ME 262A, KOMMANDO NOWOTNY, "WHITE 1", FRANZ SCHALL, 1944 - CORGI AA35707 1/72

Franz Schall completed his pilot training in 1943 and was immediately transferred to JG 52 on the eastern front. Schall's skill and reputation as a fighter pilot grew quickly and by August 1944 he already had 109 kills. In September 1944 he was recruited by Major Walther Nowotny to his Erprobungskommando operating the brand new Me-262 Jet Fighter. Schall scored his 133rd and last victory on 10th April, 1945. He then attempted an emergency landing in his damaged aircraft but it rolled into a bomb crater and exploded. Schall died instantly.

Messerschmitt Me 262A
Designed to meet Adolph Hitler's vision of a high-speed, light-payload ground attack bomber, the Me 262 was first flown on April 18, 1941. As the world's first operational jet aircraft, development of the 262 was dominated by confusion, with Hitler envisioning a bomber and designers envisioning a jet fighter. Capable of outpacing the P-51 Mustang by 120 miles per hour, the 262 was clearly the best fighter plane to serve in WWII but was too late to help the Luftwaffe. Its specialized maintenance requirements and fuel shortages, coupled with aggressive Allied ground attacks prevented it from having any serious impact on the outcome of the war.

Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series

The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honoured.

Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:

• Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
• Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
• Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
• Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
• Poseable presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
• Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
• Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
• Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
• Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopie