12/2020

• Page 1

  VOL 19, December 2020

  ISSUE 130

  

  INFO

• Page 2

  INFO

  EDUARD

  ISSUE 130

  © Eduard - Model Accessories, 2020

  FREE FOR DOWNLOAD, FREE FOR DISTRIBUTION!

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• Page 3

  eduard

  EDITORIAL

  DECEMBER 2020

  BRASSIN

  PHOTO-ETCHED SETS

  BIGED

  RELEASE

  BUILT

  ON APPROACH

  December 2020

  January 2021

  SERVUS CHLAPCI 1/72

  P-51D Mustang 1/48

  REICHSVERTEIDIGUNG 1/48

  Spitre Story: The Few 1/48

  Bf 108 1/32

  Bf 109G-14 1/48

  F-6D/K 1/48

  CONTENT

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

  Mírová 170, Obrnice 435 21

  support@eduard.com www.eduard.com

  KITS

  HISTORY

  60

  68

  38

  10

  52

  71

  72

  88

  Z-37A Čmelák ProPACK 1/72

  Spitre Story: Tally Ho! Limited edition 1/48

  Spitre over Europe

  Rise of the Spitre

  4

• Page 4

  Ladies and Gentlemen

  Today, we’ll get right down to the heart of the

  maer, as we are approaching the end of the

  year, and that requires a descripon of plans for

  the next twelve months. With respect to the fact

  that there will be a truckload of new items next

  year, I will begin with December, because other-

  wise, January’s newsleer would want to com-

  pete with War and Peace. That could get a lile

  long in the tooth. Besides new items, we can also

  touch on the planned changes and modica-

  ons to our work for next year. Such nocaons

  should be made carefully, though, but with Santa

  just around the corner, we can be a lile more

  charitable with our news. At least, this can be

  applied to what we know for sure, and to what

  we ancipate. There’s a lot that even we don’t

  yet know. Just take a look at this year. Last year

  at this me, it didn’t look like much was going

  to change this year. If it weren’t for the Spii-

  res and Cmelak (Bumble Bee) kits, it would be

  generally boredom followed by boredom, with

  sporadic injecons of more boredom! Compare

  that to the reality of the situaon. Everything is

  dierent. The vast majority of last year’s plans

  have been altered, and our plans for the year

  have been rerouted to an extent that would have

  made the 15th Congress of the old Communist

  Party proud. And that’s not meant as a bad thing.

  We rather enjoy it. It keeps the avor in what we

  do. So, we will raise the level of our innovave

  might even further, as they would have said at

  that 15th Congress. Let the wheels of the econo-

  my turn, and let the modellers be happy!

  NEW ITEMS FOR DECEMBER, 2020

  So, today, we will begin with the new items co-

  ming out in December, and we will keep this very

  short. First, the accessory items. In the Brassin

  line, of note is the resin cockpit for the Novem-

  ber release of the F-6D Mustang in 1:48th scale.

  At this point, I would like to extend my thanks

  and appreciaon to the modellers that reacted

  to my request for informaon regarding the in-

  stallaon of the cameras in the F-6D. My sincere

  gratude goes out to Ron Young and Chrisan

  Alam, who’s kindness has given us all the re-

  quired documentaon and we are now feveris-

  hly working on the set of cameras for this kit.

  Other than that, the collecon of new Brassins

  is prey convenonal, in combinaon with the

  LooK and LooKplus sets, armament sets, and

  smaller accessory sets, that include the likes of

  the wheels for Airx’s 1:72nd scale Beaufort or

  the Cmelak for our kit in the same scale. The list

  of new oerings includes the rst of the BigSins

  for the Spiire Mk.I. Among the photoetching,

  I would point out the sets for the Fiat CR.42 from

  ICM in 1:32nd scale and the Mirage 2000D and

  N from Kiyhawk, and the steel belts for the Fo-

  kker Dr.I, all in 1:32nd as well. In 1:72nd scale,

  we have a collecon of sets for the new Beau-

  fort and Hawk Mk.100 from Airx. Noteworthy

  too, is the ZOOM set for the Eduard MiG-21PF

  Weekend kit. In 48th scale, we are releasing sets

  for the S-2E Tracker from Kinec and the HH-34J

  from Trumpeter. The sets for the 35th scale Leo-

  pard 1A5 (Hobby Boss) and the Jagdger (Takom)

  should generate much interest, too. For the ship

  people out there, we have a railing set for the

  Viribus Unis (1:350th, Trumpeter). We have ve

  new Big Eds lined up for December, and four new

  decal sets that, outside of the Mi-24V ‘Around

  The World ‘ cover stencil data.

  Each month, the height of our producon is

  represented by model kits, but this month the-

  re are only two to brag about. But, they are nice

  lile items. As they did in October, these two

  centre around the Spiire and the Cmelak (Bum-

  ble Bee). The 1:72nd scale Bumble Bee was the

  ‘star of the show’ back in October, as the Limi-

  ted Edion kit SERVUS CHLAPCI!. Aer several

  weeks, this kit, rather surprisingly, outsold the

  48th scale Spiire Mk.Ia ProPACK kit. Things

  seem to have returned back to normal, and re-

  tailers are ordering the Spiire at a rate of about

  two-and-a-half mes the Cmelak. Which is ne

  – that’s how it should be.

  The two kits have reversed their labels. The

  Cmelak is this month a ProPACK release and the

  Spiire is a Limited Edion kit. The Z-37A Cmelak,

  ProPACK 1:72nd, this me includes six marking

  opons, and as opposed to the Czech-Slovak

  Limited Edion kit, is markedly an internaonal

  aair, oering markings for Czech, Slovak, Indian,

  Hungarian, Russian and East German aircra.

  Outside of that, it’s a regular ProPACK kit, with

  pre-painted photoetched, masks, and so on.

  No big surprises. But there is one thing in the

  Cmelak kit that is special. In January, we will be

  introducing a new line of accessory items called

  Eduard SPACE. In me, there will be much talk

  about this line. The introducon will take place

  in the form of the addion of a SPACE set for the

  Z-37A Cmelak to every kit of the type ordered,

  Limited Edion or ProPACK. This will allow you

  to judge the new line for yourself and to try it

  out. I hope that those that go this route will nd

  the new item to their liking. But I will reiterate

  that this oer applies only to orders made in

  December.

  In the Limited Edion line, December sees the

  connuaon of the next chapter in the Spiire

  Story, this me with the subheading of ‘Tally Ho!’

  It is dedicated to the Spiire Mk.II and comes to

  us as a Dual Combo kit with two complete kits

  in the package. One kit makes the Spiire Mk.IIa

  with eight 7.7mm machine guns in the wings and

  the other covers the Spiire Mk.IIb, with two

  20mm cannon and four 7.7mm machine guns.

  There are ten marking opons, eight for the

  Mk.IIa and two for the Mk.IIb. There are also two

  arcles dedicated to the Spiire Mk.I and Mk.II

  in today’s newsleer. The rst is technical, and

  is dubbed ‘The Rise of the Spiire’. It chronicles

  the evoluon and dierences in the various steps

  of Spiire Mk.I and Mk.II development. It’s quite

  comprehensive, and is based around illustraons

  and notes, and I think presents the point it makes

  clearly and concisely. It is a simplied version of

  the similar arcle that chronicled the dierences

  in all the subvariants of the later Bf 109Gs. The

  second arcle was penned by Jiri Rajlich. It is

  dedicated to the establishment of No.313 (Cze-

  choslovak) Squadron, RAF. This unit ew the Spit-

  re Mk.I and Mk.II at its incepon. The arcle is

  a translaon of a chapter from the book ‘General

  Fajtl’, and so the text centres around this indivi-

  dual. This is relevant to the theme, and one of

  the marking opons in Tally Ho! is Spiire Mk.IIa

  coded RY-O, own by Fransek Fajtl. This is the

  rst part of a two-part arcle. The rst, descri-

  bing the service of No.313 Squadron on the Spit-

  re Mk.I, is in today’s newsleer, and the second,

  detailing the use of the unit of the Spiire Mk.II,

  will be published in January.

  At this point, I’d like to ‘fess up to three errors

  I made in past arcles I had wrien regarding the

  evoluon of Spiire Mk.I camouage schemes.

  God, it’s high school all over again! I got a ‘D-’!

  Fortunately, these types of things are more easily

  xed in a digital world than they are on paper. As

  a result, thanks to the input of some colleagues,

  the arcle has been corrected. And please, don’t

  take this as an aempt to increase the number

  of visits to our site. It is simply, and nothing more

  than, a correcon of an honest mistake. Scout’s

  honor!

  EDITORIAL

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 5

  THE FUTURE OF THE WEEKEND KITS

  So, onto model kits. The third of December’s

  new releases was supposed to be the Weekend

  kit of the Bf 109G-6/AS. This was put o unl

  January. The reason for this has leaked out

  thanks to the Distributors’ Leaet that we send

  out, and it brings me to the rst news for 2021.

  The Weekend line is going through a change as

  of January 1st, 2021. It will acquire new pac-

  kaging by way of the boxart presentaon that

  will now be consistent with the standard boxart.

  The marking opons count goes from two to

  four, and the instrucons will also go through

  a slight upgrading. With this, the Weekend line

  will go from the o-perceived poorer brother of

  the ProPACK kits, and elevate them to a stan-

  dard you know from virtually all of the other

  manufacturers of kits. The price point will not be

  dierent from that of the Weekend kits previous.

  The reason, then, for the slight postponement of

  the Bf 109G-6/AS Weekend kit to January should

  be clear. It just seemed like a shame to release it

  in the old format, when it was deemed as ideal

  for the new guise. The ProPACK line will also go

  through a graphic modicaon. The look of the

  boxes will come from the new Weekend boxes,

  but will maintain its orange main colour, while

  the Weekend line will hold on to its tradional

  blue tones.

  In January, same as in the following months

  and years to come, we will release two new

  Weekend Edion kits. The second one of those

  will be the P-51D-5 Mustang, and me is dee-

  med perfect for the Eduard Mustang to make

  the switch. Within the process of introducing

  the new Eduard SPACE line, we will repeat the

  oer of a free set. In January, this will be the set

  for the P-51D-5 Mustang, and will be added to

  every package that includes an order for either

  a Weekend or a ProPACK P-51D-5. Again, this

  will carry a me limit on it, applying only to Janu-

  ary orders, and only for orders via our e-shop at

  www.eduard.cz. In the following months, we will

  gradually build up the catalog of Weekend kits

  that will include our most successful releases. In

  1:48th scale. For example, this will include the

  MiG-21bis, the Spiire Mk.IXc, the Bf 109G-6,

  the Bf 109E, Bf 109G-10, the P-51D, the Airacob-

  ra, the Bf 110E, the Fw 190D, various versions of

  the Fw 190A, and even the Avia B.534. From the

  First World War era, the Pfalz D.IIIa and the Fo-

  kker D.VIIF won’t be le out, and we will not be

  avoiding the producon of decal sets for these,

  either…including lozenge paerns. In 1:72nd

  scale, we will re-release the Spiire Mk.IXc, MiG-

  15 and, once the forms are modied and upda-

  ted, the L-39C and ZA. World War One subjects

  will see the release in February of the Nieuport

  17, perhaps our nicest 1:72nd scale kit of all.

  This will be followed by the Fokker Dr.I and the

  D.VII(OAW), Albatros D.V, and others. By the end

  of the year, we want to have an aracve lineup

  of kits, for an aracve price, and you can bet

  that we will get there!

  EDUARD SPACE

  There have been several references to Eduard

  SPACE, so we should have a closer look at this

  concept. This new line will be a combinaon of

  so-called 3D decals and photoetching. The 3D

  decals will cover details such as instrument pa-

  nels, side consoles, seat cushions, and the like.

  What is meant by photoetched, you already

  know, and in this line, the material that is pho-

  toetched will be steel. The photoetched is inclu-

  ded not because we simply can’t let the stu go,

  but because as a representaon of certain items,

  no one has come up with anything beer or, at

  least, anything as convincing. For that reason,

  there will be the inclusion of the steel photoe-

  tched items, and, of course, these will be pre-

  -painted. In my opinion, this is an ideal combina-

  on, oering the best look with easy applicaon.

  The Eduard SPACE sets are being released aer

  a rather prolonged development period of the

  decal side of it. Much of the resources were

  spent on tesng the decal material and ne tu-

  ning its behavior and stability with me. This was

  a clear problem that needed to be addressed

  from the get go, because the decals are made

  up of many layers of a hydrophilic material that

  absorbs water and expands. We spent a lot of

  me nding methods of stabilizing the material

  with respect to age, and it would appear that we

  have been very successful in doing so. Applica-

  on of these decals demands a certain amount

  of care. This product may look like a decal, and

  be applied as a decal, but it diers from your

  standard decal. Those that disregard this fact are

  in for some unhappy experiences. Because this

  decal/non-decal has a tendency to absorb mo-

  isture, it has to be le in water for only a short

  period of me. What it doesn’t absorb is the

  decal adhesive from the backing paper, so it is

  a good idea to put a bit of dispersive glue under

  it. This product will connue to evolve, of course,

  with respect to the fact that, currently, we have

  several products that can be combined in various

  ways. What is down the road in this regard is sll

  in the cards.

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 6

  LIMITED EDITION KITS IN 2021

  A large poron of today’s newsleer is

  dedicated to the release schedule of new

  Limited Edion kits for 2021. These will con-

  nue along the lines of changes that have

  been introduced over the past year, which

  appear to have been well received by the

  modelling public. On occasion, I run across

  a thread in a modelling forum that the

  Limited Edion kits are not what they used

  to be, are not nancially advantageous and

  that they oer no real bonus over the base

  kit. I will only agree to the point that these

  are ‘not what they used to be’. It’s true. The

  world changes, and we along with it. We

  connue to develop our Limited Edion kits

  so that the retail cost of the package is lo-

  wer than if all of the constuent items were

  purchased separately. Of course, much of

  the cost of the kit is based on the cost of

  the plasc itself, which you don’t see. But, if

  you compare the pricing between the Spit-

  re Mk.I Limited Edion kit and the Pro-

  PACK version, it becomes quite clear. On top

  of that, the crics of the kits don’t take into

  account the decal opons that come with

  them, or the amount of work that is needed

  to develop them and their notes. I would

  venture to say that the collecon of marking

  opons that go with these kits is what taxes

  resources the most. Currently, the Limited

  Edion kits are the best selling Eduard items

  there are. So, what’s in store for this line in

  the coming year?

  THE START: FIRST QUARTER OF 2021

  Immediately in January, we have FOKKER FO-

  KKER!, a 1:72nd scale kit involving the develo-

  pment and producon of the Fokker D.VII in its

  original form at Fokker. The contents of the box,

  which will be a Dual Combo boxing, will cover the

  early and late versions of the D.VII, and some-

  thing from the mid-producon type with a Mer-

  cedes D.IIIa engine and the Fokker D.VIIF with

  the higher rated BMW D.III. We will even include

  two aircra with the Mercedes D.IIIau engine,

  a lesser known version oering 200hp. You can

  FOKKER FOKKER! 1/72

  DU DOCH NICHT!! 1/72

  eduard

  6

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 7

  see the marking opons down below. FOKKER

  FOKKER! Is a bit of a taste of what’s to come.

  In February, we will have the Dornier Do 17Z

  in 1:48th with plasc from the ICM kit. This

  comes on the heels of the Bale of Britain the-

  med items, and although it covers a wider his-

  torical context than that, it certainly goes well

  with such releases as The Few and Adlertag very

  well. Out of the bombers that were in service at

  the beginning of the Second World War with the

  Germans, we chose the Do 17Z because it is in

  the shadows of the more famous He 111P and

  H and the Ju 88A, which, on the other hand, have

  been released by everyone and his brother. We

  are giving the Dornier Do 17Z its due care and

  aenon, and I think that this kit will be very

  popular. The rst quarter will be rounded out by

  the release of another 1:72nd scale kit, the Du

  doch nicht!!. This will follow along the lines of

  the 48th scale version, and will be released on

  the 110th birthday of Ernst Udet.

  QUARTERFINAL: THE SECOND QUARTER

  OF 2021

  The second quarter will be virtually all-72nd

  with respect to the Limited Edion line. April

  will see the release of Adlerangri 1:72 and will

  share in the marking opons of its bigger bro-

  thers, even though there may be minor changes

  made. In terms of the plasc, this will come from

  the Bf 109E Special Hobby kit, which came about

  as a co-operave eort between Special Hobby

  and Eduard. Our share of the work is less signi-

  cant, and more of the work was handled by our

  colleagues at Special Hobby, who took our origi-

  nal 1:48th scale kit and altered it, corrected it,

  generally modernized it, brought it in line with

  the latest research available, and put it into pro-

  ducon. Development of the kit was also taken

  part in by a third party, which, for now, would

  like to remain anonymous, but also put forth

  a wonderful eort. It was the third party that

  made the moulds, and that produces the plasc.

  We all worked together to put this kit into pro-

  ducon within ve months. If you would like to

  know if such co-operave eorts will connue,

  the answer is yes. This pilot project has shown

  that data used on past kits can be used for the

  development of newer and beer versions of

  them. This provides a beer and more user-

  -friendly product than the sll pracced and,

  unfortunately, accepted method in the Czech

  Republic of illegally copying an older model, ma-

  king epoxy short-run forms, and passing them

  o on an unsuspecng customers as corrected,

  3D designed, items, or other such complete

  crap. The ‘3D’, in these instances, really stands

  for ‘Dishonest, Desperate and Disgusng’. This is

  exactly what this pracce is. An avalanche of Bf

  109E kits created in just this way are about to hit

  the market here under a tradional brand name.

  Although some see me as a kind of ‘modelling

  Don Quixote’ and my bale against plagiarism

  as doomed, I believe it is not. I hold out faith in

  the belief that modellers, as a whole, want qua-

  lity for their money and they want sincere, hard

  work behind the products they purchase. These

  are the people that will not even (righully so)

  forgive an incorrect colour call-out on a handle

  in a cockpit in an instrucon sheet, and, I belie-

  ve, will prefer either a new, well researched and

  truly beauful kit from Special Hobby or, later,

  Eduard, or even an older, but sll relevant and

  less expensive original Tamiya kit. Take care of

  what you are purchasing, and don’t be afraid to

  ask where it originated from. It will be worth the

  eort. Eduard will get into the release schedule

  of the new Bf 109E in April. The Special Hobby kit

  will be accessorized with our usual items, placing

  it in a higher retail cost bracket, and so will be

  aimed at the more demanding segment of the

  modelling public. Later, we will connue with the

  Bf 109E with not just further Limited Edion kits,

  but also with ProPACK and Weekend edions

  as well. I think that, together with our friends at

  Special Hobby, we will demonstrate that a home-

  run can be hit with a small model.

  For May, we have the kit dubbed ‘Silver

  Arrows’ in 1:72nd scale. These will not contain

  the MiG-21R, because we sll do not have that

  version ready yet. And even if we did, it wouldn’t

  be included, because in the 48th scale version of

  this idea there were three types, and that was

  hell, bringing with it certain logiscal nightmares

  that I don’t even want to get into. And I don’t

  want to go through THAT again! This kit, as was

  the 1:48th scale version, will be released with

  the inclusion of the publicaon by Marn Janou-

  sek, that will be in its second, re-edited prinng,

  but without the MiG-21R coverage, naturally. In

  June, we will connue on with the fast jets in

  1:72nd, again, downsized from earlier 48th scale

  releases. We can look forward to Desert Babe in

  1:72nd, the Tornado GR.1 in the Gulf War. This is

  slated for June.

  ADLERANGRIFF 1/72

  

  DESERT BABES 1/72

  eduard

  7

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 8

  SEMIFINAL: THE THIRD QUARTER

  OF 2021

  The connuaon of 1:72nd scale kits will die

  o a bit in this meframe. As is widely accep-

  ted, Eduard discriminates against 1:72nd scale

  and doesn’t produce much in that size. Ho-

  wever, July will see one more. This will by the kit

  ‘Zurich 1937’. The contents of the kit will inclu-

  de the Avia B.534 and Udet’s Bf 109V-14 D-ISLU.

  The Bf 109V-14 is another of the many Bf 109Es

  from Special Hobby being planned, and our ra-

  cing Avia B.534 is already well known. There will

  be two Limited Edion kits in July, and the other

  will be Wilde Sau Episode 2, dedicated to the

  Bf 109G-14/AS and G-10.

  August will be a sort of an ‘American’ month,

  and we are opmisc that a victory over covid

  will allow parcipaon at the IPMS Naonals in

  Las Vegas. We want to come prepared. We plan

  on having with us American Spire Mk.IIs and

  Mk.Vs in 1:48th scale. This has the working tle

  of ‘Eagle’s Call’ and will also be the premiere of

  our 48th scale Spiire Mk.V. In 1:72nd scale, we

  are also planning an August release of the B-25

  Mitchell, and it will be reminiscent of the B-26 kit

  ‘Wine, Women and Song’. I have no doubt that it

  will be at least as popular. We don’t have a name

  for the release just yet, but there is enough me

  ll then to come up with something good. We

  will also bring along another Mustang. Maybe

  from Debden.

  At this point in me, September looks like the

  release month for our new 1:48th scale Camel,

  with supposed label BIGGLES & Co. It will be in

  a league all its own, and nothing like the rst Ca-

  mel kit we did at the turn of the century. I ventu-

  re to suggest that this will be the most detailed

  First World War aircra yet produced, bar none.

  I understand that hardcore fans of WNW will

  not be easily convinced, but sll…I have stated

  my predicon. We will do the work, and we will

  do it extremely well. And for those lovers of the

  classic scale that we have discriminated against,

  we have one more Limited Edion kit planned.

  Because the Bale of Britain is theme that we

  don’t want to let go, and so that our Emil won’t

  be too lonely, we will be releasing a kit of the Ha-

  wker Hurricane Mk.I along the same lines. The

  plasc will hail from the Polish rm Arma Hobby.

  THE FINAL: THE FOURTH QUARTER

  OF 2021

  October will be a very Czech month, because,

  as we all hope, October will see our next E-day.

  Our plans for E-day will be disclosed further in

  the January Newsleer. Right now, we are more

  focused on Limited Edion kits, and if all works

  out, there will be another two then. The bigger

  of the two will be the Hind, based on the Zvezda

  Mi-24D, with a Brassin conversion to this variant.

