KITS 02/2023

CaptuRED Sturmbock

#BFC114

1/72

Weekend edition kit of German WWII fighter aircraft

Fw 190A-8/R2 in 1/72 scale. The kit offers Sturmbocks

which served in JG 3, JG 4 and JG 300. Bonus decals are

for captured Sturmbock (ex 5./JG 4) from 404th FG, 9th AF.

plastic parts: Eduard

marking options: 4+1

decals: Eduard

PE parts: no

painting mask: no

resin parts: no

extra: sprue H

Product page

WNr. 681497, Lt. Col. Leo C. Moon, 404th FG, 9th AF, Sint-Truiden, Belgium, January 1945

Operation Bodenplatte of January 1, 1945 was the

last hard blow to the collapsing Luftwaffe. A group of

Sturmbocks from II.(Sturm)/JG 4 attacked St. Trond

airfield after failing to reach their own target. After

sustaining flak damage, the Fw 190A-8/R2 "White 11"

flown by Gefr. Walter Wagner crashlanded close to

the St. Trond airfield. Subsequently, USAAF technicians attempted to bring the aircraft back into flying

condition using available spare parts.

Under the care of the 404th Fighter Group ground

48

INFO Eduard

crews, the weapons and some other unimportant

components were removed. The original camouflage was oversprayed by the all-red paint. Only the

emblem of JG 4 was retained on the left side of the

engine cowling. The aircraft was given the US insignia and code OO-L. The paint was a fulfillment of

the unit CO, Lt. Col. Leo C. Moon wishes "to have his

own red aircraft". His first name also appeared in the

aircraft individual letter. The numbers painted on the

vertical stabilizer reflect the date when this a/c en-

tered the U.S. "inventory." The propeller and prop hub

were painted black (with yellow prop blades tips).

The same applies for the upper wing root walkways and the stripes behind the exhausts, reminiscing

the Adlerflügel. The fan blades at the engine mouth

were painted yellow. Apart from the missing position

lights at the wing tips, the aircraft showed no serious

signs of damage after the American modifications.

Although successful engine and taxi tests were demonstrated, it never got into the air again.

February 2023