You may be aware that the Kent Battle of Britain museum in Hawkinge, Kent (England) has taken delivery of another Luftwaffe airframe from RAF Cosford - a Fieseler Fi 156 Storch.
" ..The proud Trustees and Volunteers at the Kent Battle of Britain Museum Trust at Hawkinge, a Registered Charity, are very excited and proud to announce their latest acquisition of a Fieseler Fi 156 C-7 Storch to the ever-expanding collection of airframes. For many years the Museum has been searching for several key airframes to add to the Collection and to depict critical aircraft flown during the Battle of Britain including those that would have been seen over Great Britain had Operation Sea Lion taken place..."
Dave Brocklehurst MBE (in blue overalls) and volunteer team after re-assembling the Storch in Hawkinge in late June 2025.
The Storch is currently outside during July and August where museum visitors can take photographs prior to the aircraft being moved indoors for the winter and a repaint. The Luftwaffe blog was recently given access on an unfortunately rather gloomy evening courtesy of BoB Museum Trust Chairman Mr Dave Brocklehurst MBE. Note that although the museum has a no-photography policy, that specifically applies inside the hangars. Airframes currently outside - like the Storch, He 111 and Ju 52 - may be photographed by arrangement.
Dave is of course extremely pleased and excited to have acquired this rare and important airframe. Built by Mraz, at Chocen, Czechoslovakia in 1944, it was one of three Fi 156s that were surrendered at Flensburg, Germany, part of the British Occupation Zone, in May 1945. This particular machine participated in the Battle of Britain Open Day at RAF Hendon in September 1945 where it was flown by Lt/Cmdr. Eric M. ‘Winkle’ Brown, who was a good friend and supporter of the BoB museum. Dave is still mulling over what colour scheme she will carry for 2026 but if decent reference photos can be located it may be repainted to depict the personal aircraft of Generalfieldmarschall Albert Kesselring, the commander of Luftflotte 2 in the Battle of France and Battle of Britain.