  The contents will again contain a publicaon by

  Jaroslav Spacek, photoetched, masks, a large de-

  cal sheet(s)…you know the spiel. It won’t be any-

  thing cheap, but it will be something sweet! The

  second, smaller item will be about Trainers….

  the Czech Trener, which translates into the same

  thing. The rst of the Trener/Trainers will oer

  the Z-126 and Z-226, and, I think, sub-variants

  such as the Z-226B and Z-226T. I will write about

  those in greater detail in January’s newsleer,

  because this is a theme with wider implicaons,

  and for E-day as well.

  In November, we will make another return to

  Spiires, and we want to me these for Telford.

  The third volume in the Spiire Story will be t-

  BIGGLES & Co

  

  HIND 1/48

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 9

  led ‘The Sweeps’ It will be dedicated to the Spit-

  re Mk.Va and Mk.Vb. It will be a colourful, at-

  tracve and excing package. The Spiire Mk.Vc

  will not be a component of this item, because

  the Spiire Mk.Vc is a theme that warrants its

  own package. It certainly won’t be boring. The

  Mk.Vc was the climax of the lineage that went

  from the Spiire Mk.I to the Mk.V,a nd, as such,

  it will the culminaon of the Limited Edion kits

  dedicated to it. It will be really something, for

  you and I. But that will be in the year aer.

  In December, we want to release a Tornado

  IDS in 1:48th. But, next December is sll far o.

  Truth be told, I write about next December, and

  even anything from the second quarter on, with

  a certain amount of hesitaon, because, as we

  all know, things can change in a heartbeat. For

  that reason, take anything from Q2 on as a bit of

  orientaon, and not much more. The ne print:

  ‘program subject to change without prior no-

  ce!’ We’ve all seen it….

  So, Ladies and Gentlemen, I wish you all, my

  modelling friends, a happy Christmas season,

  with as lile restricon as possible, without

  sickness or any other troubles, and lots and lots

  of modelling fun under your tree!

  Happy Modelling

  Vladimir Sulc

  

  

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 10

  

  No.313 (Czechoslovak) Squadron, RAF was activated on May 10th, 1941 at

  RAF Catterick in northern Yorkshire from predominantly Czechoslovak natives

  serving throughout the RAF in various units. One such pilot was F/O Frantisek

  Fajtl, a veteran of the Battle of France and the Battle of Britain and one of ve

  Czechoslovak pilots serving with No.17 Squadron. Through the latter half of

  May, it became clear that it was only a matter of time before these ve would

  be reassigned to the newest of the three Czechoslovak ghter squadrons for-

  med within the RAF.

  None of the ve really wanted to leave No.17 Squadron. They did what they

  could to remain with their current assignments. ‘We were satised and happy…

  and into this came a telegram immediately reassigning us to the newly formed

  No.313 (Czechoslovak) Squadron. We did not want to leave, and the telegram

  brought us down, mentally. Starting over and having no idea when we would

  again see action was not a comfort to us, while there was no shortage of ying

  at No.17 Squadron.

  After a brief discussion amongst ourselves, we decided to ask the Flight Leader

  to reject the unwelcomed change in assignment. Alf Bayne nodded in agreement

  and took off for Elgin, about a hundred kilometers away, to see the Squadron

  commander, who had recently established a separate detachment of the squadron

  with A Flight.

  On his return to Castletown, he indicated that neither he, nor the Squadron

  Commander, were particularly pleased with the reassignment and that they would

  both do what they could to halt it. Their main argument centered around the lack

  of replacement personnel, and for the time being, we would remain where we

  were. For several days, we basked in the optimism that was suddenly and nally

  obliterated….’

  1

  Attempts to have the orders withdrawn were fruitless. Our British comrad-

  es were also not too pleased with our imminent departure….’ I am sorry to

  see you chaps go, and I am not alone….’ proclaimed F/Lt Alfred Bayne, DFC,

  B Flight Leader, to which the Czech group was attached. ‘I was very satised

  with your performance. You gave us absolutely no reason for any doubt in the

  dignied manner with which you represent your homeland, so humiliated by the

  ruthless Nazis…you demonstrated great determination and bravery, perseveran-

  ce in combat, and a high morale always and everywhere. You were always frien-

  dly and happy. For that, I am grateful to you, and I wish you the best of luck in

  what further awaits you in our country….’

  2

  The sentiment was echoed by the

  CO of No.17 Squadron, S/Ldr Anthony Miller: ‘…you impressed all with your

  ghting zeal, determination and uncanny ability to adapt to the conditions of

  service and team spirit within the unit.’ he stated during the ofcial farewell ce-

  remony at Elgin, where the Squadron was based. ‘We are pleased with the level

  of regard you place on the uncompromising resistance that England exercises

  against Germany and its leader, Hitler. I thank you for your contribution to the su-

  ccesses of this Squadron. I wish you a successful return to your liberated homes.’

  3

  F/O Frantisek Fajtl and his companions arrived at Catterick and No.313

  Squadron on the evening of May 27th, 1941. Other pilots appeared before

  and after their arrival from all corners of the United Kingdom. They hailed

  from No.3, 17, 43, 56, 32, 245, 257,501, 601, 607 and 615 Squadrons, and

  also from No.312 (Czechoslovak) Squadron, which was to cover some necessa-

  ry command functions. The shortage of Czechoslovak groundcrew was dealt

  with by the Air Ministry with the assigning of virtually all-British personnel.

  The CO of No.313 Squadron was originally to have been S/Ldr Alois Vasat-

  ko. However, this post was entrusted to another experienced pilot and veteran

  of the Battles of France and Britain, S/Ldr Josef Jaske, who was B Flight Le-

  ader with No.312 Squadron. The new Squadron thus obtained a trusted and

  well-liked ofcer, one with excellent social skills under all conditions, but he

  did not arrive until July 21, 1941, so initially, the function was held by a British

  co-commander.

  4

  This was S/Ldr Gordon L. Sinclair, DFC, who was experienced in serving with

  Czechoslovak airmen. During the Battle of Britain, he served as A Flight Leader

  with No.310 (Czechoslovak) Squadron. He had led the Flight in successful and

  Spitfires Over Europe

  No.313 (Czechoslovak) Squadron, RAF

  Part One: Spitfire Mk.Ia

  

  Air trafc at Catterick airport

  Catterick, summer 1941

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 11

  

  intense combat during the Battle of Britain. By September, 1940, he had al-

  ready accumulated seven kills. He arrived at No.313 Squadron as one of the

  rst to do so, and this was as early as May 12th, 1941. Thanks to his tendency

  to follow regulations to the letter, and for his overall reticence, a quality quite

  contrary to those of the Czech pilots, he acquired the nickname ‘White Devil’.

  A Flight lead was given to F/Lt Karel Mrazek (who came from No.257

  Squadron on May 17th) and to the Brit F/Lt John ‘Iggie’ Kilmartin, DFC (June

  4th from No.602 Squadron). Both were experienced veterans of the Battles

  of France and Britain. The generally well-liked Kilmartin was then one of the

  RAF’s aces with thirteen kills to his credit. Mrazek, among the most capable

  of professional Ofcers of the Czechoslovak Air Force, ultimately went far in

  his career. He went on to lead not only the Flight, but took over the Squadron

  command after six months, and after another half year, he took over the re-

  igns of the Czechoslovak Air Wing. From the beginning, he named Fajtl as his

  Deputy Commander.

  The same sort of Czech and Brit co-leadership set up applied to B Flight.

