Winston Churchill at the controls of the most dangerous flight of WW2

Churchill had taken flying lessons (a lot!) but never went solo and abandoned instruction after a 1919 training crash at Croydon which he survived.

I’ll give him credit for that…anyone who attempted to fly back then has my admiration.

Yes, you’re right about George Bush II…he had flown F-102s in the A.N.G…..Churchill had taken flying lessons (a lot!) but never went solo and abandoned instruction after a 1919 training crash at Croydon which he survived.

I had the left seat throughout my B-1 flight…does that mean I’m a B-1 pilot? If so, neat!

Reminds me of George Dubya Bush, all swagger and bravado as he exited that S-3 at the end of the Gulf War, and the newspapers all saying how he personally flew a “fighter” onto the deck of a carrier.

I really don’t think he claimed to land the S-3.
But I will remind you that George Bush was an air force pilot…in fast jets.
I’m a great admirerer of Churchill, but he was not a pilot.
Speaking of WWII leaders, Eisenhower was a private pilot.

Well I never thought I’d find myself defending Churchill but I don’t think George Dubya Bush was in the same league regardless of the leather pilot’s jacket

Reminds me of George Dubya Bush, all swagger and bravado as he exited that S-3 at the end of the Gulf War, and the newspapers all saying how he personally flew a “fighter” onto the deck of a carrier.

There are several images of Churchill in the Boeing around, the IWM’s being credited to an official photographer (a Captain Horton) but it’s the first time I’ve seen Buck’s photos and story.

WINSTON CHURCHILL DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN BERMUDA. © IWM (H 16637)

WINSTON CHURCHILL DURING THE SECOND WORLD WAR IN BERMUDA. © IWM (H 16632)

WINSTON CHURCHILL AS PRIME MINISTER 1940-1945. © IWM (H 16645)

The Telegraph article makes it seem that the photo of Churchill pretending to fly is some remarkable, just-unearthed artifact. It has, of course, been around for decades and is reproduced in any number of books.

I hope at least a few people who see the pic understand that I could put all four of our cats in that left seat and teach them to “fly”in about three minutes…

Excellent link….worth checking the Auction site PDF
http://www.artandobject.co.nz/files/Content/Pdf/2012/06/25/11,44,22,JulyBookCatWEB.pdf

and worth NZ members nearby checking the additional material mentioned, I would think

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/history/britain-at-war/9385972/Winston-Churchill-at-the-controls-of-the-most-dangerous-flight-of-the-second-world-war.html

Ah, yes; the day of infamy…..that brought the Banana Republic into the war! :rolleyes:

That’s no way to talk about Japan.

Ah, yes; the day of infamy…..that brought the Banana Republic into the war! :rolleyes:

Includes a brief mention of the little-known bombing of Pear Harbour (sic).

Interesting. I just finished reading “I was Churchill’s Shadow” written by Walter Thompson, Churchill’s body guard and he mentions the flight and Winston taking the controls.