null
Toggle menu
Free Shipping on orders $75+ (Click for details)
Toggle menu
1-855-215-2914
Aviation Oil Outlet
Log In Create an Account Quote Request Credit Application Contact Us
View Cart Cart
loginLogin
Cart Cart

HOME OUR PRODUCTS OUR MISSION CUSTOMER SERVICE VIDEO BLOG
sun-n-fun logo
sun-n-fun countdown
Aviation Oil Outlet Aviation Oil Outlet
  • Aviation Lubricants By Application
    • All Aviation Lubricants By Application
    • Aviation Piston Engine Oils
      • Straight Grade Mineral Oil for Engine Break-in
      • Straight Grade Ashless Engine Oil for Normal Use
      • Multi-Viscosity Mineral Oil for Engine Break-in
      • Multi-Viscosity Ashless Engine Oil for Normal Use
      • Multi-Viscosity Grade Oil for Light Sport Aircraft
      • Aviation Oil with Lycoming LW 16702 Additives
    • Aviation Turbine Oil
    • Aviation Hydraulic Oil
    • Aerobatic Smoke Oil
    • Aviation Greases
  • Aviation Lubricants By Weight
    • All Aviation Lubricants By Weight
    • Aviation Grade 65, SAE 30
      • Straight 65 Grade Mineral, Break-In Oil
    • Aviation Grade 80, SAE 40
      • Straight 80 Grade Mineral, Break-In Oil
      • Straight 80 Grade, Normal Operation Ashless
    • Aviation Grade 100, SAE 50
      • Straight 100 Grade Mineral, Break-In Oil
      • Straight 100 Grade, Normal Operation Ashless
      • Grade 100 with Lycoming LW 16702 Additives
    • Aviation Grade 120, SAE 60
      • Grade 120 Mineral, Break-in Oil
      • Grade 120 Ashless for Normal Operation
    • Aviation Oil SAE 10w-40
    • Aviation Oil SAE 15w-50
      • Multi-Grade 15w-50 Ashless for Normal Use
    • Aviation Oil SAE 20w-50
      • Multi-Grade 20w-50 Break-In Oil
      • Multi-Grade 20W-50 Ashless for Normal Use
    • Aviation Oil SAE 25w-60
      • Multi-Grade 25w-60 for Engine Break-In
      • Multi-Grade 25w-60 Ashless for Normal Use
  • Sanitary Products
  • Bookmark Our Site
  • Get Aviation Oil Outlet's FREE Web App
  • PayPal Resource Page
  • Credit Application
  • Shipping Information
  • Our Products
  • Our Mission
  • Customer Service
  • Video
  • Blog
  • Return Policy
  • About Us
  • Privacy Policy
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Quote Request
  • Terms and Conditions of Online Sales
  • Online Shopping Security
  • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Shop By Brands
  • Login Create an Account
  • Blog
  • Site Map
The Flight Blog - Read Articles The Flight Blog - Read Articles
Back to Blog Homepage
Antis the German Shepherd: Airman's Best Friend

Antis the German Shepherd: Airman's Best Friend

By Sarah Simonovich on Aug 9th 2016

Let slip the dogs of war

January 1940: Phoney War. Václav Robert Bozděch and Pierre Duval were on a reconnaissance mission over the German front in their twin-seater Potez 630 aircraft when they were hit by anti-aircraft fire. They crashed in no-mans land between the French and German lines. Duval was injured, and the two escaped to an abandoned farmhouse nearby. The house, however, wasn't completely abandoned: inside, Bozděch discovered a German Shepherd puppy on the kitchen floor. The Czech airman fed the dog chocolate and melted snow. 

As Bozděch and Duval headed to the French lines, the dog (left in the house) could clearly be heard barking. Knowing the barking would draw the attentions of the Germans looking for their nearby crash site, they agreed that the best course of action was to kill the dog; when Bozděch returned to the house, however, instead of killing the puppy he picked him up and placed him inside his flight jacket.

A party of French troops discovered them. Duval was taken to the hospital for his injuries and Bozděch was flown back to St Dizier, his airbase with fellow Czech servicemen fighting for the French Air Force. Bozděch's fellow Czech airmen took to the puppy and named him Antis, after their favorite aircraft- Russian ANT dive-bombers.

Military servicedog

On May 10, 1940, Antis experienced his official enrollment into military service.

During a game of football, the dog suddenly grew tense: legs stiff, hackles raised, Antis growled as he stared up at the horizon. Just moments later, the base's air-raid siren sounded and the Luftwaffe's Dornier Do-17s appeared.

Antis joined Bozděch in his Potez-63 and proved himself to be a natural flying dog; he barely flinched at the loud sounds of the engines and even slept through combat.

