Čekoslovakijos sklandytojai Nidoje 1937 metais

Abstract

The Czechoslovak pilots were satisfied with good order at the school and marvellous natural conditions, while their Lithuanian counterparts were delighted with Czechs' good gliding and easy disposition. The Lithuanians were pleasantly surprised by Czech gliding traditions, their amicability and hospitality. In Lithuanian historiography an opinion prevails that during the inter-war period because of lack of qualified specialists in Lithuania, Lithuanian army officers and students used to travel to Czechoslovakia to study in order to improve their qualifications. The author of the article has succeeded in finding out information that could deny, partially at least, the prevalent opinion. Materials available in the press and in archives enabled to make a presumption that Czechs could learn something in Lithuania too. Not without reason, newspaper Lietuvos Aidas of 25 July 1937 wrote that "foreigners already begin to learn in Lithuania" and "this is an interesting phenomenon". The article was aiming to touch three points: 1) to find out why precisely in 1937 Nida gliding school became a gravity centre for foreigners; 2) to investigate circumstances of Czechoslovak citizens appearing in Nida gliding school in 1937; 3) to reveal impressions of Lithuanian and Czech pilots at Nida gliding school. The article is written on the basis of Jonas Pyragius' reminiscences, materials of Lithuanian Central State Archive collections of the Ministry of Education (f-391), the Lithuanian Embassy in London (f.648} and the Cabinet of the Republic of Lithuania (f.932), periodicals of that time - Lietuvos Aidas, Lietuvos Sparnai, Trimitas, Mokslo Dienos - as well as various reference publications. Looking over the results of Nida gliding school activities and LAK (Lietuvos Aero Klubas = Lithuanian Aero Club) publicity, it becomes clear that the school had attracted foreigners for several reasons: qualified specialists, good working effect, supposable publicity (both among tourists and students) and splendid natural conditions. Czechoslovak glider pilots J. Vesely, Banderle and O. Szpak arrived there after receiving LAK grants on exchange program, seeking to acquire A and B pilot licences.