British Forces

On a beach

Imperial War Museum

The Fieseler Fi.156 Storch was especially regarded by Allies for his STOL (Short-Take-Off-and-Landing) performances and some exemplars captured on flying conditions of this German plane was employed by the British and American commands for liaison and communication flights. This IWM’s photo depict two RAF’s communications aircraft parked on the beach at Vasto, in front to Adriatic coast, Central Italy, 1944 which served as the landing ground for the Forward Headquarters of the Desert Air Force, based there from December 1943 to March 1944. In the foreground is the Storch flown by the Air Officer Commanding Desert Air Force, Air Vice-Marshal H Broadhurst. In the background another communications aircraft, an American-built, Vultee-Stinson Vigilant, the airplane code HK926 “P”, of the DAF Communication Flight. Victor Sierra