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.