  These were F/Lt Jan Cermak (who came from No.312 Squadron on May 19th)

  and F/Lt Thomas W. Gillen (June 4th from No.403 Squadron), both coming

  with previous combat experience. Other major functions, such as those of Pre-

  ss and Technical Ofcers, were split equally at rst. As it was with the other

  three Czechoslovak ghter squadrons in the RAF, the British counterparts to

  the Czechoslovak commanders were to withdraw as the command structures

  normalized according to RAF requirements.

  5

  When it came to pilots, it should be said that, although the unit was newly

  activated, they were no greenhorns. A large number of them came with Ba-

  ttle of Britain experience, and some even having seen combat in the doomed

  Battle of France. It’s ‘rookie’ status only stemmed from its having been newly

  activated.

  6

  This, however, applied mainly to the pilots. The groundcrew, composed al-

  most entirely of Brits, were fresh recruits. This presented a problem, because

  many of the airframe and engine mechanics went through an accelerated and

  abbreviated training program and had little to no real world experience.

  With the lack of military experience and its associated behaviors and pro-

  tocols, the Czechoslovak ofcers were very irritated. However, the situation

  did gradually improve. Much of the credit for this goes to the experience

  and personality of the chief mechanic, F/Sgt Rogers, who was able meet the

  problems faced head on, but very calmly and practically. Within two years,

  the situation completely turned around. The originally inexperienced personnel

  would become the best team of groundcrew in Fighter Command by 1943!

  The rst of the Czechoslovak ghter squadrons in the RAF to be equipped

  with the Spitre

  7

  was No.313. Initial equipment consisted of older Spitre

  Mk.Is armed with eight Colt Browning 7.7mm machine guns and powered by

  On the day of Fajtl’s arrival at No. 313 Squadron it’s rst member was killed - Sgt Josef

  Gutvald (* December 21, 1911, Trest, + May 25, 1941, Uckerby at Sconton) who had

  arrived several days earlier from No. 46 Squadron. He was performing a high altitude

  training ight climbing to 7000 m and vectoring to the home base (homing practice).

  At 17:30, after twentyve minutes ight due to the unknown circumstances he crashed

  into the ground and perished. Upon impact 1.5 km west of the Sconton railway station

  (Yorkshire) his Spitre Mk.Ia R7163 (RY-S) Bridgewater completely disintengrated into

  pieces. Probable cause of a disaster could have been pilot’s loss of consciousess due to

  malfunctioned oxygen mask or some other technical fault.

  Command of the No. 313 Squadron was at the begi-

  nning given to S/Ldr Gordon L. Sinclair, DFC, who had

  fought with Czech pilots during his previous assignment

  as a ight leader of the No. 310 Czechoslovak Squadron

  in the course of the Battle of Britain.

  Before the sortie to escort a ship convoy. From the left

  F/O Josef Richter (intelligence ofcer), Sgt Rudolf

  Ptacek, F/O Frantisek Fajtl and F/Lt John Kilmartin,

  DFC. Catterick, June 1941. (author’s collection)

  The rst Czechoslovak commander of the No. 313 Squadron

  was S/Ldr Josef Jaske. In December 1941 he was succeeded

  by S/Ldr Karel Mrazek.

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  11

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 12

  the Rolls Royce Merlin III, providing around 1,030hp allowing for a top speed

  of 360mph. However, due to the fact that these aircraft were far from fresh

  examples, performance gures were not to what was advertised. The pilots

  didn’t mind much, because even so, the Spitre was faster than the Hurricane,

  which the majority of the Czechoslovak pilots had transitioned from. ‘We fa-

  miliarized ourselves fully with the instrument panel and with the cockpit controls,

  learned where they all were, learned the gear retraction and ap deployment,

  and with the basics of all these things being similar to the hurricane, we converted

  without difculty in a hurry.

  8

  The rst familiarization ights with the Spitre Mk.I were made by F/O Fajtl

  on May 28th, 1941. The aircraft own was X4835 with the fuselage code

  RY-T. Over the course of three ights, he accumulated an hour in the air. He

  made further ights on May 31st, and these numbered three as well. First, he

  ew Spitre Mk.I X4652 (RY-B), taking an hour to practice intercepts of enemy

  aircraft. Then he ew R6604 (RY-F) for a sector reconnaissance ight. He lost

  his bearings along the way due to compass failure. After two hours and with

  his engine sucking fumes, he landed at Drifeld. After refueling, he was back

  at Catterick within fteen minutes.

  9

  Flight was followed by ight. Formation ying, scrambles, interception, aero-

  batics, high altitude ying, instrument ying and on it went. This was the routine

  in the next few days and months. Frantisek Fajtl fell in love with the Spitre.

  ‘We fell in love with the ight characteristics of the new ghter’ he recounted in

  one of his memoirs. ‘Compared to the heavier Hurricane, the Spitre was a balle-

  rina. It required your attention and didn’t like being treated roughly. The Spitre

  also demanded to be set on the ground gently. If you landed too heavily, it had

  a tendency to bounce wildly, but it could be tamed by throttling up. It responded

  immediately to control inputs from the pilot in turns, in aerobatics, in landing and

  in taking off.

  The aerodynamic appearance of the airframe was thought out ideally by its

  designer, Reginald Mitchell. The elliptical wing, with a thin cross section, ensured

  very good control at high speeds, and in combination with the thin fuselage, the

  aircraft was very balanced. The airplane was as graceful in the air as it was on

  the ground.

  The Spitre had me right from the start. I expressed my opinion in my memoir

  that rst evening like this: ‘It seems to me that 180 miles in the Spitre is more

  than 180 miles in the Hurricane. Sorry, my old, reliable friend, but in a ght

  against the Spitre, you would come in second.’

  10

  

  Catterick railway station, May 27th, 1941, new members of the recently formed

  No. 313 Squadron. From the left F/O Karel Vykoukal (+), F/O Frantisek Fajtl,

  P/O Vaclav Jicha (+) and P/O Karel Kasal (author’s collection).

  Catterick, May 27, 1945, afternoon. Sgt J. Gutvald, 2 hours before his death.

  From the left Sgt B. Dubec, Sgt J. Gutvald, F/O K. Kasal, standing F/Lt K. Mrazek

  and F/O A. Hochmal. (via J. Popelka)

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  12

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 13

  

  Some of the rst Spitres Mk.I in the inventory of the newly formed No. 313 Squadron. In barely a month, starting May 31, 1941, on this aircraft X4652 (RY-B), F/O Fajtl logged

  total of 20 combat and non-combat ights-last of them on June 24, 1941. A day later, with P/O Drbohlav at controls, while touching down at Catterick the airplane lost the left

  wheel and ended in the repair shop. I was landing completely normally to three points and softly, remembers Mr. Karel Drbohlav after many years. Shortly after touchdown I suddenly

  felt a strange vibration. I noticed a wheel rapidly spinning off on my port side – it was my own! Unbelievable! I tried to keep Spitre straight and shut off the engine. I was bleeding

  off the speed and suddenly felt a second shock, Spitre leaned and performed a ground loop as the damaged landing gear leg got stuck in the ground. Barely any damage was

  sustained, not even the propeller blades were damaged. The light damage was repaired by teh station mechanics. Investigation board concluded it was an mechanical fault. Left wheel

  steel axle cracked at the point of an air bubble which caused the material fatigue.

