07/2023

Hello, dear friends! Even before the end of the first half of this year, we managed to move our model packaging operation to our new facility in Sedlec. This significantly simplifies our logistics, because until now, we would typically move the plastic pressings from Obrnice to Most, where they would be packed into kits, and then transported them to our warehouse and sales department in Sedlec.

• Page 1

  INFO Eduard

  # 161

  e-magazine FREE Vol 22 July 2023

• Page 2

  INFO Eduard

  # 161

  e-magazine FREE Vol 22 July 2023

  © Eduard - Model Accessories, 2023

  FREE FOR DOWNLOAD, FREE FOR DISTRIBUTION!

  This material may only be used for personal use. No part of the text

  or graphic presentations can be used in another publication in any other media

  form or otherwise distributed without the prior written

  permission of Eduard - Model Accessories and authors involved.

  Editorial and Graphics - Marketing department, Eduard - Model Accessories, Ltd.

• Page 3

  eduardeduard

  JULY 2023

  CONTENTS

  EDITORIAL

  KITS

  BRASSIN

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED SETS

  BIG ED

  BUILT

  ON APPROACH

  –

  August 2023

  TAIL END CHARLIE

  HISTORY

  BOXART STORY

  EVENT

  STEP by STEP

  A6M2-N Rufe ProfiPACK 1/48

  MIGHTY EIGHTH: 66th Fighter Wing 1/48

  Fw 190A-5 Weekend 1/72

  Bf 110G-4 Weekend 1/48

  Bf 109G-2 ProfiPACK 1/48 Re-release

  WUNDERSCHÖNE NEUE MASCHINE 1/72

  Fw 190F-4 1/48

  F-104G late 1/48

  Rufe 1/48

  Mi-24V 1/48

  LITTLE FRIENDS

  -

  The

  66th Fighter Wing over Europe

  Dawn of the aircraft carriers

  Air War over Ukraine

  -

  Patriot vs. Kinzhal

  Frosty battlefield

  Back in Russia

  When the guns jam

  The First Winter

  IRON BUNNY 2023

  F4F-4 engine PRINT 1/48

  4

  6

  42

  36

  26

  46

  66

  80

  90

  104

  114

  134

  Published by Eduard-Model Accessories, spol. s.r.o.

  Mírová 170, Obrnice 435 21

  support@eduard.com www.eduard.com

• Page 4

  EDITORIAL

  Hello, dear friends!

  Even before the end of the first half of this

  year, we managed to move our model packaging

  operation to our new facility in Sedlec. This

  significantly simplifies our logistics, because

  until now, we would typically move the plastic

  pressings from Obrnice to Most, where they

  would be packed into kits, and then transported

  them to our warehouse and sales department in

  Sedlec. These places are not far from each other,

  amounting to a few kilometers, but it still involved

  a lot of driving. Now, just one wall and two doors

  separate the model packaging department from

  the warehouse and sales section, and the plastic

  sprues are stored across the yard. Sure, in the

  big scheme of human evolution, it’s a small step,

  but still, a huge help. Among other things, we

  have an archive of kits that have not yet been

  restored, of which there are still some sixty,

  and this is a big step in their eventual return to

  our range as well. The list of new releases for

  July thus includes the Spitfire Mk.IXc in 1:72nd

  scale, along with the Fw 190 A-4 and the Roland

  C.II in 48th. A few hundred pieces are available

  from each of these kits. Since we have most of

  the components in stock, we practically do not

  need to add anything except the sprues, and we

  can afford to sell these kits at old, pre-inflation

  prices. I suspect no one will mind.

  Let’s turn our attention to July’s new releases.

  They have been on sale for a week now, but

  I don't think this will matter too much.

  Model Kits

  Since the first release of our 48th scale

  P-51D Mustang, we’ve been thinking about how

  to handle the unprecedented amount of color

  schemes of this aircraft and especially of the

  centerpiece of this wealth of possibilities,

  the USAAF 8th Air Force. For a long time,

  I myself have toyed with the idea of a gradual

  progression of attention bestowed upon the

  individual Fighter Groups in my head, but there

  was still a doubt as to how interesting such

  a concept would be and how it would pan out.

  Of course, you can imagine it with decal sheets,

  but the kit is a little bit different. It would probably

  be very difficult, if not impossible, to release

  such a large number of kits and to maintain

  a consistent level of interest in them. On the

  other hand, to issue only one Limited Edition kit

  dedicated to the Mustangs of the 8th Air Force

  would mean barely scratching the surface of the

  entire theme, while being somewhat repetitious

  in covering the most famous airplanes flown by

  the most famous pilots. After long discussions,

  we finally decided to release three separate

  items, dedicated to the three Fighter Wings of

  the 8th Air Force. After going over dozens of

  aircraft that offered themselves to us, we put

  together a mix of ten birds that well document

  the deployment of the Mustang over the last year

  of the war. The fact is that we have repeated

  just one previously released subject in this

  kit, the famous “Big Beautiful Doll” flown by Lt.

  Col. Landers. And even this was not taken over

  from previous releases, but changed to a later

  version of the marking. The result is a mix of

  ten aircraft, some of which are the most famous

  flown by the most famous pilots, and the rest,

  it must be added that the majority, are lesser

  known and definitely less covered Mustangs.

  We assume that anyone who decides that they

  cannot live without this Limited Edition release

  will be able to make a choice quite easily with

  this type of presentation.

  However, the fine tuning of the concept of

  this kit does not end there. The kit contains

  only one set of sprues, so only one model can

  be built from it. On the other hand, the decal

  sheet is doubled up as needed for two complete

  models, the stencil data and national insignia

  are duplicated. If someone decides to take

  advantage of this option, the Overtrees offer

  will be a great way to go. And those who don’t

  use it won’t lose anything. The price of the kit,

  despite the large decal sheet, etchings, masks

  and Brassin wheels and exhausts, all included

  in the kit, remains the same as for the standard

  ProfiPACK item.

  And while on the subject of ProfiPACK kits,

  this month we have the Rufe available, the float

  version of Zero. After all, the Rufe was actually

  a conversion of a Zero with the classic land

  based landing gear. This kit offers five color

  options covering different deployments of the

  type. The second ProfiPACK release for this

  month is a reissue of the 1:48th scale Bf 109F-2.

  I should probably also mention that the Rufe is

  in 1:48th scale as well.

  In the Weekend line, those who have been

  waiting a long time for a new edition of the

  Bf 110 G-4 will have something to smile about.

  The ProfiPACK Bf 110 G-4 kit (Cat. no. 8208),

  originally released in January, 2021, is also ready

  to be re-introduced to the market. This kit was

  planned for January 2021 release, but December

  2021 blaze in our warehouse destroyed all

  unwrapped sprues, so only a small number of

  packaged kits went to customers. We are now

  ready for a second attempt with the with the

  newly manufactured sprues. It will go on sale in

  INFO Eduard4

  July 2023

• Page 5

  August or September. There are less than 1,000

  boxes left, so expect them to sell out quickly. The

  second July Weekend release is the Fw 190A-5

  in 1:72nd scale, and in this case, the choice of

  color markings are mostly for aircraft with the

  four-cannon wing.

  ACCESSORIES

  In our new releases for accessory items, we

  typically focus on the correspondingly fresh

  items introduced to the market by the world’s kit

  manufacturers. Among the photoetched brass

  and masks, we have the Mi-4A in 1:48th scale

  from Trumpeter, the MiG-17F from Ammo MiG,

  the Hurricane Mk.I from Hobby Boss, the Do 335

  from Tamiya and the F-4E from Meng. All of these

  are in 1:48th scale. We also have a new ZOOM

  set for our Bf 110 G-4 in 1:48th and Fw 190 A-5

  in 1:72nd. Keeping in 72nd, we are covering the

  Mosquito PR Mk.XVI as well. In 1:32nd, we have

  sets for the F-35A from Trumpeter and the

  A-20G Havoc from HKM.

  As for the new Brassin sets, I would point

  your attention to the collection of sets for our

  still new Bf 109F in 1:72nd scale, or to the 48th

  scale sets for the Do 335 from Tamiya and the

  gorgeous engines for the no less charming

  Anson Mk.I from AIrfix. Also standing out among

  the 48th scale releases is the radiator for our

  P-51D Mustang. I admit that the execution of

  this part of the kit was not its high point, and

  I am happy to report that this is being addressed

  in the forthcoming P-51B . Even so, the printed

  parts will generally be an advantage over the

  original injection molded items, and these

  are very nice replacements indeed. Certainly,

  those that don’t go down the road of replacing

  this part with the Brassin accessory won’t be

  forced into feeling that the kit they purchased

  has been compromised in any way in its design

  and production. We also redesigned and printed

  the cockpit for the Bf 109F-2, part of a gradual

  redesign of the old Brassin cast cockpits. There

  are also attention worthy sets for the F-35B

  from Italeri in 32nd, as well as an exhaust

  nozzle for the F-16 from Tamiya and several

  smaller sets we put together for the Spitfire Mk.I

  from Kotare, whose creators we wish good luck,

  much success and a long career as a successful

  manufacturer of plastic model kits.

  We also have the usual new LööK and Space

  sets, Big Eds and Big Sins that are also worth

  checking out. Of course, further descriptions of

  these may be found below in this newsletter.

  Articles

  I had the ambition to write an article

  describing the story around the Bf 109F flown by

  Werner Mölders, but I couldn’t do it. I managed

  to put together quite a respectable collection

  of photos, but after analyzing them, I still had

  nagging doubts and gaps in the information I was

  able to obtain. In addition, we have not yet been

  able to find photos that we can legally publish,

  and without photographic documentation, such

  an article is meaningless in my opinion. So

  I will continue to search for more information,

  consult with people who know a lot more about

  the Luftwaffe than I do, and hope that something

  publishable will come out of it. But at this

  moment I apologize for my inadequacy!

  Fortunately, we have plenty of articles in this

  month’s newsletter to ensure that the forces

  of boredom are kept at bay. We have the next

  installment in the report on the air war over

  Ukraine by Miro Barič. May certainly provided

  something to report on. Perhaps, you noted that

  at the end of June more things happened in

  Russia than in Ukraine, so the next installment

  will be even more interesting. Maybe it’s not just

  a passing thing! That Russia is truly a land of

  miracles where the unseen happens and the

  impossible becomes reality became clear to

  me during my service days when I was able to

  get to know the then Soviet Army quite well.

  I firmly believe in the inability of the Russians

  to win anything in the foreseeable future in

  a prolonged regular war. And it won’t help them

  to talk about their wars tooth and nail and call

  them various obscure descriptions like “Special

  Military Operations” or “brotherly aid”. So I wish

  for the Ukrainians that their homeland, which the

  Russians currently consider theirs, be returned

  to them as soon as possible. It took twenty years

  for us, I firmly believe that the Ukrainians will

  do it faster. I hope that the Russians get out of

  their current mess as quickly as possible and,

  above all, permanently, because this is really

  not worthy of a cultured nation and the fact that

  the Romans once did something similar is not

  exactly a good argument. Where are the Romans

  today?

  We also have a great piece of an article about

  the 66th Fighter Wing by Jan Zdiarský. But this

  issue does not only contain historical articles. We

  have a report on this year’s 24-hour Iron Bunny

  event in Bublava written by a member of the

  winning team, Lukáš Loučka, and another Iron

  Bunny participant, Jan Baranec, weighs in with

  a description of the Brassin engine assembly for

  the Wildcat. Jakub Nademlejnský submitted an

  article about masks for this month’s newsletter.

  I sincerely wish you all a pleasant read with

  this month’s newsletter.

  Happy Modelling!

  Vladimir Sulc

  INFO Eduard

  5

  July 2023

• LITTLE FRIENDS - The 66th Fighter Wing Over Europe

  The strategic bombing offensive of the Western Allies, whose main goal was to weaken German industry and supply, stood on several pillars. The British Royal Air Force began to attack Germany with a gradually increasing intensity by the time of the Battle of Britain (apart from a few rather desperate attempts made sporadically from September 1939). Even before the American Air Force entered the European campaign, RAF Bomber Command moved to night operations and, with few exceptions, remained there until the end of the war. The daytime skies over Germany and occupied Europe were to belong primarily to the Americans, at least as far as long-range bombing operations are concerned.

  HISTORY

  Achieving the goals that the Americans had

  set for themselves in this regard consisted

  primarily in building a strong bomber force and

  support units, which were supposed to ensure

  supremacy in the skies over continental Europe

  through joint operations. Another pillar was war

  logistics, which was supposed to transport not

  only new aircraft and fresh crews to Europe,

  but also spare parts, equipment, hundreds

  of thousands of tons of fuel, bombs and other

  ammunition. It was such a complex and today

  a rather neglected component of the war effort

  that even a brief description of it would be well

  beyond the scope of this article. The third but

  no less important pillar was fighter support for

  the bombers.

  In Europe, the US Air Force's bombing

  operations rested on the shoulders of two

  separate air armies, the 8th Air Force, based in

  Great Britain, and the 15th Air Force, operating

  first from North Africa and then from southern

  Italy.

  8th Air Force

  The main strength wielded by the US Air

  Force in the European Theater of Operations

  (ETO) was undoubtedly the 8th AF, nicknamed

  the “Mighty Eighth”. As the air component of the

  Air Force arm of the United States Army (Army

  Air Force), it was established in January 1942,

  as VIII. Bomber Command. Under the designation

  VIII. Bomber Command (which later became

  a permanent part of the 8th AF structure), it

  undertook its first operation in the ETO on July

  4, 1942, with A-20 Havoc aircraft borrowed

  from the RAF. At the same time, airfields over

  eastern England began to see the arrival of

  regular units of VIII. Bomber Command armed

  with B-17E bombers. The first distinct operation

  was a mission to Rouen-Sotteville, France, on

  August 17th, 1942. In February 1944, VIII. Bomber

  Command headquarters was integrated into

  Text: Jan Zdiarský

  Even tight formations failed to protect USAAF bombers effectively from attacks by Luftwaffe fighters. Only the deployment of the P-51 turned the situation in the Allies’ favor.

  Photo: 487th BG

  The strategic bombing offensive of the Western Allies, whose main goal was to

  weaken German industry and supply, stood on several pillars. The British Royal

  Air Force began to attack Germany with a gradually increasing intensity by the

  time of the Battle of Britain (apart from a few rather desperate attempts made

  sporadically from September 1939). Even before the American Air Force entered

  the European campaign, RAF Bomber Command moved to night operations and,

  with few exceptions, remained there until the end of the war. The daytime skies

  over Germany and occupied Europe were to belong primarily to the Americans,

  at least as far as long-range bombing operations are concerned.

  INFO Eduard6

  July 2023

• Page 7

  the 8th Air Force and along with it, as part

  of the ‘new’ VIII. Bomber Command, existing

  bomber groups. Simultaneously, the VIII. Fighter

  Command was created, whose main task was to

  provide protection for the bombers.

  The 8th AF reached its peak strength in the

  summer of 1944. By the end of August of that

  year, it consisted of three Bomb Divisions (later

  Air Division) with forty Bombardment Groups (or

  simply Bomb Groups) spread among fourteen

  Bombardment Wings and a separate Fighter

  Command, with three Fighter Wings with sixteen

  fighter Groups, each with three squadrons. In

  addition to these, the 8th AF included several

  reconnaissance and special operations, training

  and other support units. This was a force that

  was able to send 1,200 four-engine bombers

  and around 500 escort fighters over Germany in

  one day. Since the summer of 1944, the German

  Luftwaffe had rarely been able to effectively

  oppose such a force.

  In 1945, all but one of the Fighter Groups of

  the 8th AF were armed with P-51D aircraft, or

  the P-51K.

  It is not without interest that the last combat

  operation of the 8th AF was a mission to Pilsen,

  Czechoslovakia on April 25th, 1945. A few days

  later, the bombers of the 8th AF participated in

  Operation Mana to supply food to the population

  of the Netherlands, which was on the brink of

  starvation, after German troops cut off the food

  supply.

  15th Air Force

  The Second US strategic air force in Europe

  was the 15th Air Force, formed in November 1943

  in North Africa from parts of the tactical 12th

  and 9th AFs. It was only in December 1943 that

  the newly formed units of the 15th AF received

  four-engine bombers and a successful series

  of bombing missions could thus be undertaken,

  although the first raid by heavy bombers of the

  15th AF on the west coast of Italy on January 22,

  1944 had more of a tactical support flavor to it.

  Major missions were to come mainly after the

  transfer of the 15th AF to Italy (January - March

  1944), when their bombers could reach deeper

  into occupied Europe and into Germany itself. At

  the end of the war, the 15th AF had four B-24

  Liberator Bomber Wings and one B-17 Flying

  Fortress Wing. Fighter support was provided

  by two Fighter Wings with P-38, P-47 and, later,

  P-51 aircraft. The last mission of the 15th AF

  came on May 1st, 1945, the target being Salzburg

  in Austria.

  66th Fighter Wing

  As noted above, in August 1944, the 8th

  AF had sixteen Fighter Groups. These were

  incorporated into three Fighter Wings, namely

  the 65th FW, 66th FW and 67th FW. The affiliation

  of specific fighter groups to a given Wing was

  more or less stable. At the same time, these

  Wings usually provided escort for bombers of

  specific divisions from the 8th AF (65th FW for

  Liberators from the 2nd BD, 66th FW escorted

  B-17s from the 3rd BD and 67th FW B-17s from

  the 1st BD).

  The 66th FW was formed around

  five Fighter Groups

  55th FG

  Nuthampstead September

  1943 – April 1944

  Wormingford April 1044 – May 1945

  For the first six months of its operational

  activity, the unit was based at Nuthampstead

  Base north of London, which it later had to

  leave to make way for the newly arrived 398th

  HISTORY

  Range of RAF and USAAF fighters during escort missions over the continent on a WWII map.

  INFO Eduard

  7

  July 2023

• Page 8

  BG. Until the summer of 1944, the unit flew

  the P-38 Lightning, which was replaced by

  the P-51D Mustang. A number of pilots of this

  unit thus flew in combat on both types. The

  identification marking applied up to the P-51

  was initially a black stripe on the front of the

  engine cowl and a black spinner. This was soon

  replaced by a yellow-green checkerboard

  pattern and stripes of the same colors on the

  spinner. A distinguishing feature of the unit

  was also the color differences in the fuselages

  of the Mustangs of the individual squadrons,

  a practice that was abandoned especially by the

  later months of the war. While the 38th FS had

  horizontal and vertical tail surfaces painted

  olive green, the 338th FS flew mostly without

  any coloring of the tail surfaces. The most

  impressive livery of this unit were the Mustangs

  of the 343rd FS, whose anti-glare panels in front

  of the cockpit arced back to encompass the rest

  of the fuselage, with the entire fuselage behind

  the cockpit being sprayed the same olive green.

  These were not remnants of the OD/NG (olive

  drab / neutral gray) coloring, because the 55th

  FG converted over to Mustangs later, meaning

  that their machines would have been delivered

  in natural metal and aluminum spray. The arc of

  green on the fuselages of 343rd FS Mustangs

  was often edged with dark red or yellow. On

  occasion, this coloring also appeared on the

  aircraft of the 338th FS. On the other hand, at

  the end of the war, the 343rd FS often had its

  machines only in bare metal coloring, only with

  a checkerboard pattern on the nose. Also, the

  38th FS in 1945 was abandoning the full coloring

  of the tail surfaces. Instead, identifier colors

  were applied to the rudders– 38th FS red,

  338th FS light green and 343rd FS yellow.

  339th FG

  Fowlmere April 1944 – May 1945

  The 339th FG was among the newer units of the

  8thAF, and therefore arrived in England already

  wielding P-51 aircraft. Fowlmere, near Duxford,

  became its base throughout its operational

  deployment in Europe. The P-51Bs and Cs used

  P-51 Mustang flight from 503rd FS, 339th FG.

  Photo: Museum of Air Battle over the Ore Mountains, via Russ Abbey

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard8

  July 2023

• Page 9

  Excerpt from a strategy document of the 8th AF displaying their bases in East Anglia. Bases utilized by fighter units of the 66th FW are marked with a white star, while

  yellow stars indicate bases initially used by these units but later handed over to other units.

  P-51D 44-64051 from the 362nd FS, 357th FG at Leiston.

  Photo: Public Domain

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard

  9

  July 2023

• Page 10

  at first were replaced by more modern P-51D

  and K versions during the summer of 1944, but

  some older B and C fighters remained in service

  for quite a long time, until the fall of 1944. The

  identification marking of the unit was a red

  and white checkerboard on the front of the

  engine cowl and included the spinner. Later, unit

  specific squadron colors were applied to the

  rudder - the 503rd FS received a red rudder, the

  504th FS received a green one, while the 505th

  FS received yellow.

  357th FG

  Raydon November 1943 – January 1944

  Leiston January 1944 – May 1948

  The “Yoxford Boys”, as the 357th FG was

  nicknamed, moved to England in November

  1943. The unit spent a short time at Raydon Base

  before being moved to Leiston. The 357th FG

  marking is one of the most impressive to appear

  in the 8th AF. Many of her early P-51Bs and Cs

  were still in OD/NG livery, and that combined

  with the yellow-red checkerboard and, for

  a period of time, invasion stripes really suited

  the Mustangs of this unit. However, even natural

  metal airplanes (and sprayed aluminum)

  appear unusually colorful in conjunction with

  that unit's markings. Although a wide variety

  of markings cannot be denied to other units

  within the 66th FW, the 357th FG itself was

  certainly the most varied. Later, this unit also

  added identification markings of individual

  squadrons by spraying its rudders – the 363rd

  FS used red, the 364th FS yellow, and the 362nd

  FS rudders often remained unpainted, unless

  the entire fuselage was sprayed olive. With

  609 credited aerial victories and 109 aircraft

  destroyed on the ground, the 357th FG was

  the most successful unit with the P-51 and the

  second most successful unit within the USAAF.

  It is therefore not surprising that more than half

  of the fighter aces who earned their glory with

  the 66th FW came from the 357th FG.

  353rd FG

  Goxhill June 1943 – August 1943

  Metfield August 1943 – April 1944

  Raydon April 1944 – May 1945

  For more than a year, this unit operated the

  P-47 and re-armed with the P-51D in October,

  1944. The marking of the group was a black and

  yellow checkerboard on the nose. Sometimes,

  it consisted of only three rows, sometimes it

  was applied to more than half of the nose of the

  aircraft, even to the extent that it obliterated the

  anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit. For the

  P-47, the checkerboards were originally skewed

  diagonally, later they were sprayed parallel to

  the horizontal axis of the aircraft. These were

  also applied to the P-51. The color identifiers

  of individual squadrons also later appeared for

  this unit: the 350th FS yellow, 351st FS usually

  without, the 352nd FS black. The coloring of

  353rd FG Mustang rudders was not consistent,

  and the mentioned colors also appeared on

  aircraft of other squadrons and therefore

  cannot be considered definitive identifiers of

  squadrons within the FG.

  78th FG

  Goxhill December 1942 – April 1943

  Duxford April 1943 – May 1945

  One of the oldest fighter units of the 8th AF

  saw its baptism of fire in the service of the 12th

  AF in Africa, flying P-38 Lightnings at the time.

  It returned to England much weakened and in

  April, 1943 was re-equipped with P-47s. It was

  on this type that the unit would gain its fame.

  It did not convert on to the P-51 until December,

  1944. The unit's marking was a distinctive

  black-and-white checkerboard over almost the

  entire nose of their Mustangs (and previously

  over the P-47 engine cowls). The individual

  squadrons were later distinguished by the color

  applied to the rudder: the 82nd FS used red, the

  83rd FS white, and the 84th FS black.

  3rd Scouting Force

  Wormingford February 1945 – May 1945

  A special unit, built and supported by the

  55th FG, was based with this fighter group at

  Wormingford. Although it was independent, it

  Lt. Jones’ Mustang from the 38th FS, 55th FG shortly after returning from a combat operation.

  Photo: Museum of Air Battle over the Ore Mountains,

  via David Jewell

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard10

  July 2023

• Page 11

  was functionally related to the 66th FW and was

  intended to support the 3rd BD. Administratively,

  however, it fell under the 493rd BG. Its task

  was to cooperate closely with the bomber

  associations in weather reconnaissance en

  route to the target and especially over the

  target. The Mustang pilots of the 3rd SF were

  initially dedicated pilots of the 55th FG, but later,

  their role was taken over mainly by volunteers

  - experienced former heavy bomber pilots

  who completed their operational tour with the

  required number of missions. They knew best

  what information was needed, and when by

  their colleagues flying the route behind them. In

  addition to Mustangs, the unit also flew P-47s

  and B-17Fs. The color identifiers of their P-51s

  consisted of red trim on the leading edge of the

  fillet. The different checkerboards on the cowls

  were consistent with the unit that the aircraft

  being flown originated with, predominantly

  being the 55th FG.

  For a very short time, the 66th FW also had

  other groups, most of the time assigned to other

  Wings – the 4th FG (1945), 56th FG (1945), 359th

  FG (1943), 361st FG (1943-44, 1945) and the

  479th FG (1945), possibly to the 9th AF (358th

  FG). However, their temporary involvement

  with the 66th FW was marginal and we only

  mention them because they are mistakenly

  listed as a permanent part of the 66th FW by

  some sources. Despite this, one of them – the

  361st FG - is worth bringing up. This unit was

  a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, plugging holes

  where needed. It gradually went through

  service with all three FWs and at the turn of

  1944/45 it was even temporarily tasked with

  ground support with the 9th Air Force.

  The plans for the reorganization of the 8th AF

  from March 1944, included a version of things

  that would see the 352nd FG falling under the

  66th FW, but in the end it remained part of the

  67th FW as did the 50th FG. However, after

  coming to the ETO, it found itself subordinate

  to the 9th AF. At the same time, the 353rd FG

  was to be integrated into the 67th FW. The same

  document also assigned individual FWs to

  respective Bombing Divisions, but later reality

  proved to be different. The 66th FW was to

  support the 2nd BD, the 67th FW the 1st BD, and

  the 65th FW was to accompany the 3rd BD on

  missions.

  Big Brothers and Little Friends

  From the very first operations of American

  bombers in Europe in 1942, it was clear that

  the current group defense tactics of the USAAF

  bombers was inadequate to deal with the

  capabilities of the German Luftwaffe. Bomber

  formations, at the mercy of German single

  and twin-engine fighter packs, suffered heavy

  losses. So much so that stopping this method of

  operations was considered. This can be seen in

  the raids of the 8th Air Force from the summer of

  1942 and especially during the spring to autumn

  of 1943. It was obvious that without high-quality

  fighter protection these operations were doomed

  to failure. The generally known problem was the

  fact that neither the RAF nor the USAAF had the

  kind of fighter aircraft that could accompany

  P-51D 44-15469 “Bucephalus” from 78th FG. On this aircraft Lt. William E. Hydorn achieved an aerial

  victory over a Me 262 on February 2, 1945.

  Photo: Museum of Air Battle over the Ore Mountains, via David Jewell

  Photo: Public Domain

  A photo from early period of 8th AF bomber escorts shows a P-38 Lightning of 338th FS, 55th FG.

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard

  11

  July 2023

• Page 12

  their Big Brothers over Germany. In August,

  1943, the P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft, equipped

  with drop tanks, were able to accompany the

  bombers to a distance of approximately 375nm,

  which roughly corresponded to the area of

  Frankfurt am Main, Hanover, or Kassel. This, of

  course, provided that they did not get into a fight

  with German fighters. Any significant change

  in the flight regime, let alone the necessity of

  premature jettisoning of the extra tanks, of

  course significantly shortened their range. The

  P-38 had a greater range and in December 1943

  they were able to scrape the area of “Big B”,

  Berlin itself (approx. 520 nm). However, their

  combat capabilities at that time were already

  significantly behind the newer versions of the

  Luftwaffe’s main fighter types, the Bf 109G-6

  and Fw 190A-5 and their following variants.

  Only the P-51B and C, which appeared in Europe

  at the turn of 1943 / 1944, were able to escort

  bombers deeper over the Reich itself and the

  center of Europe. Significantly better protection

  of the bombers was provided by the P-51D,

  which entered service during the summer of

  1944. These were not only able to escort the

  bombers to the vast majority of their targets

  on the continent, but in several cases of special

  operations of the Frantic type, they protected

  their Big Brothers taking off from their home

  bases in Great Britain up to the region of Poltava

  and Mirgorod in Ukraine (approximately 1,300

  nm).

  As the Luftwaffe’s ability to respond to

  American raids weakened, the role of escort

  fighters shifted partly to ground attack.

  American aviators destroyed locomotives,

  substations, German planes on the ground, river

  boats and other means of transport. In essence,

  everything that could even remotely appear to

  be a target of military importance had to be on

  the lookout for the hunters' thirst

  Protecting the bombers from Luftwaffe

  aircraft remained a priority task, as long as

  there was something to protect them from.

  However, the impression that the German air

  force was already completely defeated could

  be very dangerous. This was especially true

  in the closing months of the war, when Me 262

  jets began to appear more and more regularly

  among the intercepting fighters, which in classic

  combat were a difficult opponent even for

  Mustang pilots. Unfortunately for the Germans,

  realizations regarding the conduct of the war

  came too late. “Jets” became the prestigious

  hunting trophy of many USAAF fighters.

  It will probably remain an eternal topic of

  historical debate, which weapon, vehicle or

  aircraft primarily provided the Allies with the

  opportunity to end the war in Europe by the

  spring of 1945 and which element thus ensured

  the air supremacy necessary for victory.

  Among the main favorites of the debates will

  understandably be the planes participating in

  the strategic bombing of German war industry

  and transport. And even among proponents of

  this theory, there will be differences of opinion

  as to whether these were the four-engined

  B-17s and B-24s, or their “Little Friends”. Even

  if the final answer were to be the four-engined

  heavies, it is quite certain that without their

  “little brothers” and among them the P-51D, they

  would never have been able to do their job.

  Sources:

  - Maurer Maurer: Combat Squadrons of the Air Force

  – World War II, Office of Air Force History, HQ USAF,

  1982

  - Maurer Maurer: Air Force Combat Units of World

  War II, Office of Air Force History, HQ USAF, 1983

  - Archives of the Air Battle over the Ore Mountains,

  September 11th, 1944 in Kovářská

  - US National Archives and Records Administration,

  College Park, Maryland; Unit Histories, Reports and

  Mission Orders

  - Proposed plans for organization of the Eight Air

  Force, HQ EIGHT AIR FORCE, March 1944

  - Eight Air Force – Tactical development August 1943

  – May 1945, AAF Evaluation Board, 1945

  - Wikimedia Foundation, Inc.

  - Color profiles and emblem of the 8th Air Force –

  Jan Zdiarský

  339th FG´s P-51 escorts a damaged B-17 returning from enemy territory.

  Photo: Public Domain

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard12

  July 2023

• Dawn of the aircraft carriers

  Our June release of Sopwith 2F.1 Camel kit represents the scale model of the very first operational, carrier-borne fighter. It was a modification of the proven standard land fighter design flown by many RNAS squadrons located on the land bases at the Western front during the Great War. Also, this type was the first fighter to attack the airship bases from the deck of an aircraft carrier.

  Let’s go back in time to the origin of the

  naval deployment of flying machines. Initially

  the aviation role was reconnaissance, which

  by the way is very important up until today. In

  the beginning the impractical balloons or first

  airplanes caused doubts among the admirals.

  No one was able to imagine that the huge

  balls filled with flammable hydrogen, or the

  construction of the several wooden planks and

  some linen could possibly present a threat to

  the steel giants. On the other hand, the aviation

  was able to provide better reconnaissance

  results than any sailor with binoculars on

  the top of the tallest mast. To spot the enemy

  first, know his fleet, its formation and course

  has always been a tactical advantage. In the

  end of 19th century, the ever-improving naval

  artillery played its role as well as it was able to

  increase the effective range and hit the enemy

  at the long distances, at the limits of the visual

  recognition, without jeopardizing their own

  vessels. Therefore, the aviation was perfectly

  suited for the role of directing the artillery fire.

  The American Civil War gave birth to many

  innovative solutions in the military equipment

  designs. Among others it was the first

  deployment of battle ships, in the case of USS

  Monitor even equipped with the rotating gun

  turret which gave name to the whole group of

  combat vessels designated to fight on the rivers

  and in the coastal waters. The first submarine

  deployment is well known as well. Rather

  amusing, the imagination of a man-driven

  Confederate submarine named after its creator

  H. L. Hunley sinking the Union propeller-driven

  shallop USS Housatonic, on February 17, 1864,

  in the mouth of Ashley and Cooper rivers as

  she was on duty to blockade Charleston. Little

  known fact is that the Union Army was the first

  to establish the Army Balloon Corps which

  used anchored balloons for reconnaissance

  and fire direction in the battles of Bull Run,

  Yorktown, Fair Oaks and Vicksburg. A sort

  of aircraft carrier was created. USS George

  Washington Parke Custis was rebuilt from the

  coal transporting boat with the deck devoid of

  all objects that could present an obstacle to the

  balloon ropes and nets and was used as river

  transport boat for the Corps. Its designer, an

  experienced aviator Thaddeus S. C. Lowe, had

  two gas generators and a balloon installed on

  the deck. “I have the pleasure of reporting the

  complete success of the first balloon expedition

  by water ever attempted. On Sunday early

  morning I left the Navy yards assisted by the

  capable fellow aviators and a new device to

  generate gas which, even though used for the

  Our June release of Sopwith 2F.1 Camel kit represents the scale model of

  the very first operational, carrier-borne fighter. It was a modification of

  the proven standard land fighter design flown by many RNAS squadrons

  located on the land bases at the Western front during the Great War. Also,

  this type was the first fighter to attack the airship bases from the deck of

  an aircraft carrier.

  DAWN OF THE

  AIRCRAFT CARRIERS

  Text: Jean Laffite

  It was the afternoon of November 14, 1910, and Eugene B. Ely was taking off with his Curtiss Pusher off the deck of the USS Birmingham in Hampton Roads, Virginia. USS

  Roe can be seen in the background.

  Photo: Eugene B. Ely’s personal album, via NHHC

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard

  13

  July 2023

• Page 14

  first time, performed admirably,” commented

  Lowe on the first sailing.

  Not everything went according to the plans,

  as a Union General Fitz John Porter learned.

  He was aware of the balloons’ value, so he

  joined Lowe to try the new reconnaissance

  device. During the operations the balloons

  were always anchored to the ground to prevent

  them from drifting away. On this flight however,

  Porter decided to use the single anchoring

  rope to speed up the ascending balloon as

  opposed to three or four ropes suggested by

  Lowe. This single rope broke, and the balloon

  silently drifted over the Confederate territory.

  Consequently, it was fired upon, but the crew

  remained calm and indeed they managed to

  make several sketches of the enemy positions.

  Miraculously the balloon then descended back

  to the Union positions. The whole event must

  have looked like one of Baron Munchhausen

  stories. In the middle of 1862 Lowe got infected

  with malaria in the swampy terrain and had

  to rest to recover. After his return he learned

  that all the equipment and resources to operate

  the balloons were handed over to the Army. In

  May 1863, after disputing his salary followed by

  a fall off favor of the Union Army, Lowe left the

  Balloon Corps. Brothers Allen were given the

  management of the Corps, but they were not

  able to lead the unit as effectively as Lowe and

  before the year 1863 ended the Balloon Corps

  was disbanded.

  Balloon ships

  In 1895 French were the first to build the ship

  designated specifically for the reconnaissance

  balloons. Her name was Foudre, had 6000

  tons displacements and could carry two

  anchored and one free balloon. She was not

  very successful and after many modifications

  she served as a hydroplanes’ mother ship.

  Nevertheless, during WWI she served as

  a submarines’ dock. Before the end of the

  century several isolated military conflicts took

  place. One of those was a continuous push of

  the Ottoman Empire troops out of the Balkans.

  In 1876, thanks to the Russia’s contribution,

  the Turks were pushed out of Bulgaria. In 1878

  Austria-Hungary was victorious over Bosnia-

  Herzegovina and the Ottoman Empire forces

  were withdrawing in other territories except of

  Europe. In 1881 Egypt fell under the Great Britain

  control. Italians did not want to fall behind. Long

  time ago they had set their sight on the north

  coast of Africa, Tripoli, and Cyrenaica areas,

  nowadays forming most of Libya. The war broke

  out on September 29, 1911, and according to the

  Italian account went smooth. The fact that in the

  beginning of 1912, Bulgaria, Monte Negro, Serbia

  and Greece joined Italy certainly contributed to

  the success.

  So, the Ottoman Empire, in order not to

  completely loose its influence in Europe, chose

  the lesser evil and gave up Tripoli, Cyrenaica

  and Cyprus. The short war, in which Italy lost

  1500 soldiers, was the first to feature the

  deployment of the modern equipment such

  as airships, airplanes and balloon ships. The

  first air bombing raid took place as well when

  on November 1, 1911, the Italian Lieutenant

  Giulio Gavotti, bombed, if it can be called that

  way, Tagiura (Jagiura) oasis and the Osman

  military camp in Ain Zara. He flew Etrich

  Taube monoplane on the raid and used in total

  four Cipelli grenades held in the leather sack.

  Once he reached the target, he screwed the

  detonators in and threw grenades the size of

  a grapefruit on the target. Lt. Gavotti was

  credited with another first ever mission when

  on March 4, 1912, he flew the first night mission,

  again in Libya.

  The Italian balloon ship Volta, a rebuilt

  personal steamer Europa, operated at the

  Libyan coast. The special feature of this ship

  was a substructure which could house the

  inflated balloon. The naval operations between

  Italian and Turkish Navy were fully under the

  Italian control. In then Albanian port of Preveza

  five Italian destroyers sank four Turkish ones

  and on the top of it the Italians captured an

  auxiliary vessel. On November 7, 1912, in Kufuda

  bay in the Red Sea, Italians destroyed seven

  Turkish gun boats and practically eliminated

  the Ottoman Navy in the Red Sea. On the top of

  it, in the port of Beirut, the Italians destroyed

  the old Turkish armored ship Avnillah, torpedo

  launcher Angora and six supply tugboats. The

  balloon ships did not prove their value and

  their role changed from reconnaissance to

  defense. They became the floating platforms

  for the barrier balloons protecting the ports,

  ship convoys or military ships. They formed a

  passive defense against the airships’ attacks,

  as we will speak about later.

  Airplanes arrive on the scene

  If we realize the fact that the first flight of

  a machine heavier than air is considered a 279

  A reconnaissance balloon launched from USS George

  Washington Parke Custis above Potomac River in

  November 1861 near Budd’s Ferry.

  Giulio Gavotti, Italian aviation pioneer.

  Italian Etrich Taube in Libya. Giulio Gavotti flew this type on his “bombing” raid.

