In June 1945, shortly after the end of the war in Europe, Churchill was returning from France to Britain after meeting with Charles de Gaulle. His aircraft, an Avro York named “Ascalon” (serial MW140), was mistaken for a hostile aircraft by a British anti-aircraft battery near London.

The gunners opened fire, and shells exploded close to the aircraft. Fortunately, the pilot took quick evasive action, and the York landed safely. Churchill later wrote about the incident with his usual dry humour, noting how odd it was to nearly be killed over England after surviving years of war.