To Rescue Mussolini by bmac62
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No AI - This artwork was created entirely by hand or with traditional digital tools.
Description
Adolf Hitler sent Otto Skorzeny in one of these to rescue Benito Mussolini, his ally, from a mountain-top prison in Italy in 1943.
What is it? A Fieseler FI 156 C-2 Storch (Stork). This veteran is in the Heritage of Flight Collection belonging to Paul Allen in Everett, Washington.
Place in history: This bird-like plane with long over-hanging wings was aptly nicknamed the Storch (German for stork), because it featured folding wings to permit rail transportation to the front lines when necessary, as its top speed was slower than a train. In 1943 a Storch rescued Italian dictator Benito Mussolini from his mountain-top prison. In the closing days of WWII, as Berlin was besieged by Soviet troops, a lone Storch landed in the streets near the Brandenberg Gate to spirit away Adolf Hitler and Eva Braun, arriving too late, for by then they had committed suicide.
This aircraft: This is a true combat veteran, one of the few airworthy Storches in existence. It was manufactured in Germany in 1943 was used by the Luftwaffe in Occupied Europe and on the Russian Front. It was found in derelict condition in East Germany in the late 1980s and restored to a very high standard. It displays the Summer, 1943 Luftwaffe markings: a medium and dark green splinter pattern on its upper surfaces, with a light blue underside. The fuselage and wings carry the Balkenkreuz (black crosses), with the tail carrying the Hackenkreuz (swastika).
Bill:)
"Real Survivor ~ for Rob (debbielove)"
Comments (33)
A wonderful photo and story Bill.
excellent shot and outstanding information Bill
Excellent POV Bill! Just an awesome image! :)
Interesting capture and story.
One problem with the Storch is it ran hot under the cowl and frequently the lower panels were removed to improve air flow and in a few instances there were vapor lock problems.
It looks so fragile!
Nice shot of this plane Bill, well done!!
I thought the same as Andrea & I wondered what Mussolini thought when that came to rescue him, still I suppose you are just glad to be rescued!!!!! Thanks for the history Bill!!!!
Great pic, Bill. The slotted leading edge of the wing shows well. Thanks also for the history lesson about the rescue. Had to read more details at Wiki. rescue
Great shot, Lovely information!
It must be a very light plane and with these long wings it must almost have been able to float on the winds without the engine on. A beautiful capture.
The pov on this is just outstanding. Excellent image!
Nice capture Bill....!!!
I'm wondering how to pronounce the word Fieseler. Excellent POV and capture as well as info Bill.
Love this shot! Great pov and compo.
excellent capture!!! the mountain-top prison was the Hotel Campo Imperatore at Campo Imperatore, a ski station on the Gran Sasso d'Italia, the highest peak of Apennine Mountain range, near L'Aquila where an earthquake hit last year.
Fantastic capture! Thanks for sharing it with us
Great photo, Bill, I love the way the POV just leads the eye right into the plane's cockpit. They did an outstanding job restoring this one. I remember seeing a program some time ago on the History Channel where they talked about rescuing Mussolini from that prison. Still didn't end well for him..
Fantastic shot and information.
wonderful looking shot. lot of imformation
Fantastic POV, and wonderful capture. You know your plane stuff, don't you? :o)
Stunning details and great capture
COOOOL POV
EXCELLENT CAPTURE!
Excellent shot!
Ach du lieber, love the POV, clarity, contrast and markings on this old timer, Bill! Your title reminded me of the movie, Tea with Mussolini. The last thing I remember about Il Duce is his corpse hanging upside down in the village square, being pelted by enraged Italians.
Great POV up the wing like that. Thanks for the historical info. Dana
nice shot and interesting story
Very cool plane and shot, Bill. Great history, too. A French factory continued to buld Storchs after the war as the "Cricket."
This is awesome, lucky plane to be found by the right person! I remember when I was a child, I had in my garden a German motorcycle, a useless one of course, abandoned since the WWII, then my uncle took it to a metal recycling center...