On arrival in France, Czechoslovak airmen were required to join the French Foreign Legion for a five year period, with the agreement that, should war be declared, they would be transferred to French military units.
When war broke out, Zavoral was waiting to be sent for training in Algeria. He flew in action during the German advance and was credited with destroying a Do 17 on 11 June 1940.
When France ceased fighting, Czechoslovak airmen were released from service. Zavoral, with other Czech airmen, was evacuated to Bordeaux, where he boarded the Ary Shaeffer and, on 19 June, sailed to Falmouth, Cornwall. Zavoral went to a transit camp and then to the RAF Czechoslovak Depot at Cosford, where he enlisted in the RAFVR.
He was posted to No 310 Squadron at Duxford and was sent to 5 OTU, Sutton Bridge on 28 September to convert to to Hurricanes. He was then posted to No 151 Squadron at Digby, soon moving on to No 1 Squadron at Wittering. He later served with Nos 312 and 607 Squadrons.
On 31 October 1941, Zavoral failed to return from a sortie over France. He was flying Hurricane BE 403, and while attacking shipping near Dunkirk his aircraft was hit by anti-aircraft fire from Grande Fort Phillipe and crashed into the sea. Warrant Officer Zavoral’s body was never recovered.
He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Panel 55.
