IBG | 72595 | Fieseler FI 156D-1 Storch Ambulance | 1:72

IBG | 72595 | Fieseler FI 156D-1 Storch Ambulance | 1:72

What’s included: Plastic and clear parts, photo-etched (PE) parts.
What’s not included: Glue, paint, and figures.

The Fieseler Fi 156D-1 Storch was a specialized ambulance variant of the famous German liaison and reconnaissance aircraft, developed to transport the wounded directly from the front lines to medical stations. Based on the Storch’s exceptional STOL (Short Take-Off and Landing) capabilities, the D-series featured a modified fuselage with side-access hatches, which significantly facilitated the loading and unloading of casualties. The aircraft’s ability to operate from extremely short, unpaved terrain proved invaluable in frontline conditions, where conventional aircraft could not land safely. The Fi 156D-1 was utilized by German military medical units and transport detachments to evacuate wounded soldiers from temporary field positions, often landing in close proximity to where the injuries occurred.

The ambulance version of the Storch retained the excellent low-speed flight characteristics and robust construction that made the base Fi 156 model so effective in military service. Its large windows, spacious cabin, and distinctive side doors provided easy access to the interior, while the fixed landing gear and high-lift wing design allowed it to operate from rough grassy fields, roads, and other improvised landing sites. Beyond its role in medical evacuation, the Fi 156 family of aircraft was also used throughout World War II for liaison, reconnaissance, artillery spotting, and personnel transport duties. The D-1 ambulance variant perfectly demonstrated how the Storch’s unusual flight characteristics could be adapted for a practical and demanding medical role on the battlefield.