Distinguished Flying Medal of Sergeant Joseph Dygryn

Joseph Dygryn was a successful night fighter pilot awarded the Distinguished Flying Medal in 1941 after he shot down a number of German aircraft on bombing missions over London.

Dygryn became a qualified pilot in Czechoslovakia in 1937 before escaping the German invasion in 1939. On his arrival in England he joined the RAF Volunteer Reserve at the Czechoslovak Depot at Cosford. In three separate sorties in one night in May 1941, Dygryn shot down two Heinkel He IIIs and a Junkers Ju 88. He was also awarded the Czechoslovak War Cross and the Czechoslovak Medal for Valour. In 1942 Dygryn was fatally shot down during an operation over the French coast.