Štandera was one of the final two surviving Czech combat pilots who flew for the Allies throughout the entire period of World War II.
[1] Standera joined the French Air Force and fought against the Nazi German pilots during the invasion of France in May 1940.
[3] He piloted twin-engine fighter bombers for nighttime bombing raids into Germany and occupied France throughout the war.
[1] Miroslav Štandera returned to his native Czechoslovakia following the end of World War II.
[1] The Czechoslovak Socialist Republic was seeking to purge members of the armed forces who had served for Western European countries during the war.
[1][3] In 2000, President Vaclav Havel bestowed Štandera with the honorary rank of brigadier general.