  Illustration: via NHHC

  Photo: archive

  Photo: Touring Club Italiano/Marka

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard14

  July 2023

• Page 15

  meters long jump performed by Wilbur Wright

  in the afternoon of March 17, 1903, and that the

  first attempts of take off and landing on the

  ships deck were made by British and Americans

  in 1910, we learn how rapid the progress of the

  aviation was in the beginning of the 20th century

  and we will become aware of the enormous

  courage demonstrated by those aviation

  pioneers. In the beginning of the development

  of the aircraft designated for the naval service

  two trends became apparent. The deployment

  of the ground-based aircraft was limited by the

  take off and landing on the platform installed

  somewhere on the ship. If it was a fast vessel,

  for example a light cruiser sailing at 30 knots,

  approximately 55 kph, and against the wind, the

  relative speed of the first aircraft and the ship

  herself did not differ much. The smaller airplane

  could easily take off from the ships’ platform

  and land back on it or fly to the ground base if

  it was in the airplane range. And it happened

  like that during the first attempt to take off from

  the 25 by 7 meters platform mounted on the USS

  Birmingham (CL-2) bow. On November 14, 1910,

  Eugene Burton Ely at the controls of his Curtiss

  biplane successfully took off from the cruiser

  which was at anchor in Hampton Roads port in

  Virginia. After a short flight Ely landed on the

  ground. The first landing on the ship’s deck

  is again credited to Ely when on January 18,

  1911, he landed on the USS Pennsylvania stern

  (ACR/CA-4) in San Francisco Bay. Really

  courageous “amazing aviator” died the same

  year during the air show in Macon on October 19,

  1911, when he failed to recover from the dive. He

  emerged from the wreck, however passed away

  after a while due to a broken neck spine. Just

  a note, that in 1933, the US Congress

  posthumously awarded Ely DFC (Distinguished

  Flying Cross) for his “extraordinary success

  as a civil aviation pioneer and his important

  contribution to the aviation development in the

  US Navy.”

  In January 1912, the British launched the

  aeronautical experiments on board of the HMS

  Africa and HMS Hibernia battleships. The test

  flights were performed by Commander Charles

  Samson flying Short Improved S.27 biplane

  “S.38” (or “RNAS No.2”). The first successful

  take off was made in the beginning of May,

  either 2nd, 4th or 9th, as various sources state

  different dates. What we know for sure is that

  Samson took off from HMS Hibernia while the

  ship was sailing at 10.5 knots i. e., 19.4 kph in

  the bay of Weymouth in England. Coincidentally

  King George V was on the fleet’s inspection and

  witnessed the series of flights performed in

  Portland in four days. Further experiments were

  conducted on board the HMS London battleship

  where the take off platform from HMS Hibernia

  was installed. All these trials led the Royal Navy

  to the conclusion that the airplanes are useful

  on the board of the ships for reconnaissance

  In the beginning of May 1912, Commander Charles Samson is taking off in his Short Improved S.27 biplane

  off the HMS Hibernia deck in the bay of Weymouth in England.

  The French ship Fauvette II is just launching the reconnaissance balloon during the trials in the bay near Toulon.

  One of the Zeppelins is flying over the German light cruiser S.M.S. Frankfurt during WWI.

  Photo: archive

  Photo: archivePhoto: archive

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard

  15

  July 2023

• Page 16

  and other duties but at the same time caused

  a series of problems. The landing deck, built

  above the bow complicated the gun fire and

  the hydroplanes’ recovery (Short S.27 was

  designed as a floatplane) presented a risk

  once performed in the rough waters. The Royal

  Navy continued to develop the concept of a

  hydroplane ship.

  A problem’ name was Zeppelin

  And then the war broke out and soon it was

  apparent how big problem the existence of the

  German airships represented. What looked like

  a clumsy Leviathan full of highly flammable

  gas, slowly moving through the sky, started to

  transform into Zeppelin-phobia once the bombs

  started to fall out of these giants. It cannot

  be said that the British did not address the

  Zeppelin threat. Right from the start the First

  Lord of Admiralty, Winston Churchill, played

  his role. Thanks to his initiative the air defense

  of the British Isles was transferred from the

  Royal Flying Corps (RFC), who anyway were

  busy in the expedition corps in France, to the

  Navy air component, Royal Naval Air Service

  (RNAS). Soon it was clear that the performance

  of the available British aircraft is not sufficient

  to oppose Zeppelins and the solution had to

  be found how to attack them. In addition, the

  Germans switched to the night attacks. The

  Admiralty arrived at the conclusion that if the

  attacks from the air were not possible it was

  necessary to attack the airships while they

  were still in the hangars at their bases.

  Flying boats

  Another way to use the airplanes by the

  navy were the hydroplanes with the boat-like

  fuselage. The whole aircraft fuselage was in

  this case sealed to float on the water surface

  and replaced the huge floats installed on the

  standard aircraft. The concept of the “flying

  boats” came to existence in the United States

  in the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company

  workshops owned by Glenn Curtiss. In 1913,

  for its time very advanced Curtiss Model H

  was designed, a hydroplane with a boat-like

  fuselage intended for long-haul flights. The

  British Navy immediately showed the interest

  in both purchasing several airframes as well

  as the license to build them as Felixtowe F.1. On

  May 14, 1917, Flight Commander Robert Leckie

  flying Curtiss H12 shot down Zeppelin L22 (LZ

  64 class Q). The future Air Marshall was born in

  Glasgow, Scotland, however in 1909 his family

  left for Canada where he joined the army. In

  1915 he paid 600 Canadian dollars for the pilot

  training it the Curtiss Flying School, however

  he only logged three hours on Curtiss Model

  F flying boat at Hanlan’s Point until the school

  was forced to close for winter. Robert Leckie

  managed to take part in shooting down L70

  (LZ 112 class X) with Fregattenkapitän Peter

  Strasser, a German aviation icon, on board.

  Leckie manned the gun while DH.4 aircraft was

  piloted by Major Egbert Cadbury.

  First attacks against airship bases

  On September 22, 1914, the British attempted

  to attack the airship base for the first time. The

  raid on the base near Dusseldorf, where the

  airship Z.IX operated from, failed, however. On

  the second attempt Lt. Reginald Marix flying the

  Sopwith Tabloid serial number 168, destroyed

  the army Zeppelin Z.IX (LZ 25, army class)

  from the altitude of 200 meters. After landing

  in Antwerp, he had to flee the German Army

  which was just advancing through Belgium.

  Encouraged by the success the RNAS wanted

  to attack the Friedrichshafen base. The mission

  was flown by single-seat Avro 504C airplanes

  taking off from the French fort of Belfort. Their

  bombs did not cause any damage due to the

  fierce AA fire and the airship L7 (LZ 32 class M)

  escaped undamaged.

  First airship kills by a ground

  and carrier-born aircraft

  The first destruction of the airship in the air is

  credited to RNAS pilot, FSL Reginald Warneford.

  On June 7, 1915, he dropped six 20 lb bombs

  (9 kilos) from his Morane-Saulnier L high wing

  airplane (serial number 3252) on LZ37 airship

  (class M) near Gent. The airship exploded in an

  enormous blast which also damaged Warneford

  aircraft and due to the engine failure, he had to

  perform an emergency landing on the enemy

  territory. While on the ground he managed to

  repair the engine and after half an hour could

  fly back to friendly lines. On August 21, 1917,

  Flight Sub-Lieutenant Bernard Arthur Smart

  Sopwith Camel is being loaded on the take-off towing platform.

  On August 11, 1918, FSL Stuart D. Culley successfully took off from the H5 platform towed by the HMS Redoubt

  destroyer and shot down a Zeppelin L-53.

  Photo: archivePhoto: archive

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard16

  July 2023

• Page 17

  flying a Sopwith Pup from the platform mounted

  on the gun turret of the cruiser HMS Yarmouth,

  managed to shoot down an airship L23 (LZ 66

  class Q). After that he landed on the water and

  was recovered by a destroyer.

  Kill scored from pontoon

  If you ever saw a picture of an airplane taking

  off from the pontoon towed by a fast ship, be

  aware that a fighter taking off in such a bizarre

  manner achieved a success. The credit goes

  to the Canadian pilot FSL Stuart D. Culley. On

  August 11, 1918, destroyer HMS Redoubt was

  towing the H5 pontoon as a part of Harwich

  Force in Heligoland Bay when Zeppelin L53 (LZ

  100 class V) was spotted. Culley took off in his

  Camel from the pontoon and after a long climb

  shot down the airship.

  Hydroplanes against Zeppelin

  bases

  During WWI quite many German airship

  bases were built. The largest ones were located

  on the North Sea coast in the North-Western

  Germany: Nordholz, Ahlhorn and Tondern. The

  Royal Navy learnt about them soon after they

  were built. Right at the outbreak of the war

  the British decided to destroy Nordholz base

  near Cuxhavevn. The attack was scheduled for

  Christmas 1914 after the attacks from October

  and November had not been successful due to

  the inclement weather. Nevertheless, the Royal

  Navy activity starting on December 21, 1914, by

  gradual sailing of the part of the fleet did not

  escape the German attention. On the Christmas

  Day the British assault group ships set sail and

  on the following day, at 6 am the hydroplane

  ships HMS Empress, HMS Riviera and HMS

  Engadin reached the planned hydroplanes’

  launching point. Their assembly and launching

  on the water then commenced. There were nice

  Short Folder hydroplanes participating in the

  mission, each armed with three 20 lbs bombs.

  In the end only seven of them took off at 06:54

  am (RNAS No. 119, 120, 136, 811, 814 and 815).

  The weather was unfavorable. The low clouds

  obscured the whole mission area from the

  German observation but at the same time made

  the crews’ navigation difficult. Regardless,

  soon they were spotted by a German patrol

  ship which sounded an alarm and consequently

  the airships L5 (LZ 28 class M) and L6 (LZ 31

  class M) took off from the Nordholz base.

  British aircraft lost the orientation and after a

  futile search for the base the crews decided to

  Landing on the sea surface was standard until sufficiently long landing decks were built on the first aircraft carriers. The front and detachable rear section of Camel 2F.1

  were often recovered individually.

  Photo: archive

  2F.1 Camels ready for take-off from the HMS Furious deck.

  Photo: archive

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard

  17

  July 2023

• Page 18

  drop the bombs on any target they could come

  across. Once they started to run out of fuel, they

  turned to their return path. They themselves

  became the target of the airships they were

  supposed to attack. Only two aircraft reached

  their mother ships. Oly by a miracle none of the

  pilots perished even though two of them were

  shortly interned in the neutral Netherlands.

  Tondern and HMS Furious

  The short platform mounted on the gun

  turrets were of course only suitable for take-

  off and if there was no ground base within

  reach the pilot’s only option was to land on

  water. Then he and his airplane were retrieved.

  The ship concept allowing to land and take off

  again dated back to 1912 experiments. The ship

  featured the take off platform on the bow and

  the landing one on the stern. In March 1918,

  the armored cruiser HMS Furious, properly

  modified, and prepared, was chosen for the

  trials.

  There were three hangars at Tondern base

  which names started with the letters TO, i.e.

  Tobias, Tonia and Tosca. When HMS Furious

  entered the service, the Admiralty immediately

  came up with the idea of how to test her in

  combat. The plan for the attack on Tondern was

  code-named Operation F.6 and copies of the

  Tondern hangars were built at the Turnhouse

  airfield. Initially eight pilots were chosen for

  the raid, but one had to drop out and there was

  no time to train his replacement. Mission F.6

  was launched in the morning of June 27, 1918,

  however, when two days later the formation

  rendezvoused with the support group, the

  mission had to be aborted due to the strong

  winds. The second attempt was code-named F.7

  and was launched on June 17 when HMS Furious

  set sails again escorted by destroyers. In the

  morning of June 18, at 03:04 am, there were

  seven Sopwith 2F.1 Camels ready on the HMS

  Furious deck when the storm struck. Instead

  of aborting the mission again it was decided to

  postpone it for 24 hours and HMS Furious, with

  her escort, waited out the storm by cruising near

  the Danish coast till the morning of June 19. The

  Squadron Commander Edwing H. Dunning flying Sopwith Pup is performing the first successful landing on the HMS Furious deck on August 2, 1917, during the trials in Scapa

  Flow. The ship was sailing at 26 knots with 21 knots headwind. That provided 87 kph headwind speed on the deck therefore the airplane flew at very low speed relative to the

  deck. Five days later, during the third attempt to land, Dunning crashed into the sea and perished.

  Photo: Van A. Swindelle Collection

  One of the aircraft that landed in Denmark after a successful raid on the Tondern base.

  Photo: archive

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard18

  July 2023

• Page 19

  weather conditions continued to be less than

  ideal, but the flight operations were possible, so

  it was decided to launch the mission. All seven

  Camels, each with two attached 49 lbs. (22.5

  kilos) bombs took off from HMS Furious deck

  between 03:13 and 03:21 am.

  The first group was formed by three aircraft

  flown by Capt. W. D. Jakson, Capt. W. F. Dickson,

  and Lt. N. E. Williams. The second wave consisted

  of four airplanes piloted by Capt. B. A. Smart (his

  Zeppelin kill is described above), Lt. S. Dawson,

  LT. W. A. Yeulett and Capt. T. K. Thyne. The last-

  named pilot was forced to return due to engine

  trouble before reaching the target. At 4:35 am

  the first group arrived in Tondern and caught

  everyone by surprise. In the past, there was

  a fighter flight deployed to Tondern consisting

  of four Fokkers and four Albatrosses but in 1917

  it was disbanded due to the frequent accidents

  caused by the wet ground. Its duties were taken

  over by a Navy hydroplane base near the island

  of Sylt but in the morning of June 19, 1918, they

  evaluated the weather as not suitable for flying

  and cancelled the patrol flights. According

  to the plan the airplanes from the first wave

  focused on the hangar Tosca which was the

  largest of all and at that time housed L54 (LZ 99

  class U) and L-60 (LZ 10878 class V) airships.

  The hangar was hit by three bombs and caused

  a large fire which destroyed both airships. The

  fourth bomb of the first group hit the hangar

  Tobias which was consequently attacked by

  the second group. It also caused the fire by

  until today it is not clear what burnt in fact. No

  German was killed during the attack, only four

  men were wounded.

  The sailors on the HMS Furious deck,

  looking for their Camels returning back were

  disappointed. Not even one returned. Only two of

  them made emergency landings on water near

  the British vessels. At 05:55 am, Dickson landed

  near destroyer HMS Violet, half an hour later,

  Smart landed at 6:30. Yeulett was not lucky. He

  got lost over the sea and crashed. On June 24

  the wreck of his Camel was washed ashore near

  Havrig and the body of his unfortunate pilot was

  found four days later near Holmsland. Three

  aviators from the first wave calculated that due

  to the insufficient fuel they will not make it back,

  so they headed to the neutral Denmark. The

  naval Camels (N6771, N6605 and N6823) landed

  one after another and the pilots were interned.

  They managed to escape later. One story for

  all: FL Samuel Dawson successfully landed his

  Camel N6605 despite the pierced tire on the

  sand beach Holmsland Klit (Klegold) near the

  village. He intended to source the gas, refuel,

  and fly back to his ship. Before he could do any

  of it, he was detained by police and escorted

  to the hotel where he met his 2 colleagues.

  The New Zealander did not want to accept the

  fate of an interned soldiers. He sneaked out

  of the hotel in a civil coat and hat and fled. He

  switched a bicycle for a train until he made it

  on board of the ship headed for Sweden. From

  there he continued to Norway where he boarded

  the ship headed for Scotland. Fourteen days

  after the raid he reported back to his base. For

  his actions he was awarded the Distinguished

  Flying Cross and remained on active duty. In 1919

  he sailed on board of the modified cruiser HMS

  Vindictive with Franco-British fleet to support

  the troops fighting Bolsheviks at Petersburg.

  Sadly, on September 17, 1919, the unbeatable

  “Kiwi” ran out of luck. He did not return from

  the patrol flight. The brave aviator was buried in

  Koivisto, the former Finnish town which is now

  part of Russia (Primorsk). He was 25 years old.

  The Tondern base was seriously damaged, and

  the attack the Germans used it only for backup.

  Most importantly, the British raid clearly proved

  that the future is in the aircraft carriers which

  aircraft present bigger combat potential than

  impressive, but technically outdated Zeppelins.

  Sources

  J. M. Bruce: “The Sopwith Pup”, Flight

  International, reissue

  V. Hynek, P. Klucina, E. Sknouril: Military ships

  (3), Nase vojsko, 1988

  Guttman, Jon & Illustrated by Simon Smith,

  Harry Dempsey, Richard Chasemore, Peter Bull

  : Sopwith Cames, Air Vanguard, 2012

  www.Luftshiffe.de

  Wikipedia

  The author’s clip archive

  BBC: Attack of the Zeppelin (movie)

  The burning hangar Tosca at the Tondern base. The airships L-54 and L-60 stored inside were destroyed.

  Photo: archive

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard

  19

  July 2023

• Air War over Ukraine Patriot vs. Kinzhal

  This instalment covers the May period and picks up exactly where the previous instalment ended. The Ukrainian attacks against important targets in the Russian rear and the Russian bombing of Ukrainian cities continued without pause. Patriot air defence systems, which have just arrived, have been heavily involved in their defence. Another major weapon from the West has also appeared on the scene, and there has been another black day for the Russian air force.

  Text: Miro Barič

  Photo: Ukrainian Armed

  Forces, social media and

  other public sources

  Air War over Ukraine

  Patriot vs. Kinzhal

  A Ukrainian operator prepares a Patriot battery for action.

  This instalment covers the May period and picks up exactly where the

  previous instalment ended. The Ukrainian attacks against important

  targets in the Russian rear and the Russian bombing of Ukrainian

  cities continued without pause. Patriot air defence systems, which

  have just arrived, have been heavily involved in their defence. Another

  major weapon from the West has also appeared on the scene, and

  there has been another black day for the Russian air force.

  As we noted at the end of the previous

  instalment, the Ukrainian capital Kiev has

  enjoyed almost two months of relative calm.

  But then the Russian attacks resumed and

  continued throughout May. This time, however,

  with a big difference – the Russian missiles

  were countered by Patriot batteries. The first

  arrived on April 21 and the second on April

  27. One of them was delivered from the USA

  and the other from Germany. In addition, the

  Netherlands provided two additional launchers

  to reinforce these batteries. The Russian forces

  decided to destroy the Patriot batteries at any

  cost. After a month of continuous attacks,

  Putin officially announced the destruction of

  five Patriot batteries of the two supplied ... This

  probably needs no further comment.

  On contrast, the Russian Ch-47M2 Kinzhal

  missiles have lost their aura of invincibility.

  These were put into service by the Russians

  at the turn of 2017/18. Officially, they have

  a range of 2,000 km, reach a speed of Mach

  10 and can carry a conventional or nuclear

  warhead. According to Russian propaganda,

  they are hypersonic weapons. In reality, they

  are ballistic missiles developed from Iskander

  surface-to-surface missiles and modified for

  launch from aircraft – specifically Tu-22M3

  and MiG-31 types. With ballistic missiles, all

  you have to do is calculate their trajectory and

  send the missile their way, so to speak. Real

  hypersonic weapons are able to maneuver in

  such a way that there is no time for the defense

  to react to a change in trajectory.

  Moscow claimed that it had deployed Kizhals

  against Ukraine from the very beginning of the

  war. However, they have only used them in small

  numbers. The reason for this is their high cost

  (reportedly $10 million) and the small number

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard20

  July 2023

• Page 21

  A Ukrainian operator prepares a Patriot battery for action.

  A long list of achievements of the Ukrainian air defense battery.

  Illustrative photo of a MiG-31 with a Kinzhal missile underneath. Wreckage of the Kinzhal on display in Kiev.

  of units produced. The biggest attack took place

  on March 9 this year, when the Russians fired

  six missiles of this type at Ukraine. At least

  two missiles were lost last year. One Kinzhal

  apparently crashed due to a malfunction while

  still on Russian territory, another was destroyed

  when its carrier, a MiG-31, crashed last October

  while taking off from Belbek airfield in occupied

  Crimea.

  The first kill

  Now, for the first time, Ukrainian air defences

  have also destroyed Kinzhal. It happened early

  in the morning of May 4 over Kiev. The Economist

  magazine talked about it with 30-year-old

  Ukrainian Patriot operator Vyacheslav. He said

  that according to the manual, it was possible to

  destroy the Kinzhal, but he was only convinced

  when the order was given to fire the missile and

  the shoot-down was confirmed. Applause, joy

  and much swearing followed. Vyacheslav also

  noticed that the Kinzhal was flying about three

  times slower than the Russian propaganda

  communicated. “We have understood Patriot

  works. The next time, when we saw not one but

  six Kinzhals on our displays, it was just a matter

  of routine,” he told The Economist.

  Vyacheslav underwent a shortened training

  that lasted three and a half months. He first

  trained in Oklahoma, USA, and then in Poland.

  However, according to the Ukrainians, even

  this training was too long. After all, Western

  systems are more automated and there is

  nothing exceptionally complex about their

  operation. “The IRIS

  -

  T is much less complicated

  system than the Buk system I was operating

  before. It’s like switching from a calculator

  to a MacBook Pro. Western air defense

  batteries basically do the work for you," The

  Economist quoted Denis Smazny, training

  coordinator for IRIS

  -

  T and NASAMS, as saying.

  The debris of the Kinzhal, whose shooting down

  on May 4 was mentioned by Vyacheslav, fell on

  a playground. Photos of the debris appeared

  on social networks. At first, Kiev denied the

  shoot-down because it did not want to reveal

  its capabilities to the enemy. However, the

  Ukraine officials eventually confirmed it. The

  wreckage of the Kinjal was put on display in

  Kiev. According to some doubters, they do not

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard

  21

  July 2023

• Page 22

  Ukrainian anti-aircraft unit with Humvee vehicles and Stinger missiles.

  Ukrainian soldiers at the front with portable rockets.

  This unit also carefully marks its achievements on its Humvees.

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard22

  July 2023

• Page 23

  correspond to the outer shape of the missile, but

  according to others, they are part of the internal

  assembly of the Kinzhal and therefore have

  nothing to do with the outer shape.

  What’s interesting, is the hole in the body

  of the downed rocket. This corresponds to the

  hit by the Patriot system. This is because the

  PAC-3 version missiles do not primarily use an

  explosive warhead with shrapnel that, when

  exploding near an enemy missile, might not

  destroy it. When the first versions of Patriot

  were deployed, it happened that the enemy

  missile was merely damaged and kept falling

  along the ballistic curve. The PAC-3 was

  therefore developed specifically to destroy

  ballistic missiles. There are 180 small nozzles

  on the body of the PAC-3 missile, which are used

  for fine maneuvering. It also has an improved

  active radar, so it guides itself to the target. This

  allows it to react quickly to the movement of an

  enemy missile and destroy it with a direct hit by

  its kinetic energy.

  Six more kills

  After this setback, Russia sought to destroy

  the Patriot batteries at all costs, or at least

  deplete their ammunition supply. During the

  course of May, Kiev faced as many as twenty

  attacks. Not only did their number increase,

  but also their intensity. In the period under

  review, Russia fired 16 % of the number of

  missiles it had fired in the previous 15 months.

  This is three times the average. Attacks have

  also been intensified. The aim was to keep the

  Patriot batteries in place, detect their location

  and then destroy them by continuous shelling.

  Therefore, the attacks mostly started with

  suicide drones, continued with cruise missiles,

  and ended with Kinzhals. One of the strongest

  attacks came on Tuesday, May 16 – this is the

  one where Vyacheslav mentions shooting down

  six Kinzhals.

  The Russian goal that night was clearly

  to overwhelm the Patriot. They fired a large

  number of different missiles from the north,

  south and east all at once. Aircraft fired Kinzhal

  missiles, ships fired Kalibr missiles from the

  Black Sea, and Iskander missiles were fired

  from the ground. The Ukrainian side claimed

  to have destroyed all the missiles despite the

  extremely intense attack. The Russians, on the

  other hand, boasted that one of their missiles

  destroyed a Patriot system. However, the

  latter cannot be destroyed in one hit because

  it is made up of individual elements spaced far

  apart. In addition to the launchers themselves,

  there are the control and command modules

  with radars, which can be several kilometres

  away. The Russian claim can thus be described

  as wishful thinking. The US Department of

  Defense later said that the Patriot system

  had suffered light damage but was repaired

  and fully operational again in a few days.

  The activity of the Patriot system on the night

  of May 16 was also captured in videos that were

  posted live on social media. Recognizing the

  importance of Patriots for the protection of its

  cities, Ukraine’s secret service cracked down

  on the bloggers who posted the videos. This is

  because they can provide the Russians with

  information about the current location of the

  batteries, which is very sensitive. The Russians

  did not give up for a whole month. At the end of

  May came a series of attacks that took place at

  night, during the day, and then again at night –

  that is, virtually continuously. They had hardly

  attacked during the day until then. They also

  tried different tactics. For example, in addition

  to the different directions and heights of the

  attacks, cruise missiles and suicide drones

  circled the site near Kiev, just to lure the air

  defense forces into action. However, none of this

  led to success. Other cities, however, are not as

  well protected, and this is causing damage and

  loss of lives in them.

  Black Day of the Russian Air Force

  However, despite all the workload, Ukraine

  was able to use its air defence systems to

  attack, or rather to set a trap for the Russian air

  force. The latter has made a habit of attacking

  with glide bombs from its territory into northern

  Ukraine with impunity. However, this changed

  on Saturday May 13, which became a truly black

  day. In fact, an entire strike group preparing to

  launch its deadly payload on Ukrainian targets

  was shot down in the Bryansk region.

  Two Mi-8 helicopters, a Su-34 bomber and

  a Su-35 fighter hit the ground in succession.

  They all went down engulfed in flames and

  smoke. Photographs of the wreckage showed

  shrapnel holes and all nine crew members of

  these aircraft lost their lives.

  To this day, it is unclear what exactly

  happened. Initial reports spoke of a mistake by

  the Russian air defenses, but official Russian

  sources said that the destruction of the Russian

  air force machines was the work of saboteurs

  and launched a large-scale ground operation to

  catch them. Unofficial Russian military bloggers,

  however, have been writing from the beginning

  A falling Russian Mi-8MTPR-1 from the 15th Army

  Aviation Brigade shot down in Bryansk Oblast on May 13.

  Burning wreckage of a Russian Mi-8MTPR-1 on the

  ground near the village of Klincy.

  A photo of this Russian Mi-8, which had crashed sometime earlier under unknown circumstances,

  also surfaced during May.

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard

  23

  July 2023

• Page 24

  about the trap set by the Ukrainian air defenses.

  Indeed, the Russian air force had let its guard

  down and was always conducting operations

  from its territory in the same way. The Ukrainian

  side has studied the Russian procedures

  thoroughly and has brought air defense missiles

  to the border of the Chernihiv region. The next

  time the Russian air force attempted an attack,

  it shot down the entire group involved. Officially,

  however, the Ukrainian side is silent about the

  whole incident. It is clear that it does not want to

  provide any information to the enemy.

  The Russian group consisted of a Su-34

  bomber preparing to drop guided glide bombs

  on the Chernihiv region just inside the border.

  At least one of the Mi-8 helicopters was in the

  electronic warfare version and was tasked with

  jamming the Ukrainian radars, creating a brief

  window that would allow the Su-34 to carry

  out its deadly mission unimpeded. The Su-35

  provided fighter cover for the entire group. It

  is possible that the second Mi-8 was also the

  electronic warfare version, or was ready to

  rescue crew in case of an aircraft being shot

  down.

  The first Mi-8 crashed in flames after being

  hit near the town of Klincy, about 50 km from

  the Ukrainian border. Three crew members

  were killed. One woman on the ground suffered

  burns from the falling burning debris. Another

  Mi-8 crashed in the Unechsky district east of

  the town of Klincy. Again, the entire crew of

  three was killed. A Su-34 crashed near the

  village of Nizhneye, south of Klintsy, close to

  the Ukrainian border. Both pilots lost their lives.

  Finally, the pilot of the Su-35 was killed near the

  village of Suretsky.

  It was the worst day for the Russian Air Force

  since March 5, 2022, when two Su-34s, two

  Su-30s, two Mi-24/35 helicopters and one Mi-8

  helicopter were visually confirmed downed in

  Ukraine. Heavy casualties are also known to

  have occurred in the repeated Ukrainian shelling

  of the Russian-occupied Chornobaivka airfield

  in Kherson area. The worst day for the occupiers

  there was March 16, 2022, when at least seven

  Russian helicopters were destroyed, according

  to satellite images.

  More Russian losses

  In addition to this major incident, however,

  the Russian Air Force lost several other aircraft

  during the reporting period. On Wednesday,

  May 10, one Kamov Ka-52 was shot down in the

  Avdiivka area in the Donetsk region. Both crew

  members were killed. At the same time, the

  Ukrainian 110th Brigade reported a helicopter

  shoot-down in the area, apparently the same

  incident.

  On Friday May 12, a Mi-28 helicopter crashed

  in the Dzhankoy district of Crimea. The cause

  of the crash was apparently a technical failure.

  The least information is available on the loss of

  a Ka-52, which occurred on Monday May 22 in

  Russia’s Belgorod region near the border with

  Ukraine. The circumstances of its crash are not

  known, all that is known is that both pilots were

  killed this time as well.

  Among the casualties related to the war in

  Ukraine, one Su-24 may be counted, which was

  damaged on the ground of an aircraft factory in

  Novosibirsk, far away from the front line. The

  undercarriage of this aircraft was set on fire

  and damaged in a guerrilla attack on Monday

  May 8. However, it was there for a long time

  parked and not used. It was therefore more of

  a symbolic attack.

  Storm Shadow in action

  On the Ukrainian side, only one helicopter was

  damaged in combat missions in May. The Mi-24

  returned to its base with a large hole in the

  vertical fin on Wednesday, May 17.

  Other Ukrainian losses are related to the

  delivery of new Western weapons. This is a bit

  of a mysterious story, so we’ll take a closer

  look at it. On Thursday, May 11, British Defense

  Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed that Ukraine

  A Russian Su-24 that had been grounded for a long time in Novosibirsk.

  A decommissioned Su-24 was damaged by landing

  gear ignition on May 8.

  Ukrainian Mi-24 damaged on May 17 with the hole

  in the vertical fin.

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard24

  July 2023

• Page 25

  had received Storm Shadow cruise missiles,

  capable of hitting targets at a range of more

  than 250 km. This range is enough to hit virtually

  all Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine.

  Wallace praised the scientists and engineers

  who made it possible to integrate them onto

  older Soviet-era aircraft used by the Ukrainian

  Air Force – in this case, the Su-24.

  Storm Shadow missile was jointly developed

  by France and the UK in the 1990s and entered

  service in 2002. The French use the name

  SCALP

  -

  EG. The missile has a length of 5.1 m,

  a span of 3 m and a weight of 1,300 kg. Once

  launched, it drops and follows the terrain at low

  level. It is powered by a jet engine, with which

  it reaches a speed of Mach 0.8–0.9. It is guided

  by GPS and target information is entered on the

  ground before launch. Once launched, it cannot

  be changed. Just before the target, the missile

  starts to climb, drops the warhead cover and

  is guided by an infrared camera that is hidden

  under this cover during approach. Thanks to

  it, it recognizes the target it has entered. If it

  can’t find it, it aims for an open area to limit

  collateral damage. Storm Shadow is designed

  to destroy fortified targets like command posts,

  airfield shelters, ammunition depots, as well as

  ships and bridges. It has a twin warhead – the

  first punches a hole in the target, the second

  detonates with a delay until inside.

  The missiles were successfully deployed by

  Ukraine the following day. On Friday May 12,

  they were used to destroy a fuel depot in the

  city of Luhansk, which until then had been out

  of range of Ukrainian weapons. Moreover, the

  depot was not destroyed by a direct attack – the

  missiles flew in an arc, turned behind Luhansk

  and struck unexpectedly from behind, from

  the east. Another interesting means supplied

  from the West, the ADM-160 MALD deception

  targets, were also used in the attack. These

  flying decoys amplify their image on radar and

  can pretend to be attacking aircraft of various

  types, or cruise missiles. They thus draw the

  attention of air defenses and allow a real attack

  vehicle to stealthily penetrate.

  Ben Wallace undoubtedly had a hand in

  delivering these powerful weapons to Ukraine.

  His colleague Oleksiy Reznikov therefore gave

  him a postcard of a Su-24 with Storm Shadow

  missiles at a joint meeting. Reznikov published

  it on Thursday, May 25, in an unretouched

  form. This is strange because the Ukrainian Air

  Force tries to remove the aircraft’s identifying

  features in all published images. In this case,

  both the aircraft number and unit insignia were

  left. The postcard is also decorated with a large

  emblem of the 7th Tactical Air Force Brigade.

  It did not take the Russians long to launch

  a major missile attack on Sunday May 28 on

  the Starokostiantyniv airbase in Khmelnytskyi

  region, which is home to this unit. Stranger still,

  the Ukrainians, who almost never report their

  losses, immediately confirmed the destruction

  of five Su-24s. Thanks in part to these oddities,

  there was speculation that the destroyed planes

  were in fact grounded, unairworthy wrecks, and

  the whole action was just a decoy for Russian

  missiles.

  Drones over the Kremlin

  Attacks similar to those on Luhansk have

  been taking place all month across the occupied

  territory in preparation for the Ukrainian

  offensive. In addition, however, drone strikes

  deep inside their territory have also attracted

  the attention of the Russians. On Wednesday,

  May 3, two drones even attacked the Kremlin

  directly. Both were reportedly shot down by

  air defenses, but one crashed into the dome

  of one of the buildings and caused a small

  fire. Moscow was also targeted at the end of

  the month, on Wednesday May 31. According

  to the official Russian statement, eight drones

  were attacking, five were shot down and three

  were disabled by jammers. What is certain is

  that some of the “disabled” or “downed” drones

  crashed on homes in an upscale neighborhood

  in the south of the Russian capital.

  To distract attention, Russian legions operating

  in Ukraine also launched attacks across the

  border in late May. Their aim is to overthrow

  Putin, but these are strange bedfellows who

  are close to neo-Nazis. However, they are up to

  the task of unleashing chaos in the border area.

  The Russian border guards were unable to stop

  them, so they occupied several villages near

  the border. They had to withdraw troops from

  Ukrainian territory and deploy the air force

  to dislodge them. However, this did not prove

  very successful. An attack by a pair of Su-

  34s on an occupied border guard building was

  caught on a security camera, and the Russian

  pilots certainly won’t put that mission behind

  them. The planes attacked with a ground flight

  with unguided bombs and instead of hitting the

  building, they properly plowed the field far away

  from it.

  Despite the intense fighting, both sides

  continued to exchange prisoners on a regular

  basis. Some of these were also interesting

  from the point of view of the air war over

  Ukraine. For example, on Saturday, May 6, it

  was announced that 45 soldiers had returned to

  Ukraine, including 42 defenders of the Azovstal

  steelworks in Mariupol. They were exchanged

  for three Russian pilots. In this case, therefore,

  the ratio for the exchange of prisoners was

  one to 15.

  Ukrainian Su-24 with Storm Shadow missiles on a postcard signed by British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

  ADM-160 MALD decoy target used on 12 May in the

  attack on Luhansk.

  HISTORY

  INFO Eduard

  25

  July 2023

• STEP by STEP - F4F-4 engine PRINT

  Contents of the F4F-4 Wildcat engine set, composed of 3D prints. Individual parts can be separated from their supports using a razor saw. I separated the smaller parts from their supports using high-quality cutting pliers. The rest of the supports can be cleaned most easily with modelling files or sanding sponges. If you can see a slight layering on some sections of some parts, it can be sanded with 1500 grit or finer sanding sponges.

  STEP BY STEP

  STEP STEP

  BY

  F4F-4 engine PRINT 1/48 built by Jan Baranec

  #648828

  Contents of the F4F-4 Wildcat engine set, composed of 3D prints.

  Individual parts can be separated from their supports using a razor saw. I separated the smaller parts from their supports using high-quality

  cutting pliers.

  INFO Eduard26

  July 2023

• Page 27

  STEP BY STEP

  I clean some of the more fragile parts partially attached to the supports

  for better handling. The parts do not twist as much and damage to them

  is minimized during cleaning.

  Due to the high accuracy of 3D printed parts, individual

  components can first be assembled dry and then thin glue

  can be applied, allowing capillary action to do its thing.

  Excess glue can be removed with a debonder.

  Individual parts and subassemblies ready for a first coat, consisting

  of Mr. Finishing Surfacer 1500 Gray.

  Medium or thick CA glue is used to affix the smaller parts.

  The rest of the supports can be cleaned most

  easily with modelling files or sanding sponges.

  If you can see a slight layering on some sections

  of some parts, it can be sanded with 1500 grit or

  finer sanding sponges.

  For more complex parts where sanding

  isn’t really an option, the light raster can be

  treated by scrubbing with a coarse brush

  dipped in pure isopropyl alcohol.

  INFO Eduard

  27

  July 2023

• Page 28

  STEP BY STEP

  Before applying the surfacer, I sprayed all the etched parts with Mr. Metal

  Primer to improve adhesion of all subsequent coats.

  As a base color, I chose Mr. Black Spray Putty Finishing Surfacer

  1500 grit.

  The uniformity of the basic spray can be broken up via lightening the gray color by adding a few drops of off-white C069 and creating a mottling effect.

  I sprayed the engine body including its cylinders

  with Gunze Silver from the Super Metallic line,

  specifically Super Fine Silver SM01.

  The exhausts were sprayed with a combination

  of highly diluted AK Interactive Bronze and

  Brass metallic paints in an irregular pattern.

  If this effect is overdone, it can be toned down

  with heavily diluted black paint. The final step

  was spraying the exhaust pipe with Gunze GX114

  Matt varnish.

  The inner surfaces of the parts were painted

  light grey according to the instructions,

  using Gunze C325.

  INFO Eduard28

  July 2023

• Page 29

  STEP BY STEP

  The outer surfaces were painted with Gunze C367 Blue-Grey mentioned

  in the instructions.

  Again, these blue-grey surfaces were toned down by spraying

  a mottle using C367 with a few drops of off-white C069.

  As per the instructions, the reducer of the drive unit was sprayed

  with Gunze C306 Grey.

  The interiors of the larger surfaces of the

  housing were lightened by spraying with

  a mixture of Gunze C306 and off-white, C069.

  The distributor is glued to the engine body and needs to

  be painted with Gunze C306. I mixed a similar shade using

  black (AK Interactive) and dirty white (Vallejo) with the

  intention of brushing this on.

  I painted the protective jacket of the ignition system cables

  using a brush with a mixture of red (Mr. Paint) and earth

  brown (AK interactive 3rd generation).

  All relief, corners, screws and lines were treated

  with a very thinned transparent smoke color

  using Gunze C101.

  Manifolds for the individual pistons were

  painted black using an AK Interactive brush.

  INFO Eduard

  29

  July 2023

• Page 30

  STEP BY STEP

  The intake ducts were brushed on with silver paint (chrome) from

  Mr. Paint.

  Everything was clear coated with Gunze GX100 Super Clear III gloss

  varnish to provide protection against pending weathering with oil paints.

  The production label in the form of a decal is part of the plastic

  kit and not the engine set. For better adhesion, I applied it using

  Gunze’s Mr. Mark Setter.

  I washed the silver parts of the engine with diluted black oil paint from Ammo. I washed the silver parts of the engine with diluted black oil paint from Ammo.

  For the other parts, I mixed a wash of black and

  dark brown oil paints (Ammo Oilbrusher).

  INFO Eduard30

  July 2023

• Page 31

  STEP BY STEP

  Excess oil paint can be wiped off using various cotton swabs or it

  can be washed away with a brush dipped in oil paint thinner.

  The weathering was sealed with matte varnish before final assembly.

  I did not use the matt varnish on the metal parts of the engine, so

  as not to destroy the effect offered by the silver color.

  Finished individual

  subassemblies and

  components before

  gluing.

  Using a splatter brush dipped in a thicker mixture of black and dark

  brown oil paints, the weathering over the lower part of the engine cowl

  was simulated.

  The last step before the final assembly was to paint the edges of the

  reduction gear with a light gray color.

  INFO Eduard

  31

  July 2023

• Page 32

  STEP BY STEP

  Weathering of adjacent surfaces was accomplished using a weathering

  sponge, lightly dabbing on a mixture of black and dark brown oil paint.

  If you overdo this effect, it can be dampened using a dry or lightly

  moistened brush with oil paint thinner.

  The last step was to create abrasions and scratches with a thin brush

  and silver paint.

  According to the instructions, copper wires were

  shaped, glued in place and then painted, along

  with the remaining piping and wiring, silver.

  After assembling the main parts, the actuating

  rods of the engine cooling flaps were addressed.

  The cooling flaps were attached to their

  appropriate places according to the

  instructions using instant (CA) glue.

  INFO Eduard32

  July 2023

• Page 33

  STEP BY STEP

  INFO Eduard

  33

  July 2023

• Page 34

  STEP BY STEP

  Product page

  INFO Eduard34

  July 2023

• Page 35

  www.eduard.com/bfc

  BUNNY BUNNY FIGHTERFIGHTER

  CLUB

  Eduard's special membership club for all modeling enthusiasts!

  15% Permanent Club discount at Eduard Store – you will receive permanent 15% discount on all Eduard

  products and also discount on various other non-Eduard products. Fixed, permanent, forever!

  Unique valuable Club kits and accessories – you will gain access to unique and nowhere else to be sold

  products, specially made for BFC members.

  Even better prices at Eduard events stand – do you know that Eduard usually has huge discounts on

  their products at fairs and events all over the world? BFC members will have even higher discount at

  these events.

  Club T-shirt – you will receive fancy BFC T-shirt with unique design and special barcode

  (used for event discounts). This exclusive T-shirt will be only available

  to the members of BFC.

  Free entry fee on E-day – you will not have to pay a penny to visit Eduard's E-day.

  That means lot of fun at E-day for two days and entry kit, absolutely free!

  * E-day - INTERNATIONAL SCALE KIT EXHIBITION - IPMS Czech Republic Championship

  BOX CONTENT:

  Plastic parts, Marking options 6, Decal Set, PE parts, Maska, Brassin

  parts (two different types of wheels, landing flaps, dust filter with

  eyelid, intake ring and RP-3 60lb rockets), 3D decals for main and si

  -

  dewalk instrument and control panels with photo-etched details and

  seat belts.

  BOX CONTENT:

  Plastic parts, Marking options 4, Decal Set, PE parts, Maska, Brassin

  parts (undercarriage wheels, cockpit, exhaust nozzle, FOD).

  How to become a member of BFC?How to become a member of BFC?

  Simply by purchasing the Activation product. You will be given 15% discount on (almost) every Eduard

  product in your shopping cart. To apply this discount, the Activation product has to be in your shopping

  cart. Activation product is excluded from this calculation.

  Activation products:Activation products:

  Tempest Mk. V + T-shirt 1/48MiG-21MF + T-shirt 1/72

• IRON BUNNY 2023

  The Iron Bunny competition has held my attention since its first year and I watched with enthusiasm the performances of the individual teams who were tasked with building a competition model in 24 hours. I missed the annual event in the years that it was canceled due to covid. But this year was not to be limited by anything and I was pleased when Honza Novotný and Rob Szwarc invited me to join a newly formed team with Miloš Völkle. I agreed without hesitation. Of course, we had to choose a befitting name for our team, so the “Plastic Killers” was unanimously agreed upon.

  EVENT

  The Iron Bunny competition has held my attention

  since its first year and I watched with enthusiasm

  the performances of the individual teams who were

  tasked with building a competition model in 24

  hours. I missed the annual event in the years that

  it was canceled due to covid. But this year was not

  to be limited by anything and I was pleased when

  Honza Novotný and Rob Szwarc invited me to join

  a newly formed team with Miloš Völkle. I agreed

  without hesitation. Of course, we had to choose

  a befitting name for our team, so the “Plastic Killers”

  was unanimously agreed upon.

  Text: Lukáš Loučka

  Compared to previous years, the enthusiasm of the participants subsided a bit, and

  so we were able to register our team without any problems. It even happened that the

  starting field was incomplete and two places remained free. Coupled with the rising

  prices of rent, services, accommodations and other pieces of the cost mosaic and

  worries associated with such an event, Luboš Kuna, the organizer of the competition,

  decided that this year would be the requiem for Iron Bunny and the competition would

  end for good.

  That’s why we were happy to be able to experience this modeling equivalent of

  the 24 hours of Le Mans for ourselves. Honza, who has competed in the Iron Bunny

  contest in the past, tried to explain to us three novices what kind of preparation we

  should have for the competition and what to train for. Because as they say, hard on the

  training ground, easy on the battlefield.

  The competition itself took place in the westernmost part of the Republic, and the

  journey itself for the boys from Karviná and Ostrava was really challenging – 600 km

  across the Czech Republic. At this time of the year, Bublava attracts tourists more than

  modelling does, but the beautiful weather and surrounding nature were just a bonus to

  create an overall great impression of the competition. Friday evening was reserved for

  familiarization, briefing, dinner and a quiz. During the briefing, Luboš Kuna informed

  Photo: Ján Hitka

  INFO Eduard36

  July 2023

• Page 37

  EVENT

  us that the model we would be building would not be disclosed until the morning, and

  until then the type of aircraft was kept secret. So our planned preparations could

  not take place and the morning start was really rough! He also explained to us the

  system of changing team members, using breaks and meetings. Each team member

  was allocated a total of 12 hours to be spent on individual tasks. Monitoring the exact

  time spent on said tasks was done using chips, so it was impossible to overstay one’s

  welcome.

  Saturday morning was dominated by a healthy nervousness and anticipation

  of the disclosure of the build topic. At 8:30, it was clear that the model for 2023

  was the Wildcat from Eduard. Since the goal was to score as highly as possible, it

  was appropriate to dress it up as much as possible. So we went with the range of

  accessories that were available – Brassin cockpit, 3D printed engine and gun bays,

  etched flaps, undercarriage bay, machine gun barrels, undercarriage wheels and

  bronze undercarriage legs.

  Our strategy was that the more capable members of the team would deal with the

  preparation of additional parts for the build, gluing and prepping for the handover to

  the buttoning up of the fuselage crew. They had 4–5 hours to do this, and Miloš and

  I set off for a local tradition.

  An obligatory part of Iron Bunny is the so-called “Bublavský bahňák” (can be

  translated as Bublava’s Muddy Boy because of the years the competition was held

  in autumn). This is an orientation “run” with four checkpoints. By conquering each

  station, you receive a component or a sprue from the competition kit. All in all, it was

  an about 11 km pleasant walk with time left over for a cold beer at a pub that was

  conveniently located along the route.

  After making the grade and acquiring the required missing parts from the kit, it

  was time for a short rest before taking our shift. I have to once again praise Robert

  and Honza for what they both managed during their initial building phase. Even though

  we were always working with the feeling that we were not keeping up, we had to pay

  attention to every detail as well as cleanliness and geometry of the build, which have

  a profound impact on the final score. Time flew by at a frantic pace, and looking at the

  surrounding tables, I sometimes wondered if we were falling too far behind. During

  the night, the organizers also prepared a blackout, or a simulated power outage, and

  spraying had to be done with a head mounted flashlight. Fortunately, this didn’t last

  too long and the lights were soon back on. After finishing my last shift at 4:30 in the

  morning, I barely crawled into bed with the resolution that I would definitely be up to

  finish the model and kept my fingers crossed for the boys. Unfortunately I woke up at

  about 11:30. So the only thing I checked on the phone was whether or not we had time

  to hand over the finished model. After making sure, I rolled over onto my other side

  and didn’t wake up until lunchtime. After lunch, the room with the models and their

  score sheets was made available. To our great delight, our Wildcat took first place with

  a score of 81.5 points (out of 100), which is a great result for a 24-hour build. According

  to the organizers, we even got the most points ever. So the euphoria was certainly

  there. With the results announcement, we had a reason to be even more happy, namely

  that Luboš Kuna decided to give the contest another chance and that the competition

  will take place next year and we will have the opportunity to participate in it again.

  And I am already gearing up for participating and our goal will be to enjoy it as

  much as we did this year. The entire organization of the competition was top-notch.

  The Iron Bunny team who looked after us, cooked for us, entertained us and were with

  us the whole time deserve real credit! Everything was perfect and I would like to thank

  them all once again. Thanks also must go out to our colleagues from other teams and

  also to Vladimír Šulc, all of Eduard and the judges, without whom this competition

  would not be the adrenaline rush it is! And that is something that is the exact opposite

  of normal plastic modeling. So thanks again everyone and see you in a year!

  INFO Eduard

  37

  July 2023

• Page 38

  EVENT

  INFO Eduard38

  July 2023

• Page 39

  EVENT

  INFO Eduard

  39

  July 2023

• Page 40

  EVENT

  INFO Eduard40

  July 2023

• Page 41

  EVENT

  INFO Eduard

  41

  July 2023

• Page 42

  BOXART STORY

  American General Billy Mitchell told

  Congress in 1935: “I believe that in the future,

  whoever holds Alaska will hold the world.

  I think it is the most important strategic place

  in the world.” Because the Kuril Islands could

  be invaded by Soviet troops with American

  support, the Japanese command wanted

  to make cooperation between the U.S. and

  the USSR as difficult as possible if Stalin

  entered the war against Japan. Therefore,

  the Japanese command focused on the

  Aleutian Islands, some of which they wanted

  to conquer, to establish bases on, and then

  attack American supply and military vessels.

  The attack on the Aleutians and the landings

  on Attu and Kiska in June 1942 were not an

  action to divert attention from the attack on

  Midway, as it is sometimes stated. It was

  a strategically equivalent part of an invasion

  operation that had northern and southern

  objectives, with reserve forces operating

  roughly halfway between the Aleutians and

  Midway.

  After the Japanese carriers sailed from the

  Aleutians, the Tōkō Kōkūtai was tasked with

  fighter cover for the invasion force. Among

  other seaplanes it operated A6M2-N Rufe

  fighters. The fighter unit began operations

  in early July 1942, and was later detached to

  form the 5th Kōkūtai, redesignated Kōkūtai

  452 towards the end of the year.

  The weather in the Aleutians is cool

  and very changeable even in summer,

  characterized by low clouds. American flying

  boats and two- and four-engine bombers

  soon began attacking Japanese forces.

  Because of the low altitude, their raids

  were not only covered by fighter escorts,

  but were preceded within minutes by fighter

  attacks against air defense positions. These

  operations involved pilots of Lightnings,

  Airacobras and also Curtiss P-40s of both the

  US and Royal Canadian Air Forces.

  Rufes were initially moored in the shallows

  and maintenance was done in largely

  improvised conditions on shore. A hangar

  was later built on Kiska Island, but the Allies

  meanwhile quickly built new airfields on the

  Aleutians. While defending their bases, Rufe

  pilots often fought against superior numbers,

  but were also tasked with anti-submarine

  patrols and attacks on Allied airfields. The

  Rufe unit shot down fifteen aircraft certainly

  and five probably from the summer of 1942

  to March 1943. In less than eight months of

  its combat deployment, it operated against

  the enemy during sixty days, in many cases

  conducting multiple actions in a single day.

  Twelve Rufes and ten pilots were lost in aerial

  combat. Another 23 Rufes in the Aleutians

  were written off because of malfunctions and

  weather.

  Among their opponents were P-40 pilots

  from the 11th FS, 343rd FG. In 1942, they

  operated out of Fort Glenn on Umnak Island

  and 11th FS was one of the units that faced

  a raid by Japanese carrier planes during

  the attack on Dutch Harbor. Initially, 11th FS

  was armed with Curtiss P-40Es, which are

  listed in its reports until August 1943. From

  September 1942, it also used P-40Ks, and

  after August 1943 unit´s airmen were flying

  P-40Ns. While operating in extremely difficult

  conditions, 11th FS airmen scored six victories

  and eleven of them did not return from

  combat. During World War II, nearly 100 more

  11th FS aircraft were damaged or destroyed

  due to accidents. In 1942, 11th FS was led by

  Lt/Col John Stephen Chennault, son of the

  legendary Flying Tigers commander. And

  because the apple didn't fall far from the tree,

  tiger-inspired paintings also appeared on the

  noses of 11th FS Curtisses, but they were

  more prominent than those of his father's

  American Volunteer Group.

  John S. Chennault, like his opponents, faced

  extremely adverse conditions for combat. He

  scored one Rufe seaplane on September 25,

  1942. Both sides took pride in their ability to

  accomplish combat missions in the Aleutian

  area. After the war, Chennault commented in

  a unit history, “As long as I live, there'll never

  be another like the “We'll Be There” Squadron.

  We went through so much and were so ill

  prepared in everything but morale, but we

  had that. The hardships the men had to put

  up with and the manner which they accepted

  them made you proud to be an American.”

  John S. Chennault, who later served in the

  Korean War, is buried next to his father in

  Arlington Cemetery.

  For more details on the Rufe and its

  deployment to the Aleutian area, see the

  April 2023 issue of INFO Eduard magazine.

  Illustration: Marek Ryś

  Frosty battlefield

  Text: Jan Bobek

  #82219

  INFO Eduard42

  July 2023

• Page 43

  #7470

  BOXART STORY

  Jagdgeschwader 26 “Schlageter” is best

  known for its deployment in Western Europe,

  which lasted continuously from September

  1939 until the end of the war. However, in

  1941 its 7th Staffel was deployed for several

  months in the Balkans, Sicily and Africa.

  In August 1942, a specialized high-altitude

  11./JG 26 was established in France, but in

  November it was transferred to Italy, then

  Sicily, and subsequently became involved in

  fighting in North Africa. In early 1943 it was

  incorporated into II./JG 51.

  The largest part of JG 26 to separate

  from its parent unit was the contingent that

  arrived in Russia in early 1943. This was again

  the 7./JG 26 under the command of Hat. Klaus

  Mietusch and I./JG 26 led by Maj. Johannes

  Seifert consisting of a Stab and three

  Staffeln. Their Fw 190 As were then a novelty

  on the Eastern Front. JG 26 was backed up

  by JG 54 “Grünherz”, which was familiarizing

  itself with the Focke-Wulfs at this time.

  Mietusch with his 7./JG 26 joined I./JG 54

  on the Leningrad front. As a replacement,

  4./JG 54 moved to France and continued on

  the Bf 109 G type. Seifert's I./JG 26 began

  operating from the Relbitsy base west of

  Lake Ilmen in early February 1943. Technical

  support was provided by ground personnel of

  III./JG 54, whose pilots, without their Bf 109 Gs,

  moved to Western Europe as well.

  In mid-February 1943, I./JG 26 performed

  attacks against Soviet infantry massing

  around Lake Ilmen. The pilots completed

  up to ten sorties a day over several days,

  and the enemy troops eventually withdrew.

  Seifert´s I./JG 26 first encountered Soviet

  aircraft on 16 February west of Demyansk.

  Airmen from Stab and 1./JG 26 claimed eleven

  Il-2s without loss of their own.

  The first encounter with the Soviet fighters

  showed that after two years of fighting these

  had learned a lot and handled well both their

  new domestically produced aircraft as their

  machines delivered under Lend-Lease. The

  battle occurred on 17 February south of Lake

  Ilmen. I./JG 26s clashed with a formation of

  Il-2s with fighter escort identified as Yaks

  and P-40s. The fighter escort prevented

  the loss of the bombers, one of the German

  pilots crashed into the ground during the

  engagement, another was shot down by

  a fighter, and the third pilot was shot down by

  flak. Four more Fw 190s sustained damage,

  one of which was so severe that the machine

  had to be written off. Pilots from I./JG 26

  reported three Curtiss P-40s shot down.

  The climatic and combat conditions on this

  battlefield were very different from what the

  Schlagetergeschwader airmen knew from

  their time in France. Air battles were usually

  fought at lower altitudes and in smaller

  formations. Fighting often occurred over

  the front area, where Soviet anti-aircraft

  artillery was also a tough opponent. One of

  the airmen who had experience with this

  battlefield was the commander of 3./JG 26

  Hptm. Rolf Hermichen. At the beginning of

  the war he served as a Bf 110 pilot in 6./ZG 1,

  which was later redesignated 9./ZG 76 and

  then 6./SKG 210. He achieved four victories in

  the Battle of France and added three more

  during the Battle of Britain. Before the attack

  on the Soviet Union, he scored one more

  victory in Norway. In the fighting in the East

  he performed many strafing attacks and also

  achieved his last three victories in the Bf 110,

  shooting down a Pe-2 bomber and two Yak-1s.

  In 1942 he was appointed commander

  of 3./JG 26.

  Photographs of JG 26's deployments to the

  Eastern Front are very rare and a number of

  them relating to Hermichen were published

  by the late Jerry Crandall in his book Fighters

  of the Iron Cross. Hermichen scored his 22nd

  victory after returning to the Eastern Front on

  February 18, 1943, in a dogfight with a LaGG-

  3 fighter pilot, while fighting a formation

  of Il-2s. For the illustration, rendered on

  a boxart by Antonis Karydis, we have selected

  Hermichen’s duel with Pe-2 bombers, which

  took place on March 7 south of Lake Ilmen.

  He claimed two victories and apparently

  clashed with several crews from 46. BAP,

  which conducted a free search for targets in

  German-occupied territory. The only casualty

  was the crew of Lt. Georgiy G. Reshetnikov,

  who remains missing together with his

  navigator Ml. lt. Mikhail I. Nakonechnyuk and

  gunner Serzh. Grigory F. Silenok.

  Text: Jan Bobek

  Illustration: Antonis Karydis

  Back in Russia

  INFO Eduard

  43

  July 2023

• Page 44

  BOXART STORY #8405

  Martin Becker, with 58 kills, was among the

  ten most successful German night fighters.

  Originally serving as a reconnaissance pilot,

  he switched to night fighters in the spring of

  1943, specifically to 11./NJG 4. In August of

  that year, his unit was re-designated 2./NJG 6

  and he became its commander in October.

  Becker soon began to achieve success

  against the RAF, claiming six victories in one

  night and seven on another occasion. On the

  boxart, Adam Tooby captured one of Becker’s

  fights in the summer of 1944 with his frequent

  adversary, a Lancaster crew.

  After achieving his 43rd victory, Becker

  was appointed to command IV./NJG 6, based

  in Germany, in late October 1944. However,

  parts of his unit were also detached in

  Romania and Bulgaria at the time. In addition

  to Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4s, the IV. Gruppe

  was also armed with Junkers Ju 88 G-6s,

  which was the case for most parts of NJG 6

  at the time.

  Becker and his crew achieved their most

  notable success on the night of March 14–15,

  1945. The fight was described in detail by

  Theo Boiten in the publication Nachtjagd War

  Diaries. The British bombers, which included

  B-17s in RAF colours, had several targets and

  the German fighters were greatly hampered

  by the British jamming radio communications.

  Around ten o’clock in the evening, ground

  control guided fighters from II., III. and IV./NJG 6

  and some from NJG 5 to the area around

  Lützkendorf. Among them was Ju 88 G-6

  “2Z+MF” under the command of Becker. His

  crew consisted of radar operators/gunners

  Lt. Johanssen and Ofw. Rauch, and Ogefr.

  Welzenbach as flight engineer. Their machine

  was equipped with a FuG 220 Lichtenstein

  SN-2 radar and also a Naxos system for

  detecting British radars on board of bombers.

  Becker’s crew, by combining the two

  systems, managed to identify six Lancasters

  in succession and hit them, with some of

  them observed to hit the ground. Then the

  Junkers’ front weapons suffered a jam and

  Becker wanted to return to base. However,

  Johanssen suggested that if they could get

  forward and under an enemy bomber, he

  could open fire from the rear twin MG 131

  guns. The crew successively guided Becker

  under two Lancasters and one British B-17.

  Johanssen managed to hit all of them. He

  also observed some of the crew bail out of

  the B-17 and the aircraft hit the ground. This

  gave Becker and his colleagues nine victories

  in one combat flight.

  The crews of NJG 6 in the area around

  Lützkendorf claimed a total of sixteen downed

  bombers. The RAF lost eight Lancasters in

  this area and three others were damaged,

  at least one of which was hit by Johanssen.

  Fire from this radar operator also sent one

  Boeing B-17 to the ground. This was BU

  -

  O

  (HB 802) from No. 214 Sqn RAF commanded

  by Flt/Lt Norman Rix DFC. His crew consisted

  of British, Australians and New Zealanders

  and all managed to survive. Their colleagues

  from another Flying Fortress were not so

  lucky. They were all captured, but after a few

  days, five of them were murdered.

  Rix’s Boeing was hit at 3,000 feet on its

  return from the target. The airmen aboard

  the Flying Fortress thought they had been hit

  by light flak, but Johanssen clearly identified

  his target; it was the first time he saw

  a B-17 with the distinctive silhouette of its tail

  surfaces. Rix bailed out of the aircraft very

  low to the ground and almost immediately

  after opening his parachute he ended up

  in the tree canopy. Later, while in custody,

  he managed to convince his wardens to lay

  down their arms with the German troops in

  the Bavarian town of Ettringen. He contacted

  an American tank patrol and informed them

  that Ettringen was already in British hands.

  As a result, Allied troops took the site without

  a fight.

  Karl-Ludwig Johanssen completed 68

  combat sorties as a radio and radar operator

  and was credited with assisting 59 night kills.

  His boss, “Tino” Becker, flew only 110 combat

  sorties during World War II, 27 of them as

  a reconnaissance pilot. Together they were

  decorated on March 20, 1945. Lieutenant

  Johanssen received the Knight's Cross and

  Becker, who already had this decoration,

  received the Oak Leaves.

  Illustration: Adam Tooby

  When the guns jam

  Text: Jan Bobek

  INFO Eduard44

  July 2023

• Page 45

  #82115

  BOXART STORY

  When Adolf Hitler broke the Molotov-

  Ribbentrop Treaty and attacked Stalin’s

  Soviet Union with his allies on June 22, 1941,

  the greatest ground and air battles in world

  history took place. However, the forces of

  Germany and its satellites launched the

  attack later than originally planned. And

  the command's ideas that the Soviets would

  be defeated by winter were wrong for many

  reasons. In addition, the Soviet Union soon

  began to receive help under the Lend-Lease

  Act. Coming winter 1941/1942 German ground

  and air units were in a situation for which

  they were often ill-equipped, unlike their

  opponents who knew the terrain and the

  Russian winter well.

  One of the units that fought in Russia at

  that time was Jagdgeschwader 54 “Grünherz”

  under the command of Kommodore Hannes

  Trautloft. One of his Gruppen, I./JG 54, was

  commanded from February 1942 by Hptm.

  Hans Philipp, whose duel is depicted on

  a boxart by Adam Tooby. Trautloft ordered

  preparation of report relating Geschwader

  experiences from November 1, 1941, to April

  30, 1942. It is available in the Bundesarchiv

  under the signature RL 10/477. The document

  is 80 pages long and in a few paragraphs,

  I will try to summarize some interesting

  points from the first seven chapters.

  JG 54 was deployed on a frontline

  stretching 330 km long in the Army Group

  Nord area between Lake Ilmen and Leningrad.

  It was subordinated to Luftflotte 1 within the

  I. Fliegerkorps. Its armament consisted of

  Bf 109 F-2s and the first F-4s were received

  by III. Gruppe in March 1942. In December the

  temperature dropped to minus 10´C, but by

  January it reached minus 42°C. During this

  period, JG 54 flew 8,946 combat sorties and

  1,258 ground attack sorties. In doing so, it

  claimed the shoot-down of 51 reconnaissance,

  courier and transport aircraft types, 107

  bombers, most of which were modern Pe-2

  and Il-2s, and destroyed 518 fighter aircraft,

  more than 80% of which were modern aircraft.

  During the winter the Soviet airmen

  modified their formations in a manner similar

  to that used by the Germans. Due to the

  technical superiority of the Bf 109 F, their

  enemies began to use a defensive circle

  against which the Germans had to develop

  offensive tactics. On this battlefield JG 54

  encountered for the first time the Curtiss

  P-40s, which they judged to have good rate of

  climb and ability to manoeuvre in turns.

  The Soviet formations usually flew

  machines with white camouflage paint as well

  as the original dark camouflage, which made it

  difficult for the Germans to get an overview of

  the number and position of their enemies. The

  Bf 109 F usually used a four-plane formation

  (Schwarm), which was split into a pair (Rotte)

  that attacked and a second Rotte that provided

  cover. The recommended method of attack

  was at close range from the rear, due to the

  quality of the armour of the Soviet machines.

  When the firing ceased, it was recommended

  to pull in and fly over the enemy so that the

  German machine would not be hit by debris.

  Soviet bomber formations usually flew in

  numbers of three to twelve machines with

  a strong fighter escort. Against such superior

  numbers, it was necessary to call in additional

  Rotten and Schwärme from other sections of

  the front in order to draw the fighter escorts

  into the fight and then attack the bombers.

  The Pe-2 formations were very disciplined

  and it was not recommended to attack them

  directly from the rear. If a bomber was hit, the

  other Pe-2 crews would try to line it up in the

  centre of the formation to protect it.

  According to the JG 54 pilots, the Il-2s had

  excellent armour and it was recommended to

  fire at the tail surfaces, ideally from above or

  from the side. The JG 54 report shows respect

  for the rear gunners of enemy bombers.

  Mention is also made of the problem of

  retraining rookie pilots, who had a great

  appetite for combat but at the same time

  underestimated the enemy.

  Escorting German bombers was more

  difficult than in the summer of 1941, mainly

  because of the timing of rendezvous and also

  because Ju 88 crews tended to use looser

  formations. JG 54 rated better the Stukas

  crews, who maintained tight formations in

  a disciplined manner.

  JG 54 judged the enemy anti-aircraft

  defences to be highly effective, these were

  particularly dangerous during strafing

  attacks. It was not recommended to attack a

  single target twice, and it was essential to fly

  low when departing.

  Text: Jan Bobek

  Illustration: Adam Tooby

  The First Winter

  INFO Eduard

  45

  July 2023

• Page 46

  #82219

  A6M2-N Rufe

  1/48

  The ProfiPACK edition kit of Japanese interceptor/fighter bomber

  floatplane A6M2-N (Allied code name Rufe) in 1/48 scale. Kit

  presents Rufe serving in Imperial Japanese Navy Air Service

  during World War II.

  plastic parts: Eduard

  marking options: 5

  decals: Eduard

  PE parts: yes, pre-painted

  painting mask: yes

  resin parts: no

  Product page

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard46

  July 2023

• Page 47

  Kōkūtai 452, Kiska island, Aleutians, early 1943

  Seaman 1st class, Takio Maruyama, aviation unit of seaplane tender Kamikawa Maru,

  Shortland, September 1942

  This Rufe got dark green paint at the unit level.

  The camouflage later showed signs of wear,

  especially on the wing and on the rear fuselage

  around the horizontal tail surfaces. The aircraft

  of this fighter unit successively bore at least four

  different markings on the tail surfaces, depending

  on how the unit was designated and subordinated

  to different commands. Its most successful

  fighter was the CPO Gi-ichi Sasaki. The native

  from Miyagi Prefecture joined the Navy in 1937.

  He became a pilot of two-seat float planes and

  participated in combat in China. He took part in

  the conquest of the Philippines and the Dutch East

  Indies on board of the Mizuho seaplane tender.

  After its sinking, he was assigned to the Tōkō

  Kōkūtai in the Aleutians, which was eventually

  renamed the 5th Kōkūtai and then Kōkūtai 452.

  He achieved a total of four individual victories –

  five shared and one aircraft credited shared as

  probably destroyed. He was killed on February

  19, 1943, over Amchitka Island in a dogfight with

  a Curtiss P-40 pilot.

  This plane was early production Rufe with folding

  wingtips. The Kamikawa Maru was completed

  in 1936 as an ocean liner but was converted to

  a seaplane tender a year later and was combat

  deployed in the aggression against China until

  the spring of 1941. At the start of the fighting in

  the Pacific, her air unit was equipped with E13A1

  Jake and F1M2 Pete seaplanes, but by September

  1942 she was deployed in the Solomon Islands

  area with eleven A6M2-Ns and two F1M2s. The

  main tasks of her airmen were base protection,

  convoy escorts and also attacks on ground troops

  on Guadalcanal. In addition to engagements with

  B-17s and Cactus Air Force pilots, the Kamikawa

  Maru airmen also got into combat with aircraft

  from the USS Hornet (CV-8). One of them was

  Takio Maruyama. He was credited with one

  victory over a B-17 bomber. The Kamikawa Maru

  and Maruyama’s performance with the No. 107

  aircraft was cited in a letter of commendation

  by the Commander of the Combined Fleet in

  September 1942. Maruyama with machine YII-107

  was killed on October 10, 1942, in a dogfight with

  VMF-223 Wildcats while escorting Japanese

  vessels from the so-called Tokyo Express bound

  for Guadalcanal. On board the light cruiser

  Tatsuta was Lt. Gen. Hyakutake.

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard

  47

  July 2023

• Page 48

  Kōkūtai 802, Faisi-Poporang base, Shortland Islands, February 1943

  Takuma Kōkūtai, Takuma base, Japan, 1944

  This aircraft was among the new ones that Kōkūtai

  802 took over in Japan during early 1943. At the

  unit level, the aircraft received a dark green paint

  and it probably had a late production stencil on the

  fuselage. The tail sported a horizontal red stripe

  on the vertical tail surfaces, which was probably

  the unit’s identifying marking. It is likely that the

  aircraft took part in the aerial combat on February

  13 and 14 during the defense of the Shortland

  Islands and Buin, in which the American units

  suffered fairly significant losses. After relocation

  to the Marshall Islands area in March 1943, Kōkūtai

  802, under the command of Lt.(jg) Yamazaki, was

  primarily engaged in anti-submarine patrols and

  the pursuit of four-engine bombers. Long-range

  reconnaissance was carried out by another part of

  this unit, which was armed with H8K Emily flying

  boats. In September 1943, the designation of its

  aircraft was changed to Y4 in connection with the

  transition to the subordination of the 22nd Kōkū

  Sentai (Air Flotilla). The identification markings

  on the tail surfaces of Rufe seaplanes changed

  from red to white during service in the Marshall

  Islands. In October, fighter unit of Kōkūtai 802 was

  integrated into Kōkūtai 902, and in November, the

  fighter unit clashed with US Navy aircraft during

  a raid on Truk.

  This aircraft was originally finished with grey

  paint on all surfaces. Later, at the unit, it was

  given a dark green paint job on the upper surfaces.

  By the time it was in service with Takuma Kōkūtai,

  the green paint was badly worn, with reddish-

  brown primer and metal surfaces visible in some

  areas. The stripe on the fuselage was probably

  the designation of the aircraft flown by leader

  of fighter unit. Takuma Kōkūtai was established

  in mid-1943 to train seaplane crews and it

  included a fighter unit with Rufe aircraft which

  was also tasked with training, including dogfight

  practicing. However, the command envisaged

  the eventual deployment of Rufe aircraft by this

  unit for the air defense of Japan. A photograph of

  a Rufe seaplane from the Takuma Kōkūtai exists,

  showing the mount of Ensign Kyoshi Suga armed

  with 30 kg bombs for use against B-29 bombers,

  but there is no evidence that such a combat

  deployment occurred. In 1945, part of the Takuma

  Kōkūtai was deployed on Kamikaze missions.

  Takuma Kōkūtai was disbanded at the end of the

  war.

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard48

  July 2023

• Page 49

  Kashima Kōkūtai, Kashima base, Japan, 1944

  This late production aircraft was finished in

  a factory applied dark green paint. Kashima

  Kōkūtai was established in 1938 as a training unit

  for seaplane crews. Her fighter unit, armed with

  Rufe floatplanes, was deployed several times

  to fight alongside Katori Kōkūtai airmen in the

  Home Defence and achieved several fighter and

  bomber kills. It was probably with this unit that

  the Hellcats of VBF-12 from USS Saratoga (CV-3)

  came into conflict around Kashima on February

  16, 1945 and the Hellcats of VF-29 from USS Cabot

  (CVL-28) on March 18. In the first mentioned

  combat, the American fighters reported five

  Rufe kills and in the latter encounter claimed

  four victories. In May 1945, the Kashima Kōkūtai

  training section was cancelled, and a number of

  aircraft and crews were deployed on Kamikaze

  missions. Kashima Kōkūtai was disbanded at the

  end of the war.

  RECOMMENDED:

  FOR A6M2-N RUFE 1/48

  481109 A6M2-N Rufe landing flaps (PE

  -

  Set)

  644205 A6M2-N Rufe LööK (Brassin)

  644208 A6M2-N Rufe LööKplus (Brassin)

  648845 A6M2-N Rufe seat PRINT (Brassin)

  648846 A6M2-N Rufe exhaust PRINT (Brassin)

  648847 A6M2-N Rufe cannon barrels & cockpit guns PRINT (Brassin)

  648848 A6M2-N Rufe folding wingtips PRINT (Brassin)

  648849 A6M2-N Rufe gun bays PRINT (Brassin)

  648850 A6M2-N Rufe cockpit PRINT (Brassin)

  648851 A6M2-N Rufe landing flaps PRINT (Brassin)

  648852 A6M2-N Rufe engine complete PRINT (Brassin)

  3DL48114 A6M2-N Rufe SPACE (3D Decal Set)

  EX934 A6M2-N Rufe TFace (Mask)

  # 648851

  OVERTREES

  #82219X

  A6M2-N Rufe

  1/48

  Product page

  OVERLEPT

  #82219-LEPT

  A6M2-N Rufe PE

  -

  Set

  1/48

  Product page

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard

  49

  July 2023

• Page 50

  MIGHTY EIGHTH:

  66

  th

  Fighter Wing

  The Limited edition of the kit of the famous US WWII fighter aircraft

  P-51D Mustang in 1/48 scale. The kit offers aircraft from the 55th FG,

  78th FG, 339th FG, 353rd FG and 357th FG.

  plastic parts: Eduard

  marking options: 10

  decals: Eduard

  PE parts: yes, pre-painted

  painting mask: yes

  resin parts: yes, exhausts and wheels

  #11174

  1/48

  Product page

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard50

  July 2023

• Page 51

  P-51D-15, 44-15492, Lt. Billy Clemmons, 38th FS, 55th FG, 8th AF, Wormingford,

  United Kingdom, April 1945

  P-51D-15, 44-14985, Maj. Edward B. Giller, 343rd FS, 55th FG, 8th AF, Wormingford,

  United Kingdom, September 1944

  Billy Clemmons started his pilot training in

  January 1943 and in February 1944 obtained his

  “wings“. After he completed his training in August

  1944 he was assigned to 38th FS, 55th FG. In the

  course of his war-time career he flew 62 combat

  missions and scored four and half air victories

  including one individual and one shared kill of the

  Me 262 jet. He destroyed five more aircraft on the

  ground. He decorated his personal Mustang with

  an Indian’s head with inscription “Huacoar“ on the

  port side of the nose and the starboard featured

  the inscription “My Gal Sal“. During the Korean

  War Clemmons was called back to the active

  duty and attached to the 75th Fighter Incerceptor

  Squadron which flew F-86 Sabre jets. Then he

  was ordered to the 513th FIS in England and

  France. After his return to the United States he

  was assigned to the Flight Training Headquarters

  as an instructor on T-37 and T-38. He attented

  several military schools, including the Air War

  College in Montgomery, Alabama. Consequently

  he was attached to the Department of the Chiefs

  of Staff in Pentagon, Washington D.C. and later

  took part in the introduction of the global military

  command and management system which was,

  in fact, the predecessor to the internet. After he

  finished his military career for several years he

  worked for Waco Hotel Supply and in the end he

  started his own restaurant equipment company,

  Clemco Restaurant Equipment Co.

  Edward Giller was born in Jacksonville, Illinois,

  in 1918. He graduated from the Kemper Military

  School in Boonville, Missouri and in 1940,

  the University of Illinois with BS in chemical

  engineering. In September 1941 he joined the

  military and at the same time the pilot school

  where he gained his wings in April 1942. During

  WWII he commanded the 343rd FS and later

  became the deputy commander of the 55th FG. As

  a fighter pilot he flew 115 combat missions and

  logged 465 hours in P-38 and P-51. He destroyed

  three enemy aircraft, including Me 262 jet and

  six more airplanes on the ground. Giller flew

  two Mustangs, s/n 44-14985 and s/n 44-15701.

  Both of his Mustangs were christened “Millie G“

  after his wife Mildred who was a flight attendant.

  Giller’s Mustang sported the standard 343rd FS

  marking i.e. black prancing horse on the yellow

  rudder. After the war, in 1948, he obtained MS in

  the chemical engineering and in 1950 a doctorate

  in the chemical engineering. He served as an

  executive director of the Weapons Effect Division

  center. After that he became an assistant director

  and then director of the research at the Air Force

  Special Weapons Center at Kirtland airbase

  where he also acted as a USAF liason officer in

  the Orion, nuclear spaceship project. He passed

  away in October 2017 at the age of 99.

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard

  51

  July 2023

• Page 52

  P-51D-20, 44-64147, Capt. Richard A. Hewitt, 82nd FS, 78th FG, 8th AF, Duxford, United Kingdom, April 1945

  P-51D-20, 44-72218, Lt Col. John D. Landers, CO of 78th FG, Duxford, United Kingdom, March 1945

  Richard A. “Dick” Hewitt joined the 78th FG based at

  Duxford in September 1943 and flew with this unit

  until the end of hostilities. The unit operated P-47

  but in December 1944 converted to P-51D Mustang

  and in the end of that month already flew its first

  mission with them. Hewitt logged 20 missions

  flying this type out of his total 100 missions. On

  March 21, 1945, he assumed command of the 82nd

  FS after he had shot down three Bf 109 two days

  earlier. On April 17 he destroyed a Me 262 on the

  ground after he had shot down another Schwalbe

  shortly before the landing at the Lechfeld airfield.

  This kill however remained unconfirmed because

  his wingman, the only witness to this kill, was

  consequently shot down and became POW. Hewitt

  ended the war after two tours of duty during

  which he logged 426 hours. Official Hewitt’s score

  was four aerial victories plus four individual

  and one shared enemy aircraft destroyed on the

  ground. During his second tour of duty, Dick was

  promoted to the 82nd FS commander. His awards

  include Silver Star, four DFC and 13 Air Medals.

  The inscription “Big Dick” on his Mustang refers to

  Hewitt’s nickname. After the war he wrote a book

  “Target of Opportunity.”

  John Dave Landers was born on August 23, 1920,

  in Joshua, Texas. He joined the Army Air Force in

  April 1941. After completing the pilot training,

  In January 1942 he was assigned to the 9th FS

  in Australia, a unit that flew P-40s. In the Pacific

  theatre, he scored six kills, and in January 1943,

  he was called back to the States. There, he served

  as a flight instructor, but in April 1944, on his own

  request, was reassigned to a combat unit. It was

  38th FS based at Wormingford, operating P-38,

  which converted to P-51 as of July 1944. After being

  promoted to Lt. Col., he assumed command of the

  357th FG, which he led from October to December

  1944. After some downtime in the United States,

  he returned to Great Britain and was named

  CO of 78th FG, holding this post until the end of

  the Second World War. In December 1945, he left

  the military and worked in construction. He died

  on September 12, 1989.

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard52

  July 2023

• Page 53

  P-51D-10, 44-14372, Capt. Kirk B. Everson, 504th FS, 339th FG, 8th AF, Fowlmere, United Kingdom, April 1945

  P-51D-10, 44-14419, Capt. William B. Price, 350th FS, 353rd FG, 8th AF, Raydon, United Kingdom, December 1944

  Everson‘s airwar career took off in 1945 only.

  Regardless, he achieved great successes in the

  numerous diving strikes on the German-occupied

  airfields. Mustang he regularly flew was inherited

  from Richard C. Penrose who had christened it

  “Beaver Chant“. Everson renamed it “Mery Belt“.

  On April 4, 1945 he shared a victory over Me 262

  above Parchim. Three days lated he shot down

  a Bf 109 nearby Celle. On April 10, during the

  strafing attack on the Neuruppin airfield, he

  destroyed three enemy aircraft and on April 16

  three Fw 190 fell victims to his guns at Klatovy

  airfield. On the following day Everson re-

  appeared over the Klatovy airfield and this time

  he claimed the destruction of seven airplanes.

  Bill Price was a member of the 350th FS, 353rd FG

  from November 1942 till December 1944 and flew

  with it 108 missions in two tours of duty. Flying

  P-47 he achieved two aerial victories and four on

  the ground. After the unit converted to new P-51D

  Mustang he scored his last kill at the controls of

  the aircraft named “Janie“. Price’s Mustang was

  camouflaged with a green paint on the upper

  surfaces, probably British Dark Green. The aircraf

  nose sported the black and white checkerboard,

  identification marking of the 353rd FG.

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard

  53

  July 2023

• Page 54

  P-51D-20, 44-63684, Lt. William B. Bailey, 352nd FS, 353rd FG, 8th AF, Raydon, United Kingdom, May 1945

  P-51D-10, 44-14896, Maj. Leonard K. Carson, 362nd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, Leiston, United Kingdom, September 1944

  Lt. William Bradford Bailey commanded the 352nd

  FS since its formation in October 1942 until July 7,

  1944 and in the end of the war he was one of the

  most experienced pilots of the unit. After his long

  tenure with 352nd FS, he was transferred to the

  353rd FG Headquarters and until the end of the

  conflict he flew in total 186 missions (454.05 flight

  hours). On March 2, 1945, a the controls of his

  Mustang named “Double Trouble Two“ he claimed

  two Fw 190 destroyed south of Wittenberg. These

  were last Bailey’s kills of the war. His final score

  stood at three aerial and three ground victories.

  Captain Leonard “Kit” Carson was one of the most

  successful pilots of the 357th FG. He finished the

  war as a commander of the 363rd FS with 18.5

  kills to which he added three airplanes destroyed

  on the ground. He flew four P-51 Mustangs, all

  of them carried his personal inscription “Nooky

  Booky” on the engine cowling. The aircraft

  s/n 44-14896 was his third. It sported seven

  kill markings on the side of the fuselage which

  Carson scored till the beginning of November

  1944. The plane was marked with the standard

  identification stripes including the invasion

  bands on the fuselage. Carson’s Mustang was

  camouflaged in the dark green paint on the upper

  surfaces including the landing flaps’ interiors.

  The paint was probably British RAF Dark Green.

  The lower surfaces were painted in Medium Sea

  Grey.

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard54

  July 2023

• Page 55

  P-51D-10, 44-14450, Capt. Clarence E. Anderson, 363rd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, Leiston,

  United Kingdom, October 1944

  P-51D-15, 44-14888, Cpt. Charles E. Yeager, 363rd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, Leiston,

  United Kingdom, October 1944 - January 1945

  “Bud“ Anderson was born on January 13, 1922 in

  Oakland, California. In January 1942 he joined the

  Army and till September 28, 1942 served as an

  Air Cadet. In November 1943 he was assigned to

  the 363rd FS, 357th FG. He finished his first tour

  of duty in June 1944 and returned to the United

  States for two months. In September 1944 he

  returned to his original unit. In the beginning of

  December 1944 he was promoted to Major and

  in January 1945 finished his second tour of duty.

  In total he flew 116 combat missions and logged

  1423 flight hours. His final score was 17 confirmed

  aerial victories. After the war he mostly flew as

  a test pilot and he retired from the Air Force on

  March 31, 1972. Mustang flown by Clarence “Bud“

  Anderson during his second tour was initially

  camouflaged on all upper surfaces, including

  the landing flaps interiors, in dark green paint,

  probably RAF Dark Green. The lower surfaces

  were painted in Medium Sea Grey. In the end of

  1944 Bud had camouflage paint removed from his

  Mustang and flew it in the natural metal finish.

  “Bud“ Anderson named his new Mustang the

  same as the previous ones, “Old Crow“ and shot

  down in it four more German aircraft. After he

  finished his second tour of duty, his “Old Crow“

  was handed over to Lt. James Taylor from the

  363rd FS and renamed “Pretty Pix“. After the war

  the aircraft was transferred to Neubiberg air base

  in Germany where it ended up as a scrap metal.

  Charles Elwood “Chuck“ Yeager belongs to the

  most famous pilots of all times thanks to the fact

  that on October 14, 1947, flying an experimental

  Bell X-1 rocket powered aircraft, as a first human

  he flew at the speed of sound. Before that, during

  WWII, he had become a fighter ace. “Chuck“

  Yeager was born on February 13, 1923 in the

  little town of Hamlin in West Virginia. He joined

  the army shortly after graduating from the high

  school in September 1941 and in December 1942

  he was accepted to the pilot training. In March of

  the following year, he gained his wings and was

  attached to the 363rd FS, 357th FG equipped with

  Bell P-39 Airacobra. In England, the 357th FG, with

  its 363rd FS, was attached to the 8th Air Force and

  converted to P-51 Mustangs. Yeager flew three

  Mustangs, all named “Glamorous Glen“ after his

  fiancee Glennis Dickhouse. Yeager flew his first

  combat mission in February 1944. On March 4 he

  scored his first victory against a Bf 109 but on the

  following day the luck turned its back on him. He

  was shot down near French Bordeaux. After he

  successfuly bailed out, he avoided capture with

  the help of the French Resistance and returned

  back to England via Spain. His final score at the

  end of war stood at 12 kills including a Me 262. He

  continued in the successful aviation career after

  the war. He commanded the 405th Fighter Wing in

  Vietnam and in 1970s worked as a Director of the

  Flight Safety of the USAF. He retired on February

  25, 1975 having logged 10,131.6 flight hours on 361

  (!) different types of aircraft. He passed away on

  December 8, 2020 at the age of 97.

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard

  55

  July 2023

• Page 56

  Recommended:

  for P-51D 1/48

  481000 P-51D (PE

  -

  Set)

  644030 P-51D-10 LööK (Brassin)

  644031 P-51D-15+ LööK (Brassin)

  644052 P-51D-10 LööKplus (Brassin)

  648486 P-51D exhaust stacks w/ fairing (Brassin)

  648487 P-51D Hamilton Standard propeller (Brassin)

  648494 P-51D wheels diamond tread (Brassin)

  648495 P-51D undercarriage legs BRONZE (Brassin)

  648503 P-51D wheels oval tread (Brassin)

  648504 P-51D wheels cross tread (Brassin)

  648505 P-51D wheels block tread (Brassin)

  648511 P-51D wheels diamond tread 2 (Brassin)

  648512 P-51D wheels rhomboid treat (Brassin)

  648514 P-51D wheels grooved (Brassin)

  648517 P-51D gun bays (Brassin)

  648522 P-51D cockpit (Brassin)

  648555 P-51D engine (Brassin)

  648570 P-51D gun sights (Brassin)

  648571 P-51D 75gal drop tanks (Brassin)

  648572 P-51D 108gal drop tanks (Brassin)

  648647 P-51D wheels block tread 2 (Brassin)

  648742 P-51D wheel bay PRINT (Brassin)

  3DL48003 P-51D-10 SPACE (3D Decal Set)

  3DL48004 P-51D-15+ SPACE (3D Decal Set)

  OVERTREES

  #82102X

  P-51D

  1/48

  Product page

  OVERLEPT

  #11174-LEPT

  MIGHTY EIGHTH:

  66th Fighter Wing

  PE

  -

  Set

  1/48

  Product page

  # 648742

  # 648555

  # 648522

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard56

  July 2023

• Page 57

  Fw 190A-5

  The Weekend edition kit of German WWII fighter

  plane Fw 190A-5 in 1/72 scale.

  plastic parts: Eduard

  marking options: 4

  decals: Eduard

  PE parts: no

  painting mask: no

  resin parts: no

  #7470

  1/72

  Product page

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard

  57

  July 2023

• Page 58

  Oblt. Rolf Hermichen, 3./JG 26, Dno field base, the Soviet Union, March 1943

  Maj. Fritz Losigkeit, CO of I./JG 1, Deelen, the Netherlands, April 1943

  Lt. Emil Lang, 5./JG 54, Orel, the Soviet Union, summer 1943

  Rolf Hermichen achieved 66 kills during the WW

  II, the first 11 of them as a Bf 110 pilot during the

  battles of France and Britain. He was transferred

  to III./JG 26 in November 1941 and first served as

  an adjutant to Josef Priller, the CO of III. Gruppe.

  As early as May 1, 1942, Hermichen became

  Staffelkapitän (CO) of the 3. Staffel. When I./JG 26

  moved to the Eastern Front in January 1943, he

  added eight more kills to his existing 21. Already

  as Hauptmann, on his return to the Western Front

  he temporarily led III. Gruppe from June 15 to July

  4, 1943 and became CO of I./JG 11 on October 16.

  There, as a part of the Defense of the Reich, he was

  very successful in combat against Allied bombers.

  In total, he had 25 (or 26) of them to his credit. His

  last success came on April 24, 1944, when he shot

  down a P-51D. He was shot down himself on May

  12 and after withdrawal from operational duty, he

  served at Headquarters of 2. Jagd-Division. From

  October 1944 to January 1945, Hermichen served

  as CO of II/JG 104. The Fw 190A-5 he was flying in

  the spring of 1943 had the original RLM 74 and 75

  shades oversprayed by irregular spots of green

  shades, probably RLM 70 and 71, which were partly

  oversprayed by white color for winter operations.

  The white was already quite weathered in March.

  The original camouflage was probably apparent

  inside the crosses on the upper side of the wing.

  The shape and size of the green spots on the wing

  and right side of the fuselage is a reconstruction.

  Fritz Losigkeit (1913–1994) was born in Berlin

  and starting from October 1936 served with JG 2

  “Richthofen”. He joined Legion Condor in Spain in

  March 1936 but was shot down and captured. In

  April 1939 he joined 2./JG 26 and later became CO

  of this unit. A shift in his career occurred in June

  1941, when he became member of the diplomatic

  mission in Japan. After his return in March 1942

  he took over the command of I./JG 26, but he did

  not stay too long there, as he was sent to Eastern

  Front to lead III./JG 51 shortly afterwards. In

  April 1944 he became Kommodore of JG 51 and

  a year later he took over the command of JG 77.

  Losigkeit scored 68 victories in approximately

  750 missions flown and was awarded Knight’s

  Cross. An interesting feature of the marking of

  his Fw 190 was the stripe of the flags under the

  canopy representing his combat deployments and

  foreign affairs assignments. Emblem of IV./JG 1

  and victory marks on rudder are not confirmed

  by photos. After the war Losigkeit was working

  for CIA-controlled organization Gehlen, later

  he became secretary of Free Democratic Party

  (FDP). Camouflage consists of RLM 74, 75 and 76

  colors with spinner in RLM 70.

  Lt. Emil “Bully” Lang managed to shoot down

  173 enemy aircraft over the course of more

  than 400 combat missions. Of these, 144 were

  achieved in the Eastern Front. Lang, pre-war

  athlete and Lufthansa pilot, proved to be a real

  expert in combat flying. His immense success

  rate could nicely be illustrated with downing 72

  enemy aircraft within three weeks of December

  1943. At that time, he was 34 and thus one

  of the oldest Luftwaffe pilots. His lucky days

  ended on September 3, 1944. At the time, he was

  a commander of II./JG 26 and was shot down during

  combat with Spitfires Mk. XII of No. 41 Squadron

  RAF over Belgian territory. He fell victim to

  F/Lt. Terry Spencer. This Fw 190A-5 was flown

  by Lt. Lang during the time he was commander

  of 5./JG 54. The upper surfaces of Lang’s

  Fw 190A-5 were camouflaged by irregular fields

  of two shades of a green and a sand color. The

  darker of greens was probably RLM 70, while

  the other two shades were non-standard colors.

  Undersurfaces were painted in RLM 76 and the

  aircraft sported yellow markings of the Eastern

  Front: lower engine cowl, bottom wingtips and

  rudder and also wide band around the rear

  fuselage. Other aircraft of JG 54 were finished in

  the same manner.

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard58

  July 2023

• Page 59

  WNr. 1230, Obstlt. Walter Oesau, CO of JG 2, Beaumont le Roger,

  France, June 1943

  Walter “Gulle” Oesau joined JG 2 “Richthofen”

  before the war and in April 1938 was transferred

  to Legion Condor in Spain. In August 1940, already

  as CO of 7./JG 51, he was awarded Knight’s Cross

  after gaining 20 victories in WWII. He briefly led

  III./JG 51 and in November was appointed CO of

  III./JG 3. On July 15, 1941, his victory tally had

  reached 80 and at the end of July 1941, he took

  command of JG 2 in France. Oesau recorded

  his 100th victory on October 26, 1941 and was

  appointed Kommodore of JG 1 in November 1943,

  following the death of Oberst Hans Philipp. On

  May 11, 1944, Oesau was shot down and killed by

  P-38s in the cockpit of Bf 109G-6/AS (WNr. 20601)

  “Green 13” near St Vith. “Gulle” Oesau scored 127

  victories in over 300 combat missions. Nine of

  them in Spain, 74 in the West and 44 over the

  Eastern Front. This Fw 190A-5 was manufactured

  by Focke-Wulf in Marienburg in the first half of

  1943. Camouflage consisted of RLM 74, 75 and 76

  color shades with spinner painted RLM 70. The

  rudder sported symbols of five victories (101st to

  105th) against four-engined bombers.

  Recommended:

  for Fw 190A-5 1/72

  SS804 Fw 190A-5 Weekend (PE

  -

  Set)

  672085 Fw 190A exhaust stacks (Brassin)

  672086 Fw 190A propeller (Brassin)

  672118 Fw 190A-5 engine & fuselage guns (Brassin)

  672196 Fw 190A-5/U12 gun pods (Brassin)

  CX456 Fw 190A-5 (Mask)

  # 672085

  # 672086

  # 672196

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard

  59

  July 2023

• Page 60

  Bf 110G-4

  The Weekend edition kit of German WWII twin-engine heavy fighter

  aircraft Bf 110G-4 in 1/48 scale. This version was used in night fighter

  role with three crew.

  plastic parts: Eduard

  marking options: 4

  decals: Eduard

  PE parts: no

  painting mask: no

  resin parts: no

  #8405

  1/48

  Product page

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard60

  July 2023

• Page 61

  Oblt. Martin Becker, 2./NJG 6, Florennes, Belgium, May 1944

  WNr. 720260, Oblt. Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, CO of IV./NJG 1, Sint Truiden, Belgium, April 1944

  WNr. 110 087, 4./NJG 3, Kjevik, Norway, 1945

  With 85 kills Martin Becker was the tenth most

  successful night fighter pilot of the Luftwaffe. He

  was special for achieving multiple kills of British

  four-engine bombers during a single mission,

  scoring nine (!) four-engine bombers on March 14,

  1945, although three of them were achieved by his

  radio operator Ofw. Karl-Ludwig Johanssen, after

  Becker’s forward firing cannons either jammed

  or were out of ammo. A native of Wiesbaden,

  where Becker was born on April 12, 1916, he

  joined the army in 1936 and was trained as an

  aerial observer. In this role he flew in the Battle

  of France, but shortly after he started his pilot

  training at the Merseburg flight school. Becker

  received basic and advanced training for night

  fighters and was assigned to 11./NJG 4, which

  was transformed into 2./NJG 6 on April 1, 1943.

  Johanssen served as Becker’s radio operator

  from March 1944 and became one of the few ROs

  to be awarded the Knight’s Cross. Becker scored

  his first victory on September 23, 1943, by the

  following month he was already Staffelkapitän of

  2./NJG 6 and by December 21 he had achieved ace

  status. His Bf 109G-4 of unknown serial number

  bore the spray paint of RLM 76, the silhouette

  of the aircraft was darkened by irregular spots

  of RLM 75. His aircraft was armed MG 151/20

  cannons.

  Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, the most successful

  night fighter ace of all times, recipient of the Knight

  Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds,

  flew from the beginning of his military aviation

  career as a night fighter. In total he shot down 121

  enemy aircraft, predominantly four-engine British

  bombers. During the whole war he was wounded

  only once and none of his crew members was

  ever wounded in combat. Schnaufer survived the

  war and at the end of hostilities he decided to

  concentrate on the family wine business. He died on

  June 15, 1950, two days after the car crash in which

  he collided with a truck in Cestas near Bordeaux

  in France. Schnaufer, nicknamed “The Night Ghost

  of St. Trond”, flew this Bf 110G-4 during the spring

  months of 1944 when he assumed command of

  IV. Gruppe Nachtjagdgeschwader 1. The aircraft

  original camouflage of RLM 74 and RLM 75 on

  the upper surfaces partially showed through the

  overcoat of RLM 76. The lower and side surfaces

  remained in the original coat of RLM 76, the

  starboard wing undersurfaces were painted black.

  The bottom position weapons were deleted on this

  aircraft.

  The 4./NJG 3 unit was formed in March 1945, out of

  Nachtjagdstaffel Norwegen, a unit that operated

  independently from Norway. The purpose of

  the unit was to intercept allied aircraft over

  Scandinavia. Besides the Bf110G, the unit also

  flew the Ju88G and He219. Its last function was

  on May 8, 1945, evacuating German unit officers

  from the surrounding areas. Aircraft B4+KA

  probably did not take part in this final action,

  because the end of the war found the aircraft

  still at Kjevik, in Norway. The aircraft carried

  FuG 220 SN-2b with vertical dipoles, and with

  an older type of mounting. Originally, the aircraft

  carried a camouflage scheme of RLM 74 and RLM

  75 fields on upper surfaces, and RLM 76 on the

  undersurfaces, but the uppersurfaces were later

  oversprayed with RLM 76 (aparto of the nose) and

  darkened by “snakes” of RLM 71. Starboard wing

  undesurfaces and engine cowl were oversprayed

  in black. This aircraft is recorded as crewed by

  Fw. Kurt Keilig (pilot), Fw. Kurt Schroter (radio

  operator) and Uffz. Karl Stamminger (mechanic).

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard

  61

  July 2023

• Page 62

  Hptm. Wilhelm Johnen, CO of III./NJG 6, Neubiberg, Germany, 1945

  Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 coded 2Z+FR from

  7./NJG 6 was one of the aircraft the Allies found

  at the Neubiberg airbase in the spring of 1945.

  Even though according to its codes it belonged

  to 7. Staffel it was actually a personal aircraft of

  Wilhelm Johnen, III./NJG 6 commanding officer.

  This airplane is much less known than the

  other Johnen’s aircraft coded C9+EN in which

  he performed an emergency landing due to the

  damaged engine in the night of April 27–28,

  1944. Bf 110G-4 2Z+FR was his last aircraft from

  the later production, equipped with the FuG 220

  SN-2D antennae with dipoles fixed at 45 degrees,

  Eberspächer type exhausts and Schräge Musik

  cannons. The whole aircraft was oversprayed in

  RLM 76, upper surfaces were darkened by small

  patches of RLM 75. According to photos, the

  aircraft lacked weapons in the bottom of the nose.

  Recommended:

  for Bf 110G-4 1/48

  FE1368 Bf 110G-4 Weekend (PE

  -

  Set)

  644081 Bf 110G-4 LööK (Brassin)

  644092 Bf 110G-4 LööKplus (Brassin)

  648603 Bf 110G wheels (Brassin)

  648604 Bf 110G-4 gun muzzles (Brassin)

  648605 Bf 110G-4 Schräge Musik (Brassin)

  648606 Bf 110G-4 exhaust stacks (Brassin)

  648778 Luftwaffe rudder pedals PRINT (Brassin)

  648862 Bf 110G radio equipment (Brassin)

  EX754 Bf 110G-4 TFace (Mask)

  EX963 Bf 110G-4 Weekend (Mask)

  # 648862

  # 648862

  # 648081

  # 648603

  # 648605

  # 648604

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard62

  July 2023

• Page 63

  Bf 109F-2

  The ProfiPACK edition of German fighter aircraft

  Bf 109F-2 in 1/48 scale.

  plastic parts: Eduard

  marking options: 5

  decals: Eduard

  PE parts: yes, pre-painted

  painting mask: yes

  resin parts: no

  #82115

  1/48

  Product page

  Re-release

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard

  63

  July 2023

• Page 64

  Bf 109F-2, Hptm. Hans Philipp, CO of I./JG 54, Krasnogvardeysk, the Soviet Union, March 1942

  Bf 109F-2, WNr. 9553, Oblt. Siegfried Schnell, CO of 9./JG 2, Théville, France, November 1941

  Bf 109F-2, Lt. Horst Buddenhagen, 5./JG 3, Darmstadt, Germany, April 1941

  Hans “Fips” Philipp, an ace with 206 kills to his credit

  over the course of some 500 sorties, was born on

  March 17, 1917, in Meissen. He joined the Luftwaffe

  in 1936. At the beginning of the Second World War,

  he served with I./JG 76, redesignated II./JG 54 in

  July 1940. As a member of this unit, he participated

  in the fighting over Britain and the Balkans. He

  also took part in Operation Barbarossa and was

  appointed CO of JG 1 in April 1943. For his combat

  success he was awarded the Knight’s Cross with

  Oak Leaves and Swords. Philipp was shot down

  on October 8, 1943, and did not survive his attempt

  to bail out. The aircraft flown by Hans Philipp was

  camouflaged with white color over the upper and

  side surfaces to better suit the conditions of the

  winter of 1943 in the vicinity of Leningrad. The

  Gruppe Commander marking was carried on the

  fuselage, as were the II. Gruppe and JG 54 (Green

  Heart) identifiers. Both sides of the rudder carried

  kill marks. The landing gear covers were removed

  due to their tendency to pile up snow.

  Siegfried “Wumm” Schnell, a native of Zeilenzig

  in Brandenburg (Sulecin, Poland today) joined the

  ranks of the Luftwaffe in 1936 and at the beginning

  of the Second World War he served with 4./JG 2.

  He achieved his first victory in combat over

  France on May 14, 1940, more followed over Britain

  and against English and American pilots over

  Western Europe. After being assigned to JG 54,

  he first served with its III. Gruppe and was

  appointed CO of IV. Gruppe on February 1, 1944.

  While serving in this position, he was shot down

  over Narva by a Soviet fighter on February 25,

  1944, and died. Schnell was awarded the Knight’s

  Cross with Oak Leaves on July 9, 1941 and downed

  93 enemies in the course of Second World War.

  His aircraft was camouflaged in the standard

  Luftwaffe fighter scheme using RLM 74/75/76.

  Both sides of the fin were decorated with the

  Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and victory marks.

  In the middle of February 1941, II./JG 3 was sent

  from the French coast back to Germany for some

  rest and to re-equip with the Bf 109F. In April,

  the new Bf 109F-2 were received at Darmstadt

  sporting the standard RLM 74/75/76 camouflage

  scheme to which the ground crew added yellow

  rudders and engine cowls. Lt. Buddenhagen’s

  aircraft also received the inscription

  Schluck=Specht 3. At the end of April 1941, II.

  Gruppe moved to France and after a month at

  Monchy-Breton was included into units that were

  assigned to take part in Operation Barbarossa,

  the attack on the Soviet Union. Aircraft of the

  5. Staffel were given bomb racks for the occasion.

  Lt. Buddenhagen was killed by ground fire on

  a bombing mission on June 25, 1941.

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard64

  July 2023

• Page 65

  Bf 109F-2/b, Oblt. Wilhelm Hachfeld, 2./JG 51, Kiev, the Soviet Union, Summer 1941

  Bf 109F-2, WNr. 9538, Lt. Hans Beißwenger, 6./JG 54, Ostrov, Soviet Union, July 1941

  During fighting over the plains of the Soviet

  Union, the Luftwaffe leadership planned use of

  Bf 109F-2s as fighter bombers to attack ground

  targets. The entire Jagdgeschwader 51, led by

  Werner Mölders, was tasked with support of

  Panzergruppe 2 over the central section of the

  front from the start of Operation Barbarossa.

  Future Knight’s Cross holder Wilhelm Hachfeld,

  born on September 20, 1914, in Dessau, was

  appointed the CO of 2. Staffel on October 8, 1940.

  Bomben Willi, as he was known, led the unit until

  August 25, 1941, when he took over the entire

  I. Gruppe JG 51 and served in that capacity until

  the end of April 1942. In May 1942, he became the

  CO of III./ZG 2, in who’s service he fell in Tunisia

  on December 2, 1942. The aircraft, equipped with

  ETC50/VIIId was camouflaged in RLM 74/75/76

  and, as an aircraft serving in the Eastern Front,

  was sporting yellow wing tips and fuselage band.

  Hans “Beißer” Beißwenger was first assigned to

  an anti-aircraft artillery unit after entering the

  Wehrmacht in 1937. A year later he started pilot

  training program in 1938 and after its successful

  completion he became instructor. In the winter of

  1940, he was assigned to 6./JG 54, and while serving

  with this unit he shot down a Yugoslav Hurricane on

  April 7, 1941. Other victories were achieved against

  Soviet pilots and he eventually accumulated 152

  kills. On March 6, 1943, his Bf 109G-2 was the victim

  of an aerial ramming conducted by Ivan Kholodov

  of the 32nd GIAP. Beißwenger died, while Kholodov

  bailed out. The “Yellow 4” was camouflaged in the

  standard Luftwaffe RLM 74/75/76 scheme, and the

  sides received an additional squiggle pattern of RLM

  75 bordered with irregular lines of RLM 74. Some

  sources say that the squiggles were in RLM 02 and

  the linework in RLM 71. The yellow wingtips and

  fuselage bands were the markings of the aircraft

  operating on the Eastern Front.

  Recommended:

  for Bf 109F-2 1/48

  644010 Bf 109F LööK (Brassin)

  648282 Bf 109F wheels (Brassin)

  648288 Bf 109F propeller LATE (Brassin)

  648289 Bf 109F propeller EARLY (Brassin)

  648291 Bf 109F landing flaps (Brassin)

  648300 Bf 109F engine & fuselage guns (Brassin)

  648308 Bf 109F undercarriage legs BRONZE (Brassin)

  D48026 Bf 109F stencils (Decal Set)

  D48043 Bf 109F-2 national insignia (Decal Set)

  EX588 Bf 109F TFace (Mask)

  OVERTREES

  #82115X

  Bf 109F-2

  1/48

  Product page

  Product page

  OVERLEPT

  #82115-LEPT

  Bf 109F-2

  PE

  -

  Set 1/48

  # 648308

  KITS 07/2023

  INFO Eduard

  65

  July 2023

• Page 66

  BRASSIN

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard and STEEL

  seatbelts for Spitfire Mk.Ia in 1/32 scale. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Kotare

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard and STEEL

  seatbelts for Do 335A in 1/48 scale. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  634038

  Spitfire Mk.Ia LööK

  1/32 Kotare

  644217

  Do 335A LööK

  1/48 Tamiya

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard66

  July 2023

• Page 67

  634036

  Spitfire Mk.IXc LööKplus

  1/24 Airfix

  Collection of 4 sets for Spitfire Mk.IXc in 1/24 scale.

  Recommended kit: Airfix

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboards & Steelbelts)

  - TFace painting mask

  - undercarriage wheels

  - exhaust stacks

  BRASSIN

  Collection of 3 sets for Mi-8MT in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Zvezda

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboards & Steelbelts)

  - TFace painting mask

  - undercarriage wheels

  644218

  Mi-8MT LööKplus

  1/48 Zvezda

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  67

  July 2023

• Page 68

  BRASSIN

  Collection of 3 sets for PV-1 in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Academy / Revell

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboards & Steelbelts)

  - TFace painting mask

  - undercarriage wheels

  Brassin set - the exhaust nozzle for P&W F100

  engine powered F-16 in 1/32 scale. Made by direct

  3D printing. Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 4 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  644219

  PV-1 LööKplus

  1/48 Academy/Revell

  632194

  F-16 exhaust nozzle P&W F100 PRINT

  1/32 Tamiya

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard68

  July 2023

• Page 69

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - the exhaust stacks for Spitfire Mk.Ia

  in 1/32 scale. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Recommended kit: Kotare

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  632196

  Spitfire Mk.Ia exhaust stacks PRINT

  1/32 Kotare

  Brassin set - the undercarriage

  wheels for Spitfire Mk.Ia in 1/32

  scale. The set consists of the main

  wheels and tail wheel. Easy to

  assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Kotare

  Set contains:

  - resin: 3 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: yes

  632195

  Spitfire Mk.Ia wheels

  1/32 Kotare

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  69

  July 2023

• Page 70

  648866

  Anson Mk.I engines PRINT

  1/48 Airfix

  648868

  Mi-8MT wheels

  1/48 Trumpeter

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - two engines for Anson Mk.I

  in 1/48 scale. The cowlings are not included.

  Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Airfix

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 6 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - the undercarriage wheels for Mi-8MT

  in 1/48 scale. The set consists of the main wheels and

  nose wheels. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Trumpeter

  Set contains:

  - resin: 4 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: yes

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard70

  July 2023

• Page 71

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - cockpit for Bf 109F in 1/48 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 16 parts

  - resin: 1 part

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  - SPACE 3D decals: no

  648876

  Bf 109F cockpit PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - the radiator for P-51D/K

  in 1/48 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  648872

  P-51D/K radiator PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  71

  July 2023

• Page 72

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - ejection seat for F-35B in 1/48 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Italeri

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 9 parts

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - exhaust stacks for Do 335A

  in 1/48 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 4 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  648878

  Do 335A exhaust stacks PRINT

  1/48 Tamiya

  648877

  F-35B ejection seat PRINT

  1/48 Italeri

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard72

  July 2023

• Page 73

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - radio compartment for Bf 109F

  in 1/72 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 4 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  672318

  Bf 109F radio compartment PRINT

  1/72 Eduard

  Brassin set - the undercarriage wheels for Do 335A

  in 1/48 scale. The set consists of the main wheels and

  a nose wheel. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  Set contains:

  - resin: 3 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: yes

  648879

  Do 335A wheels

  1/48 Tamiya

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  73

  July 2023

• Page 74

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - external fuel tanks for Bf 109F and Bf 109G

  in 1/72 scale. The set consists of two different tanks.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - resin: 2 parts

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - rounded wheel bays for Bf 109F

  in 1/72 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  672322

  Bf 109F wheel bays rounded PRINT

  1/72 Eduard

  672321

  Bf 109F/G external fuel tanks

  1/72 Eduard

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard74

  July 2023

• Page 75

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - SC 250 bomb for Bf 109F in 1/72 scale.

  The set consist of 1 bomb. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 5 parts

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  672324

  Bf 109 SC250 bomb

  1/72 Eduard

  Brassin set - angular wheel bays for Bf 109F

  in 1/72 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  672323

  Bf 109F/G wheels bays angular PRINT

  1/72 Eduard

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  75

  July 2023

• Page 76

  BRASSIN

  Brassin set - exhaust stacks for Bf 109F in 1/72 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  672325

  Bf 109F/G exhaust stacks PRINT

  1/72 Eduard

  Product page

• Page 77

• Page 78

  BRASSIN

  Collection of 4 sets for A6M2-N in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  - engine

  - gun bays

  - landing flaps

  - cockpit

  All sets included in this BIG SIN are available separately,

  but with every BIG SIN set you save up to 30 %.

  SIN648107

  A6M2-N Rufe

  1/48 Eduard

  Product page

  INFO Eduard78

  July 2023

• Page 79

  BRASSIN

  Collection of 5 sets for Bf 110E in 1/72 scale.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  - cockpit

  - nose guns

  - wheels

  - SC 50 bombs

  - SC 250 bombs

  All sets included in this BIG SIN are available separately, but

  with every BIG SIN set you save up to 30 %.

  SIN67220

  Bf 110E

  1/72 Eduard

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  79

  July 2023

• Page 80

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED

  JULY 2023

  A-20

  1/32 HKM

  A-20

  33355

  INFO Eduard80

  July 2023

• Page 81

  BRASSIN 02/2022BRASSIN 02/2022

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED

  INFO Eduard

  81

  July 2023

• Page 82

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED

  Hurricane Mk.I landing flaps

  1/48 Hobby Boss

  481113

  INFO Eduard82

  July 2023

• Page 83

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED

  481114

  491364

  Hurricane Mk.I gun bays

  Hurricane Mk.I

  1/48 Hobby Boss

  1/48 Hobby Boss

  Hurricane Mk.I

  Hurricane Mk.I

  seatbelts STEEL

  FE1364

  FE1367

  INFO Eduard

  83

  July 2023

• Page 84

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED

  481115

  Do 335A bomb bay

  1/48 Tamiya

  INFO Eduard84

  July 2023

• Page 85

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED

  491366

  MiG-17F

  1/48 Ammo

  INFO Eduard

  85

  July 2023

• Page 86

  PHOTO

  -

  ETCHED

  73803

  Mosquito PR.XVI

  1/72 Airfix

  INFO Eduard86

  July 2023

• Page 87

  easy

  application

  3DL32018 F-35A SPACE 1/32 Trumpeter

  3DL32019

  A-20G SPACE 1/32 HKM

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  87

  July 2023

• Page 88

  3DL48124 MiG-17F SPACE 1/48 AMMO

  3DL48125

  Hurricane Mk.I SPACE 1/48 Hobby Boss

  SPACE

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard88

  July 2023

• Page 89

  3DL48126 Mi-4A SPACE 1/48 Trumpeter

  3DL72019

  Mosquito PR.XVI SPACE 1/72 Airfix

  SPACE

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  89

  July 2023

• Page 90

  BIG ED

  All sets included in this BIG ED are available separately,

  but with every BIG ED set you save up to 30%.

  BIG2405 Spitfire Mk.IXc 1/24 Airfix

  BIG49370

  Mi-8MT 1/48 Zvezda

  BIG49371

  A6M2b 1/48 Academy

  23036 Spitfire Mk.IXc

  23037 Spitfire Mk.IXc seatbelts STEEL

  23038 Spitfire Mk.IXc landing flaps

  23039 Spitfire Mk.IXc engine & undercarriage

  LX007 Spitfire Mk.IXc

  491340 Mi-8MT 1/48

  FE1341 Mi-8MT seatbelts STEEL 1/48

  EX932 Mi-8MT 1/48

  481105 A6M2b landing flaps 1/48

  491344 A6M2b 1/48

  FE1345 A6M2b seatbelts STEEL 1/48

  EX937 A6M2b TFace 1/48

  Product page

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard90

  July 2023

• Page 91

  All sets included in this BIG ED are available separately,

  but with every BIG ED set you save up to 30%.

  BIG ED

  BIG49372 B-24D PART I 1/48 Revell

  BIG72174

  C-130J PART II 1/72 Zvezda

  BIG72175

  F-14B 1/72 Academy

  491338 B-24D cockpit 1/48

  FE1339 B-24D seatbelts STEEL 1/48

  EX293 B-24D 1/48

  73795 C-130J cargo floor 1/72

  73796 C-130J cargo seatbelts 1/72

  73797 C-130J cargo interior 1/72

  73044 Remove Before Flight STEEL

  72730 F-14B exterior 1/72

  73800 F-14B 1/72

  CX647 F-14B 1/72

  Product page

  Product page

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  91

  July 2023

• Page 92

  MASKS

  IT FITS!

  JX313 F-35A

  1/32 Trumpeter

  JX314 F-35A TFace

  1/32 Trumpeter

  JX315 A-20G

  1/32 HKM

  JX316 A-20G TFace

  1/32 HKM

  EX953 P-51D surface panels

  1/48 Eduard

  EX954 P-51D national insignia

  1/48 Eduard

  EX955 A6M2 Model 21

  national insignia

  1/48 Eduard

  EX956 F-4E surface panels

  1/48 Meng

  EX957 MiG-17F

  1/48 Ammo

  EX958 MiG-17F TFace

  1/48 Ammo

  EX959 Hurricane Mk.I TFace

  1/48 Hobby Boss

  EX960 Mi-4A

  1/48 Trumpeter

  EX961 Mi-4A TFace

  1/48 Trumpeter

  EX962 F-4E wheel bays

  1/48 Meng

  EX963 Bf 110G-4 Weekend

  1/48 Eduard

  CX649 Mosquito PR.XVI

  1/72 Airfix

  JX313 F-35A

  EX957 MiG-17F

  JX315 A-20G

  JX315 A-20G TFaceJX315 A-20G TFace

  JX313 F-35A

  EX957 MiG-17F

  JX314 F-35A TFace

  EX958 MiG-17F TFace

  JX314 F-35A TFace

  EX958 MiG-17F TFace

  JX314 F-35A TFace

  EX958 MiG-17F TFace

  JX314 F-35A TFace

  EX958 MiG-17F TFace

  INFO Eduard92

  July 2023

• Page 93

  EX960 Mi-4A

  EX960 Mi-4A

  EX950 Hurricane Mk.I TFace EX950 Hurricane Mk.I TFace

  CX649 Mosquito PR.XVICX649 Mosquito PR.XVI

  EX961 Mi-4A TFace EX961 Mi-4A TFace

  EX961 Mi-4A TFaceEX961 Mi-4A TFace

  MASKS

  INFO Eduard

  93

  July 2023

• New masks by Eduard

  Starting in July, we are introducing new types of masking sets, which are designed to make the spraying of some of the more difficult or specific parts of the models easier. They are introduced in two series with the first one designed for spraying distinctive surface panels, like the now released set designed to mask out different shades of metal panels on the P-51 Mustang.

  MASKS

  New masks by Eduard

  Mask sets and equipment needed for spraying.

  Application of the first

  metallic layer of Gunze

  SM201.

  Starting in July, we are introducing new types

  of masking sets, which are designed to make the

  spraying of some of the more difficult or specific

  parts of the models easier. They are introduced

  in two series with the first one designed for

  spraying distinctive surface panels, like the

  now released set designed to mask out different

  shades of metal panels on the P-51 Mustang.

  The second series of the new masks is intended

  for spraying the insignia or other markings

  suitable for spraying using masks. In this case,

  let’s take the example of the just-released

  sets of insignia for the Zero and P-51 Mustang.

  Other sets of masks will follow. For example,

  masks to facilitate the spraying of Meng’s

  F-4E Phantom’s landing gear bays and

  airbrakes are due to August 2023. We believe

  the new masks will save many modelers time

  in preparations of the model for spraying. They

  are easy to use, as the following photo report

  shows.

  INFO Eduard94

  July 2023

• Page 95

  MASKS

  These mask sets are cut into black masking film. I recommend removing

  the individual segments with sharp tweezers. Before applying the masks,

  I also recommend taping the removed segments several times on a clean

  palm to reduce mask adhesion and so the risk of paint stripping during

  removal.

  Mask the individual panels on the model according to the instructions. The panels to be differentiated can either be masked directly or, on the contrary, their surroundings

  can be covered and the differentiating shade sprayed on the panels.

  Application of the second metallic

  tint with Gunze SM203 with a drop of

  black gloss Gunze GX02.

  INFO Eduard

  95

  July 2023

• Page 96

  Appearance of the

  differentiated panels.

  Result after

  unmasking.

  The masks need to

  be carefully pulled off

  with pointed tweezers

  to avoid damage to the

  paint.

  MASKS

  INFO Eduard96

  July 2023

• Page 97

  Spraying with Gunze

  C385 red paint from

  the set CS668.

  Positioning of the

  Hinomaru spray mask

  according to the

  instructions.

  Result after

  unmasking.

  MASKS

  INFO Eduard

  97

  July 2023

• Page 98

  RELEASES

  JULY 2023

  KITS

  PE

  -

  SETS

  ZOOMS

  MASKS

  82219 A6M2-N Rufe 1/48 ProfiPACK

  11174 MIGHTY EIGHTH: 66th Fighter Wing 1/48 Limited

  7470 Fw 190A-5 1/72 Weekend

  8405 Bf 110G-4 1/48 Weekend

  82115 Bf 109F-2 reedice 1/48 ProfiPACK

  321011 F-35A 1/32 Trumpeter

  321012 A-20G 1/32 HKM

  481113 Hurricane Mk.I landing flaps 1/48 Hobby Boss

  481114 Hurricane Mk.I gun bays 1/48 Hobby Boss

  481115 Do 335A bomb bay 1/48 Tamiya

  481116 Mi-4A cargo floor 1/48 Trumpeter

  481117 F-4E reinforcement

  straps & formation lights 1/48 Meng

  491362 Mi-4A 1/48 Trumpeter

  491364 Hurricane Mk.I 1/48 Hobby Boss

  491366 MiG-17F 1/48 Ammo

  73803 Mosquito PR.XVI 1/72 Airfix

  33353 F-35A 1/32 Trumpeter

  33354 F-35A seatbelts STEEL 1/32 Trumpeter

  33355 A-20G 1/32 HKM

  33356 A-20G seatbelts STEEL 1/32 HKM

  FE1362 Mi-4A 1/48 Trumpeter

  FE1363 Mi-4A seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Trumpeter

  FE1364 Hurricane Mk.I 1/48 Hobby Boss

  FE1365 Hurricane Mk.I seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Hobby Boss

  FE1366 MiG-17F 1/48 Ammo

  FE1367 MiG-17F seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Ammo

  FE1368 Bf 110G-4 Weekend 1/48 Eduard

  SS803 Mosquito PR.XVI 1/72 Airfix

  SS804 Fw 190A-5 Weekend 1/72 Eduard

  JX313 F-35A 1/32 Trumpeter

  JX314 F-35A TFace 1/32 Trumpeter

  JX315 A-20G 1/32 HKM

  JX316 A-20G TFace 1/32 HKM

  EX953 P-51D surface panels 1/48 Eduard

  EX954 P-51D national insignia 1/48 Eduard

  EX955 A6M2 Model 21 national insignia 1/48 Eduard

  EX956 F-4E surface panels 1/48 Meng

  EX957 MiG-17F 1/48 Ammo

  EX958 MiG-17F TFace 1/48 Ammo

  EX959 Hurricane Mk.I TFace 1/48 Hobby Boss

  EX960 Mi-4A 1/48 Trumpeter

  EX961 Mi-4A TFace 1/48 Trumpeter

  EX962 F-4E wheel bays 1/48 Meng

  EX963 Bf 110G-4 Weekend 1/48 Eduard

  CX649 Mosquito PR.XVI 1/72 Airfix

  INFO Eduard98

  July 2023

• Page 99

  BIG-EDBIG-ED

  BIG ED

  BIG2405 Spitfire Mk.IXc 1/24 Airfix

  BIG49370 Mi-8MT 1/48 Zvezda

  BIG49371 A6M2b 1/48 Academy

  BIG49372 B-24D PART I 1/48 Revell

  BIG72174 C-130J PART II 1/72 Zvezda

  BIG72175 F-14B 1/72 Academy

  RELEASES

  BRASSIN

  LöökPLUS

  BIG SIN

  SPACE

  634038 Spitfire Mk.Ia LööK 1/32 Kotare

  644217 Do 335A LööK 1/48 Tamiya

  632194 F-16 exhaust nozzle P&W F100 PRINT 1/32 Tamiya

  632195 Spitfire Mk.Ia wheels 1/32 Kotare

  632196 Spitfire Mk.Ia ehaust stacks PRINT 1/32 Kotare

  648866 Anson Mk.I engines PRINT 1/48 Airfix

  648868 Mi-8MT wheels 1/48 Trumpeter

  648872 P-51D/K radiator PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  648876 Bf 109F cockpit PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  648877 F-35B ejection seat PRINT 1/48 Italeri

  648878 Do 335A exhaust stacks PRINT 1/48 Tamiya

  648879 Do 335A wheels 1/48 Tamiya

  672318 Bf 109F radio compartment PRINT 1/72 Eduard

  672321 Bf 109F/G external fuel tanks 1/72 Eduard

  672322 Bf 109F wheel bays rounded PRINT 1/72 Eduard

  672323 Bf 109F/G wheel bays angular PRINT 1/72 Eduard

  672324 Bf 109 SC250 bomb 1/72 Eduard

  672325 Bf 109F/G exhaust stacks PRINT 1/72 Eduard

  634036 Spitfire Mk.IXc LööKplus 1/24 Airfix

  644218 Mi-8MT LööKplus 1/48 Zvezda

  644219 PV-1 LööKplus 1/48 Academy/Revell

  SIN648107 A6M2-N Rufe 1/48 Eduard

  SIN67220 Bf 110E 1/72 Eduard

  3DL32018 F-35A SPACE 1/32 Trumpeter

  3DL32019 A-20G SPACE 1/32 HKM

  3DL48124 MiG-17F SPACE 1/48 Ammo

  3DL48125 Hurricane Mk.I SPACE 1/48 Hobby Boss

  3DL48126 Mi-4A SPACE 1/48 Trumpeter

  3DL72019 Mosquito PR.XVI SPACE 1/72 Airfix

  JULY 2023

  INFO Eduard

  99

  July 2023

• Page 100

  GUNZE PRODUCTS

  -

  WEATHERING

  WEATHERING COLORS

  YAKUMO

  WWII WESTERN FRONT

  CAT.NO.: WY01

  These Yakumo Colors—Mr. Weathering Color and Mr. Weathering Paste-based weathering colors—

  were supervised by the world-famous modeler, Mr. Mig Jimenez. The mud and dirt colors are made

  with pigments that have been collected from all over the world.

  WY01 is a weathering paint set for German vehicles in the

  WWII Western Front. Thin each color with the separately-sold

  Mr. Weathering Colour Thinner (WCT101/102); or MIG015 thinner

  (YAKUMO thinner).

  From a modeler’s perspective, Europe was the setting of many

  of the most interesting battles of the war, including Normandy,

  the Battle of the Bulge, Hungary, the Warsaw Uprising and the fall

  of Berlin. On these fronts the Germans used several standardized

  camouflage patterns, but each was always based on green and

  brown camouflage colours over a dark yellow base (C039 dark

  yellow, C041 red-brown and C070 dark green). Dust in summer and

  dry mud were the most common effects seen in German vehicles.

  In addition to the two products used to represent these effects,

  the perfect wash tone is also included, and another for streaked

  dirt stains. For the most complete finish, combine with SET

  D

  -

  BASICS.

  MIG

  MIG

  MIG

  MIG

  MIG

  001

  003

  002

  002

  004

  DARK WASH

  Apply the wash with a fine brush to details, in panel lines,

  and around hatches to enhance contrast and volume.

  Remove the excess with a clean brush moistened with

  YAKUMO thinner. Let it dry 24 hours.

  DRY MUD

  You can apply the mud with a thick brush to the underside

  of the vehicle, the tracks, and the suspension. You can

  also apply splashed earth effect with the mud product

  by the flicking a thick brush loaded with product using

  a toothpick. This will create mud splatter effects. Make

  a few tests on an old model or a piece of paper before

  trying it on the model. Let it dry 24 hours.

  DARK STREAKING GRIME

  Stroke well Draw vertical lines on vertical or sloped

  surfaces with irregular shapes and different intensity,

  then blend with a flat brush and YAKUMO thinner to

  soften. Let it dry 24 hours.

  EUROPE DUST

  Pigment colour to simulate dust effects, particularly

  on the horizontal areas and around surface details.

  Apply the pigment dry with a brush and then moisten the

  surface with thinner. Once dry, it can be moistened again

  and touched up to achieve the desired effect.

  Product page

• Page 101

  GUNZE PRODUCTS

  -

  WEATHERING

  WWII EASTERN FRONT

  CAT.NO.: WY02

  WY02 is a weathering paint set for winter camouflaged vehicles

  in WWII Eastern Front. Thin each color with the separately-sold

  Mr. Weathering Colour Thinner (WCT101/102); or MIG015 thinner

  (YAKUMO thinner).

  The Germans camouflaged their vehicles in the harsh Russian

  winters with white paint to blend it with the snowy landscape.

  A white vehicle needs a very special treatment of aging and dirt

  to be realistic and credible. This special set for German winter

  vehicles includes the necessary products to achieve a realistic

  appearance in a winter environment such as the battles of Moscow,

  Stalingrad, or the siege of Leningrad. This set is specially designed

  for white camouflage applied on German panzer grey colour

  (Panzer Grey - C040 German Grey, C513 „Dunkelgrau“, C514 „Grau“

  etc). For the most complete finish, combine with SET D

  -

  BASICS.

  MIG

  MIG

  MIG

  MIG

  005

  007

  006

  008

  WINTER WASH

  see MIG 001 for description

  MIG-007 - FRESH DARK MUD

  see MIG 003 for description

  WINTER STREAKING GRIME

  see MIG 002 for description

  MIG-008 - DRY EARTH

  see MIG 004 for description

  WWII AFRIKA KORPS

  CAT.NO.: WY03

  WY03 is a weathering paint set for model vehicles in the WWII Afrika

  Korps. It can add realistic sand stains from the harsh weather

  conditions of Africa to your scale model. Thin each color with

  the separately-sold Mr. Weathering Colour Thinner (WCT101/102);

  or MIG015 thinner (YAKUMO thinner).

  The landscapes of Tunisia or Libya were very harsh and hostile

  environments for the vehicles of the German Afrika Korps (DAK).

  The scorching sun and heat faded the colours quickly while

  the dust was ubiquitous. The Germans over painted their grey

  vehicles with various shades of sand colour (i.e. C039 Dark Yellow)

  to make them less visible on the open desert plains. The product

  included in this set allow you to apply washes, dirt effect, and large

  accumulations of dust to give your model realistic look. For more

  complete finish, combine with SET D

  -

  BASICS.

  MIG

  MIG

  MIG

  MIG

  011

  010

  009

  012

  SAND FILTER

  Apply the filter over the entire surface of model uniformly for

  a transparent and subtle effect, without letting the product

  accumulate in recesses and panel lines. Allow the filter to dry

  for 24 hours.

  GRAY STREAKING GRIME

  see MIG 003 for description

  DESERT WASH

  Apply the wash with a fine brush to details, in panel lines, and around

  hatches to enhance contrast and volume. Remove the excess with

  a clean brush moistened with YAKUMO thinner. Let it dry 24 hours.

  MIG-008 - DRY EARTH

  see MIG 004 for description

  Product page

  Product page

• Page 102

  GUNZE PRODUCTS

  -

  WEATHERING

  BASICS

  CAT.NO.: WY04

  WY04 is a weathering paint set that can be used on various

  military models including tanks. This set of paints can replicate

  basic oil stains, chipped paint, and rust. Thin each color with the

  separately-sold Mr. Weathering Colour Thinner (WCT101/102);

  or MIG015 thinner (YAKUMO thinner).

  Most German military vehicles showed certain universal

  weathering effects, no matter the setting or time of the year. Tanks

  or half-tracks usually showed chipped paint, rust effects, or large

  areas of fuel stains soaked into caked dust or dirt over top. These

  are the weathering effects that bring more life and realism to the

  model, and that is the reason why you must pay special attention

  when adding them. This universal set will allow you to create

  extremely realistic effects on your models, no matter the location

  or time of the year in which they are set. The colours and effects

  are accurate for the cold Russian winter, the Normandy campaign

  or the barren landscapes of the North Africa. Always use this set

  in combination with one of the YAKUMO sets for military vehicles

  in a specific setting.

  MIG

  MIG

  MIG

  MIG

  015

  014

  013

  016

  FUEL & OIL

  Apply this product to the sides of model in the shape of vertical

  lines, or add small drops over a surface treated with MIG014

  pigment. This effect can be diluted with YAKUMO thinner to create

  a softer and more natural effect. Use this effect sparingly and

  apply the effect in scale. Let it dry 12 hours.

  CHIPPING

  The perfect colour to represent chipped paint effects on your

  models, as long as the surface you are depicting was made out

  of iron or steel in the real vehicle. Use a brush with a fine tip to

  paint the chips on the zones most exposed to wear and tear, You

  can also apply the chipping with a piece of sponge or packing foam.

  Let it dry 10 minutes. Can be cleaned with water.

  EARTH & GRIME

  A pigment tone to simulate accumulated dirt, or to create a base

  onto which you can apply fuel stains. Apply the pigment dry with

  a brush to the designed areas. It can also be used to emphasize

  shadows or dirt effect on nooks and crannies.

  MIG-008 - DRY EARTH

  Eventually all vehicles rust in specific areas due to rain, snow and

  dew. Apply the product in small quantities around small details

  such as screw heads, brackets or other fixtures, as well as on

  vertical or sloped surfaces in the form of faded lines. Use he effect

  sparingly and apply the effect in scale.

  Product page

• Page 103

  DOBŘÍŠSKÁ ŠELMA

  Více informací: www.facebook.com/dobrismodel/ • www.dobrismodel.cz • modelari.dobris@gmail.com • tel. 728 074 851

  PLASTIKOVÉ A PAPÍROVÉ MODELY OD MODELÁŘŮ Z CELÉ ČR • PRODEJCI MODELŮ A MODELÁŘSKÝCH POTŘEB

  DOPOLEDNE DOPROVODNÁ VÝSTAVA AUTO A MOTO VETERÁNŮ • OBČERSTVENÍ • VSTUPNÉ DOBROVOLNÉ

  SOBOTA 19. SRPNA 2023 OD 10:00 DO 15:00

  MODELÁŘSKÁ SOUTĚŽNÍ VÝSTAVA

  • Online přihlašování modelů:

  dobris.ipmscz.eu

  • Přejímka modelů:

  19. srpna od 8:00 do 10:00

  • Startovné: děti zdarma, dospělí 100 Kč

  • Otevřeno pro veřejnost: 10:00 – 15:00

  SPORTOVNÍ HALA, ŠKOLNÍ 36, DOBŘÍŠ – BOČNÍ VCHOD

• Page 104

  built by Robert Szwarc

  #2142

  MARKING OPTION B

  BUILT

  Product page

  INFO Eduard104

  July 2023

• Page 105

  Bf 109F-2, WNr. 8085, Lt. Jürgen Harder, Stab III./JG 53, Sobolewo, Germany, June 1941

  Jürgen Harder, brother of the better known Harro

  Harder, achieved his first kill on June 22, 1941, the

  day Operation Barbarossa began. He joined the

  Luftwaffe in 1939 and served in 7./JG 53 from early

  1941, then became a staff officer in III. Gruppe. In

  April 1942 he took command of 7./JG 53 in Africa

  and in February 1944 became commander of

  I./JG 53 in Italy. Until the end of the war he claimed

  further 63 kills both on the Eastern and Western

  fronts. On February 1, 1945, he was decorated with

  the Knight’s Cross with the Oak Leaves. His luck

  ran out on February 17, 1945, when, due to the

  engine failure of his Messerschmitt Bf 109G-14, he

  crashed to death nearby the town of Strausberg.

  Harder’s WNr. 8085 later served with 4./JG 51,

  Jagdgruppe West, underwent an overhaul and

  its version designation was changed to F-4.

  It was destroyed on December 2, 1943, in Southern

  France when it was allocated to Jagdgruppe Süd,

  commanded by Heinz Bär. In its cockpit, Uffz.

  Alexis Prinz zu Bentheim und Steinfurt was shot

  down in combat with American airmen.

  BUILT

  INFO Eduard

  105

  July 2023

• Page 106

  built by Jan Baranec

  #82139

  Fw 190F-8

  1/48

  BUILT

  Accessories used:

  648714 Panzerschreck 1 for Fw 190F PRINT (Brassin)

  648736 Fw 190A landing flaps PRINT (Brassin)

  648824 Fw 190F-8 cockpit PRINT (Brassin)

  Panzerschreck 1 for Fw 190F PRINT

  #648714

  Product page

  INFO Eduard106

  July 2023

• Page 107

  BUILT

  Fw 190A landing flaps PRINT

  #648736

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  107

  July 2023

• Page 108

  5./SG 77, Cottbus, Germany, early March 1945

  This aircraft was photographed at Cottbus airport

  in early 1945. It bore a standard camouflage

  scheme consisting of the RLM 74 and 75 colors

  on the upper surfaces. The lower surfaces were

  sprayed in RLM 76, which was complemented on

  the fuselage bottom by a green-blue shade of

  the RLM 76. The black horizontal stripe indicates

  the aircraft belonged to 5. Staffel SG 77. The

  significance of the red flash on the engine cowling

  is unknown.

  BUILT

  INFO Eduard108

  July 2023

• Page 109

  BUILT

  Fw 190F-8 cockpit PRINT #648824

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  109

  July 2023

• Page 110

  BUILT

  BIG ED

  F-104G late KINETIC 1/48

  built by Ugur Kenel

  #BIG49238

  INFO Eduard110

  July 2023

• Page 111

  BUILT

  built by Paolo Portuesi

  #11171

  MARKING OPTION F

  Kōkūtai 802, Emidj Island, Jaluit Atoll, Marshall Islands, October 1943

  This late production aircraft was finished in

  a factory applied dark green paint. After relocation

  to the Marshall Islands area in March 1943, Kōkūtai

  802 under the command of Lt.(jg) Yamazaki was

  primarily engaged in anti-submarine patrols and

  the pursuit of four-engine bombers. Long-range

  reconnaissance was carried out by another part

  of this unit, which was armed with H8K Emily

  flying boats. In September 1943, the designation

  of its aircraft was changed to Y4 in connection

  with the transition to the subordination of the

  22nd Kōkū Sentai (Air Flotilla). The identification

  markings on the tail surfaces of Rufe seaplanes

  changed from red to white during service in

  the Marshall Islands. In October, fighter unit of

  Kōkūtai 802 was integrated into Kōkūtai 902, and

  in November, the fighter unit clashed with US

  Navy aircraft during a raid on Truk.

  Product page

  INFO Eduard

  111

  July 2023

• Page 112

  BUILT

  Mi-24VMi-24V

  1/48 zvezda

  built by Christian Gerard

  Accessories used:

  ER48001 Mi-24V positive rivets & surface details (3D Decal Set)

  481019 Mi-24 exterior (PE

  -

  Set)

  648575 B8V20 rocket launcher (Brassin)

  D48054 Mi-24V/Mi-35 in Czech AF service (Decal Set)

  D48060 Mi-24V stencils Czech (Decal Set)

  ER48001 Mi-24V positive rivets & surface details (3D Decal Set)

  D48054 Mi-24V/Mi-35 in Czech AF service (Decal Set)

  INFO Eduard112

  July 2023

• Page 113

  Mi-24V 0834, 2. letka, 11.vpr, CIAF Hradec Králové July 17th, 1993

  BUILT

  ER48001 Mi-24V positive rivets & surface details (3D Decal Set)

  481019 Mi-24 exterior (PE

  -

  Set)

  648575 B8V20 rocket launcher (Brassin)

  D48060 Mi-24V stencils Czech (Decal Set)

  INFO Eduard

  113

  July 2023

• Page 114

  ON APPROACH

  AUGUST 2023

  634039

  A-20G LööK

  1/32 HKM

  644220

  Hurricane Mk.I LööK

  1/48 Hobby Boss

  644222

  FM-2 LööK

  1/48 Eduard

  BIG33152 CH-54A 1/35 ICM

  BIG49373 B-24D PART II 1/48 Revell

  BIG49374 Mi-17 1/48 AMK

  BIG49375 F-86D 1/48 Revell

  BIG49376 PV-1 PART I 1/48 Academy

  634039 A-20G LööK 1/32 HKM

  644220 Hurricane Mk.I LööK 1/48 Hobby Boss

  644222 FM-2 LööK 1/48 Eduard

  644223 MiG-17F LööK 1/48 AMMO

  632197 A-20G wheels 1/32 HKM

  635033 Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. C radio equipment PRINT 1/35 Academy

  635034 WWII German fire extinguishers PRINT 1/35

  648875 Bf 109F cockpit w/ early seat PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  648880 Bf 109F wheel bays rounded PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  648881 Bf 109F wheel bays angular PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  648882 F-4E wheels 1/48 Meng

  648883 A6M3 gun bays short barrel PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  648886 FM-2 undercarriage legs BRONZE 1/48 Eduard

  648887 FM-2 wheels 1/48 Eduard

  648888 FM-2 seat PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  648889 FM-2 folding wings PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  648890 FM-2 gun barrels PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  648891 F-104A/C airbrakes PRINT 1/48 Kinetic/Eduard

  648892 F-104A/C exhaust nozzle PRINT 1/48 Kinetic/Eduard

  648895 FM-2 cockpit PRINT 1/48 Eduard

  672317 Bf 109F undercarriage legs BRONZE 1/72 Eduard

  672326 Bf 109F/G/K gun pods PRINT 1/72 Eduard

  672329 Bf 109 balance weights PRINT 1/72 Eduard

  672330 MiG-29 wheels 1/72 Great Wall Hobby

  634040 Spitfire Mk.Ia LööKplus 1/32 Kotare

  644221 Do 335A LööKplus 1/48 Tamiya

  SIN648108 F-35A 1/48 Tamiya

  SIN648109 F-4E armament 1/48 Meng

  BIG ED (August)

  BRASSIN (August)

  LöökPlus (August)

  BIGSIN (August)

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard and STEEL

  seatbelts for A-20G in 1/32 scale. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: HKM

  Set contains:

  - resin: 3 parts

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details:

  yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard and STEEL seatbelts

  for Hurricane Mk.I in 1/48 scale. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: Hobby Boss

  Set contains:

  - resin: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details:

  yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard and STEEL

  seatbelts for FM-2 in 1/48 scale. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details:

  yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  PRELIMINARY IMAGES

  PRELIMINARY IMAGES

  PRELIMINARY IMAGES

  INFO Eduard114

  July 2023

• Page 115

  644223

  MiG-17F LööK

  1/48 AMMO

  ON APPROACH

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard and

  STEEL seatbelts for MiG-17F in 1/48 scale. Easy to

  assemble, replaces plastic parts. Recommended

  kit: AMMO

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details:

  yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  632197

  A-20G wheels

  1/32 HKM

  635033

  Sd.Kfz. 251/1 Ausf. C radio equipment PRINT

  1/35 Academy

  Brassin set - the undercarriage wheels for A-20G

  in 1/32 scale. The set consists of the main wheels

  and a nose wheel. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: HKM

  Set contains:

  - resin: 3 parts

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: yes

  Brassin set - radio equipment for Sd.Kfz. 251/1

  Ausf. C in 1/35 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Academy

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 14 parts

  - resin: 1 part

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  INFO Eduard

  115

  July 2023

• Page 116

  ON APPROACH

  AUGUST 2023

  635034

  WWII German fire extinguishers PRINT

  1/35

  648875

  Bf 109F cockpit w/ early seat PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  648880

  Bf 109F wheel bays rounded PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - fire extinguishers for German WWII

  AFV in 1/35 scale. The set consists of 4 extinguishers.

  Made by direct 3D printing.

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 6 parts

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - cockpit for Bf 109F

  in 1/48 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 17 parts

  - resin: 1 part

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details:

  yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  - SPACE 3D decals: no

  Brassin set - rounded wheel bays for Bf 109F

  in 1/48 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  INFO Eduard116

  July 2023

• Page 117

  ON APPROACHAUGUST 2023

  648881

  Bf 109F wheel bays angular PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  648882

  F-4E wheels

  1/48 Meng

  648883

  A6M3 gun bays short barrel PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - angular wheel bays for Bf 109F

  in 1/48 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - the undercarriage wheels for F-4E

  in 1/48 scale. The set consists of the main wheels

  and nose wheels. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: Meng

  Set contains:

  - resin: 4 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: yes

  Brassin set - gun bays for A6M3 in 1/48 scale. Designed

  for Zeroes Type 32 and 22 with short-barreled wing guns

  (guns not protruding from the leading edge of the wing).

  Made by direct 3D printing. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 22 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  INFO Eduard

  117

  July 2023

• Page 118

  ON APPROACH

  648886

  FM-2 undercarriage legs BRONZE

  1/48 Eduard

  648887

  FM-2 wheels

  1/48 Eduard

  648888

  FM-2 seat PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - the undercarriage legs for FM-2 in 1/48 scale.

  The legs are made of bronze. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 4 parts

  - bronze: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - the undercarriage wheels for FM-2

  in 1/48 scale. The set consists of the main wheels

  and a tail wheel. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic

  parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 9 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: yes

  Brassin set - the seat for FM-2 in 1/48 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble, replaces

  plastic parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: yes

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard118

  July 2023

• Page 119

  6488890

  FM-2 gun barrels PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  648889

  FM-2 folding wings PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  Brassin set - gun barrels for FM-2

  in 1/48 scale. Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 4 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  ON APPROACH

  Brassin set - folding wings for FM-2 in 1/48 scale.

  The set consists of parts for both wings.

  Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 10 parts

  - plastic: 4 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  648891

  F-104A/C airbrakes PRINT

  1/48 Kinetic/Eduard

  Brassin set - airbrakes for F-104A/C in 1/48 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Kinetic/Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard

  119

  July 2023

• Page 120

  ON APPROACH

  648892

  F-104A/C exhaust nozzle PRINT

  1/48 Kinetic/Eduard

  648895

  FM-2 cockpit PRINT

  1/48 Eduard

  672317

  Bf 109F undercarriage legs BRONZE

  1/72 Eduard

  Brassin set - exhaust nozzle for F-104A/C in 1/48 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Kinetic/Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 4 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  Brassin set - cockpit for FM-2 in 1/48 scale.

  Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 1 parts

  - decals: yes

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted

  - painting mask: no

  - SPACE 3D decals: no

  Brassin set - the undercarriage legs for Bf 109F

  in 1/72 scale. The legs are made of bronze.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 2 parts

  - bronze: 2 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard120

  July 2023

• Page 121

  672329

  Bf 109 balance weights PRINT

  1/72 Eduard

  672326

  Bf 109F/G/K gun pods PRINT

  1/72 Eduard

  Brassin set - wing balance weights for Bf 109F

  in 1/72 scale. The set consists of 10 balance weights.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Made by direct 3D printing.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 10 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: no

  ON APPROACH

  Brassin set - gun pods for Bf 109F/G/K in 1/72 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts. Made by

  direct 3D printing. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - 3D print: 8 parts

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: yes

  - painting mask: no

  672330

  MiG-29 wheels

  1/72 Great Wall Hobby

  Brassin set - the undercarriage wheels for MiG-29

  in 1/72 scale. The set consists of the main wheels

  and nose wheels. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Great Wall Hobby

  Set contains:

  - resin: 4 parts

  - 3D print: 1 part

  - decals: no

  - photo-etched details: no

  - painting mask: yes

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard

  121

  July 2023

• Page 122

  ON APPROACH

  Collection of 4 sets for Spitfire Mk.Ia in 1/32 scale.

  Recommended kit: Kotare

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboards & Steelbelts)

  - TFace painting mask

  - undercarriage wheels

  - exhaust stacks

  634040

  Spitfire Mk.Ia LööKplus

  1/32 Kotare

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard122

  July 2023

• Page 123

  ON APPROACH

  Collection of 4 sets for Do 335A in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboards & Steelbelts)

  - TFace painting mask

  - undercarriage wheels

  - exhaust stacks

  644221

  Do 335A LööKplus

  1/48 Tamiya

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard

  123

  July 2023

• Page 124

  SIN648108

  F-35A

  1/48 Tamiya

  Collection of 4 sets for F-35A in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Tamiya

  - cockpit

  - exhaust nozzle

  - undercarriage wheels

  - Remove Before Flight tags SPACE

  All sets included in this BIG SIN are available separately,

  but with every BIG SIN set you save up to 30 %.

  ON APPROACH

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard124

  July 2023

• Page 125

  SIN648109

  F-4E armament

  1/48 Meng

  Collection of 7 sets for F-4E in 1/48 scale.

  Recommended kit: Meng

  - AGM-65 Maverick (3 sets)

  - AIM-7M Sparrow

  - AN/ALQ-131 (shallow) ECM pod

  - GBU-10 Paveway I

  - AIM-9M/L Sidewinder

  All sets included in this BIG SIN are available separately,

  but with every BIG SIN set you save up to 30 %.

  BRASSIN 02/2022BRASSIN 02/2022

  ON APPROACHAUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard

  125

  July 2023

• Page 126

  PE

  -

  SETS

  53295 USS Nimitz CVN-68 part 1 1/350 Trumpeter

  32484 A-20G bomb bay 1/32 HKM

  32485 A-20G main wheel wells 1/32 HKM

  481118 F-16 reinforcement straps STEEL 1/48 Kinetic

  481119 FM-2 landing flaps 1/48 Eduard

  481120 A-10C formation lights 1/48 Academy

  491369 F-16D Block 30 1/48 Kinetic

  491370 F-16D Block 40 1/48 Kinetic

  491371 F-16D Block 50 1/48 Kinetic

  491373 A-10C 1/48 Academy

  73805 OV-10A 1/72 ICM

  ZOOMS

  FE1369 F-16D Block 30 1/48 Kinetic

  FE1370 F-16D Block 40 1/48 Kinetic

  FE1371 F-16D Block 50 1/48 Kinetic

  FE1372 F-16D Block 30/40/50 seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Kinetic

  FE1373 A-10C 1/48 Academy

  FE1374 A-10C seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Academy

  FE1375 A6M3 Zero Type 32 Weekend 1/48 Eduard

  SS805 OV-10A 1/72 ICM

  MASKS

  EX964 A-10C TFace 1/48 Academy

  EX965 FM-2 TFace 1/48 Eduard

  EX966 F-16D Block 30/40/50 1/48 Kinetic

  EX967 F-16D Block 30/40/50 TFace 1/48 Kinetic

  EX968 F-35B RAM coating 1/48 Italeri

  EX969 A6M2-N Rufe national insignia 1/48 Eduard

  EX970 A6M3 Zero Type 32 Weekend 1/48 Eduard

  CX650 OV-10A 1/72 ICM

  SPACE

  3DL48127 Bf 110G-4 SPACE 1/48 Eduard

  3DL48128 FM-2 SPACE 1/48 Eduard

  3DL48129 F-16D Block 30 SPACE 1/48 Kinetic

  3DL48130 F-16D Block 40 SPACE 1/48 Kinetic

  3DL48131 F-16D Block 50 SPACE 1/48 Kinetic

  3DL48132 A-10C SPACE 1/48 Academy

  3DL72020 OV-10A SPACE 1/72 ICM

  DECAL SET

  D72045 Bf 109F stencils 1/72 Eduard

  EDDIE THE RIVETER

  ER32001 Single riveting rows 1/32

  ER48006 Single riveting rows 1/48

  ER72001 Single riveting rows 1/72

  ON APPROACH

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard126

  July 2023

• Page 127

  ON APPROACH

  Bf 109F-4 #70155 1/72

  Bf 109F-4/Trop, WNr. 10137, Oblt. Hans-Joachim Marseille,

  CO of 3./JG 27, Ain-el-Gazala, Libya, June 1942

  Bf 109F-4, Maj. Hannes Trautloft, CO of JG 54,

  Relbitsy, the Soviet Union, March 1942

  Bf 109F-4/B, Oblt. Frank Liesendahl, 10.(Jabo)/JG 2,

  France, June 1942

  Bf 109F-4, WNr. 7183, Hptm. Hans Hahn, III./JG 2,

  St. Pol, France, October 1941

  Bf 109F-4/Z, WNr. 13325, Oblt. Viktor Bauer, 9./JG 3,

  Shchigry, the Soviet Union, June 1942

  Bf 109F-4, WNr. 13169, Fw. Heinrich Bartels, 8./JG 5,

  Petsamo, Finland, September 1942

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard

  127

  July 2023

• Page 128

  ON APPROACH

  THE ZIPPER 1/48#11169

  F-104C-5-LO, 56-0891, Maj. Charles H. Drisko, 435th TFS,

  479th TFW, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, 1967

  F-104C-5-LO, 56-0891, Col. George Laven Jr., 479th TFW,

  George AFB, California, United States, 1959

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard128

  July 2023

• Page 129

  F-104C-10-LO, 57-0923, Lt. Col. Robert A. Preciado, 435th TFS,

  479th TFW, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, July 1967

  F-104C-5-LO, 56-0886, 476th TFS, 479th TFW, Da Nang AB,

  South Vietnam, April 1965

  F-104C-5-LO, 56-0910, Capt. James B. Trice, 435th TFS,

  479th TFW, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, 1967

  F-104C-5-LO, 56-0938, Maj. Bobby D. Betsworth, 435th TFS,

  479th TFW, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, June-August 1967

  F-104C-5-LO, 56-0898, Maj. Hugh B. Spencer, 435th TFS,

  479th TFW, Udorn RTAFB, Thailand, 1967

  ON APPROACHAUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard

  129

  July 2023

• Page 130

  ON APPROACH

  WILDER CAT 1/48#11175

  Ens. Darrell C. Bennett, VC-10,

  USS Gambier Bay, August 1944

  Lt. Leopold M. Ferko, VC-4,

  USS White Plains, November 1944

  VC-8, Lt(jg) Harry N. O’Connor,

  USS Nehenta Bay, August 5, 1945

  VC-69, USS Guadalcanal,

  spring/summer 1944

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard130

  July 2023

• Page 131

  ON APPROACH

  VC-80, USS Manila Bay, autumn 1944

  VC-93, Lt(jg) Robert Sullivan,

  USS Petrof Bay, Okinawa, April–May 1945

  Lt. O’Neill, VC-13, USS Tripoli, spring 1944

  VC-14, USS Hogatt Bay, November 1944

  JV640, Sub-Lt W. Park, No. 881 Squadron FAA,

  HMS Pursuit, August 1944

  VC-27, Lt. Ralph Elliot, Jr.,

  USS Savo Island, January 1945

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard

  131

  July 2023

• Page 132

  ON APPROACH

  A6M3 Zero Type 32 1/48#84191

  c/n 3028, Tainan Kōkūtai, Buna airfield,

  New Guinea, August 1942

  Warrant Officer Matsuo Hagiri,

  Rabaul, New Britain, July 1943

  c/n 3305, Kōkūtai 204, Buin,

  Bougainville island, January 1943

  c/n 3285, Rabauru Kōkūbuntai, Rabaul,

  New Britain, August 1943

  c/n 3285, Rabauru Kōkūbuntai, Ballale Airfield,

  Ballale Island, Solomon Islands, October 1943

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard132

  July 2023

• Page 133

  No. 5121, Phạm Tuân, 921 Fighter Regiment,

  Noi Bai AB, Democratic Republic of Vietnam,

  December 1972

  No. 127, 812th Training Air Regiment,

  Kharkiv Higher Military Aviation School of Pilots,

  Kupyansk Airfield, the Soviet Union, August 1991

  No. 9111, 3 Squadron of Tactical Aviation,

  Poznań Krzesiny, Poland, 2002

  No. 9712, 9 Fighter Regiment,

  Bechyně, Czechoslovakia, 1989–1993

  No. 8447, No. 46 Squadron, Egypt, 1973

  ON APPROACH

  MiG-21MF Fighter Bomber

  1/72

  #70142Re-release

  AUGUST 2023

  INFO Eduard

  133

  July 2023

• Tail End Charlie - Two Things On My Mind

  As the title of this article suggests, I would like to address two topics in this Tail End Charlie issue. The first concerns engines. Specifically, I mean our Brassin engines. I will directly follow up on the step by step article by Honza Baranec, who, in my opinion, assembled and painted the engine for the F4F-4 Wildcat in an absolutely fantastic way. I approached him with the idea of an article on the construction of a separate engine right after I saw the result of his work. Little did I know that at this year’s Iron Bunny event, the competitors would be literally racing Brassin Wildcat engines. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to the contestants for the fact that the printed instructions do not mention the need to cut the plastic parts, and I recommend that all modelers, in case of confusion, check out the instructions on the product page of our e-shop, as they are always the most up-to-date versions. If we find any discrepancy or error, or if we receive feedback from customers that some steps during construction are not clear to them, we modify the instructions. And since it is not possible to send them to all customers afterwards, we update them on the product page of the e-shop.

  As the title of this article suggests, I would

  like to address two topics in this Tail End Charlie

  issue. The first concerns engines. Specifically,

  I mean our Brassin engines. I will directly follow

  up on the step by step article by Honza Baranec,

  who, in my opinion, assembled and painted the

  engine for the F4F-4 Wildcat in an absolutely

  fantastic way. I approached him with the idea

  of an article on the construction of a separate

  engine right after I saw the result of his work.

  Little did I know that at this year’s Iron Bunny

  event, the competitors would be literally racing

  Brassin Wildcat engines. I would like to take

  this opportunity to apologize to the contestants

  for the fact that the printed instructions do

  not mention the need to cut the plastic parts,

  and I recommend that all modelers, in case of

  confusion, check out the instructions on the

  product page of our e-shop, as they are always

  the most up-to-date versions. If we find any

  discrepancy or error, or if we receive feedback

  from customers that some steps during

  construction are not clear to them, we modify

  the instructions. And since it is not possible

  to send them to all customers afterwards, we

  update them on the product page of the e-shop.

  But there is one more type of question we

  are receiving from our customers regarding the

  Wildcat engines. This brings me to the second

  topic, which is a certain modeling laziness,

  and maybe I would even go so far as to call it

  pampering. And we at Eduard are probably to

  blame for this. We get a lot of questions from

  modelers about which version of the Brassin

  engine for the F4F-3 they should actually buy,

  because there are four on offer – for the early,

  mid, late and also for the F4F-3A. This also

  corresponds to the concept of the plastic kit,

  in which we also deal with several types of

  cowlings and engine cooling systems, as well as

  two versions of the engine. In short, Grumman

  changed and improved these items on the F4F-3

  several times during the war. And that’s not even

  addressing the cowling of the first 19 production

  machines, which was composed of two halves!

  Our recommendation is quite simple. Each

  modeler must first clarify what camouflage he

  wants to model and thus what specific aircraft

  he will build. Subsequently, according to the

  selected camouflage in the instructions, the

  choice is made with respect to the appropriate

  version of the engine, cooling and engine covers

  that correspond to the chosen camouflage.

  We have all this conveniently indicated in the

  instructions for the kits, and it is therefore also

  a reliable guide for choosing an appropriate

  Brassin set. A general question like “Which set

  should I buy for such and such a kit” is often

  impossible to answer because it deals with

  multiple variants of the engine. If you don’t

  TWO THINGS ON MY MIND Text: Jakub Nademlejnský

  Engine with two magnetos on the reduction gear housing.

  Engine subtype without two magnetos on the reduction gear.

  F4F-3 early version engine. Reducer without the two magnetos, side intake for air cooling on the front of the cowl

  ring and one cooling flap on the side covers.

  INFO Eduard134

  July 2023

• Page 135

  have the instructions for the kit with you at the

  moment, you can access them on the e-shop in

  electronic form. By comparing the plastic parts

  specified in the kit instructions with the resin

  sets, you will get answer to the question of which

  resin set to buy. To illustrate, I am attaching

  renders from the construction of the engines so

  that all readers can see the differences.

  Yes, it may seem complicated to some. If

  we didn’t care about the design of the F4F-3

  model and made only one cover (as most model

  companies would probably do) and then offered

  one aftermarket engine, we would have greatly

  simplified our lives. But then it wouldn’t be us!

  Our philosophy is to cover the given subject with

  the highest possible degree of accuracy and

  historical faithfulness. It requires the study of all

  available and most up-to-date references and a

  series of discussions with experts on the given

  topic. And we think that even modelers should

  devote some time to studying the materials and

  also the texts that we publish in the instructions

  when preparing to build their model. We provide

  this information to modelers precisely to help

  them choose camouflage schemes and to

  clarify as much as possible the technical and

  camouflage specifics of each aircraft offered in

  the kit. Short and sweet: We put a lot of effort

  into preparation, and we expect modelers to put

  in some effort as well. Through this joint effort,

  models faithfully corresponding to the originals

  according to all available materials can be

  created. In the end, we won’t have to spend time

  through customer support answering questions

  that the modelers can answer relatively easily on

  their own. The days when a modeler had to make

  such an engine from scratch are not so distant,

  and the effort required for such scratchbuilding

  was quite considerable. Today, you only need to

  decide on which one to choose from our options.

  And I think that’s decent progress ...

  F4F-3 mid production version engine. Reducer with two magnetos, side intake for air cooling and two types of

  upper intake on the front of the cowl ring; variant with one or two separate cooling flaps on the side covers.

  F4F-3 late version engine. Reducer with two magnetos, side intake for air cooling and two types of upper intake

  on the front of the cowl ring; three cooling flaps in a row above each other on the side covers.

  F4F-3A engine. Reducer without the two magnetos, no side intake for air cooling; single cooling flaps on the side

  covers.

  INFO Eduard

  135

  July 2023

• EDITORIAL

  
  

  Hello, dear friends!

  Even before the end of the first half of this year, we managed to move our model packaging operation to our new facility in Sedlec. This significantly simplifies our logistics, because until now, we would typically move the plastic pressings from Obrnice to Most, where they would be packed into kits, and then transported them to our warehouse and sales department in Sedlec. These places are not far from each other, amounting to a few kilometers, but it still involved a lot of driving. Now, just one wall and two doors separate the model packaging department from the warehouse and sales section, and the plastic sprues are stored across the yard. Sure, in the big scheme of human evolution, it’s a small step, but still, a huge help. Among other things, we have an archive of kits that have not yet been restored, of which there are still some sixty, and this is a big step in their eventual return to our range as well. The list of new releases for July thus includes the Spitfire Mk.IXc in 1:72nd scale, along with the Fw 190 A-4 and the Roland C.II in 48th. A few hundred pieces are available from each of these kits. Since we have most of the components in stock, we practically do not need to add anything except the sprues, and we can afford to sell these kits at old, pre-inflation prices. I suspect no one will mind.

  Let’s turn our attention to July’s new releases. They have been on sale for a week now, but I don't think this will matter too much.

   

  Model Kits

  Since the first release of our 48th scale P-51D Mustang, we’ve been thinking about how to handle the unprecedented amount of color schemes of this aircraft and especially of the centerpiece of this wealth of possibilities, the USAAF 8th Air Force. For a long time, I myself have toyed with the idea of a gradual progression of attention bestowed upon the individual Fighter Groups in my head, but there was still a doubt as to how interesting such a concept would be and how it would pan out. Of course, you can imagine it with decal sheets, but the kit is a little bit different. It would probably be very difficult, if not impossible, to release such a large number of kits and to maintain a consistent level of interest in them. On the other hand, to issue only one Limited Edition kit dedicated to the Mustangs of the 8th Air Force would mean barely scratching the surface of the entire theme, while being somewhat repetitious in covering the most famous airplanes flown by the most famous pilots. After long discussions, we finally decided to release three separate items, dedicated to the three Fighter Wings of the 8th Air Force. After going over dozens of aircraft that offered themselves to us, we put together a mix of ten birds that well document the deployment of the Mustang over the last year of the war. The fact is that we have repeated just one previously released subject in this kit, the famous “Big Beautiful Doll” flown by Lt. Col. Landers. And even this was not taken over from previous releases, but changed to a later version of the marking. The result is a mix of ten aircraft, some of which are the most famous flown by the most famous pilots, and the rest, it must be added that the majority, are lesser known and definitely less covered Mustangs. We assume that anyone who decides that they cannot live without this Limited Edition release will be able to make a choice quite easily with this type of presentation.

  However, the fine tuning of the concept of this kit does not end there. The kit contains only one set of sprues, so only one model can be built from it. On the other hand, the decal sheet is doubled up as needed for two complete models, the stencil data and national insignia are duplicated. If someone decides to take advantage of this option, the Overtrees offer will be a great way to go. And those who don’t use it won’t lose anything. The price of the kit, despite the large decal sheet, etchings, masks and Brassin wheels and exhausts, all included in the kit, remains the same as for the standard ProfiPACK item.

  And while on the subject of ProfiPACK kits, this month we have the Rufe available, the float version of Zero. After all, the Rufe was actually a conversion of a Zero with the classic land based landing gear. This kit offers five color options covering different deployments of the type. The second ProfiPACK release for this month is a reissue of the 1:48th scale Bf 109F-2. I should probably also mention that the Rufe is in 1:48th scale as well.

  In the Weekend line, those who have been waiting a long time for a new edition of the Bf 110 G-4 will have something to smile about. The ProfiPACK Bf 110 G-4 kit (Cat. no. 8208), originally released in January, 2021, is also ready to be re-introduced to the market. This kit was planned for January 2021 release, but December 2021 blaze in our warehouse destroyed all unwrapped sprues, so only a small number of packaged kits went to customers. We are now ready for a second attempt with the with the newly manufactured sprues. It will go on sale in August or September. There are less than 1,000 boxes left, so expect them to sell out quickly. The second July Weekend release is the Fw 190A-5 in 1:72nd scale, and in this case, the choice of color markings are mostly for aircraft with the four-cannon wing.

   

  ACCESSORIES

  In our new releases for accessory items, we typically focus on the correspondingly fresh items introduced to the market by the world’s kit manufacturers. Among the photoetched brass and masks, we have the Mi-4A in 1:48th scale from Trumpeter, the MiG-17F from Ammo MiG, the Hurricane Mk.I from Hobby Boss, the Do 335 from Tamiya and the F-4E from Meng. All of these are in 1:48th scale. We also have a new ZOOM set for our Bf 110 G-4 in 1:48th and Fw 190 A-5 in 1:72nd. Keeping in 72nd, we are covering the Mosquito PR Mk.XVI as well. In 1:32nd, we have sets for the F-35A from Trumpeter and the A-20G Havoc from HKM.

  As for the new Brassin sets, I would point your attention to the collection of sets for our still new Bf 109F in 1:72nd scale, or to the 48th scale sets for the Do 335 from Tamiya and the gorgeous engines for the no less charming Anson Mk.I from AIrfix. Also standing out among the 48th scale releases is the radiator for our P-51D Mustang. I admit that the execution of this part of the kit was not its high point, and I am happy to report that this is being addressed in the forthcoming P-51B . Even so, the printed parts will generally be an advantage over the original injection molded items, and these are very nice replacements indeed. Certainly, those that don’t go down the road of replacing this part with the Brassin accessory won’t be forced into feeling that the kit they purchased has been compromised in any way in its design and production. We also redesigned and printed the cockpit for the Bf 109F-2, part of a gradual redesign of the old Brassin cast cockpits. There are also attention worthy sets for the F-35B from Italeri in 32nd, as well as an exhaust nozzle for the F-16 from Tamiya and several smaller sets we put together for the Spitfire Mk.I from Kotare, whose creators we wish good luck, much success  and a long career as a successful manufacturer of plastic model kits.

  We also have the usual new LööK and Space sets, Big Eds and Big Sins that are also worth checking out. Of course, further descriptions of these may be found below in this newsletter.

   

  Articles

  I had the ambition to write an article describing the story around the Bf 109F flown by Werner Mölders, but I couldn’t do it. I managed to put together quite a respectable collection of photos, but after analyzing them, I still had nagging doubts and gaps in the information I was able to obtain. In addition, we have not yet been able to find photos that we can legally publish, and without photographic documentation, such an article is meaningless in my opinion. So I will continue to search for more information, consult with people who know a lot more about the Luftwaffe than I do, and hope that something publishable will come out of it. But at this moment I apologize for my inadequacy!

  Fortunately, we have plenty of articles in this month’s newsletter to ensure that the forces of boredom are kept at bay. We have the next installment in the report on the air war over Ukraine by Miro Barič. May certainly provided something to report on. Perhaps, you noted that at the end of June more things happened in Russia than in Ukraine, so the next installment will be even more interesting. Maybe it’s not just a passing thing! That Russia is truly a land of miracles where the unseen happens and the impossible becomes reality became clear to me during my service days when I was able to get to know the then Soviet Army quite well. I firmly believe in the inability of the Russians to win anything in the foreseeable future in a prolonged regular war. And it won’t help them to talk about their wars tooth and nail and call them various obscure descriptions like “Special Military Operations” or “brotherly aid”. So I wish for the Ukrainians that their homeland, which the Russians currently consider theirs, be returned to them as soon as possible. It took twenty years for us, I firmly believe that the Ukrainians will do it faster. I hope that the Russians get out of their current mess as quickly as possible and, above all, permanently, because this is really not worthy of a cultured nation and the fact that the Romans once did something similar is not exactly a good argument. Where are the Romans today?

  We also have a great piece of an article about the 66th Fighter Wing by Jan Zdiarský. But this issue does not only contain historical articles. We have a report on this year’s 24-hour Iron Bunny event in Bublava written by a member of the winning team, Lukáš Loučka, and another Iron Bunny participant, Jan Baranec, weighs in with a description of the Brassin engine assembly for the Wildcat. Jakub Nademlejnský submitted an article about masks for this month’s newsletter.

  I sincerely wish you all a pleasant read with this month’s newsletter.

   

  Happy Modelling!

  Vladimir Sulc

• Frosty battlefield

  Text: Jan Bobek

  Illustration: Marek Ryś 

  Cat. No 82219

  
  

  American General Billy Mitchell told Congress in 1935: “I believe that in the future, whoever holds Alaska will hold the world. I think it is the most important strategic place in the world.” Because the Kuril Islands could be invaded by Soviet troops with American support, the Japanese command wanted to make cooperation between the U.S. and the USSR as difficult as possible if Stalin entered the war against Japan. Therefore, the Japanese command focused on the Aleutian Islands, some of which they wanted to conquer, to establish bases on, and then attack American supply and military vessels. The attack on the Aleutians and the landings on Attu and Kiska in June 1942 were not an action to divert attention from the attack on Midway, as it is sometimes stated. It was a strategically equivalent part of an invasion operation that had northern and southern objectives, with reserve forces operating roughly halfway between the Aleutians and Midway.

  After the Japanese carriers sailed from the Aleutians, the Tōkō Kōkūtai was tasked with fighter cover for the invasion force. Among other seaplanes it operated A6M2-N Rufe fighters. The fighter unit began operations in early July 1942, and was later detached to form the 5th Kōkūtai, redesignated Kōkūtai 452 towards the end of the year.

  The weather in the Aleutians is cool and very changeable even in summer, characterized by low clouds. American flying boats and two- and four-engine bombers soon began attacking Japanese forces. Because of the low altitude, their raids were not only covered by fighter escorts, but were preceded within minutes by fighter attacks against air defense positions. These operations involved pilots of Lightnings, Airacobras and also Curtiss P-40s of both the US and Royal Canadian Air Forces.

  Rufes were initially moored in the shallows and maintenance was done in largely improvised conditions on shore. A hangar was later built on Kiska Island, but the Allies meanwhile quickly built new airfields on the Aleutians. While defending their bases, Rufe pilots often fought against superior numbers, but were also tasked with anti-submarine patrols and attacks on Allied airfields. The Rufe unit shot down fifteen aircraft certainly and five probably from the summer of 1942 to March 1943. In less than eight months of its combat deployment, it operated against the enemy during sixty days, in many cases conducting multiple actions in a single day. Twelve Rufes and ten pilots were lost in aerial combat. Another 23 Rufes in the Aleutians were written off because of malfunctions and weather.

  Among their opponents were P-40 pilots from the 11th FS, 343rd FG. In 1942, they operated out of Fort Glenn on Umnak Island and 11th FS was one of the units that faced a raid by Japanese carrier planes during the attack on Dutch Harbor. Initially, 11th FS was armed with Curtiss P-40Es, which are listed in its reports until August 1943. From September 1942, it also used P-40Ks, and after August 1943 unit´s airmen were flying P-40Ns. While operating in extremely difficult conditions, 11th FS airmen scored six victories and eleven of them did not return from combat. During World War II, nearly 100 more 11th FS aircraft were damaged or destroyed due to accidents. In 1942, 11th FS was led by Lt/Col John Stephen Chennault, son of the legendary Flying Tigers commander. And because the apple didn't fall far from the tree, tiger-inspired paintings also appeared on the noses of 11th FS Curtisses, but they were more prominent than those of his father's American Volunteer Group.

  John S. Chennault, like his opponents, faced extremely adverse conditions for combat. He scored one Rufe seaplane on September 25, 1942. Both sides took pride in their ability to accomplish combat missions in the Aleutian area. After the war, Chennault commented in a unit history, “As long as I live, there'll never be another like the “We'll Be There” Squadron. We went through so much and were so ill prepared in everything but morale, but we had that. The hardships the men had to put up with and the manner which they accepted them made you proud to be an American.”

  John S. Chennault, who later served in the Korean War, is buried next to his father in Arlington Cemetery.

  For more details on the Rufe and its deployment to the Aleutian area, see the April 2023 issue of INFO Eduard magazine.

• Back in Russia

  Text: Jan Bobek

  Illustration: Antonis Karydis

  Cat. No. 7470

  
  

  Jagdgeschwader 26 “Schlageter” is best known for its deployment in Western Europe, which lasted continuously from September 1939 until the end of the war. However, in 1941 its 7th Staffel was deployed for several months in the Balkans, Sicily and Africa. In August 1942, a specialized high-altitude 11./JG 26 was established in France, but in November it was transferred to Italy, then Sicily, and subsequently became involved in fighting in North Africa. In early 1943 it was incorporated into II./JG 51.

  The largest part of JG 26 to separate from its parent unit was the contingent that arrived in Russia in early 1943. This was again the 7./JG 26 under the command of Hat. Klaus Mietusch and I./JG 26 led by Maj. Johannes Seifert consisting of a Stab and three Staffeln. Their Fw 190 As were then a novelty on the Eastern Front. JG 26 was backed up by JG 54 “Grünherz”, which was familiarizing itself with the Focke-Wulfs at this time. Mietusch with his 7./JG 26 joined I./JG 54 on the Leningrad front. As a replacement, 4./JG 54 moved to France and continued on the Bf 109 G type. Seifert's I./JG 26 began operating from the Relbitsy base west of Lake Ilmen in early February 1943. Technical support was provided by ground personnel of III./JG 54, whose pilots, without their Bf 109 Gs, moved to Western Europe as well.

  In mid-February 1943, I./JG 26 performed attacks against Soviet infantry massing around Lake Ilmen. The pilots completed up to ten sorties a day over several days, and the enemy troops eventually withdrew. Seifert´s I./JG 26 first encountered Soviet aircraft on 16 February west of Demyansk. Airmen from Stab and 1./JG 26 claimed eleven Il-2s without loss of their own.

  The first encounter with the Soviet fighters showed that after two years of fighting these had learned a lot and handled well both their new domestically produced aircraft as their machines delivered under Lend-Lease. The battle occurred on 17 February south of Lake Ilmen. I./JG 26s clashed with a formation of Il-2s with fighter escort identified as Yaks and P-40s. The fighter escort prevented the loss of the bombers, one of the German pilots crashed into the ground during the engagement, another was shot down by a fighter, and the third pilot was shot down by flak. Four more Fw 190s sustained damage, one of which was so severe that the machine had to be written off. Pilots from I./JG 26 reported three Curtiss P-40s shot down.

  The climatic and combat conditions on this battlefield were very different from what the Schlagetergeschwader airmen knew from their time in France. Air battles were usually fought at lower altitudes and in smaller formations. Fighting often occurred over the front area, where Soviet anti-aircraft artillery was also a tough opponent. One of the airmen who had experience with this battlefield was the commander of 3./JG 26 Hptm. Rolf Hermichen. At the beginning of the war he served as a Bf 110 pilot in 6./ZG 1, which was later redesignated 9./ZG 76 and then 6./SKG 210. He achieved four victories in the Battle of France and added three more during the Battle of Britain. Before the attack on the Soviet Union, he scored one more victory in Norway. In the fighting in the East he performed many strafing attacks and also achieved his last three victories in the Bf 110, shooting down a Pe-2 bomber and two Yak-1s. In 1942 he was appointed commander of 3./JG 26.

  Photographs of JG 26's deployments to the Eastern Front are very rare and a number of them relating to Hermichen were published by the late Jerry Crandall in his book Fighters of the Iron Cross. Hermichen scored his 22nd victory after returning to the Eastern Front on February 18, 1943, in a dogfight with a LaGG-3 fighter pilot, while fighting a formation of Il-2s.  For the illustration, rendered on a boxart by Antonis Karydis, we have selected Hermichen’s duel with Pe-2 bombers, which took place on March 7 south of Lake Ilmen. He claimed two victories and apparently clashed with several crews from 46. BAP, which conducted a free search for targets in German-occupied territory. The only casualty was the crew of Lt. Georgiy G. Reshetnikov, who remains missing together with his navigator Ml. lt. Mikhail I. Nakonechnyuk and gunner Serzh. Grigory F. Silenok.

• When the guns jam

  Text: Jan Bobek

  Illustration: Adam Tooby

  Cat. No. 8405 

  
  

  Martin Becker, with 58 kills, was among the ten most successful German night fighters. Originally serving as a reconnaissance pilot, he switched to night fighters in the spring of 1943, specifically to 11./NJG 4. In August of that year, his unit was re-designated 2./NJG 6 and he became its commander in October. Becker soon began to achieve success against the RAF, claiming six victories in one night and seven on another occasion. On the boxart, Adam Tooby captured one of Becker’s fights in the summer of 1944 with his frequent adversary, a Lancaster crew.

  After achieving his 43rd victory, Becker was appointed to command IV./NJG 6, based in Germany, in late October 1944. However, parts of his unit were also detached in Romania and Bulgaria at the time. In addition to Messerschmitt Bf 110 G-4s, the IV. Gruppe was also armed with Junkers Ju 88 G-6s, which was the case for most parts of NJG 6 at the time.

  Becker and his crew achieved their most notable success on the night of March 14–15, 1945. The fight was described in detail by Theo Boiten in the publication Nachtjagd War Diaries. The British bombers, which included B-17s in RAF colours, had several targets and the German fighters were greatly hampered by the British jamming radio communications.

  Around ten o’clock in the evening, ground control guided fighters from II., III. and IV./NJG 6 and some from NJG 5 to the area around Lützkendorf. Among them was Ju 88 G-6 “2Z+MF” under the command of Becker. His crew consisted of radar operators/gunners Lt. Johanssen and Ofw. Rauch, and Ogefr. Welzenbach as flight engineer. Their machine was equipped with a FuG 220 Lichtenstein SN-2 radar and also a Naxos system for detecting British radars on board of bombers.

  Becker’s crew, by combining the two systems, managed to identify six Lancasters in succession and hit them, with some of them observed to hit the ground.  Then the Junkers’ front weapons suffered a jam and Becker wanted to return to base. However, Johanssen suggested that if they could get forward and under an enemy bomber, he could open fire from the rear twin MG 131 guns. The crew successively guided Becker under two Lancasters and one British B-17. Johanssen managed to hit all of them. He also observed some of the crew bail out of the B-17 and the aircraft hit the ground. This gave Becker and his colleagues nine victories in one combat flight.

  The crews of NJG 6 in the area around Lützkendorf claimed a total of sixteen downed bombers. The RAF lost eight Lancasters in this area and three others were damaged, at least one of which was hit by Johanssen. Fire from this radar operator also sent one Boeing B-17 to the ground. This was BU-O (HB 802) from No. 214 Sqn RAF commanded by Flt/Lt Norman Rix DFC. His crew consisted of British, Australians and New Zealanders and all managed to survive. Their colleagues from another Flying Fortress were not so lucky. They were all captured, but after a few days, five of them were murdered.

  Rix’s Boeing was hit at 3,000 feet on its return from the target. The airmen aboard the Flying Fortress thought they had been hit by light flak, but Johanssen clearly identified his target; it was the first time he saw a B-17 with the distinctive silhouette of its tail surfaces. Rix bailed out of the aircraft very low to the ground and almost immediately after opening his parachute he ended up in the tree canopy.   Later, while in custody, he managed to convince his wardens to lay down their arms with the German troops in the Bavarian town of Ettringen. He contacted an American tank patrol and informed them that Ettringen was already in British hands. As a result, Allied troops took the site without a fight. 

  Karl-Ludwig Johanssen completed 68 combat sorties as a radio and radar operator and was credited with assisting 59 night kills. His boss, “Tino” Becker, flew only 110 combat sorties during World War II, 27 of them as a reconnaissance pilot. Together they were decorated on March 20, 1945. Lieutenant Johanssen received the Knight's Cross and Becker, who already had this decoration, received the Oak Leaves.

• The First Winter

  Text: Jan Bobek

  Illustration: Adam Tooby

  Cat. No. 82115

  
  

  When Adolf Hitler broke the Molotov-Ribbentrop Treaty and attacked Stalin’s Soviet Union with his allies on June 22, 1941, the greatest ground and air battles in world history took place. However, the forces of Germany and its satellites launched the attack later than originally planned. And the command's ideas that the Soviets would be defeated by winter were wrong for many reasons. In addition, the Soviet Union soon began to receive help under the Lend-Lease Act. Coming winter 1941/1942 German ground and air units were in a situation for which they were often ill-equipped, unlike their opponents who knew the terrain and the Russian winter well.

  One of the units that fought in Russia at that time was Jagdgeschwader 54 “Grünherz” under the command of Kommodore Hannes Trautloft. One of his Gruppen, I./JG 54, was commanded from February 1942 by Hptm. Hans Philipp, whose duel is depicted on a boxart by Adam Tooby. Trautloft ordered preparation of report relating Geschwader experiences from November 1, 1941, to April 30, 1942. It is available in the Bundesarchiv under the signature RL 10/477. The document is 80 pages long and in a few paragraphs, I will try to summarize some interesting points from the first seven chapters.

  JG 54 was deployed on a frontline stretching 330 km long in the Army Group Nord area between Lake Ilmen and Leningrad. It was subordinated to Luftflotte 1 within the I. Fliegerkorps. Its armament consisted of Bf 109 F-2s and the first F-4s were received by III. Gruppe in March 1942. In December the temperature dropped to minus 10´C, but by January it reached minus 42°C. During this period, JG 54 flew 8,946 combat sorties and 1,258 ground attack sorties. In doing so, it claimed the shoot-down of 51 reconnaissance, courier and transport aircraft types, 107 bombers, most of which were modern Pe-2 and Il-2s, and destroyed 518 fighter aircraft, more than 80% of which were modern aircraft.

  During the winter the Soviet airmen modified their formations in a manner similar to that used by the Germans. Due to the technical superiority of the Bf 109 F, their enemies began to use a defensive circle against which the Germans had to develop offensive tactics. On this battlefield JG 54 encountered for the first time the Curtiss P-40s, which they judged to have good rate of climb and ability to manoeuvre in turns.

  The Soviet formations usually flew machines with white camouflage paint as well as the original dark camouflage, which made it difficult for the Germans to get an overview of the number and position of their enemies. The Bf 109 F usually used a four-plane formation (Schwarm), which was split into a pair (Rotte) that attacked and a second Rotte that provided cover. The recommended method of attack was at close range from the rear, due to the quality of the armour of the Soviet machines. When the firing ceased, it was recommended to pull in and fly over the enemy so that the German machine would not be hit by debris.

  Soviet bomber formations usually flew in numbers of three to twelve machines with a strong fighter escort. Against such superior numbers, it was necessary to call in additional Rotten and Schwärme from other sections of the front in order to draw the fighter escorts into the fight and then attack the bombers. The Pe-2 formations were very disciplined and it was not recommended to attack them directly from the rear. If a bomber was hit, the other Pe-2 crews would try to line it up in the centre of the formation to protect it.

  According to the JG 54 pilots, the Il-2s had excellent armour and it was recommended to fire at the tail surfaces, ideally from above or from the side. The JG 54 report shows respect for the rear gunners of enemy bombers. Mention is also made of the problem of retraining rookie pilots, who had a great appetite for combat but at the same time underestimated the enemy.

  Escorting German bombers was more difficult than in the summer of 1941, mainly because of the timing of rendezvous and also because Ju 88 crews tended to use looser formations. JG 54 rated better the Stukas crews, who maintained tight formations in a disciplined manner. 

  JG 54 judged the enemy anti-aircraft defences to be highly effective, these were particularly dangerous during strafing attacks. It was not recommended to attack a single target twice, and it was essential to fly low when departing.

   

• Markings for A6M2-N Rufe 1/48

  Kōkūtai 452, Kiska island, Aleutians, early 1943

  This Rufe got dark green paint at the unit level. The camouflage later showed signs of wear, especially on the wing and on the rear fuselage around the horizontal tail surfaces. The aircraft of this fighter unit successively bore at least four different markings on the tail surfaces, depending on how the unit was designated and subordinated to different commands. Its most successful fighter was the CPO Gi-ichi Sasaki. The native from Miyagi Prefecture joined the Navy in 1937. He became a pilot of two-seat float planes and participated in combat in China. He took part in the conquest of the Philippines and the Dutch East Indies on board of the Mizuho seaplane tender. After its sinking, he was assigned to the Tōkō Kōkūtai in the Aleutians, which was eventually renamed the 5th Kōkūtai and then Kōkūtai 452. He achieved a total of four individual victories – five shared and one aircraft credited shared as probably destroyed. He was killed on February 19, 1943, over Amchitka Island in a dogfight with a Curtiss P-40 pilot.

   

  Seaman 1st class, Takio Maruyama, aviation unit of seaplane tender Kamikawa Maru, Shortland, September 1942
  

  This plane was early production Rufe with folding wingtips. The Kamikawa Maru was completed in 1936 as an ocean liner but was converted to a seaplane tender a year later and was combat deployed in the aggression against China until the spring of 1941. At the start of the fighting in the Pacific, her air unit was equipped with E13A1 Jake and F1M2 Pete seaplanes, but by September 1942 she was deployed in the Solomon Islands area with eleven A6M2-Ns and two F1M2s. The main tasks of her airmen were base protection, convoy escorts and also attacks on ground troops on Guadalcanal. In addition to engagements with B-17s and Cactus Air Force pilots, the Kamikawa Maru airmen also got into combat with aircraft from the USS Hornet (CV-8). One of them was Takio Maruyama. He was credited with one victory over a B-17 bomber. The Kamikawa Maru and Maruyama’s performance with the No. 107 aircraft was cited in a letter of commendation by the Commander of the Combined Fleet in September 1942. Maruyama with machine YII-107 was killed on October 10, 1942, in a dogfight with VMF-223 Wildcats while escorting Japanese vessels from the so-called Tokyo Express bound for Guadalcanal. On board the light cruiser Tatsuta was Lt. Gen. Hyakutake.

   

  Kōkūtai 802, Faisi-Poporang base, Shortland Islands, February 1943
  

  This aircraft was among the new ones that Kōkūtai 802 took over in Japan during early 1943. At the unit level, the aircraft received a dark green paint and it probably had a late production stencil on the fuselage. The tail sported a horizontal red stripe on the vertical tail surfaces, which was probably the unit’s identifying marking. It is likely that the aircraft took part in the aerial combat on February 13 and 14 during the defense of the Shortland Islands and Buin, in which the American units suffered fairly significant losses. After relocation to the Marshall Islands area in March 1943, Kōkūtai 802, under the command of Lt.(jg) Yamazaki, was primarily engaged in anti-submarine patrols and the pursuit of four-engine bombers. Long-range reconnaissance was carried out by another part of this unit, which was armed with H8K Emily flying boats. In September 1943, the designation of its aircraft was changed to Y4 in connection with the transition to the subordination of the 22nd Kōkū Sentai (Air Flotilla). The identification markings on the tail surfaces of Rufe seaplanes changed from red to white during service in the Marshall Islands. In October, fighter unit of Kōkūtai 802 was integrated into Kōkūtai 902, and in November, the fighter unit clashed with US Navy aircraft during a raid on Truk.

   

  Takuma Kōkūtai, Takuma base, Japan, 1944
  

  This aircraft was originally finished with grey paint on all surfaces. Later, at the unit, it was given a dark green paint job on the upper surfaces. By the time it was in service with Takuma Kōkūtai, the green paint was badly worn, with reddish-brown primer and metal surfaces visible in some areas. The stripe on the fuselage was probably the designation of the aircraft flown by leader of fighter unit. Takuma Kōkūtai was established in mid-1943 to train seaplane crews and it included a fighter unit with Rufe aircraft which was also tasked with training, including dogfight practicing. However, the command envisaged the eventual deployment of Rufe aircraft by this unit for the air defense of Japan. A photograph of a Rufe seaplane from the Takuma Kōkūtai exists, showing the mount of Ensign Kyoshi Suga armed with 30 kg bombs for use against B-29 bombers, but there is no evidence that such a combat deployment occurred. In 1945, part of the Takuma Kōkūtai was deployed on Kamikaze missions. Takuma Kōkūtai was disbanded at the end of the war.

   

  Kashima Kōkūtai, Kashima base, Japan, 1944
  

  This late production aircraft was finished in a factory applied dark green paint. Kashima Kōkūtai was established in 1938 as a training unit for seaplane crews. Her fighter unit, armed with Rufe floatplanes, was deployed several times to fight alongside Katori Kōkūtai airmen in the Home Defence and achieved several fighter and bomber kills. It was probably with this unit that the Hellcats of VBF-12 from USS Saratoga (CV-3) came into conflict around Kashima on February 16, 1945 and the Hellcats of VF-29 from USS Cabot (CVL-28) on March 18. In the first mentioned combat, the American fighters reported five Rufe kills and in the latter encounter claimed four victories. In May 1945, the Kashima Kōkūtai training section was cancelled, and a number of aircraft and crews were deployed on Kamikaze missions. Kashima Kōkūtai was disbanded at the end of the war.

• Markings for P-51D 1/48

  P-51D-15, 44-15492, Lt. Billy Clemmons, 38th FS, 55th FG, 8th AF, Wormingford, United Kingdom, April 1945

  Billy Clemmons started his pilot training in January 1943 and in February 1944 obtained his “wings“. After he completed his training in August 1944 he was assigned to 38th FS, 55th FG. In the course of his war-time career he flew 62 combat missions and scored four and half air victories including one individual and one shared kill of the Me 262 jet. He destroyed five more aircraft on the ground. He decorated his personal Mustang with an Indian’s head with inscription “Huacoar“ on the port side of the nose and the starboard featured the inscription “My Gal Sal“. During the Korean War Clemmons was called back to the active duty and attached to the 75th Fighter Incerceptor Squadron which flew F-86 Sabre jets. Then he was ordered to the 513th FIS in England and France. After his return to the United States he was assigned to the Flight Training Headquarters as an instructor on T-37 and T-38. He attented several military schools, including the Air War College in Montgomery, Alabama. Consequently he was attached to the Department of the Chiefs of Staff in Pentagon, Washington D.C. and later took part in the introduction of the global military command and management system which was, in fact, the predecessor to the internet. After he finished his military career for several years he worked for Waco Hotel Supply and in the end he started his own restaurant equipment company, Clemco Restaurant Equipment Co.

   

  P-51D-15, 44-14985, Maj. Edward B. Giller, 343rd FS, 55th FG, 8th AF, Wormingford, United Kingdom, September 1944
  

  Edward Giller was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, in 1918. He graduated from the Kemper Military School in Boonville, Missouri and in 1940, the University of Illinois with BS in chemical engineering. In September 1941 he joined the military and at the same time the pilot school where he gained his wings in April 1942. During WWII he commanded the 343rd FS and later became the deputy commander of the 55th FG. As a fighter pilot he flew 115 combat missions and logged 465 hours in P-38 and P-51. He destroyed three enemy aircraft, including Me 262 jet and six more airplanes on the ground. Giller flew two Mustangs, s/n 44-14985 and s/n 44-15701. Both of his Mustangs were christened “Millie G“ after his wife Mildred who was a flight attendant. Giller’s Mustang sported the standard 343rd FS marking i.e. black prancing horse on the yellow rudder. After the war, in 1948, he obtained MS in the chemical engineering and in 1950 a doctorate in the chemical engineering. He served as an executive director of the Weapons Effect Division center. After that he became an assistant director and then director of the research at the Air Force Special Weapons Center at Kirtland airbase where he also acted as a USAF liason officer in the Orion, nuclear spaceship project. He passed away in October 2017 at the age of 99.

   

  P-51D-20, 44-64147, Capt. Richard A. Hewitt, 82nd FS, 78th FG, 8th AF, Duxford, United Kingdom, April 1945
  

  Richard A. “Dick” Hewitt joined the 78th FG based at Duxford in September 1943 and flew with this unit until the end of hostilities. The unit operated P-47 but in December 1944 converted to P-51D Mustang and in the end of that month already flew its first mission with them. Hewitt logged 20 missions flying this type out of his total 100 missions. On March 21, 1945, he assumed command of the 82nd FS after he had shot down three Bf 109 two days earlier. On April 17 he destroyed a Me 262 on the ground after he had shot down another Schwalbe shortly before the landing at the Lechfeld airfield. This kill however remained unconfirmed because his wingman, the only witness to this kill, was consequently shot down and became POW. Hewitt ended the war after two tours of duty during which he logged 426 hours. Official Hewitt’s score was four aerial victories plus four individual and one shared enemy aircraft destroyed on the ground. During his second tour of duty, Dick was promoted to the 82nd FS commander. His awards include Silver Star, four DFC and 13 Air Medals. The inscription “Big Dick” on his Mustang refers to Hewitt’s nickname. After the war he wrote a book “Target of Opportunity.”

   

  P-51D-20, 44-72218, Lt Col. John D. Landers, CO of 78th FG, Duxford, United Kingdom, March 1945
  

  John Dave Landers was born on August 23, 1920, in Joshua, Texas. He joined the Army Air Force in April 1941. After completing the pilot training, In January 1942 he was assigned to the 9th FS in Australia, a unit that flew P-40s. In the Pacific theatre, he scored six kills, and in January 1943, he was called back to the States. There, he served as a flight instructor, but in April 1944, on his own request, was reassigned to a combat unit. It was 38th FS based at Wormingford, operating P-38, which converted to P-51 as of July 1944. After being promoted to Lt. Col., he assumed command of the 357th FG, which he led from October to December 1944. After some downtime in the United States, he returned to Great Britain and was named CO of 78th FG, holding this post until the end of the Second World War. In December 1945, he left the military and worked in construction. He died on September 12, 1989.

   

  P-51D-10, 44-14372, Capt. Kirk B. Everson, 504th FS, 339th FG, 8th AF, Fowlmere, United Kingdom, April 1945
  

  Everson‘s airwar career took off in 1945 only. Regardless, he achieved great successes in the numerous diving strikes on the German-occupied airfields. Mustang he regularly flew was inherited from Richard C. Penrose who had christened it “Beaver Chant“. Everson renamed it “Mery Belt“. On April 4, 1945 he shared a victory over Me 262 above Parchim. Three days lated he shot down a Bf 109 nearby Celle. On April 10, during the strafing attack on the Neuruppin airfield, he destroyed three enemy aircraft and on April 16 three Fw 190 fell victims to his guns at Klatovy airfield. On the following day Everson re-appeared over the Klatovy airfield and this time he claimed the destruction of seven airplanes.

   

  P-51D-10, 44-14419, Capt. William B. Price, 350th FS, 353rd FG, 8th AF, Raydon, United Kingdom, December 1944
  

  Bill Price was a member of the 350th FS, 353rd FG from November 1942 till December 1944 and flew with it 108 missions in two tours of duty. Flying P-47 he achieved two aerial victories and four on the ground. After the unit converted to new P-51D Mustang he scored his last kill at the controls of the aircraft named “Janie“. Price’s Mustang was camouflaged with a green paint on the upper surfaces, probably British Dark Green. The aircraf nose sported the black and white checkerboard, identification marking of the 353rd FG.

