BF 109E, LUFTWAFFE 9./JG 54 GRUNHERZ, WALDEMAR WUBKE - CORGI AA32103 1/72

JG54 was founded in Austria in April 1940 and was made up of Austrian volunteers. During the B o B JG54 were based at Guines, Campagne-les-Guines and Hermalinghen, South of Calais and East of Boulogne. Waldemar Wubke flew a distinctive looking Me/Bf 109E-3 (Yellow 11) of the 9th Staffel of JG54 Grunherz. He had a quiet but effective career and by the end of the war had a total of 15 kills attaining the rank of leutnant. It was at the end of the war that he gained a degree of infamy when flying a FW 190D-9 as Staffelkapitan with 1/JV44, providing air cover for the airfields used by Galland's JV44 Me262 squadrons. His nickname was 'Heine' and he was later to become a Hauptmann.

Messerschmitt Bf 109E

Designed to meet a Luftwaffe need for a single-seat fighter/interceptor, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was first flown on May 28th, 1935. Its all-metal construction, closed canopy and retractable gear made the Bf 109 one of the first true modern fighters of WWII. This versatile aircraft served in many roles and was the most produced aircraft of the war and the backbone of the Luftwaffe, and was flown by Germany's top three aces, who claimed a total of 928 victories between them. Armed with two cannons and two machine guns, the Bf 109's design underwent constant revisions, which allowed it to remain competitive until the end 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.
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