 After the Occupation of Czechoslovakia in 1939, in common with many Czech and Slovak soldiers, he fled through Poland to France.Fajtl joined the Armée de l'Air (French Air Force) ranked "Sergent á titre étranger" (Foreign Sergeant) and fought in two "Groupe de chasse" (fighter wings) near Lyon and Paris, flying Bloch MB-152 and Morane-Saulnier M.S.406 aircraft.After the Fall of France he escaped to North Africa through Port-Vendres, and travelled to Great Britain via Gibraltar, where he joined the Royal Air Force.