   

  P-51D-20, 44-63684, Lt. William B. Bailey, 352nd FS, 353rd FG, 8th AF, Raydon, United Kingdom, May 1945
  

  Lt. William Bradford Bailey commanded the 352nd FS since its formation in October 1942 until July 7, 1944 and in the end of the war he was one of the most experienced pilots of the unit. After his long tenure with 352nd FS, he was transferred to the 353rd FG Headquarters and until the end of the conflict he flew in total 186 missions (454.05 flight hours). On March 2, 1945, a the controls of his Mustang named “Double Trouble Two“ he claimed two Fw 190 destroyed south of Wittenberg. These were last Bailey’s kills of the war. His final score stood at three aerial and three ground victories.

   

  P-51D-10, 44-14896, Maj. Leonard K. Carson, 362nd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, Leiston, United Kingdom, September 1944
  

  Captain Leonard “Kit” Carson was one of the most successful pilots of the 357th FG. He finished the war as a commander of the 363rd FS with 18.5 kills to which he added three airplanes destroyed on the ground. He flew four P-51 Mustangs, all of them carried his personal inscription “Nooky Booky” on the engine cowling. The aircraft s/n 44-14896 was his third. It sported seven kill markings on the side of the fuselage which Carson scored till the beginning of November 1944. The plane was marked with the standard identification stripes including the invasion bands on the fuselage. Carson’s Mustang was camouflaged in the dark green paint on the upper surfaces including the landing flaps’ interiors. The paint was probably British RAF Dark Green. The lower surfaces were painted in Medium Sea Grey.

   

  P-51D-10, 44-14450, Capt. Clarence E. Anderson, 363rd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, Leiston, United Kingdom, October 1944
  

  “Bud“ Anderson was born on January 13, 1922 in Oakland, California. In January 1942 he joined the Army and till September 28, 1942 served as an Air Cadet. In November 1943 he was assigned to the 363rd FS, 357th FG. He finished his first tour of duty in June 1944 and returned to the United States for two months. In September 1944 he returned to his original unit. In the beginning of December 1944 he was promoted to Major and in January 1945 finished his second tour of duty. In total he flew 116 combat missions and logged 1423 flight hours. His final score was 17 confirmed aerial victories. After the war he mostly flew as a test pilot and he retired from the Air Force on March 31, 1972. Mustang flown by Clarence “Bud“ Anderson during his second tour was initially camouflaged on all upper surfaces, including the landing flaps interiors, in dark green paint, probably RAF Dark Green. The lower surfaces were painted in Medium Sea Grey. In the end of 1944 Bud had camouflage paint removed from his Mustang and flew it in the natural metal finish. “Bud“ Anderson named his new Mustang the same as the previous ones, “Old Crow“ and shot down in it four more German aircraft. After he finished his second tour of duty, his “Old Crow“ was handed over to Lt. James Taylor from the 363rd FS and renamed “Pretty Pix“. After the war the aircraft was transferred to Neubiberg air base in Germany where it ended up as a scrap metal.

   

  P-51D-15, 44-14888, Cpt. Charles E. Yeager, 363rd FS, 357th FG, 8th AF, Leiston, United Kingdom, October 1944 - January 1945

  Charles Elwood “Chuck“ Yeager belongs to the most famous pilots of all times thanks to the fact that on October 14, 1947, flying an experimental Bell X-1 rocket powered aircraft, as a first human he flew at the speed of sound. Before that, during WWII, he had become a fighter ace. “Chuck“ Yeager was born on February 13, 1923 in the little town of Hamlin in West Virginia. He joined the army shortly after graduating from the high school in September 1941 and in December 1942 he was accepted to the pilot training. In March of the following year, he gained his wings and was attached to the 363rd FS, 357th FG equipped with Bell P-39 Airacobra. In England, the 357th FG, with its 363rd FS, was attached to the 8th Air Force and converted to P-51 Mustangs. Yeager flew three Mustangs, all named “Glamorous Glen“ after his fiancee Glennis Dickhouse. Yeager flew his first combat mission in February 1944. On March 4 he scored his first victory against a Bf 109 but on the following day the luck turned its back on him. He was shot down near French Bordeaux. After he successfuly bailed out, he avoided capture with the help of the French Resistance and returned back to England via Spain. His final score at the end of war stood at 12 kills including a Me 262. He continued in the successful aviation career after the war. He commanded the 405th Fighter Wing in Vietnam and in 1970s worked as a Director of the Flight Safety of the USAF. He retired on February 25, 1975 having logged 10,131.6 flight hours on 361 (!) different types of aircraft. He passed away on December 8, 2020 at the age of 97.

• Markings for Fw 190A-5 1/72

  Oblt. Rolf Hermichen, 3./JG 26, Dno field base, the Soviet Union, March 1943

  Rolf Hermichen achieved 66 kills during the WW II, the first 11 of them as a Bf 110 pilot during the battles of France and Britain. He was transferred to III./JG 26 in November 1941 and first served as an adjutant to Josef Priller, the CO of III. Gruppe. As early as May 1, 1942, Hermichen became Staffelkapitän (CO) of the 3. Staffel. When I./JG 26 moved to the Eastern Front in January 1943, he added eight more kills to his existing 21. Already as Hauptmann, on his return to the Western Front he temporarily led III. Gruppe from June 15 to July 4, 1943 and became CO of I./JG 11 on October 16. There, as a part of the Defense of the Reich, he was very successful in combat against Allied bombers. In total, he had 25 (or 26) of them to his credit. His last success came on April 24, 1944, when he shot down a P-51D. He was shot down himself on May 12 and after withdrawal from operational duty, he served at Headquarters of 2. Jagd-Division. From October 1944 to January 1945, Hermichen served as CO of II/JG 104. The Fw 190A-5 he was flying in the spring of 1943 had the original RLM 74 and 75 shades oversprayed by irregular spots of green shades, probably RLM 70 and 71, which were partly oversprayed by white color for winter operations. The white was already quite weathered in March. The original camouflage was probably apparent inside the crosses on the upper side of the wing. The shape and size of the green spots on the wing and right side of the fuselage is a reconstruction.

   

  Maj. Fritz Losigkeit, CO of I./JG 1, Deelen, the Netherlands, April 1943 

  Fritz Losigkeit (1913–1994) was born in Berlin and starting from October 1936 served with JG 2 “Richthofen”. He joined Legion Condor in Spain in March 1936 but was shot down and captured. In April 1939 he joined 2./JG 26 and later became CO of this unit. A shift in his career occurred in June 1941, when he became member of the diplomatic mission in Japan. After his return in March 1942 he took over the command of I./JG 26, but he did not stay too long there, as he was sent to Eastern Front to lead III./JG 51 shortly afterwards. In April 1944 he became Kommodore of JG 51 and a year later he took over the command of JG 77. Losigkeit scored 68 victories in approximately 750 missions flown and was awarded Knight’s Cross. An interesting feature of the marking of his Fw 190 was the stripe of the flags under the canopy representing his combat deployments and foreign affairs assignments. Emblem of IV./JG 1 and victory marks on rudder are not confirmed by photos. After the war Losigkeit was working for CIA-controlled organization Gehlen, later he became secretary of Free Democratic Party (FDP). Camouflage consists of RLM 74, 75 and 76 colors with spinner in RLM 70.

   

  Lt. Emil Lang, 5./JG 54, Orel, the Soviet Union, summer 1943 

  Lt. Emil “Bully” Lang managed to shoot down 173 enemy aircraft over the course of more than 400 combat missions. Of these, 144 were achieved in the Eastern Front. Lang, pre-war athlete and Lufthansa pilot, proved to be a real expert in combat flying. His immense success rate could nicely be illustrated with downing 72 enemy aircraft within three weeks of December 1943. At that time, he was 34 and thus one of the oldest Luftwaffe pilots. His lucky days ended on September 3, 1944. At the time, he was a commander of II./JG 26 and was shot down during combat with Spitfires Mk. XII of No. 41 Squadron RAF over Belgian territory. He fell victim to F/Lt. Terry Spencer. This Fw 190A-5 was flown by Lt. Lang during the time he was commander of 5./JG 54. The upper surfaces of Lang’s Fw 190A-5 were camouflaged by irregular fields of two shades of a green and a sand color. The darker of greens was probably RLM 70, while the other two shades were non-standard colors. Undersurfaces were painted in RLM 76 and the aircraft sported yellow markings of the Eastern Front: lower engine cowl, bottom wingtips and rudder and also wide band around the rear fuselage. Other aircraft of JG 54 were finished in the same manner.   

                                                                                    

  WNr. 1230, Obstlt. Walter Oesau, CO of JG 2, Beaumont le Roger, France, June 1943      

  Walter “Gulle” Oesau joined JG 2 “Richthofen” before the war and in April 1938 was transferred to Legion Condor in Spain. In August 1940, already as CO of 7./JG 51, he was awarded Knight’s Cross after gaining 20 victories in WWII. He briefly led III./JG 51 and in November was appointed CO of III./JG 3. On July 15, 1941, his victory tally had reached 80 and at the end of July 1941, he took command of JG 2 in France. Oesau recorded his 100th victory on October 26, 1941 and was appointed Kommodore of JG 1 in November 1943, following the death of Oberst Hans Philipp. On May 11, 1944, Oesau was shot down and killed by P-38s in the cockpit of Bf 109G-6/AS (WNr. 20601) “Green 13” near St Vith. “Gulle” Oesau scored 127 victories in over 300 combat missions. Nine of them in Spain, 74 in the West and 44 over the Eastern Front. This Fw 190A-5 was manufactured by Focke-Wulf in Marienburg in the first half of 1943. Camouflage consisted of RLM 74, 75 and 76 color shades with spinner painted RLM 70. The rudder sported symbols of five victories (101st to 105th) against four-engined bombers. 

• Marking for Bf 110G-4 1/72

  Oblt. Martin Becker, 2./NJG 6, Florennes, Belgium, May 1944

  With 85 kills Martin Becker was the tenth most successful night fighter pilot of the Luftwaffe. He was special for achieving multiple kills of British four-engine bombers during a single mission, scoring nine (!) four-engine bombers on March 14, 1945, although three of them were achieved by his radio operator Ofw. Karl-Ludwig Johanssen, after Becker’s forward firing cannons either jammed or were out of ammo. A native of Wiesbaden, where Becker was born on April 12, 1916, he joined the army in 1936 and was trained as an aerial observer. In this role he flew in the Battle of France, but shortly after he started his pilot training at the Merseburg flight school. Becker received basic and advanced training for night fighters and was assigned to 11./NJG 4, which was transformed into 2./NJG 6 on April 1, 1943. Johanssen served as Becker’s radio operator from March 1944 and became one of the few ROs to be awarded the Knight’s Cross. Becker scored his first victory on September 23, 1943, by the following month he was already Staffelkapitän of 2./NJG 6 and by December 21 he had achieved ace status. His Bf 109G-4 of unknown serial number bore the spray paint of RLM 76, the silhouette of the aircraft was darkened by irregular spots of RLM 75. His aircraft was armed MG 151/20 cannons.

   

  WNr. 720260, Oblt. Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, CO of IV./NJG 1, Sint Truiden, Belgium, April 1944
  

  Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, the most successful night fighter ace of all times, recipient of the Knight Cross with Oak Leaves, Swords and Diamonds, flew from the beginning of his military aviation career as a night fighter. In total he shot down 121 enemy aircraft, predominantly four-engine British bombers. During the whole war he was wounded only once and none of his crew members was ever wounded in combat. Schnaufer survived the war and at the end of hostilities he decided to concentrate on the family wine business. He died on June 15, 1950, two days after the car crash in which he collided with a truck in Cestas near Bordeaux in France. Schnaufer, nicknamed “The Night Ghost of St. Trond”, flew this Bf 110G-4 during the spring months of 1944 when he assumed command of IV. Gruppe Nachtjagdgeschwader 1. The aircraft original camouflage of RLM 74 and RLM 75 on the upper surfaces partially showed through the overcoat of RLM 76. The lower and side surfaces remained in the original coat of RLM 76, the starboard wing undersurfaces were painted black. The bottom position weapons were deleted on this aircraft.  

   

  WNr. 110 087, 4./NJG 3, Kjevik, Norway, 1945
  

  The 4./NJG 3 unit was formed in March 1945, out of Nachtjagdstaffel Norwegen, a unit that operated independently from Norway. The purpose of the unit was to intercept allied aircraft over Scandinavia. Besides the Bf110G, the unit also flew the Ju88G and He219. Its last function was on May 8, 1945, evacuating German unit officers from the surrounding areas. Aircraft B4+KA probably did not take part in this final action, because the end of the war found the aircraft still at Kjevik, in Norway. The aircraft carried FuG 220 SN-2b with vertical dipoles, and with an older type of mounting. Originally, the aircraft carried a camouflage scheme of RLM 74 and RLM 75 fields on upper surfaces, and RLM 76 on the undersurfaces, but the uppersurfaces were later oversprayed with RLM 76 (aparto of the nose) and darkened by “snakes” of RLM 71. Starboard wing undesurfaces and engine cowl were oversprayed in black. This aircraft is recorded as crewed by Fw. Kurt Keilig (pilot), Fw. Kurt Schroter (radio operator) and Uffz. Karl Stamminger (mechanic).

   

  Hptm. Wilhelm Johnen, CO of III./NJG 6, Neubiberg, Germany, 1945
  

  Messerschmitt Bf 110G-4 coded 2Z+FR from 7./NJG 6 was one of the aircraft the Allies found at the Neubiberg airbase in the spring of 1945. Even though according to its codes it belonged to 7. Staffel it was actually a personal aircraft of Wilhelm Johnen, III./NJG 6 commanding officer. This airplane is much less known than the other Johnen’s aircraft coded C9+EN in which he performed an emergency landing due to the damaged engine in the night of April 27–28, 1944. Bf 110G-4 2Z+FR was his last aircraft from the later production, equipped with the FuG 220 SN-2D antennae with dipoles fixed at 45 degrees, Eberspächer type exhausts and Schräge Musik cannons. The whole aircraft was oversprayed in RLM 76, upper surfaces were darkened by small patches of RLM 75. According to photos, the aircraft lacked weapons in the bottom of the nose. 

• Markings for Bf 109F-2 1/48

  Bf 109F-2, Hptm. Hans Philipp, CO of I./JG 54, Krasnogvardeysk, the Soviet Union, March 1942

  Hans “Fips” Philipp, an ace with 206 kills to his credit over the course of some 500 sorties, was born on March 17, 1917, in Meissen. He joined the Luftwaffe in 1936. At the beginning of the Second World War, he served with I./JG 76, redesignated II./JG 54 in July 1940. As a member of this unit, he participated in the fighting over Britain and the Balkans. He also took part in Operation Barbarossa and was appointed CO of JG 1 in April 1943. For his combat success he was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and Swords. Philipp was shot down on October 8, 1943, and did not survive his attempt to bail out. The aircraft flown by Hans Philipp was camouflaged with white color over the upper and side surfaces to better suit the conditions of the winter of 1943 in the vicinity of Leningrad. The Gruppe Commander marking was carried on the fuselage, as were the II. Gruppe and JG 54 (Green Heart) identifiers. Both sides of the rudder carried kill marks. The landing gear covers were removed due to their tendency to pile up snow. 

   

  Bf 109F-2, WNr. 9553, Oblt. Siegfried Schnell, CO of 9./JG 2, Théville, France, November 1941
  

  Bf 109F-2, WNr. 9553, Oblt. Siegfried Schnell, CO of 9./JG 2, Théville, France, November 1941

  Siegfried “Wumm” Schnell, a native of Zeilenzig in Brandenburg (Sulecin, Poland today) joined the ranks of the Luftwaffe in 1936 and at the beginning of the Second World War he served with 4./JG 2. He achieved his first victory in combat over France on May 14, 1940, more followed over Britain and against English and American pilots over Western Europe. After being assigned to JG 54, he first served with its III. Gruppe and was appointed CO of IV. Gruppe on February 1, 1944. While serving in this position, he was shot down over Narva by a Soviet fighter on February 25, 1944, and died. Schnell was awarded the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves on July 9, 1941 and downed 93 enemies in the course of Second World War. His aircraft was camouflaged in the standard Luftwaffe fighter scheme using RLM 74/75/76. Both sides of the fin were decorated with the Knight’s Cross with Oak Leaves and victory marks.

   

  Bf 109F-2, Lt. Horst Buddenhagen, 5./JG 3, Darmstadt, Germany, April 1941
  

  In the middle of February 1941, II./JG 3 was sent from the French coast back to Germany for some rest and to re-equip with the Bf 109F. In April, the new Bf 109F-2 were received at Darmstadt sporting the standard RLM 74/75/76 camouflage scheme to which the ground crew added yellow rudders and engine cowls. Lt. Buddenhagen’s aircraft also received the inscription Schluck=Specht 3. At the end of April 1941, II. Gruppe moved to France and after a month at Monchy-Breton was included into units that were assigned to take part in Operation Barbarossa, the attack on the Soviet Union. Aircraft of the 5. Staffel were given bomb racks for the occasion. Lt. Buddenhagen was killed by ground fire on a bombing mission on June 25, 1941.

   

  Bf 109F-2/b, Oblt. Wilhelm Hachfeld, 2./JG 51, Kiev, the Soviet Union, Summer 1941
  

  During fighting over the plains of the Soviet Union, the Luftwaffe leadership planned use of Bf 109F-2s as fighter bombers to attack ground targets. The entire Jagdgeschwader 51, led by Werner Mölders, was tasked with support of Panzergruppe 2 over the central section of the front from the start of Operation Barbarossa. Future Knight’s Cross holder Wilhelm Hachfeld, born on September 20, 1914, in Dessau, was appointed the CO of 2. Staffel on October 8, 1940. Bomben Willi, as he was known, led the unit until August 25, 1941, when he took over the entire I. Gruppe JG 51 and served in that capacity until the end of April 1942. In May 1942, he became the CO of III./ZG 2, in who’s service he fell in Tunisia on December 2, 1942. The aircraft, equipped with ETC50/VIIId was camouflaged in RLM 74/75/76 and, as an aircraft serving in the Eastern Front, was sporting yellow wing tips and fuselage band.

   

  Bf 109F-2, WNr. 9538, Lt. Hans Beißwenger, 6./JG 54, Ostrov, Soviet Union, July 1941
  

  Hans “Beißer” Beißwenger was first assigned to an anti-aircraft artillery unit after entering the Wehrmacht in 1937. A year later he started pilot training program in 1938 and after its successful completion he became instructor. In the winter of 1940, he was assigned to 6./JG 54, and while serving with this unit he shot down a Yugoslav Hurricane on April 7, 1941. Other victories were achieved against Soviet pilots and he eventually accumulated 152 kills. On March 6, 1943, his Bf 109G-2 was the victim of an aerial ramming conducted by Ivan Kholodov of the 32nd GIAP. Beißwenger died, while Kholodov bailed out. The “Yellow 4” was camouflaged in the standard Luftwaffe RLM 74/75/76 scheme, and the sides received an additional squiggle pattern of RLM 75 bordered with irregular lines of RLM 74. Some sources say that the squiggles were in RLM 02 and the linework in RLM 71. The yellow wingtips and fuselage bands were the markings of the aircraft operating on the Eastern Front.

• Tail End Charlie

  Two Things On My Mind

  As the title of this article suggests, I would like to address two topics in this Tail End Charlie issue. The first concerns engines. Specifically, I mean our Brassin engines. I will directly follow up on the step by step article by Honza Baranec, who, in my opinion, assembled and painted the engine for the F4F-4 Wildcat in an absolutely fantastic way. I approached him with the idea of an article on the construction of a separate engine right after I saw the result of his work. Little did I know that at this year’s Iron Bunny event, the competitors would be literally racing Brassin Wildcat engines. I would like to take this opportunity to apologize to the contestants for the fact that the printed instructions do not mention the need to cut the plastic parts, and I recommend that all modelers, in case of confusion, check out the instructions on the product page of our e-shop, as they are always the most up-to-date versions. If we find any discrepancy or error, or if we receive feedback from customers that some steps during construction are not clear to them, we modify the instructions. And since it is not possible to send them to all customers afterwards, we update them on the product page of the e-shop.

  Engine with two magnetos on the reduction gear housing.

  
  

  But there is one more type of question we are receiving from our customers regarding the Wildcat engines. This brings me to the second topic, which is a certain modeling laziness, and maybe I would even go so far as to call it pampering. And we at Eduard are probably to blame for this. We get a lot of questions from modelers about which version of the Brassin engine for the F4F-3 they should actually buy, because there are four on offer – for the early, mid, late and also for the F4F-3A. This also corresponds to the concept of the plastic kit, in which we also deal with several types of cowlings and engine cooling systems, as well as two versions of the engine. In short, Grumman changed and improved these items on the F4F-3 several times during the war. And that’s not even addressing the cowling of the first 19 production machines, which was composed of two halves!

  Engine subtype without two magnetos on the reduction gear.

  
  

  Our recommendation is quite simple. Each modeler must first clarify what camouflage he wants to model and thus what specific aircraft he will build. Subsequently, according to the selected camouflage in the instructions, the choice is made with respect to the appropriate version of the engine, cooling and engine covers that correspond to the chosen camouflage. We have all this conveniently indicated in the instructions for the kits, and it is therefore also a reliable guide for choosing an appropriate Brassin set. A general question like “Which set should I buy for such and such a kit” is often impossible to answer because it deals with multiple variants of the engine. If you don’t have the instructions for the kit with you at the moment, you can access them on the e-shop in electronic form. By comparing the plastic parts specified in the kit instructions with the resin sets, you will get answer to the question of which resin set to buy. To illustrate, I am attaching renders from the construction of the engines so that all readers can see the differences.

  F4F-3 early version engine. Reducer without the two magnetos, side intake for air cooling on the front of the cowl ring and one cooling flap on the side covers. 

  
  

  Yes, it may seem complicated to some. If we didn’t care about the design of the F4F-3 model and made only one cover (as most model companies would probably do) and then offered one aftermarket engine, we would have greatly simplified our lives. But then it wouldn’t be us! Our philosophy is to cover the given subject with the highest possible degree of accuracy and historical faithfulness. It requires the study of all available and most up-to-date references and a series of discussions with experts on the given topic. And we think that even modelers should devote some time to studying the materials and also the texts that we publish in the instructions when preparing to build their model. We provide this information to modelers precisely to help them choose camouflage schemes and to clarify as much as possible the technical and camouflage specifics of each aircraft offered in the kit. Short and sweet: We put a lot of effort into preparation, and we expect modelers to put in some effort as well. Through this joint effort, models faithfully corresponding to the originals according to all available materials can be created. In the end, we won’t have to spend time through customer support answering questions that the modelers can answer relatively easily on their own. The days when a modeler had to make such an engine from scratch are not so distant, and the effort required for such scratchbuilding was quite considerable. Today, you only need to decide on which one to choose from our options. And I think that’s decent progress ...

  F4F-3 mid production version engine. Reducer with two magnetos, side intake for air cooling and two types of upper intake on the front of the cowl ring; variant with one or two separate cooling flaps on the side covers. 

  F4F-3 late version engine. Reducer with two magnetos, side intake for air cooling and two types of upper intake on the front of the cowl ring; three cooling flaps in a row above each other on the side covers. 

  F4F-3A engine. Reducer without the two magnetos, no side intake for air cooling; single cooling flaps on the side covers.

  Text: Jakub Nademljenský

• LITTLE FRIENDS

  Even tight formations failed to protect USAAF bombers effectively from attacks by Luftwaffe fighters. Only the deployment of the P-51 turned the situation in the Allies’ favor. [photo: 487th BG]

  
  

  The 66th Fighter Wing Over Europe

   

  Jan Zdiarský

    

  The strategic bombing offensive of the Western Allies, whose main goal was to weaken German industry and supply, stood on several pillars. The British Royal Air Force began to attack Germany with a gradually increasing intensity by the time of the Battle of Britain (apart from a few rather desperate attempts made sporadically from September 1939). Even before the American Air Force entered the European campaign, RAF Bomber Command moved to night operations and, with few exceptions, remained there until the end of the war. The daytime skies over Germany and occupied Europe were to belong primarily to the Americans, at least as far as long-range bombing operations are concerned.

   

  Achieving the goals that the Americans had set for themselves in this regard consisted primarily in building a strong bomber force and support units, which were supposed to ensure supremacy in the skies over continental Europe through joint operations. Another pillar was war logistics, which was supposed to transport not only new aircraft and fresh crews to Europe, but also spare parts, equipment, hundreds of thousands of tons of fuel, bombs and other ammunition. It was such a complex and today a rather neglected component of the war effort that even a brief description of it would be well beyond the scope of this article. The third but no less important pillar was fighter support for the bombers.

  In Europe, the US Air Force's bombing operations rested on the shoulders of two separate air armies, the 8th Air Force, based in Great Britain, and the 15th Air Force, operating first from North Africa and then from southern Italy.

   

  8th Air Force

  The main strength wielded by the US Air Force in the European Theater of Operations (ETO) was undoubtedly the 8th AF, nicknamed the “Mighty Eighth”. As the air component of the Air Force arm of the United States Army (Army Air Force), it was established in January 1942, as VIII. Bomber Command. Under the designation VIII. Bomber Command (which later became a permanent part of the 8th AF structure), it undertook its first operation in the ETO on July 4, 1942, with A-20 Havoc aircraft borrowed from the RAF. At the same time, airfields over eastern England began to see the arrival of regular units of VIII. Bomber Command armed with B-17E bombers. The first distinct operation was a mission to Rouen-Sotteville, France, on August 17th, 1942. In February 1944, VIII. Bomber Command headquarters was integrated into the 8th Air Force and along with it, as part of the ‘new’ VIII. Bomber Command, existing bomber groups. Simultaneously, the VIII. Fighter Command was created, whose main task was to provide protection for the bombers.

  The 8th AF reached its peak strength in the summer of 1944. By the end of August of that year, it consisted of three Bomb Divisions (later Air Division) with forty Bombardment Groups (or simply Bomb Groups) spread among fourteen Bombardment Wings and a separate Fighter Command, with three Fighter Wings with sixteen fighter Groups, each with three squadrons. In addition to these, the 8th AF included several reconnaissance and special operations, training and other support units. This was a force that was able to send 1,200 four-engine bombers and around 500 escort fighters over Germany in one day. Since the summer of 1944, the German Luftwaffe had rarely been able to effectively oppose such a force.

  In 1945, all but one of the Fighter Groups of the 8th AF were armed with P-51D aircraft, or the P-51K.

   It is not without interest that the last combat operation of the 8th AF was a mission to Pilsen, Czechoslovakia on April 25th, 1945. A few days later, the bombers of the 8th AF participated in Operation Mana to supply food to the population of the Netherlands, which was on the brink of starvation, after German troops cut off the food supply.

  Range of RAF and USAAF fighters during escort missions over the continent on a WWII map.

  
  

  15th Air Force

  The Second US strategic air force in Europe was the 15th Air Force, formed in November 1943 in North Africa from parts of the tactical 12th and 9th AFs. It was only in December 1943 that the newly formed units of the 15th AF received four-engine bombers and a successful series of bombing missions could thus be undertaken, although the first raid by heavy bombers of the 15th AF on the west coast of Italy on January 22, 1944 had more of a tactical support flavor to it. Major missions were to come mainly after the transfer of the 15th AF to Italy (January - March 1944), when their bombers could reach deeper into occupied Europe and into Germany itself. At the end of the war, the 15th AF had four B-24 Liberator Bomber Wings and one B-17 Flying Fortress Wing. Fighter support was provided by two Fighter Wings with P-38, P-47 and, later, P-51 aircraft. The last mission of the 15th AF came on May 1st, 1945, the target being Salzburg in Austria.

   

  66th Fighter Wing

  As noted above, in August 1944, the 8th AF had sixteen Fighter Groups. These were incorporated into three Fighter Wings, namely the 65th FW, 66th FW and 67th FW. The affiliation of specific fighter groups to a given Wing was more or less stable. At the same time, these Wings usually provided escort for bombers of specific divisions from the 8th AF (65th FW for Liberators from the 2nd BD, 66th FW escorted B-17s from the 3rd BD and 67th FW B-17s from the 1st BD).

  P-51 Mustang flight from 503rd FS, 339th FG photo: Museum of Air Battle over the Ore Mountains, via Russ Abbey

  The 66th FW was formed around five Fighter Groups

   

  55th FG                

  Nuthampstead September 1943 – April 1944

  Wormingford April 1044 – May 1945

  For the first six months of its operational activity, the unit was based at Nuthampstead Base north of London, which it later had to leave to make way for the newly arrived 398th BG. Until the summer of 1944, the unit flew the P-38 Lightning, which was replaced by the P-51D Mustang. A number of pilots of this unit thus flew in combat on both types. The identification marking applied up to the P-51 was initially a black stripe on the front of the engine cowl and a black spinner. This was soon replaced by a yellow-green checkerboard pattern and stripes of the same colors on the spinner. A distinguishing feature of the unit was also the color differences in the fuselages of the Mustangs of the individual squadrons, a practice that was abandoned especially by the later months of the war. While the 38th FS had horizontal and vertical tail surfaces painted olive green, the 338th FS flew mostly without any coloring of the tail surfaces. The most impressive livery of this unit were the Mustangs of the 343rd FS, whose anti-glare panels in front of the cockpit arced back to encompass the rest of the fuselage, with the entire fuselage behind the cockpit being sprayed the same olive green. These were not remnants of the OD/NG (olive drab / neutral gray) coloring, because the 55th FG converted over to Mustangs later, meaning that their machines would have been delivered in natural metal and aluminum spray. The arc of green on the fuselages of 343rd FS Mustangs was often edged with dark red or yellow. On occasion, this coloring also appeared on the aircraft of the 338th FS. On the other hand, at the end of the war, the 343rd FS often had its machines only in bare metal coloring, only with a checkerboard pattern on the nose. Also, the 38th FS in 1945 was abandoning the full coloring of the tail surfaces. Instead, identifier colors were applied to the rudders– 38th FS red, 338th FS light green and 343rd FS yellow.

   Lt. Jones’ Mustang from the 38th FS, 55th FG shortly after returning from a combat operation. [photo: Museum of Air Battle over the Ore Mountains, via David Jewell]

  
  

  339th FG

  Fowlmere April 1944 – May 1945

  The 339th FG was among the newer units of the 8thAF, and therefore arrived in England already wielding P-51 aircraft. Fowlmere, near Duxford, became its base throughout its operational deployment in Europe. The P-51Bs and Cs used at first were replaced by more modern P-51D and K versions during the summer of 1944, but some older B and C fighters remained in service for quite a long time, until the fall of 1944. The identification marking of the unit was a red and white checkerboard on the front of the engine cowl and included the spinner. Later, unit specific squadron colors were applied to the rudder - the 503rd FS received a red rudder, the 504th FS received a green one, while the 505th FS received yellow.

   339th FG´s P-51 escorts a damaged B-17 returning from enemy territory [photo: Public Domain]

  
  

  357th FG

  Raydon November 1943 – January 1944

  Leiston January 1944 – May 1948

  The “Yoxford Boys”, as the 357th FG was nicknamed, moved to England in November 1943. The unit spent a short time at Raydon Base before being moved to Leiston. The 357th FG marking is one of the most impressive to appear in the 8th AF. Many of her early P-51Bs and Cs were still in OD/NG livery, and that combined with the yellow-red checkerboard and, for a period of time, invasion stripes really suited the Mustangs of this unit. However, even natural metal airplanes (and sprayed aluminum) appear unusually colorful in conjunction with that unit's markings. Although a wide variety of markings cannot be denied to other units within the 66th FW, the 357th FG itself was certainly the most varied. Later, this unit also added identification markings of individual squadrons by spraying its rudders – the 363rd FS used red, the 364th FS yellow, and the 362nd FS rudders often remained unpainted, unless the entire fuselage was sprayed olive. With 609 credited aerial victories and 109 aircraft destroyed on the ground, the 357th FG was the most successful unit with the P-51 and the second most successful unit within the USAAF. It is therefore not surprising that more than half of the fighter aces who earned their glory with the 66th FW came from the 357th FG.

   P-51D 44-64051 from the 362nd FS, 357th FG at Leiston. [photo: Public Domain]

  
  

  353rd FG            

  Goxhill June 1943 – August 1943

  Metfield August 1943 – April 1944

  Raydon April 1944 – May 1945

  For more than a year, this unit operated the P-47 and re-armed with the P-51D in October, 1944. The marking of the group was a black and yellow checkerboard on the nose. Sometimes, it consisted of only three rows, sometimes it was applied to more than half of the nose of the aircraft, even to the extent that it obliterated the anti-glare panel in front of the cockpit. For the P-47, the checkerboards were originally skewed diagonally, later they were sprayed parallel to the horizontal axis of the aircraft. These were also applied to the P-51. The color identifiers of individual squadrons also later appeared for this unit: the 350th FS yellow, 351st FS usually without, the 352nd FS black. The coloring of 353rd FG Mustang rudders was not consistent, and the mentioned colors also appeared on aircraft of other squadrons and therefore cannot be considered definitive identifiers of squadrons within the FG.

   

  
  

  78th FG

  Goxhill December 1942 – April 1943

  Duxford April 1943 – May 1945

  One of the oldest fighter units of the 8th AF saw its baptism of fire in the service of the 12th AF in Africa, flying P-38 Lightnings at the time. It returned to England much weakened and in April, 1943 was re-equipped with P-47s. It was on this type that the unit would gain its fame. It did not convert on to the P-51 until December, 1944. The unit's marking was a distinctive black-and-white checkerboard over almost the entire nose of their Mustangs (and previously over the P-47 engine cowls). The individual squadrons were later distinguished by the color applied to the rudder: the 82nd FS used red, the 83rd FS white, and the 84th FS black.

   P-51D 44-15469 “Bucephalus” from 78th FG. On this aircraft Lt. William E. Hydorn achieved an aerial victory over a Me 262 on February 2, 1945. [photo: Public Domain]

  
  

  3rd Scouting Force         

  Wormingford February 1945 – May 1945

  A special unit, built and supported by the 55th FG, was based with this fighter group at Wormingford. Although it was independent, it was functionally related to the 66th FW and was intended to support the 3rd BD. Administratively, however, it fell under the 493rd BG. Its task was to cooperate closely with the bomber associations in weather reconnaissance en route to the target and especially over the target. The Mustang pilots of the 3rd SF were initially dedicated pilots of the 55th FG, but later, their role was taken over mainly by volunteers - experienced former heavy bomber pilots who completed their operational tour with the required number of missions. They knew best what information was needed, and when by their colleagues flying the route behind them. In addition to Mustangs, the unit also flew P-47s and B-17Fs. The color identifiers of their P-51s consisted of red trim on the leading edge of the fillet. The different checkerboards on the cowls were consistent with the unit that the aircraft being flown originated with, predominantly being the 55th FG.

  For a very short time, the 66th FW also had other groups, most of the time assigned to other Wings – the 4th FG (1945), 56th FG (1945), 359th FG (1943), 361st FG (1943-44, 1945) and the 479th FG (1945), possibly to the 9th AF (358th FG). However, their temporary involvement with the 66th FW was marginal and we only mention them because they are mistakenly listed as a permanent part of the 66th FW by some sources. Despite this, one of them – the 361st FG - is worth bringing up. This unit was a bit of a jack-of-all-trades, plugging holes where needed. It gradually went through service with all three FWs and at the turn of 1944/45 it was even temporarily tasked with ground support with the 9th Air Force.

  The plans for the reorganization of the 8th AF from March 1944, included a version of things that would see the 352nd FG falling under the 66th FW, but in the end it remained part of the 67th FW as did the 50th FG. However, after coming to the ETO, it found itself subordinate to the 9th AF. At the same time, the 353rd FG was to be integrated into the 67th FW. The same document also assigned individual FWs to respective Bombing Divisions, but later reality proved to be different. The 66th FW was to support the 2nd BD, the 67th FW the 1st BD, and the 65th FW was to accompany the 3rd BD on missions.

   Excerpt from a strategy document of the 8th AF displaying their bases in East Anglia. Bases utilized by fighter units of the 66th FW are marked with a white star, while yellow stars indicate bases initially used by these units but later handed over to other units.

  
  

  Big Brothers and Little Friends

  From the very first operations of American bombers in Europe in 1942, it was clear that the current group defense tactics of the USAAF bombers was inadequate to deal with the capabilities of the German Luftwaffe. Bomber formations, at the mercy of German single and twin-engine fighter packs, suffered heavy losses. So much so that stopping this method of operations was considered. This can be seen in the raids of the 8th Air Force from the summer of 1942 and especially during the spring to autumn of 1943. It was obvious that without high-quality fighter protection these operations were doomed to failure. The generally known problem was the fact that neither the RAF nor the USAAF had the kind of fighter aircraft that could accompany their Big Brothers over Germany. In August, 1943, the P-47 Thunderbolt aircraft, equipped with drop tanks, were able to accompany the bombers to a distance of approximately 375nm, which roughly corresponded to the area of Frankfurt am Main, Hanover, or Kassel. This, of course, provided that they did not get into a fight with German fighters. Any significant change in the flight regime, let alone the necessity of premature jettisoning of the extra tanks, of course significantly shortened their range. The P-38 had a greater range and in December 1943 they were able to scrape the area of “Big B”, Berlin itself (approx. 520 nm). However, their combat capabilities at that time were already significantly behind the newer versions of the Luftwaffe’s main fighter types, the Bf 109G-6 and Fw 190A-5 and their following variants. Only the P-51B and C, which appeared in Europe at the turn of 1943 / 1944, were able to escort bombers deeper over the Reich itself and the center of Europe. Significantly better protection of the bombers was provided by the P-51D, which entered service during the summer of 1944. These were not only able to escort the bombers to the vast majority of their targets on the continent, but in several cases of special operations of the Frantic type, they protected their Big Brothers taking off from their home bases in Great Britain up to the region of Poltava and Mirgorod in Ukraine (approximately 1,300 nm).

  As the Luftwaffe’s ability to respond to American raids weakened, the role of escort fighters shifted partly to ground attack. American aviators destroyed locomotives, substations, German planes on the ground, river boats and other means of transport. In essence, everything that could even remotely appear to be a target of military importance had to be on the lookout for the hunters' thirst

  A photo from early period of 8th AF bomber escorts shows a P-38 Lightning of 338th FS, 55th FG. [photo: Museum of Air Battle over the Ore Mountains, via David Jewell]

  
  

  Protecting the bombers from Luftwaffe aircraft remained a priority task, as long as there was something to protect them from. However, the impression that the German air force was already completely defeated could be very dangerous. This was especially true in the closing months of the war, when Me 262 jets began to appear more and more regularly among the intercepting fighters, which in classic combat were a difficult opponent even for Mustang pilots. Unfortunately for the Germans, realizations regarding the conduct of the war came too late. “Jets” became the prestigious hunting trophy of many USAAF fighters.

  It will probably remain an eternal topic of historical debate, which weapon, vehicle or aircraft primarily provided the Allies with the opportunity to end the war in Europe by the spring of 1945 and which element thus ensured the air supremacy necessary for victory. Among the main favorites of the debates will understandably be the planes participating in the strategic bombing of German war industry and transport. And even among proponents of this theory, there will be differences of opinion as to whether these were the four-engined B-17s and B-24s, or their “Little Friends”. Even if the final answer were to be the four-engined heavies, it is quite certain that without their “little brothers” and among them the P-51D, they would never have been able to do their job.

