Airbourne Welbike

The Welbike was a British single-seat motorcycle produced during World War II at the direction of Station IX — the "Inter Services Research Bureau" — based at Welwyn, UK, for use by Special Operations Executive (SOE). It has the distinction of being the smallest motorcycle ever used by the British Armed Forces. Between 1942 and 1943, 3,641 units (plus a prototype and some pilot models) were built and, although not much used by the SOE, some were issued to the British 1st and 6th Airborne Divisions and some were used at Arnhem during Operation Market Garden.
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The Excelsior Motor Company of Great Britain designed a lightweight motorized cycle based on their experience building scooters and motorcycles before the war.

The work was done in cooperation with SOE (Special Operations Excecutive) at Station IX, Welwyn, which is how the scooter got it's name. All machines developed there were given names with the prefix "Wel" such as the Welcar, Welboat and Welsub, etc.
 
Here is an italian design of a paratroopers motorcycle called 'Volugrato Aermato' seen here in 1944

 

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