As a tangent, but on the same subject, as I recall, there is a picture or video of Winston Churchill, circa WW2 where he is boarding a plane or something and gives the gesture. It always makes me laugh because the reporters say he is giving the "V" for victory sign. I don't remember the context but I am sure he is not giving the victory sign just by the expression on his face.
I am sure it was Churchill but am doing a Google image search and can't find it.