  No. 313 Squadron Spitre Mk.I X4163 (RY-R). On June 19, 1941 it suffered an accident at Catterick. While landing from his rst training ight on the type the pilot broke off

  the landing gear on the terain obstacle and had to resort to a belly landing. Even thought Sgt Rudolf Ptacek is stated in the ofcial records as a „culprit“ according to his personal

  records the aircraft was in fact piloted by his friend Sgt Otto Spacek („Otto lost landing gear before reaching the airport but nothing happened to him“ recorded Ptacek at that

  time). Regardless who was at the controls at that time „the accident was evaluated as a pilot’s fault but we should look at it a bit closer“ noted then F/O Frantisek Fajtl. To his defense

  the pilot stated that shortly before landing he felt a strong vertical draft which he could not compensate for. The aircraft lost altitude, hit the hill where it lost part of its landing gear.

  Pilot reacted immediately and with a lot of power recovered Spitre, dragged it to the aireld where he performed the emergency landing. He saved his life and brought most of the

  aircraft back home.

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 14

  HISTORIE

  This brings up one little known fact. Not much was needed for Frantisek Fajtl

  to become Flight Leader at the British unit in July, 1941. This was set in motion

  by the death of F/Lt Antonin Velebnovsky on the 16th of the month. He led the

  Czechoslovak A Flight at the famous British No.1 Squadron (equipped with the

  Hurricane Mk.IIb/IIc), and the search was on for a replacement among Czecho-

  slovak ofcers. The decision to assign the post to Fajtl was helped by his ability

  to speak English. Although this meant a elevation in his duties, he had no desire

  to return to ying the Hurricane. In this regard, consideration was also given to

  F/Lt Stanislav Fejfar who was also experienced in the Hurricane, but he was not

  as well off with his English, and this would be seen as a major handicap with

  No.1 Squadron. To top it off, he had no desire to leave the No.313 Squadron

  and the Spitre, either.

  Ultimately, both remained with No.313 Squadron. Fejfar became B Flight

  Leader and Fajtl remained with his regular piloting responsibilities and unit

  commander.

  11

  ‘I fell in nicely in this happy, friendly group of people, which spoke

  the mother tongue and on top of all that, ew Spitres.’

  12

  he stated later. No.1

  Squadron Flight Leader became Karel Kuttelwascher, who was soon destined

  to achieve greatness in his own right in this function.

  The new No.313 Squadron vigorously geared up for action at Catterick and

  was deemed combat-ready on June 10th, 1941, exactly a month after be-

  ing formed. The leadership at 13th Group, Fighter Command, declared the

  squadron as combat ready. The rst operational ights followed the next day.

  Two Red Section Spitre Mk.Is took off from Catterick at 1359 hours, own

  by F/Lt John Kilmartin, DFC, (ying X4652/RY-B) and Sgt. Jaroslav Sika

  (X4653/RY-D). Twenty minutes later, Yellow Section, consisting of F/Lt Karel

  Mrazek (R6604/RY-F) and Sgt Jiri Reznicek (X4163/RY-R), took to the air.

  They were vectored onto a lone Junkers Ju 88. The intruder dropped his bombs

  on Northallerton and was in the process of making haste back to its home eld

  in occupied Holland. The vectoring conducted by ground control radar was

  accurate and Yellow Section intercepted the intruder. Mrazek and Reznicek

  spotted the distant dot from about two kilometers and above the clouds at

  a height of some 1300m. They immediately began to press home their attack,

  but the Germans decided it was better to avoid combat by taking refuge in the

  cloud cover. The Czechs were not to be so easily dissuaded, though. After some

  two minutes, the Ju 88 emerged from the clouds, and was now closer to the

  Spitres. However, before they could set up for their shots, the Junkers again

  disappeared into a thick cloud layer and was not spotted again. Kilmartin’s

  section landed at 1505 hours and Mrazek’s followed ten minutes after.

  13

  The rst opportunity for a victory had not worked out…’what can you do,

  when the ’88 is fast, and we only had the Mk.I Spitre?’

  14

  was how it was su-

  mmed up in the No.313 Squadron logbook. As a sidenote, the unit was led by

  Frantisek Fajtl at the time. The military nesse he possessed in the air translated

  into a corresponding air he had for writing. After Fajtl left for No.122 Squad-

  ron at the end of April, 1942, the job of documenting the unit’s daily life fell on

  war correspondent Hugo J. Slipka. Under him, the chronicles retained a high le-

  vel of grammar and style.

  15

  After Slipka’s departure from No.313 Squadron,

  the task of documenting the unit’s exploits was given to F/Lt Vaclav Bergman,

  DFC, born in the same town as Fajtl, Domousice na Lounsku. His method of wri-

  ting was quite to the contrary, and could be described as very ‘military’, so the

  reader had to be satised with pure fact with little commentary.

  At that time, the character of the air war was going through major changes,

  including over the English Channel. The debacle that was suffered by the Luft-

  waffe in the fall of 1940 in its effort to gain air superiority over the British

  Isles, brought with it a certain role reversal. While the Luftwaffe changed its

  attacks on Britain to night raids, which strained RAF strength by the necessity to

  counter these attacks, Bomber Command had begun to conduct their offensive

  attacks in daylight hours, having initiated strategic nighttime raids as early as

  May, 1940. The enemy on the other side of the Channel, the Luftwaffe, went on

  the strategic defensive. This role reversal was made possible by the Germans’

  opening a second front in the East in June, 1941.

  The night offensive of Bomber Command aside, which is relevant to this ar-

  ticle only lightly, Fighter Command instigated daylight attacks over the bea-

  ches of occupied Western Europe at the beginning of 1941. There were se-

  veral strategies that were employed by the quantitatively improving Fighter

  Command, and the task at hand became to determine which road was best

  Catterick, June 1941. From the left F/Lt Kilmartin, Sgt Ptacek, F/O Fajtl, in civil life prof. Girdleson (who was teaching Czechoslovak pilots English) and P/O Jicha. Frantisek Fajtl’s

  face shows suffering not giving an eager professor too many chances in his „cultural mission“. (family archive)

  Catterick, June 1941. Picture was taken by No. 313 Squadron ight surgeon

  Dr. Vladislav Kruta.

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  14

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 15

  HISTORIE

  taken, even at the cost of mistakes and heavy losses.

  The most intense of their action came about through what were codenamed

  the ‘Circus’ operations, which were the main component of Fighter Command’s

  duties through 1941 and 1942. The Circus operations involved the use of small

  bomber formations (usually Blenheims and later on, Bostons) over occupied

  France with an escort of up to 350 ghters. The purpose of these ights, to

  force the Luftwaffe into responding and destroying its aircraft in air combat,

  was fundamentally sound, but the actual methods used were based on some

  false premises. The insufcient range of the escort ghters limited Circus ope-

  rations to the shores of occupied France, Belgium and Holland, not extending

  further than Lille or Rouen. These were locations that presented no signicant

  goals that the Germans would want to protect at all costs. For example, the

  destruction of northern French electrical stations caused inconvenience mainly

  to the local population, because any important military targets in the area

  were independent of these power grids.

  On top of that, although the Germans were ghting against growing opposi-

  tion, they still held several key advantages. For one, they possessed an effecti-

  ve early warning system based on the Freya radar system. This gave sufcient

  warning to mount a defense that could attack from a higher altitude out of the

  sun and make a quick getaway. This tactic, called ‘hit and run’ by the British and

  became a German standard, caused a lot of losses to the British, often higher

  than those suffered by the Germans. This also provided the Germans with the

  signicant advantage of any shot down or damaged aircraft was faced with

  the prospect of a forced landing or bailing out over friendly territory. For an

  RAF pilot, it meant, at best, the spending of the remainder of the war behind

  barbed wire fences of a POW camp. Another advantage enjoyed by the Ger-

  mans that compounded their self-condence, was in the technology used. Their

  Bf 109F provided a superior performance level to the Spitre Mk.I and II, to

  say nothing of all versions of the Hurricane. The new Spitre Mk.V, introduced

  into service in the spring of 1941, could meet the German ghter on equal

  terms, but in the fall of that year, the Fw 190A was introduced over the English

  Channel, which tipped the scales of power for some time to come. Tough times

  had arrived for Fighter Command.

