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To Rescue Mussolini

Photography Aviation posted on Mar 21, 2010
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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)" thumb_2033631.jpg

Comments (33)


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blinkings

12:21AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

A wonderful photo and story Bill.

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Richardphotos

12:48AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

excellent shot and outstanding information Bill

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Meisiekind

1:56AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

Excellent POV Bill! Just an awesome image! :)

BertDes

2:21AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

Interesting capture and story.

vkoontz

3:17AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

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.

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durleybeachbum

4:31AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

It looks so fragile!

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bazza

5:05AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

Nice shot of this plane Bill, well done!!

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jendellas

5:05AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

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!!!!

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drace68

5:36AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

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

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njb2000

5:50AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

Great shot, Lovely information!

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helanker

5:50AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

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.

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auntietk

5:51AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

The pov on this is just outstanding. Excellent image!

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kenmo

7:27AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

Nice capture Bill....!!!

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Rainastorm

7:42AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

I'm wondering how to pronounce the word Fieseler. Excellent POV and capture as well as info Bill.

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DAVER2112

9:17AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

Love this shot! Great pov and compo.

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flavia49

10:15AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

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.

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Faemike55

11:13AM | Sun, 21 March 2010

Fantastic capture! Thanks for sharing it with us

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RodS

12:12PM | Sun, 21 March 2010

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..

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wjames

12:30PM | Sun, 21 March 2010

Fantastic shot and information.

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jocko500

2:57PM | Sun, 21 March 2010

wonderful looking shot. lot of imformation

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MrsRatbag

3:08PM | Sun, 21 March 2010

Fantastic POV, and wonderful capture. You know your plane stuff, don't you? :o)

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dbrv6

4:28PM | Sun, 21 March 2010

Stunning details and great capture

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MagikUnicorn

4:58PM | Sun, 21 March 2010

COOOOL POV

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sandra46

5:19PM | Sun, 21 March 2010

EXCELLENT CAPTURE!

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watapki66

7:04PM | Sun, 21 March 2010

Excellent shot!

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goodoleboy

7:23PM | Sun, 21 March 2010

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.

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danapommet

10:37PM | Sun, 21 March 2010

Great POV up the wing like that. Thanks for the historical info. Dana

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prutzworks

3:55AM | Mon, 22 March 2010

nice shot and interesting story

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Buffalo1

12:02PM | Mon, 22 March 2010

Very cool plane and shot, Bill. Great history, too. A French factory continued to buld Storchs after the war as the "Cricket."

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Kaartijer

9:23PM | Mon, 22 March 2010

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...

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Photograph Details
F Numberf/4.0
MakeOLYMPUS IMAGING CORP.
ModelE-30
Shutter Speed1/30
ISO Speed400
Focal Length14

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