German STORCH of WWII

[Another Ahab]

Check this out. Winston Churchill knew the Storch, up close and personal:


Broadhurst piloted Winston Churchill over to Normandy six weeks after the D-Day landings for a morale-boosting visit to the troops. They landed at Sainte Croix surMer airfield, which was a temporary airfield that had been constructed after the landings by the Royal Engineers. It was known as RAF 'B3 ALG' (Advanced Landing Ground), and was only 3.5 kms from the "Gold" landing beach.

In doing so, Churchill was the first wartime leader to visit "liberated" France, well before de Gaulle, and some weeks before Eisenhower himself managed to come ashore.

 

[CARNAC]

This installment might just wrap-up the thread. Found this while noodling around the internet for more info on the Storch.

It's one of the last episodes of WWII in Europe, and central to the story is a Storch:

When a powerful Russian army was only scant yards from Hitler's bunker, a pilot in Germany landed a bullet-riddled plane (with a freshly wounded comrade writhing in the cockpit) on a shell-cratered Berlin street in a futile effort to rescue Hitler from the deadly trap.

Shortly after, the pilot successfully took off from the same street through a hailstorm of Russian gunfire, again swerving around the shell craters.

The pilot was Hannah Reitsch, a tough cookie. History doesn't remember her because she was an unrepentant Nazi (and maybe it's just as well because nothing good to be said about the Nazi Party). All the evidence is that she knew flying, everything about it; and when she was in a pinch, she chose a Storch. The End.


View attachment 519151

GenObst Robert Ritter von Greim was the passenger. He was being flown in, based on most reports, on orders from Hitler to be the new head of the Luftwaffe after Goring was fired for trying to telling Hitler that if he didn't hear from him by a certain time, he (Goring) was going to take over as the new Fuhrer. The plane was shot up by Russian ground troops and that is supposedly how von Greim was wounded. The plane was also supposedly jumped by American fighters earlier in the flight but avoided becoming decisively engaged.

Since the Stock was shot up, she flew out in an Arado AR96 but how it got in is unknown. The Russians did shoot at it but obviously weren't successful at shooting it down.

 

[Another Ahab]

Check this out. Winston Churchill knew the Storch, up close and personal:

Broadhurst piloted Winston Churchill over to Normandy six weeks after the D-Day landings

A little about Broadhurst and his Storch:

The plane was captured by the British in the Western Desert in 1943, and was
then "adopted" as his personal plane by Air Vice Marshal Harry Broadhurst.

Broadhurst was a former Battle of Britain ace, who was senior air staff officer to the commander
of the Desert Air Force.

He went on from the Desert back to the UK and was involved in the preparations for Operation Overlord, where he was
commander of 83 Group:

 

[Another Ahab]

Found this:

Another notable, Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel also knew (and flew) the Storch

 

[CARNAC]

Yep, nearly all German battlefield leaders flew in them at one point or another.

As a side note, Rommels doctor and pilot went for a joy ride once. They landed for whatever reason (it was a joy ride). Just happened they landed in the middle of a patrol of the SAS and LRDG. They were promptly captured but later escaped. The Stork was destroyed.

 

[Another Ahab]

Yep, nearly all German battlefield leaders flew in them at one point or another.

As a side note, Rommels doctor and pilot went for a joy ride once. They landed for whatever reason (it was a joy ride). Just happened they landed in the middle of a patrol of the SAS and LRDG. They were promptly captured but later escaped. The Stork was destroyed.

You never cease to amaze; and I mean, I know you are CARNAC and all:

- and clearly a graduate phi beta of Wizard University,

But still:

- How do you know….ALL…..this S---?!!

 

[CARNAC]

One of the very last German aircraft shot down was a Storch. It was downed by an American L4 or 5 pilot who downed it with his .45 cal M1911A1 pistol.



The Rommel doctor story is from Born of the Desert (Malcomb James) and was also in Sterlings Desert Raiders and the Phantom Major. So I've read it in those books. Born of the Desert is a very dear title to me as I believe it is the story of my life but that's another book, albeit very boring.

The above reference was from The Last Battle (Cornileus [sp] Ryan).

 

[Another Ahab]

One of the very last German aircraft shot down was a Storch. It was downed by an American L4 or 5 pilot who downed it with his .45 cal M1911A1 pistol.



The Rommel doctor story is from Born of the Desert (Malcomb James) and was also in Sterlings Desert Raiders and the Phantom Major. So I've read it in those books. Born of the Desert is a very dear title to me as I believe it is the story of my life but that's another book, albeit very boring.

The above reference was from The Last Battle (Cornileus [sp] Ryan).

Well of course. That explains it irrefutably; the good gentleman is:

- a learn-ed Man of Letters (AND lover of OD Iron).

Most Excellent!

 

[Another Ahab]

For record, these are supposed to be images of "Rommel's" Storch:

- The photograph is claimed to be a shot that Rommel took with his own camera (unverified).
- Noticing that the fuselage markings (is there a term for that?), in each respective image don't match, but don't know if there's a reason (like maybe the photo is NOT Rommel's plane, or maybe the scale model is NOT well researched, or both; who knows?).

 

[M813rc]

Likely as not, Rommel used more than one aircraft at different times. And a model is only as good as the quality of the builder's research, and the references he trusted.

Cheers

 

[CARNAC]

Likely as not, Rommel used more than one aircraft at different times. And a model is only as good as the quality of the builder's research, and the references he trusted.

Cheers

Yep, more than likely since we know the one his pilot and doctor had got destroyed.

 

[Another Ahab]

Likely as not, Rommel used more than one aircraft at different times. And a model is only as good as the quality of the builder's research, and the references he trusted.

Cheers

Yep, more than likely since we know the one his pilot and doctor had got destroyed.

My Mother was a French war bride, lived in Paris surrounded by occupying German troops from 1940-1944. Needless to say she was not particularly fond of things German, and though she could speak the language you could notice her grinding her teeth at the sound of it (from the television and such). But I remember her saying something once about Rommel, something that was not critical and almost like mild praise. That was unusual; kind of surprised me at the time.

Don't remember now what the comment was, but makes me want to know this guy better:

- He was a Soldier, and evidently he didn't "drink the Nazi Kool-Aid".

Mr. CARNAC, got a best history about him you can recommend for a read?

 

[FrankUSMC]

When the Bride and I picked up our long haired dachshund, the first thing I noticed was his fur colors. This little puppy had red hair, except under his nose, and down his chin was pure white. He looked just like a baby fox (ok, a "Kit"). I looked at my bride and told her, he looks like a baby fox, I have to name him "Erwin Rommel". He is now full crown, as full crown as a dachshund can get, and just a great dog.
Sorry that is all I can ad to this great post.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET.

 

[Another Ahab]

When the Bride and I pickedup our long haired dachshund, the first thing I noticed was his fur colors. This little puppy had red hair, except under his nose, and down his chin was pure white. He looked just like a baby fox (ok, a "Kit"). I looked at my bride and told her, he looks like a baby fox, I have to name him "Erwin Rommel". He is now full crown, as full crown as a dachshund can get, and just a great dog.
Sorry that is all I can ad to this great post.
One of the few, Frank USMC RET.

 

[CARNAC]

Why are the roads in Belgium and France lined with trees?

 

[Another Ahab]

Why are the roads in Belgium and France lined with trees?[/QUOTE]

Sounds like a set-up:

- I don't know...

Why ARE the roads in Belgium and France lined with trees?

 

[Piper Cub]

Why are the roads in Belgium and France lined with trees?

To rip wings off German Storches if they try to land?

 

[Another Ahab]

To rip wings off German Storches if they try to land?

Because lining them all with silk was just way too expensive?

 

[Another Ahab]

To rip wings off German Storches if they try to land?

Because lining them all with silk was just way too expensive?!

Wait, wait, I know; I know:

- Because lining them all with cocaine is both illegal, AND way too expensive?!

 

[CARNAC]

So the invading German Army can march in the shade.