Jindřich Kostrba | |
|---|---|
 Heinrich (Jindřich) Kostrba (c. 1927) | |
| Born | 22 October 1883 Kutná Hora, Bohemia, Austria-Hungary |
| Died | 24 September 1926 Prague, Czechoslovakia |
| Allegiance | Austro-Hungarian Empire; Czechoslovakia |
| Service/ | Aviation |
| Rank | Hauptmann |
| Unit | Flik 8; Flik 4 |
| Commands | Flik 23; Fliegerersatzkompanie 2; Prague Military Police; Czechoslovak Air Force |
| Awards | Military Merit Cross 3rd Class, German Iron Cross |
| Other work | Founder and first Commanding Officer of Czechoslovak Air Force |
Hauptmann Heinrich (Jindřich) Kostrba was an Austro-Hungarian aviator (of Czech origin), the first which to score three victories in a single day, on 18 February 1916, and three more on 29 June 1916. He went on to amass eight aerial victories and become a squadron leader and flying ace.
As World War I ended, Kostrbra helped the Czech independence movement overthrow the Austro-Hungarian government. He became the first commanding officer of the Czechoslovak Air Force. On 24 September 1926, he was killed in a midair collision.