17th June 1940
General de Gaulle has lunch in Jersey while fleeing France
French statesman Charles de Gaulle spent the Second World War in Britain, from where he directed resistance fighters in his homeland. Understanding his importance, the RAF evacuated him from France on 17 June 1940, flying via Jersey where they stopped to refuel the de Havilland Dragon Rapide DH.89 that was carrying him. This allowed the General to get out, stretch his legs and eat lunch before continuing to the mainland and putting down at Heston, just outside London.
Other events tagged war
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Other events that occured in June
Plane catches fire on take-off from Jersey
- G-CEXF, a Fokker F27 plane on its fourth flight of the day, caught fire just 400ft above the runway as it took off from Jersey Airport.
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Comedian Will Smith is born
- Winchester-born William James Smith was raised in Jersey and attended Victoria College before making his name as a comedian.
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Superior Council is established to guide Jersey through the Occupation
- Although the German authorities were in control throughout the Occupation, they channelled their authority through the Superior Council.
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A passenger plane is written off at Jersey Airport
- The undercarriage of a Blue Islands plane collapsed at Jersey Airport when it put down at the end of an 11-minute flight from Guernsey.
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