Despots Aloft

Once Mussolini entered the cockpit, Hitler nervously returned to his Führersessel (special leader’s seat). Under the watchful eye of Baur, Mussolini put the Condor through several shallow banks and other maneuvers and expressed great admiration for the airplane’s responsive controls. After an hour, Mussolini finally returned to the cabin, to the relief of all. Anfuso wrote of the incident, “I’m sure the joke was not at all to Hitler’s liking. The SS must have thought of it as an attempt to murder the Führer. Not knowing what to do, they stared blankly at Himmler, who kept silent. When the time came to land, Hitler’s pilot…told the Duce landing was not such a good idea. Mussolini turned and saw the convulsed faces of the passengers, who having so far avoided death at the hands of the Soviets did not want to die because of an Italian, however famous he may have been.”

Much to Hitler’s annoyance, Mussolini then instructed an aide to mention in a joint communiqué from the two Axis leaders that the Duce had flown the Führer home from the front.


Anybody know if this is true? Thanx!

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Si non e vero, e ben trovatto!

Lovely story, I'd never heard about this before! That must be why Stalin always took the train whenever he could

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I have seen the story in many publications, so I've always assumed it's true. I think the main source is the book about Hitler's main pilot.


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Third Reich & WWII in the News - Medals, Battles & Aftermath

Yes, I have heard of this one. Mussolini loved to take over the controls, especially when he had guests on board. From what I understand.

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American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

haha, fun times.