   

  Sources

  - Maurer Maurer: Combat Squadrons of the Air Force – World War II, Office of Air Force History, HQ USAF, 1982

  - Maurer Maurer: Air Force Combat Units of World War II, Office of Air Force History, HQ USAF, 1983

  - Archives of the Air Battle over the Ore Mountains, September 11th, 1944 in Kovářská

  - US National Archives and Records Administration, College Park, Maryland; Unit Histories, Reports and Mission Orders

  - Proposed plans for organization of the Eight Air Force, HQ EIGHT AIR FORCE, March 1944

  - Eight Air Force – Tactical development August 1943 – May 1945, AAF Evaluation Board, 1945

  - Wikimedia Foundation, Inc. - Color profiles and emblem of the 8th Air Force – Jan Zdiarský

• Air War over Ukraine

  A Ukrainian operator prepares a Patriot battery for action.

  
  

  Patriot vs. Kinzhal

  
  

  Text: Miro Barič

  Photo: Ukrainian defence forces, social networsk and other public sources 

  
  

  This instalment covers the May period and picks up exactly where the previous instalment ended. The Ukrainian attacks against important targets in the Russian rear and the Russian bombing of Ukrainian cities continued without pause. Patriot air defence systems, which have just arrived, have been heavily involved in their defence. Another major weapon from the West has also appeared on the scene, and there has been another black day for the Russian air force.

   

  As we noted at the end of the previous instalment, the Ukrainian capital Kiev has enjoyed almost two months of relative calm. But then the Russian attacks resumed and continued throughout May. This time, however, with a big difference – the Russian missiles were countered by Patriot batteries. The first arrived on April 21 and the second on April 27. One of them was delivered from the USA and the other from Germany. In addition, the Netherlands provided two additional launchers to reinforce these batteries. The Russian forces decided to destroy the Patriot batteries at any cost. After a month of continuous attacks, Putin officially announced the destruction of five Patriot batteries of the two supplied ... This probably needs no further comment.

  On contrast, the Russian Ch-47M2 Kinzhal missiles have lost their aura of invincibility. These were put into service by the Russians at the turn of 2017/18. Officially, they have a range of 2,000 km, reach a speed of Mach 10 and can carry a conventional or nuclear warhead. According to Russian propaganda, they are hypersonic weapons. In reality, they are ballistic missiles developed from Iskander surface-to-surface missiles and modified for launch from aircraft – specifically Tu-22M3 and MiG-31 types. With ballistic missiles, all you have to do is calculate their trajectory and send the missile their way, so to speak. Real hypersonic weapons are able to maneuver in such a way that there is no time for the defense to react to a change in trajectory.

  Moscow claimed that it had deployed Kizhals against Ukraine from the very beginning of the war. However, they have only used them in small numbers. The reason for this is their high cost (reportedly $10 million) and the small number of units produced. The biggest attack took place on March 9 this year, when the Russians fired six missiles of this type at Ukraine. At least two missiles were lost last year. One Kinzhal apparently crashed due to a malfunction while still on Russian territory, another was destroyed when its carrier, a MiG-31, crashed last October while taking off from Belbek airfield in occupied Crimea.

   A long list of achievements of the Ukrainian air defense battery.

  
  

  The first kill

  Now, for the first time, Ukrainian air defences have also destroyed Kinzhal. It happened early in the morning of May 4 over Kiev. The Economist magazine talked about it with 30-year-old Ukrainian Patriot operator Vyacheslav. He said that according to the manual, it was possible to destroy the Kinzhal, but he was only convinced when the order was given to fire the missile and the shoot-down was confirmed. Applause, joy and much swearing followed. Vyacheslav also noticed that the Kinzhal was flying about three times slower than the Russian propaganda communicated. “We have understood Patriot works. The next time, when we saw not one but six Kinzhals on our displays, it was just a matter of routine,” he told The Economist.

  Vyacheslav underwent a shortened training that lasted three and a half months. He first trained in Oklahoma, USA, and then in Poland. However, according to the Ukrainians, even this training was too long. After all, Western systems are more automated and there is nothing exceptionally complex about their operation. “The IRIS-T is much less complicated system than the Buk system I was operating before. It’s like switching from a calculator to a MacBook Pro. Western air defense batteries basically do the work for you," The Economist quoted Denis Smazny, training coordinator for IRIS-T and NASAMS, as saying.

  A Ukrainian operator prepares a Patriot battery for action.

  
  

  The debris of the Kinzhal, whose shooting down on May 4 was mentioned by Vyacheslav, fell on a playground. Photos of the debris appeared on social networks. At first, Kiev denied the shoot-down because it did not want to reveal its capabilities to the enemy. However, the Ukraine officials eventually confirmed it. The wreckage of the Kinjal was put on display in Kiev. According to some doubters, they do not correspond to the outer shape of the missile, but according to others, they are part of the internal assembly of the Kinzhal and therefore have nothing to do with the outer shape.

  What’s interesting, is the hole in the body of the downed rocket. This corresponds to the hit by the Patriot system. This is because the PAC-3 version missiles do not primarily use an explosive warhead with shrapnel that, when exploding near an enemy missile, might not destroy it. When the first versions of Patriot were deployed, it happened that the enemy missile was merely damaged and kept falling along the ballistic curve. The PAC-3 was therefore developed specifically to destroy ballistic missiles. There are 180 small nozzles on the body of the PAC-3 missile, which are used for fine maneuvering. It also has an improved active radar, so it guides itself to the target. This allows it to react quickly to the movement of an enemy missile and destroy it with a direct hit by its kinetic energy.

   Illustrative photo of a MiG-31 with a Kinzhal missile underneath.

  Wreckage of the Kinzhal on display in Kiev.

  
  

  Six more kills

  After this setback, Russia sought to destroy the Patriot batteries at all costs, or at least deplete their ammunition supply. During the course of May, Kiev faced as many as twenty attacks. Not only did their number increase, but also their intensity. In the period under review, Russia fired 16 % of the number of missiles it had fired in the previous 15 months. This is three times the average. Attacks have also been intensified. The aim was to keep the Patriot batteries in place, detect their location and then destroy them by continuous shelling. Therefore, the attacks mostly started with suicide drones, continued with cruise missiles, and ended with Kinzhals. One of the strongest attacks came on Tuesday, May 16 – this is the one where Vyacheslav mentions shooting down six Kinzhals.

  Ukrainian anti-aircraft unit with Humvee vehicles and Stinger missiles.

  This unit also carefully marks its achievements on its Humvees.

  
  

  The Russian goal that night was clearly to overwhelm the Patriot. They fired a large number of different missiles from the north, south and east all at once. Aircraft fired Kinzhal missiles, ships fired Kalibr missiles from the Black Sea, and Iskander missiles were fired from the ground. The Ukrainian side claimed to have destroyed all the missiles despite the extremely intense attack. The Russians, on the other hand, boasted that one of their missiles destroyed a Patriot system. However, the latter cannot be destroyed in one hit because it is made up of individual elements spaced far apart. In addition to the launchers themselves, there are the control and command modules with radars, which can be several kilometres away. The Russian claim can thus be described as wishful thinking. The US Department of Defense later said that the Patriot system had suffered light damage but was repaired and fully operational again in a few days.

  The activity of the Patriot system on the night of May 16 was also captured in videos that were posted live on social media. Recognizing the importance of Patriots for the protection of its cities, Ukraine’s secret service cracked down on the bloggers who posted the videos. This is because they can provide the Russians with information about the current location of the batteries, which is very sensitive. The Russians did not give up for a whole month. At the end of May came a series of attacks that took place at night, during the day, and then again at night – that is, virtually continuously. They had hardly attacked during the day until then. They also tried different tactics. For example, in addition to the different directions and heights of the attacks, cruise missiles and suicide drones circled the site near Kiev, just to lure the air defense forces into action. However, none of this led to success. Other cities, however, are not as well protected, and this is causing damage and loss of lives in them.

   Ukrainian soldiers at the front with portable rockets.

  
  

  Black Day of the Russian Air Force

  However, despite all the workload, Ukraine was able to use its air defence systems to attack, or rather to set a trap for the Russian air force. The latter has made a habit of attacking with glide bombs from its territory into northern Ukraine with impunity. However, this changed on Saturday May 13, which became a truly black day. In fact, an entire strike group preparing to launch its deadly payload on Ukrainian targets was shot down in the Bryansk region.

  Two Mi-8 helicopters, a Su-34 bomber and a Su-35 fighter hit the ground in succession. They all went down engulfed in flames and smoke. Photographs of the wreckage showed shrapnel holes and all nine crew members of these aircraft lost their lives.

  To this day, it is unclear what exactly happened. Initial reports spoke of a mistake by the Russian air defenses, but official Russian sources said that the destruction of the Russian air force machines was the work of saboteurs and launched a large-scale ground operation to catch them. Unofficial Russian military bloggers, however, have been writing from the beginning about the trap set by the Ukrainian air defenses. Indeed, the Russian air force had let its guard down and was always conducting operations from its territory in the same way. The Ukrainian side has studied the Russian procedures thoroughly and has brought air defense missiles to the border of the Chernihiv region. The next time the Russian air force attempted an attack, it shot down the entire group involved. Officially, however, the Ukrainian side is silent about the whole incident. It is clear that it does not want to provide any information to the enemy.

  The Russian group consisted of a Su-34 bomber preparing to drop guided glide bombs on the Chernihiv region just inside the border. At least one of the Mi-8 helicopters was in the electronic warfare version and was tasked with jamming the Ukrainian radars, creating a brief window that would allow the Su-34 to carry out its deadly mission unimpeded. The Su-35 provided fighter cover for the entire group. It is possible that the second Mi-8 was also the electronic warfare version, or was ready to rescue crew in case of an aircraft being shot down.

  The first Mi-8 crashed in flames after being hit near the town of Klincy, about 50 km from the Ukrainian border. Three crew members were killed. One woman on the ground suffered burns from the falling burning debris. Another Mi-8 crashed in the Unechsky district east of the town of Klincy. Again, the entire crew of three was killed. A Su-34 crashed near the village of Nizhneye, south of Klintsy, close to the Ukrainian border. Both pilots lost their lives. Finally, the pilot of the Su-35 was killed near the village of Suretsky.

  It was the worst day for the Russian Air Force since March 5, 2022, when two Su-34s, two Su-30s, two Mi-24/35 helicopters and one Mi-8 helicopter were visually confirmed downed in Ukraine. Heavy casualties are also known to have occurred in the repeated Ukrainian shelling of the Russian-occupied Chornobaivka airfield in Kherson area. The worst day for the occupiers there was March 16, 2022, when at least seven Russian helicopters were destroyed, according to satellite images.

  A falling Russian Mi-8MTPR-1 from the 15th Army Aviation Brigade shot down in Bryansk Oblast on May 13.

   Burning wreckage of a Russian Mi-8MTPR-1 on the ground near the village of Klincy.

  A photo of this Russian Mi-8, which had crashed sometime earlier under unknown circumstances, also surfaced during May.

  
  

  More Russian losses

  In addition to this major incident, however, the Russian Air Force lost several other aircraft during the reporting period. On Wednesday, May 10, one Kamov Ka-52 was shot down in the Avdiivka area in the Donetsk region. Both crew members were killed. At the same time, the Ukrainian 110th Brigade reported a helicopter shoot-down in the area, apparently the same incident.

  On Friday May 12, a Mi-28 helicopter crashed in the Dzhankoy district of Crimea. The cause of the crash was apparently a technical failure. The least information is available on the loss of a Ka-52, which occurred on Monday May 22 in Russia’s Belgorod region near the border with Ukraine. The circumstances of its crash are not known, all that is known is that both pilots were killed this time as well.

  Among the casualties related to the war in Ukraine, one Su-24 may be counted, which was damaged on the ground of an aircraft factory in Novosibirsk, far away from the front line. The undercarriage of this aircraft was set on fire and damaged in a guerrilla attack on Monday May 8. However, it was there for a long time parked and not used. It was therefore more of a symbolic attack.

   A Russian Su-24 that had been grounded for a long time in Novosibirsk.

  A decommissioned Su-24 was damaged by landing gear ignition on May 8.

  
  

  Storm Shadow in action

  On the Ukrainian side, only one helicopter was damaged in combat missions in May. The Mi-24 returned to its base with a large hole in the vertical fin on Wednesday, May 17.

  Ukrainian Mi-24 damaged on May 17 with the hole in the vertical fin.

  
  

  Other Ukrainian losses are related to the delivery of new Western weapons. This is a bit of a mysterious story, so we’ll take a closer look at it. On Thursday, May 11, British Defense Secretary Ben Wallace confirmed that Ukraine had received Storm Shadow cruise missiles, capable of hitting targets at a range of more than 250 km. This range is enough to hit virtually all Russian-occupied territories in Ukraine. Wallace praised the scientists and engineers who made it possible to integrate them onto older Soviet-era aircraft used by the Ukrainian Air Force – in this case, the Su-24.

  Storm Shadow missile was jointly developed by France and the UK in the 1990s and entered service in 2002. The French use the name SCALP-EG. The missile has a length of 5.1 m, a span of 3 m and a weight of 1,300 kg. Once launched, it drops and follows the terrain at low level. It is powered by a jet engine, with which it reaches a speed of Mach 0.8–0.9. It is guided by GPS and target information is entered on the ground before launch. Once launched, it cannot be changed. Just before the target, the missile starts to climb, drops the warhead cover and is guided by an infrared camera that is hidden under this cover during approach. Thanks to it, it recognizes the target it has entered. If it can’t find it, it aims for an open area to limit collateral damage. Storm Shadow is designed to destroy fortified targets like command posts, airfield shelters, ammunition depots, as well as ships and bridges. It has a twin warhead – the first punches a hole in the target, the second detonates with a delay until inside.

  The missiles were successfully deployed by Ukraine the following day. On Friday May 12, they were used to destroy a fuel depot in the city of Luhansk, which until then had been out of range of Ukrainian weapons. Moreover, the depot was not destroyed by a direct attack – the missiles flew in an arc, turned behind Luhansk and struck unexpectedly from behind, from the east. Another interesting means supplied from the West, the ADM-160 MALD deception targets, were also used in the attack. These flying decoys amplify their image on radar and can pretend to be attacking aircraft of various types, or cruise missiles. They thus draw the attention of air defenses and allow a real attack vehicle to stealthily penetrate.

  Ben Wallace undoubtedly had a hand in delivering these powerful weapons to Ukraine. His colleague Oleksiy Reznikov therefore gave him a postcard of a Su-24 with Storm Shadow missiles at a joint meeting. Reznikov published it on Thursday, May 25, in an unretouched form. This is strange because the Ukrainian Air Force tries to remove the aircraft’s identifying features in all published images. In this case, both the aircraft number and unit insignia were left. The postcard is also decorated with a large emblem of the 7th Tactical Air Force Brigade. It did not take the Russians long to launch a major missile attack on Sunday May 28 on the Starokostiantyniv airbase in Khmelnytskyi region, which is home to this unit. Stranger still, the Ukrainians, who almost never report their losses, immediately confirmed the destruction of five Su-24s. Thanks in part to these oddities, there was speculation that the destroyed planes were in fact grounded, unairworthy wrecks, and the whole action was just a decoy for Russian missiles.

  Ukrainian Su-24 with Storm Shadow missiles on a postcard signed by British Defence Secretary Ben Wallace.

  
  

  Drones over the Kremlin

  Attacks similar to those on Luhansk have been taking place all month across the occupied territory in preparation for the Ukrainian offensive. In addition, however, drone strikes deep inside their territory have also attracted the attention of the Russians. On Wednesday, May 3, two drones even attacked the Kremlin directly. Both were reportedly shot down by air defenses, but one crashed into the dome of one of the buildings and caused a small fire. Moscow was also targeted at the end of the month, on Wednesday May 31. According to the official Russian statement, eight drones were attacking, five were shot down and three were disabled by jammers. What is certain is that some of the “disabled” or “downed” drones crashed on homes in an upscale neighborhood in the south of the Russian capital.

  To distract attention, Russian legions operating in Ukraine also launched attacks across the border in late May. Their aim is to overthrow Putin, but these are strange bedfellows who are close to neo-Nazis. However, they are up to the task of unleashing chaos in the border area. The Russian border guards were unable to stop them, so they occupied several villages near the border. They had to withdraw troops from Ukrainian territory and deploy the air force to dislodge them. However, this did not prove very successful. An attack by a pair of Su-34s on an occupied border guard building was caught on a security camera, and the Russian pilots certainly won’t put that mission behind them. The planes attacked with a ground flight with unguided bombs and instead of hitting the building, they properly plowed the field far away from it.

  Despite the intense fighting, both sides continued to exchange prisoners on a regular basis. Some of these were also interesting from the point of view of the air war over Ukraine. For example, on Saturday, May 6, it was announced that 45 soldiers had returned to Ukraine, including 42 defenders of the Azovstal steelworks in Mariupol. They were exchanged for three Russian pilots. In this case, therefore, the ratio for the exchange of prisoners was one to 15.

  ADM-160 MALD decoy target used on 12 May in the attack on Luhansk.

• Dawn of the aircraft carriers

  It was the afternoon of November 14, 1910, and Eugene B. Ely was taking off with his Curtiss Pusher off the deck of the USS Birmingham in Hampton Roads, Virginia. USS Roe can be seen in the background. Photo: Eugene B. Ely’s personal album, via NHHC

  
  

  Text: Jean Laffite 

  
  

  Our June release of Sopwith 2F.1 Camel kit represents the scale model of the very first operational, carrier-borne fighter. It was a modification of the proven standard land fighter design flown by many RNAS squadrons located on the land bases at the Western front during the Great War. Also, this type was the first fighter to attack the airship bases from the deck of an aircraft carrier.

   

  Let’s go back in time to the origin of the naval deployment of flying machines. Initially the aviation role was reconnaissance, which by the way is very important up until today. In the beginning the impractical balloons or first airplanes caused doubts among the admirals. No one was able to imagine that the huge balls filled with flammable hydrogen, or the construction of the several wooden planks and some linen could possibly present a threat to the steel giants. On the other hand, the aviation was able to provide better reconnaissance results than any sailor with binoculars on the top of the tallest mast. To spot the enemy first, know his fleet, its formation and course has always been a tactical advantage. In the end of 19th century, the ever-improving naval artillery played its role as well as it was able to increase the effective range and hit the enemy at the long distances, at the limits of the visual recognition, without jeopardizing their own vessels. Therefore, the aviation was perfectly suited for the role of directing the artillery fire.

  The American Civil War gave birth to many innovative solutions in the military equipment designs. Among others it was the first deployment of battle ships, in the case of USS Monitor even equipped with the rotating gun turret which gave name to the whole group of combat vessels designated to fight on the rivers and in the coastal waters. The first submarine deployment is well known as well. Rather amusing, the imagination of a man-driven Confederate submarine named after its creator H. L. Hunley sinking the Union propeller-driven shallop USS Housatonic, on February 17, 1864, in the mouth of Ashley and Cooper rivers as she was on duty to blockade Charleston. Little known fact is that the Union Army was the first to establish the Army Balloon Corps which used anchored balloons for reconnaissance and fire direction in the battles of Bull Run, Yorktown, Fair Oaks and Vicksburg. A sort of aircraft carrier was created. USS George Washington Parke Custis was rebuilt from the coal transporting boat with the deck devoid of all objects that could present an obstacle to the balloon ropes and nets and was used as river transport boat for the Corps. Its designer, an experienced aviator Thaddeus S. C. Lowe, had two gas generators and a balloon installed on the deck. “I have the pleasure of reporting the complete success of the first balloon expedition by water ever attempted. On Sunday early morning I left the Navy yards assisted by the capable fellow aviators and a new device to generate gas which, even though used for the first time, performed admirably,” commented Lowe on the first sailing.

  A reconnaissance balloon launched from USS George Washington Parke Custis above Potomac River in November 1861 near Budd’s Ferry. Illustration: via NHHC

  
  

  Not everything went according to the plans, as a Union General Fitz John Porter learned. He was aware of the balloons’ value, so he joined Lowe to try the new reconnaissance device. During the operations the balloons were always anchored to the ground to prevent them from drifting away. On this flight however, Porter decided to use the single anchoring rope to speed up the ascending balloon as opposed to three or four ropes suggested by Lowe. This single rope broke, and the balloon silently drifted over the Confederate territory. Consequently, it was fired upon, but the crew remained calm and indeed they managed to make several sketches of the enemy positions. Miraculously the balloon then descended back to the Union positions. The whole event must have looked like one of Baron Munchhausen stories. In the middle of 1862 Lowe got infected with malaria in the swampy terrain and had to rest to recover. After his return he learned that all the equipment and resources to operate the balloons were handed over to the Army. In May 1863, after disputing his salary followed by a fall off favor of the Union Army, Lowe left the Balloon Corps. Brothers Allen were given the management of the Corps, but they were not able to lead the unit as effectively as Lowe and before the year 1863 ended the Balloon Corps was disbanded.

   

  Balloon ships

  In 1895 French were the first to build the ship designated specifically for the reconnaissance balloons. Her name was Foudre, had 6000 tons displacements and could carry two anchored and one free balloon. She was not very successful and after many modifications she served as a hydroplanes’ mother ship. Nevertheless, during WWI she served as a submarines’ dock. Before the end of the century several isolated military conflicts took place. One of those was a continuous push of the Ottoman Empire troops out of the Balkans. In 1876, thanks to the Russia’s contribution, the Turks were pushed out of Bulgaria. In 1878 Austria-Hungary was victorious over Bosnia-Herzegovina and the Ottoman Empire forces were withdrawing in other territories except of Europe. In 1881 Egypt fell under the Great Britain control. Italians did not want to fall behind. Long time ago they had set their sight on the north coast of Africa, Tripoli, and Cyrenaica areas, nowadays forming most of Libya. The war broke out on September 29, 1911, and according to the Italian account went smooth. The fact that in the beginning of 1912, Bulgaria, Monte Negro, Serbia and Greece joined Italy certainly contributed to the success.

  Italian Etrich Taube in Libya. Giulio Gavotti flew this type on his “bombing” raid. Photo: Touring Club Italiano/Marka

  
  

  So, the Ottoman Empire, in order not to completely loose its influence in Europe, chose the lesser evil and gave up Tripoli, Cyrenaica and Cyprus. The short war, in which Italy lost 1500 soldiers, was the first to feature the deployment of the modern equipment such as airships, airplanes and balloon ships. The first air bombing raid took place as well when on November 1, 1911, the Italian Lieutenant Giulio Gavotti, bombed, if it can be called that way, Tagiura (Jagiura) oasis and the Osman military camp in Ain Zara. He flew Etrich Taube monoplane on the raid and used in total four Cipelli grenades held in the leather sack. Once he reached the target, he screwed the detonators in and threw grenades the size of a grapefruit on the target. Lt. Gavotti was credited with another first ever mission when on March 4, 1912, he flew the first night mission, again in Libya.

  The Italian balloon ship Volta, a rebuilt personal steamer Europa, operated at the Libyan coast. The special feature of this ship was a substructure which could house the inflated balloon. The naval operations between Italian and Turkish Navy were fully under the Italian control. In then Albanian port of Preveza five Italian destroyers sank four Turkish ones and on the top of it the Italians captured an auxiliary vessel. On November 7, 1912, in Kufuda bay in the Red Sea, Italians destroyed seven Turkish gun boats and practically eliminated the Ottoman Navy in the Red Sea. On the top of it, in the port of Beirut, the Italians destroyed the old Turkish armored ship Avnillah, torpedo launcher Angora and six supply tugboats. The balloon ships did not prove their value and their role changed from reconnaissance to defense. They became the floating platforms for the barrier balloons protecting the ports, ship convoys or military ships. They formed a passive defense against the airships’ attacks, as we will speak about later.

  Giulio Gavotti, Italian aviation pioneer. Photo: archive

  
  

  Airplanes arrive on the scene

  If we realize the fact that the first flight of a machine heavier than air is considered a 279 meters long jump performed by Wilbur Wright in the afternoon of March 17, 1903, and that the first attempts of take off and landing on the ships deck were made by British and Americans in 1910, we learn how rapid the progress of the aviation was in the beginning of the 20th century and we will become aware of the enormous courage demonstrated by those aviation pioneers. In the beginning of the development of the aircraft designated for the naval service two trends became apparent. The deployment of the ground-based aircraft was limited by the take off and landing on the platform installed somewhere on the ship. If it was a fast vessel, for example a light cruiser sailing at 30 knots, approximately 55 kph, and against the wind, the relative speed of the first aircraft and the ship herself did not differ much. The smaller airplane could easily take off from the ships’ platform and land back on it or fly to the ground base if it was in the airplane range. And it happened like that during the first attempt to take off from the 25 by 7 meters platform mounted on the USS Birmingham (CL-2) bow. On November 14, 1910, Eugene Burton Ely at the controls of his Curtiss biplane successfully took off from the cruiser which was at anchor in Hampton Roads port in Virginia. After a short flight Ely landed on the ground. The first landing on the ship’s deck is again credited to Ely when on January 18, 1911, he landed on the USS Pennsylvania stern (ACR/CA-4) in San Francisco Bay. Really courageous “amazing aviator” died the same year during the air show in Macon on October 19, 1911, when he failed to recover from the dive. He emerged from the wreck, however passed away after a while due to a broken neck spine. Just a note, that in 1933, the US Congress posthumously awarded Ely DFC (Distinguished Flying Cross) for his “extraordinary success as a civil aviation pioneer and his important contribution to the aviation development in the US Navy.”

  One of the Zeppelins is flying over the German light cruiser S.M.S. Frankfurt during WWI.

  Photo: archive

  The French ship Fauvette II is just launching the reconnaissance balloon during the trials in the bay near Toulon. Photo: archive

  
  

  In January 1912, the British launched the aeronautical experiments on board of the HMS Africa and HMS Hibernia battleships. The test flights were performed by Commander Charles Samson flying Short Improved S.27 biplane “S.38” (or “RNAS No.2”). The first successful take off was made in the beginning of May, either 2nd, 4th or 9th, as various sources state different dates. What we know for sure is that Samson took off from HMS Hibernia while the ship was sailing at 10.5 knots i. e., 19.4 kph in the bay of Weymouth in England. Coincidentally King George V was on the fleet’s inspection and witnessed the series of flights performed in Portland in four days. Further experiments were conducted on board the HMS London battleship where the take off platform from HMS Hibernia was installed. All these trials led the Royal Navy to the conclusion that the airplanes are useful on the board of the ships for reconnaissance and other duties but at the same time caused a series of problems. The landing deck, built above the bow complicated the gun fire and the hydroplanes’ recovery (Short S.27 was designed as a floatplane) presented a risk once performed in the rough waters. The Royal Navy continued to develop the concept of a hydroplane ship.

  In the beginning of May 1912, Commander Charles Samson is taking off in his Short Improved S.27 biplane off the HMS Hibernia deck in the bay of Weymouth in England. Photo: archive 

  
  

  A problem’ name was Zeppelin

  And then the war broke out and soon it was apparent how big problem the existence of the German airships represented. What looked like a clumsy Leviathan full of highly flammable gas, slowly moving through the sky, started to transform into Zeppelin-phobia once the bombs started to fall out of these giants. It cannot be said that the British did not address the Zeppelin threat. Right from the start the First Lord of Admiralty, Winston Churchill, played his role. Thanks to his initiative the air defense of the British Isles was transferred from the Royal Flying Corps (RFC), who anyway were busy in the expedition corps in France, to the Navy air component, Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS). Soon it was clear that the performance of the available British aircraft is not sufficient to oppose Zeppelins and the solution had to be found how to attack them. In addition, the Germans switched to the night attacks. The Admiralty arrived at the conclusion that if the attacks from the air were not possible it was necessary to attack the airships while they were still in the hangars at their bases.

  Sopwith Camel is being loaded on the take-off towing platform. Photo: archive

  
  

  Flying boats

  Another way to use the airplanes by the navy were the hydroplanes with the boat-like fuselage. The whole aircraft fuselage was in this case sealed to float on the water surface and replaced the huge floats installed on the standard aircraft. The concept of the “flying boats” came to existence in the United States in the Curtiss Aeroplane and Motor Company workshops owned by Glenn Curtiss. In 1913, for its time very advanced Curtiss Model H was designed, a hydroplane with a boat-like fuselage intended for long-haul flights. The British Navy immediately showed the interest in both purchasing several airframes as well as the license to build them as Felixtowe F.1. On May 14, 1917, Flight Commander Robert Leckie flying Curtiss H12 shot down Zeppelin L22 (LZ 64 class Q). The future Air Marshall was born in Glasgow, Scotland, however in 1909 his family left for Canada where he joined the army. In 1915 he paid 600 Canadian dollars for the pilot training it the Curtiss Flying School, however he only logged three hours on Curtiss Model F flying boat at Hanlan’s Point until the school was forced to close for winter. Robert Leckie managed to take part in shooting down L70 (LZ 112 class X) with Fregattenkapitän Peter Strasser, a German aviation icon, on board. Leckie manned the gun while DH.4 aircraft was piloted by Major Egbert Cadbury.

  On August 11, 1918, FSL Stuart D. Culley successfully took off from the H5 platform towed by the HMS Redoubt destroyer and shot down a Zeppelin L-53. Photo: archive

  
  

  First attacks against airship bases

  On September 22, 1914, the British attempted to attack the airship base for the first time. The raid on the base near Dusseldorf, where the airship Z.IX operated from, failed, however. On the second attempt Lt. Reginald Marix flying the Sopwith Tabloid serial number 168, destroyed the army Zeppelin Z.IX (LZ 25, army class) from the altitude of 200 meters. After landing in Antwerp, he had to flee the German Army which was just advancing through Belgium. Encouraged by the success the RNAS wanted to attack the Friedrichshafen base. The mission was flown by single-seat Avro 504C airplanes taking off from the French fort of Belfort. Their bombs did not cause any damage due to the fierce AA fire and the airship L7 (LZ 32 class M) escaped undamaged.

   

  First airship kills by a ground and carrier-born aircraft

  The first destruction of the airship in the air is credited to RNAS pilot, FSL Reginald Warneford. On June 7, 1915, he dropped six 20 lb bombs (9 kilos) from his Morane-Saulnier L high wing airplane (serial number 3252) on LZ37 airship (class M) near Gent. The airship exploded in an enormous blast which also damaged Warneford aircraft and due to the engine failure, he had to perform an emergency landing on the enemy territory. While on the ground he managed to repair the engine and after half an hour could fly back to friendly lines. On August 21, 1917, Flight Sub-Lieutenant Bernard Arthur Smart flying a Sopwith Pup from the platform mounted on the gun turret of the cruiser HMS Yarmouth, managed to shoot down an airship L23 (LZ 66 class Q). After that he landed on the water and was recovered by a destroyer.

  Landing on the sea surface was standard until sufficiently long landing decks were built on the first aircraft carriers. The front and detachable rear section of Camel 2F.1 were often recovered individually. Photo: archive

  
  

  Kill scored from pontoon

  If you ever saw a picture of an airplane taking off from the pontoon towed by a fast ship, be aware that a fighter taking off in such a bizarre manner achieved a success. The credit goes to the Canadian pilot FSL Stuart D. Culley. On August 11, 1918, destroyer HMS Redoubt was towing the H5 pontoon as a part of Harwich Force in Heligoland Bay when Zeppelin L53 (LZ 100 class V) was spotted. Culley took off in his Camel from the pontoon and after a long climb shot down the airship.

   

  Hydroplanes against Zeppelin bases

  During WWI quite many German airship bases were built. The largest ones were located on the North Sea coast in the North-Western Germany: Nordholz, Ahlhorn and Tondern. The Royal Navy learnt about them soon after they were built. Right at the outbreak of the war the British decided to destroy Nordholz base near Cuxhavevn. The attack was scheduled for Christmas 1914 after the attacks from October and November had not been successful due to the inclement weather. Nevertheless, the Royal Navy activity starting on December 21, 1914, by gradual sailing of the part of the fleet did not escape the German attention. On the Christmas Day the British assault group ships set sail and on the following day, at 6 am the hydroplane ships HMS Empress, HMS Riviera and HMS Engadin reached the planned hydroplanes’ launching point. Their assembly and launching on the water then commenced. There were nice Short Folder hydroplanes participating in the mission, each armed with three 20 lbs bombs.

  In the end only seven of them took off at 06:54 am (RNAS No. 119, 120, 136, 811, 814 and 815). The weather was unfavorable. The low clouds obscured the whole mission area from the German observation but at the same time made the crews’ navigation difficult. Regardless, soon they were spotted by a German patrol ship which sounded an alarm and consequently the airships L5 (LZ 28 class M) and L6 (LZ 31 class M) took off from the Nordholz base. British aircraft lost the orientation and after a futile search for the base the crews decided to drop the bombs on any target they could come across. Once they started to run out of fuel, they turned to their return path. They themselves became the target of the airships they were supposed to attack. Only two aircraft reached their mother ships. Oly by a miracle none of the pilots perished even though two of them were shortly interned in the neutral Netherlands.

  Squadron Commander Edwing H. Dunning flying Sopwith Pup is performing the first successful landing on the HMS Furious deck on August 2, 1917, during the trials in Scapa Flow. The ship was sailing at 26 knots with 21 knots headwind. That provided 87 kph headwind speed on the deck therefore the airplane flew at very low speed relative to the deck. Five days later, during the third attempt to land, Dunning crashed into the sea and perished. Photo: Van A. Swindelle Collection

  
  

  Tondern and HMS Furious

  The short platform mounted on the gun turrets were of course only suitable for take-off and if there was no ground base within reach the pilot’s only option was to land on water. Then he and his airplane were retrieved. The ship concept allowing to land and take off again dated back to 1912 experiments. The ship featured the take off platform on the bow and the landing one on the stern. In March 1918, the armored cruiser HMS Furious, properly modified, and prepared, was chosen for the trials.

  There were three hangars at Tondern base which names started with the letters TO, i.e. Tobias, Tonia and Tosca. When HMS Furious entered the service, the Admiralty immediately came up with the idea of how to test her in combat. The plan for the attack on Tondern was code-named Operation F.6 and copies of the Tondern hangars were built at the Turnhouse airfield. Initially eight pilots were chosen for the raid, but one had to drop out and there was no time to train his replacement. Mission F.6 was launched in the morning of June 27, 1918, however, when two days later the formation rendezvoused with the support group, the mission had to be aborted due to the strong winds. The second attempt was code-named F.7 and was launched on June 17 when HMS Furious set sails again escorted by destroyers. In the morning of June 18, at 03:04 am, there were seven Sopwith 2F.1 Camels ready on the HMS Furious deck when the storm struck. Instead of aborting the mission again it was decided to postpone it for 24 hours and HMS Furious, with her escort, waited out the storm by cruising near the Danish coast till the morning of June 19. The weather conditions continued to be less than ideal, but the flight operations were possible, so it was decided to launch the mission. All seven Camels, each with two attached 49 lbs. (22.5 kilos) bombs took off from HMS Furious deck between 03:13 and 03:21 am.

  2F.1 Camels ready for take-off from the HMS Furious deck. Photo: archive

  
  

  The first group was formed by three aircraft flown by Capt. W. D. Jakson, Capt. W. F. Dickson, and Lt. N. E. Williams. The second wave consisted of four airplanes piloted by Capt. B. A. Smart (his Zeppelin kill is described above), Lt. S. Dawson, LT. W. A. Yeulett and Capt. T. K. Thyne. The last-named pilot was forced to return due to engine trouble before reaching the target. At 4:35 am the first group arrived in Tondern and caught everyone by surprise. In the past, there was a fighter flight deployed to Tondern consisting of four Fokkers and four Albatrosses but in 1917 it was disbanded due to the frequent accidents caused by the wet ground. Its duties were taken over by a Navy hydroplane base near the island of Sylt but in the morning of June 19, 1918, they evaluated the weather as not suitable for flying and cancelled the patrol flights. According to the plan the airplanes from the first wave focused on the hangar Tosca which was the largest of all and at that time housed L54 (LZ 99 class U) and L-60 (LZ 10878 class V) airships. The hangar was hit by three bombs and caused a large fire which destroyed both airships. The fourth bomb of the first group hit the hangar Tobias which was consequently attacked by the second group. It also caused the fire by until today it is not clear what burnt in fact. No German was killed during the attack, only four men were wounded.

  One of the aircraft that landed in Denmark after a successful raid on the Tondern base. Photo: archive

  
  

  The sailors on the HMS Furious deck, looking for their Camels returning back were disappointed. Not even one returned. Only two of them made emergency landings on water near the British vessels. At 05:55 am, Dickson landed near destroyer HMS Violet, half an hour later, Smart landed at 6:30. Yeulett was not lucky. He got lost over the sea and crashed. On June 24 the wreck of his Camel was washed ashore near Havrig and the body of his unfortunate pilot was found four days later near Holmsland. Three aviators from the first wave calculated that due to the insufficient fuel they will not make it back, so they headed to the neutral Denmark. The naval Camels (N6771, N6605 and N6823) landed one after another and the pilots were interned. They managed to escape later. One story for all: FL Samuel Dawson successfully landed his Camel N6605 despite the pierced tire on the sand beach Holmsland Klit (Klegold) near the village. He intended to source the gas, refuel, and fly back to his ship. Before he could do any of it, he was detained by police and escorted to the hotel where he met his 2 colleagues. The New Zealander did not want to accept the fate of an interned soldiers. He sneaked out of the hotel in a civil coat and hat and fled. He switched a bicycle for a train until he made it on board of the ship headed for Sweden. From there he continued to Norway where he boarded the ship headed for Scotland.

  Fourteen days after the raid he reported back to his base. For his actions he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and remained on active duty. In 1919 he sailed on board of the modified cruiser HMS Vindictive with Franco-British fleet to support the troops fighting Bolsheviks at Petersburg. Sadly, on September 17, 1919, the unbeatable “Kiwi” ran out of luck. He did not return from the patrol flight. The brave aviator was buried in Koivisto, the former Finnish town which is now part of Russia (Primorsk). He was 25 years old. The Tondern base was seriously damaged, and the attack the Germans used it only for backup. Most importantly, the British raid clearly proved that the future is in the aircraft carriers which aircraft present bigger combat potential than impressive, but technically outdated Zeppelins.

  The burning hangar Tosca at the Tondern base. The airships L-54 and L-60 stored inside were destroyed. Photo: archive

   

  Sources

  J. M. Bruce: “The Sopwith Pup”, Flight International, reissue

  V. Hynek, P. Klucina, E. Sknouril: Military ships (3), Nase vojsko, 1988

  Guttman, Jon & Illustrated by Simon Smith, Harry Dempsey, Richard Chasemore, Peter Bull : Sopwith Cames, Air Vanguard, 2012

  www.Luftshiffe.de

  Wikipedia

  The author’s clip archive

  BBC: Attack of the Zeppelin (movie)