Warbird Information Exchange

Recorded a History Channel show titled "Storming Normandy'; D-Day and later combat footage, got around to watching it last night. About half-way thru the announcer says 'Winston Churchill visits the battlefield' and they show a Fiesler Storch on approach to a grass field. I figure it is just a typical 'screw-up' often seen in these documentaries. Then it rolls closer to the camera and the darn thing has invasion stripes and a roundel on it!!! It comes to a stop in front of the camera and sure enough, W. Churchill himself is in the backseat!!!

Anybody know the story on this? Where/how/why did the Brits have a Storch?

Probably captured in North Africa. It was a superb aircraft for the task.

As an aside the RAF operated a handful of Bf108's as the Messerchmitt Aldon for liaison duties, and operated another dozen plus after the war too.
The same UK purchasing commission that was buying up most things with wings in 1938/9 apparently also cut a contract for 100 Fiat G.50's. The contract fell through when Italy remembered which side they were on.

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Lest Hero-worship raise it's head and cloud our vision, remember that World War II was fought and won by the same sort of twenty-something punks we wouldn't let our daughters date.

I seem to remember that Churchill also gave Ike a Storch to visit the front lines. True?

Edit: I accessed my home server from my hotel. A little sloppy but better than nothing I suppose.




Lucera, Air Vice Marshal H Broadhurst, Air Officer Commanding the Desert Air Force, about to board his Fiesler Storch at the Advanced Headquarters of the DAF




No. 9413. Fieseler Fi 156 C-3 Trop Storch Royal Air Force Photographed at B3 ALG, Sainte-Croix-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, July 23, 1944

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Zero Surprise!!...

I'm surprised the 70 year-old Churchill could get in the thing! Or maybe that's why..perhaps it's easier to get in and out of than I think.
Still, it's rather damming that he had to use an enemy aircraft...instead of a UK-built Auster (UK Taylorcraft) or one of the many US built liaison planes provided by lend lease (Fairchilds, Stinsons, Staggerwings, C-45s).

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Remember the vets, the wonderful planes they flew and their sacrifices for a future many of them did not live to see.
Note political free signature.
I figure if you wanted my opinion on items unrelated to this forum, you'd ask for it.

What is the quote? Looks like "a darn plane farts" (?!)

A Deux plus Forts (French: Two are stronger than one). Motto of No. 83 Composite Group.

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All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)