  When Fighter Command initiated its daylight attacks over occupied Europe,

  it did so under the promotion of calling it a ‘non-stop offensive’. With respect

  to the results attained, though, the Germans dubbed it the ‘nonsense offensive’.

  Through the rst two years of its duration, much higher losses were suffered by

  the attackers than the defenders.

  The aggressive British Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, used to thinking in

  broader terms and associations, reacted to the losses by stating ‘we can afford

  them much more than they can…’ He was well aware of the fact that the numeri-

  cally superior Allied attacker is bound to suffer greater losses than the German

  defender, due to his lower numbers and qualitative edge in equipment. In his

  message to the Chiefs of Staff on January 10th, 1942, he commented ‘with

  respect to anticipated deliveries, we can afford losses at a rate of two to one.

  Every German pilot or aircraft that is taken out of combat in 1942 has the same

  value as two in 1943. By way of the strain of constant air combat, we will be

  able to absorb the enemy’s air power to beyond his ability to produce and train

  replacements. In this way, we will be able to take the initiative again, because the

  enemy’s resources will be taxed just as ours were, in an effort to keep his head

  above water.’

  16

  Despite the cynicism of a calculation of such a loss ratio (although the British

  propaganda machine naturally presented the concept in a different light), the

  politics of it were essentially sound, as Churchill’s assumptions were proving to

  be correct. It even showed itself to be accurate during the intense air battles

  the following year on August 19th, 1942 in the area of the French port town

  of Dieppe (in the combined operations ‘Jubilee’). The loss ratio of 2:1 was ba-

  sically ‘maintained’ and the Germans were forced to scrape the bottom of the

  barrel of their resources to a much greater extent than the Allies were.

  17

  It is

  necessary to note that Frantisek Fajtl did not take part in these battles, having

  been shot down in May over occupied France and making his way through

  Franco’s Spain, and by the time these battles were raging, Fajtl was preparing

  to make his way from Gibraltar back to England.

  The Non-stop Offensive was a very long and rough road, dotted by the

  wrecks of hundreds of Spitres at the bottom of the English Channel and ene-

  my shores, but ultimately bore the fruit that was hoped for. Although German

  ghters were at their height in 1942, they only managed to keep their heads

  Leconeld, July 1941. Part of the No. 313 Squadron core staff members. Sitting F/Lt Thomas W.Gillen, F/O Karel Vykoukal (+), S/Ldr Gordon L. Sinclair, DFC,

  P/O Jaroslav Muzika, F/O Frantisek Fajtl and Sgt Prokop Brazda (+), standing Sgt Jiri Reznicek, Sgt Vaclav Truhlar, F/O A. Walsham (deputy), P/O Vaclav Jicha (+),

  F/O Vaclav Hajek, F/O Felix Zboril, Sgt Bohumil Dubec, Sgt Jiri Kucera, Sgt Vaclav Foglar. (author’s collection)

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

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  

  Leconeld, August 1941. Picture taking for the local press. From the left Sgt P. Brazda, F/O F. Fajtl, S/Ldr G. L. Sinclair, Sgt V. Truhlar, Sgt J. Reznicek and P/O V. Jicha.

  above water the following year only through the exhaustion of every available

  resource, and this gradually led to the loss of air supremacy over Western

  Europe to beyond the shadow of a doubt.

  But that was still far off in mid-1941. Czechoslovak airmen were not absent

  from the Non-stop Offensive. Eventually, the newest of the Czechoslovak units,

  No.313 Squadron, joined in the ghting along with No.310 and 312 Squad-

  rons. And along with them came Frantisek Fajtl.

  Shortly after No.313 Squadron was deemed combat-ready, it was moved.

  On the rst day of July, 1941, the unit bid farewell to its home base of Catte-

  rick and said hello to the new base at Leconeld, 16km northeast of the east

  English port city of Hull in the County of Lincolnshire. There, it fell under the

  command of the 12th Group, Fighter Command. The north English base at Le-

  coneld was an old facility with concrete runways and offered its personnel all

  the comforts possible. At the time, the base was shared with No.129 (Mysore)

  Squadron, a unit that was about a month younger than No.313 Squadron, and

  was likewise equipped with the Spitre Mk.I.

  The unit was tasked with protection of the strategically important port of

  Hull, and the industrial centres of central England. It was also to provide cover

  for naval convoys off the eastern English shores.

  18

  ‘Our tasks were rather dull,’

  wrote Frantisek Fajtl. ‘We patrolled over naval convoys moving along the coast

  and guarded against enemy raids that didn’t come. From time to time, the anti-

  -aircraft artillery units at Hull asked for our assistance, and we provided nighttime

  patrols and interception duties, but without much opportunity for success.’

  19

  Even though the unit was by then active three weeks, it had not yet submitted

  the status of its pilots. So, these were determined, so that the unit could be mo-

  ved to a base in southern England, where the 11th or 10th Groups had jurisdic-

  tion, and from which missions were own into occupied Europe. The pilot status

  work was completed by August 1st, and this was followed by re-equipment.

  Starting on August 14th, the no longer satisfactory Spitre Mk.Is began to be

  withdrawn in favor of the Spitre Mk.IIa, which began arriving two days later.

  These had the same eight-gun armament, but they had the more powerful

  Merlin XII engine, rated at 876kW (1175hp), allowing for a maximum speed

  of around 355mph. The conversion to the Mk.II was completed by August 25th,

  1941. This was followed by a transfer into the combat zone, from which offen-

  sive operations were conducted over occupied Europe.

  The move came on August 26th. The new base was 770km to the southeast.

  It was RAF Portreath, under the 10th Group Fighter Command. Groundcrews,

  supply personnel and personal items were transported by a pair of obsolete

  Bristol Bombays. Eighteen pilots ferried in their Spitre Mk.IIa ghters directly,

  with one stop at Colerne. The remaining eight pilots drove to their new base.

  20

  TO BE CONTINUED

  1

  František FAJTL: Létal jsem s Třistatřináctkou, page 11.

  2

  František FAJTL: Létal jsem s Třistatřináctkou, page 11.

  3

  František FAJTL: Létal jsem s Třistatřináctkou, page 13.

  4

  VÚA-VHA, ČsL-VB, sign. 1893/CIII-3b/1-78/342-346. Personel Occurence Reports 1941.

  5

  VÚA-VHA, ČsL-VB, sign. 1761/BI/1/307. Chronicles of No.313 Squadron. NA, Kew, AIR 27/197. No

  313 Squadron Operations Record Book.

  6

  The core of the new squadron was formed by pilots: S/Ldr Gordon L. Sinclair, DFC (who arrived on

  May 12th, 1941), Sgt Jiří Kučera (may 18th, 1941 from No. 501 Squadron), Sgt Prokop Brázda and

  Sgt Jaroslav Šika (both May 19th from No.43 Squadron), F/O Jan Čermák (May 19th from No.312

  Squadron), F/O Karel Mrázek (May 19th from No.257 Squadron), P/O Alois Hochmal and P/O Jaroslav

  Muzika (both May 20th from No. 501 Squadron), P/O Karel Kasal (May 20th from No.607 Squadron),

  Sgt Josef Gutvald (May 20th from No. 3 Squadron), Sgt Bohumil Dubec (May 25th from No. 32

  Squadron), F/O František Fajtl, F/O Karel Vykoukal, P/O Václav Jícha, Sgt Václav Foglar and Sgt

  Jiří Řezníček (all May 27th from No.17 Squadron), F/Lt Thomas W. Gillen (June 3rd from No. 403

  Squadron), F/Lt John L. Kilmartin, DFC (June 4th from No.602 Squadron), Sgt Karel Čáp (June 6th

  from No.245 Squadron), Sgt Rudolf Ptáček (June 11th from No.615 Squadron), Sgt Otto Špaček (June

  16th from No.615 Squadron), Sgt Václav Truhlář and Sgt Josef Valenta (both June 18th from No.56

  Squadron), P/O Karel Drbohlav and P/O Vladimír Michálek (both June 22nd from No.601 Squadron),

  etc. VÚA-VHA, ČsL-VB, sign. 1893/CIII-3b/1-78/342-346. Personel Occurence Reports, 1941, Jiří

  RAJLICH: 313. stíhací peruť (No.313 Fighter Squadron). Plzeň 1996, s. 155-159.

