
United States air line.
Several years ago Mira Slovak
was piloting commercial air
liners for the Red-run Czecho-
slovakian government. Though
only twenty-two, he was re-`
garded as one of the safest and
most reliable pilots. "I was a
great believer in flight regula-
tions and a good pilot," said
Mr. Slovak in an interview'
given in fluent, self-taught,
English.
Politically, the Reds didn't.
think Mr. Slovak so reliable.:
As a'precaution in late 1951 he'
was taken off Flights destined,
for points In West Germany and
relegated to flying liners with'
Iron Curtain-only destinations.
Harassed by Reds
For the ext twenty months'
he waS 1nt mittently harassed I
by Commune authorities about
the war-tine' activities of his
family. "Each time they seemed
to become more suspicious, and
I knew time was running out,"
he said.
So it was as Mr. Slovak raced
his DC-3 down the runway at
Prague on March 23, 1953, and
took off bound for Berno,
Czechoslovakia. This was the
night for which Mr. Slovak had
planned for two years. It was
the night he would fly to free-
?dom.
As the plane took off, Mr.
Slovak eased up from his first
pilot's seat, and told the three
fellow crew:members he'd be
back shortly with two friends
who wanted to see the cockpit.
Twenty-five passengers were-
aboard. Four of them had,
planned with Mr. Slovak for _the
escape. There were, five C"om
munist party members aboard.
That meant trouble for any
escape effort. .
But Mr. Slovak had concealed
five loaded :pistols in the rear1oslovakian countryside, never
wall of t cabin. Two friends
came with him to the
cabin. Tw stayed with the
passengers.
Quickly Mr. - Slovak handed
.them the pistols. "I told the
ilot what was happening, and
began to fight,' he related.
"MY two friends weren't as con-
siderate. They knocked the two
other crewmen unconscious and
quickly pulled tie pilot away
1
aL
,
,
..tea .
For sixty min es he pilo
,As. they approached West
Germany the five Reds rushed
the locked cabin' door. Mr.
Slovak sent the plane into sharp
dips and turns, throwing the
Communists to t , floor five
times. Then they ve up.
Mr. Slovak and,.. his four
'friends received asylum in the
United States. T Others flew
e ZA1x10?0 d"" a1
.gimik we," a Vol 1
3T1
i- i An milak over the Czech_-
enfll Boeing, of the. Bociig the trophy.
aircrait family, hired him to
pilot his three private. planes.
Mr. Boeing Introduced Mr.
Slovak to powe' boats three:
years ago, and last year he
dare-deviled his way to the top
international boat-racing.
Now's he's finishing a re-
fresher course with Capital
Airlines on flight engineering.
He will drive bandleader Guy
Lombardo's hydroplane," "Miss
Bardahl," in the President's
STATINTL