The Fieseler Fi 156 Storch of the US Air Force Museum (Photo USAF Museum)
The National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, located in Dayton, Ohio, has recently reinstalled in its World War II Gallery an iconic aircraft of German aviation: the Fieseler Fi 156C-2 Storch.
Removed from display in 2017, the aircraft underwent a complete restoration between 2024 and 2025, carried out by the museum’s technical teams. This meticulous work, spread over eighteen months, has given the aircraft a new lease on life.
Built in 1940 in Germany, this Storch is one of the few surviving examples of the famous liaison and reconnaissance aircraft used by the Luftwaffe. Known for its extremely short takeoff and landing capabilities, the Fi 156 was able to operate on rough terrain and in difficult conditions.
Exported to Sweden in 1943, it entered service with the Flygvapnet under the designation S 14B. The Storch was retired from service in 1948. After being withdrawn from active duty, it remained in Europe before returning to Germany in the 1960s. It was briefly flown by Erich Hartmann, the famous Luftwaffe ace, before being acquired in 1973 by two American veterans, Lt. Col. Perry A. Schreffler and Maj. Robert C. Van Ausdell, both former World War II pilots and TWA employees. The aircraft then flew with the civilian registration N156SV.
In 1974, the two men donated the aircraft to the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, where it was displayed for several decades. At that time, it sported a livery inspired by that of Field Marshal Erwin Rommel’s personal Storch, used in North Africa. This paint scheme, although popular with visitors, did not correspond to the aircraft’s actual history.
The restoration begun in 2024 has corrected this inconsistency. The museum’s teams completely disassembled the aircraft, removing the wings, the original fabric, and inspecting every structural element. The mechanical components were overhauled, the landing gear restored, and a new paint scheme applied.
1 comments
A superb restoration and in every detail!