CORGI AA36701 1/72 JUNKERS JU88 11 GRUPPE HERAKLION CRETE 1942

CORGI AA36701 1/72 JUNKERS JU88 11 GRUPPE HERAKLION CRETE 1942

The German invasion of Crete in May 1941 stands as a landmark in the history of airborne warfare. Up until that point, airborne operations had been used mainly in a tactical and operational context to seize key objectives in advance of the ground forces, such as the seizure during the Balkan campaign of the bridge over the Corinth Canal on the 26 April, 1941, and the seizure of the Belgian fortress of Eban Amael on the 11 May 1940. The German invasion of Crete (codenamed Operation Merkur, or Mercury, after the Roman God of communication, travel and thievery- the counterpart of Hermes, the messenger of the Gods in Greek mythology) has been the only strategic airborne operation aimed at attacking and occupying such an important target. The operation was the brainchild of Generalmajor Kurt Student, the commander, and fanatical proponent of the airborne arm ( the Fallschirmjager) who believed that the paratroopers could operate in their own right and not merely be used to support the Wehrmacht. In 1937 III/JG134 with its Bf 109 aircraft transferred to the newly forming Lehrgeschwader 1 while II Geschwader became I (Schwere Jagd) Lehrgeschwader and began taking delivery of its Bf 110 twin-engined fighters. By August 1939 the geschwader was fully equipped with Bf 110s and was redesignated V Gruppe (Zerstorer) of Lehrgeschwader 1. II. /LGI operated Ju 88 aircraft from 1940 and were deployed in May 1941 to Eleusis in Greece in anticipation of the invasion of Crete.

Junkers Ju 88A-10

Designed to meet a German requirement for a heavy dive bomber, the Ju 88 was first flown on December 21, 1936. Affectionately called "The Maid of all Work," the Ju 88 was one of the most versatile aircraft to serve in WWII. It was used as a bomber, dive bomber, heavy fighter, night fighter, torpedo bomber and reconnaissance aircraft, and was produced in more variants than any other WWII twin-engined German aircraft. The Ju 88 was so successful, in fact, that production continued almost uninterrupted between 1936 and 1945, with more than 16,000 Ju 88s rolling off the line by 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.
• Pose able 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 canopies and access panels.
• Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.
• Limited Edition model – certificated 3,000 produced worldwide.

Shop fresh model  – BRAND NEW sealed – slight shelf wear to the outer box.