Come June 1940, the Czech airmen of French First Bomber-Reconnaissance Squadron headed to Great Britain. One night, while posted to RAF Speke in Liverpool, Bozděch and Antis were walking through the streets when suddenly Antis demonstrated his familiar signal for -danger-: stiff-bodied and staring up to the sky. Sure enough, a German raid ensued and bombs fell from the sky-Bozděch pinned the dog beneath his body and shielded him from the blasts. When the raid was over, Antis helped rescue people trapped beneath the rubble-even though at one point he needed to be rescued himself.

When it came time for the airmen to take to the skies again, his canine companion had to keep all four paws on the ground, as the rules in Britain would not allow Antis to fly with Bozděch in his bomber. While stationed at their new base, RAF East Wretham in Norfolk, Antis would remain by the runway until Bozděch returned in his Wellington, codenamed C for Cecilia.

Dog of war

June 1941-the 311 Squadron was assigned to Bomb the railway yard in Hamm, Germany. As usual, Antis waited on the runway for Bozděch to return-however, this time something was different. C for Cecilia didn't return. Bozděch didn't return.

At 1am, Bozděch was involved in an aerial battle over Occupied Europe. During the battle, a shard of metal punched through the Wellington's Perspex gun turret, shattering it, and lodging itself in his forehead. Luckily, Bozděch managed to land the plane safely in Norfolk. He was taken to a hospital and was expected to be there for several days.

Despite the good news at Bozděch's survival, the bad news was that no one could explain the situation to Antis (on account of the communication barrier that exists between man and dog). He couldn't be coaxed to move from his sentry; he refused all food and shelter. The 311 squadron knew that if something couldn't be done, the dog would surely die.

Robert Bozděch was let out of the hospital and allowed to be taken to the base to see his canine companion. Though weak, Antis managed a lick and tail wag before being carried into the waiting car.

C for Cecilia took to the skies again come late June. But as the crew completed pre-flight checks, and as Bozděch prepared to take to the air, the German Shepherd mascot of 311 Squadron was nowhere to be seen-that is, until the airman was already in flight. Antis had stowed away aboard the aircraft, proving that this dedicated dog was unwilling to be left on the ground as his master took flight.

Bozděch and Antis shared oxygen for the duration of the flight, as the air was much too thin for the dog at 16,000ft.

Antis served as 311 Squadron's mascot for the duration of the war. And despite regulations, he took part in approximately 30 missions.

In 1949, he was formally recognized for his heroics in war and was awarded the Dickin medal, which acknowledges acts of bravery or devotions to duty displayed by animals serving in any theater if war throughout the world.

Robert Bozděch became a British national in 1951, and Antis stayed with him until his death in 1953, at the age of 14. Antis was buried at the Ilford Animal Cemetery in Ilford, London, England. Václav Robert Bozděch died February 27, 1980. In 1989, he was posthumously promoted to the rank of Colonel. 

This recount of Robert Bozděch and Antis's story is based off Damien Lewis's creative non-fiction book War Dog: The No-man's Land Puppy Who Took to the Skies, which complements Robert Bozděch's original unpublished manuscript.


*All photos belong to Damien Lewis 




Sources:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2482520/So...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antis_(dog)

http://www.radio.cz/en/section/czechs/the-story-of...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/V%C3%A1clav_Robert_B...
  • #Aviation History
  • #General Aviation
  • #Antis
  • #antis the german shepherd
  • #C for Cecilia
  • #Damien lewis
  • #Damien Lewis writer
  • #dogs of war
  • #german Shepherd
  • #Phoney War
  • #Potez 63
  • #Potez 630
  • #Robert Bozdech
  • #Václav Robert Bozděch
  • #war hero
  • #WWII
  • #sarah simonovich

You might also be interested in:


Newsletter | May 2022
by Aviation Oil Outlet on May 5th 2022

Another Year in the Books! Sun 'N Fun 22 Edition
monthly newsletter
Newsletter | April 2022
by Aviation Oil Outlet on Apr 8th 2022

AeroShell Aviation Grease Grease 5 amber colored, high temperature grease composed of a…
monthly newsletter
Newsletter | March 2022
by Aviation Oil Outlet on Mar 4th 2022

Recommendations for Infrequently Flown Aircraft Ideally, aircraft engines should be use…
monthly newsletter
!

Subscribe to our newsletter

Get the latest updates on new products and upcoming sales

aoo logo
Aviation Oil Outlet
454 South Main Street
Wilkes Barre, PA 18703
United States of America

1-855-215-2914

Information

  • About Us
  • Brands
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Newsletter Signup
  • Online Shopping Security
  • Privacy Policy
  • Shipping Information
  • Terms & Conditions of Online Sales
  • Terms of Use
  • Video Library

Customer Service

  • Contact
  • Credit Application
  • Quote Request
  • Returns
  • Sitemap

Account

  • Account
  • Cart
  • Checkout
  • Order History

© 2022 Aviation Oil Outlet

payment method icons Bizrate
​