  7

  This concerned older model Spitre models that, as a rule, remembered the Battle of Britain. In

  August, 1941 No.313 Squadron converted to the higher performing Spitre Mk.IIa, and in October,

  1941, onto the standard Spitre Mk.VB, which the unit used until February, 1944, when the Spitre

  LF.Mk.IXC arrived. Frantisek Fajtl did not serve on these, as at the time he was ying in the Soviet

  Union.

  8

  František FAJTL: Létal jsem s Třistatřináctkou, page 16.

  9

  Pilot´s Flying Log Book F. Fajtla.

  10

  František FAJTL: Létal jsem s Třistatřináctkou, page 16.

  11

  František FAJTL: Létal jsem s Třistatřináctkou, page 47.

  12

  František FAJTL: Létal jsem s Třistatřináctkou, page 48.

  13

  VÚA-VHA, ČsL-VB, sign. 1762/BI/1/307. Kronika 313. Peruti (Chronicles of No.313 Squadron), NA,

  Kew, AIR 27/1697. No 313 Squadron Operations Record Book.

  14

  VÚA-VHA, ČsL-VB, sign. 1762/BI/1/307. Kronika 313. Peruti (Chronicles of No.313 Squadron)

  15

  Hugo Jindřich Slípka (b. May 1st, 1905, Rakovník, d. April 19th, 1982, USA) was not a military

  pilot, but a trained journalist. After the occupation of Bohemia and Moravia, he defected to the

  west and joined the Czechoslovak Army in Exile as an infantryman. He was assigned to No.313

  Squadron through 1942-1943 from those experiences he gathered material for his book Ohnivá křídla

  (Fiery Wings) (published by Orbis, Prague, 1945). Similarly, he used his experiences with No.311

  Squadron through 1943-1944 for the book Biskajská dramata (The Biscay Adventures) (Orbis, Prague,

  1945). From his experiences into the Soviet Union, and his stay with the 1st Czechoslovak Mixed Air

  Division, he wrote Cesta nejsladší (the Sweetest Road) (Orbis, Prague, 1946).

  16

  Winston S. CHURCHILL: The Second World War (The Tide Turns) Prague 1994, Page 689.

  17

  Operation Jubilee, Docking at Dieppe, will be covered in 2021 when our attention is turned to the

  Spitre Mk.V.

  18

  VÚA-VHA, ČsL-VB, sign. 1762/BI/1/307. Kronika 313. Peruti (Chronicles of No.313 Squadron). NA,

  Kew, AIR 27/1697. No 313 Squadron Operations Record Book.

  19

  František FAJTL: Vzpomínky na padlé kamarády, page 152.

  20

  VÚA-VHA, ČsL-VB, sign. 1762/BI/1/307. Kronika 313. peruti. NA, Kew, AIR 27/1697. No 313

  Squadron Operations Record Book.

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

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  

  The training accidents were inevitable. In the late after-

  noon on June 8, 1941 F/Lt Karel Mrazek was returing to

  Catterick from the training ight, but landing downwind.

  The reason was that the landing T was marked in the

  opposite way. As a result Spitre Mk.I X4031 (RY-H) en-

  ded on its nose, airframe was lightly damaged, the engine

  was damaged more seriously. The pilot made it out of the

  cockpit only after the ambulance arrived. (K. Mrazek)

  On August 9, 1941 F/O Jaroslav Muzika suffered ano-

  ther accident on this Spitre Mk.I R7205 (RY-V) sporting

  donation inscription Provident. After landing from the pa-

  trol ight one of the landing gear legs retracted by itself.

  Luckily all ended with only light damage to the aircraft.

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

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  

  Catterick, summer 1941. From teh left F/Lt J. Cermak, F/O Fajtl a F/Lt V. Kruta (ight surgeon). In the background F/O J. Muzika. (via V. Kruta)

  Catterick, beginning of June 1941, No. 313 Squadron. First training ights on Spitres.

  F/Lt Karel Mrazek is taking his turn after F/O Frantisek Fajtl.

  (author’s collection via Karel Mrazek).

  From the left P/O V. Michalek, Sgt J. Sika (?), Sgt R. Ptacek, P/O V. Jicha

  and F/Lt K. Mrazek. Catterick, between June and July 1941. (family archive)

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

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  

  Catterick, June 1941. Sgt Rudolf Ptacek (in the middle) with English mechanics during the break in ight training. In the background Spitre Mk.I R7117 (RY-A) which was one of

  Mark Ones „saddled“ by F/O Fajtl after forming of the No. 313 Squadron. (author’s collection)

  S/Ldr Karel Mrazek is awarding the squadron deputy F/Lt Alfred Walsham with honorary Czechoslovak Pilot wings. Later Walsham was also awarded the Czechoslovak military

  medal For Merit 1st Grade. (family archive)

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

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  

  Spitre Mk.I X4653 (RY-D), own by No. 313 Squadron at Catterick and Leconeld from June 1 to August 27, 1941. F/O Fajtl logged a total of 5 ights on it including two sorties.

  No. 313 Squadron, Leconeld, August 1941. Staged for picture taking. From the left Sgt Jiri Reznicek, Sgt Vaclav Truhlar, unknown infantry ofcer, Sgt Prokop Brazda,

  P/O Vaclav Jicha, S/Ldr Gordon Sinclair, DFC and F/O Frantisek Fajtl.

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 21

  Product Page

  Product Page

  Product Page

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 22

  SThat the Spitre Mk.I would prove to be a design with great evo-

  lutionary potential became abundantly evident from its introdu-

  ction into service in the fall of 1938, and on through the beginning

  of the war a year later, and especially as the air war moved over

  western Europe. This evolution was very dramatic and could be

  seen through the physical changes in the details that the Spitre

  Mk.I went through. Changes were retrotted to existing airframes

  so that the appearance of specic aircraft went through changes

  as well. As a result, the look of a Spitre Mk.I in October, 1940

  diered to at least some extent from a Spitre Mk.I from October,

  - Powerplant: One 1,030hp Rolls-Royce Merlin II Engine

  - Fuel: 87-octane Aviation fuel

  Spitfire Mk.I, Fall 1938

  FIGURE 1

  1. Two blade wooden, xed Weybridge propeller

  2. Fixed mechanical sights

  3. Windscreen without armor plating or rearview mirror

  THE EVOLUTION OF THE SPITFIRE Mk.I and Mk.II

  SPITFIRE Mk.I

  1938. To the contrary, the Spitre Mk.II was a complete package

  from the initiation of its production in the summer of 1940. This

  was a thoroughbred ghter that did not see any practical chan-

  ges throughout its production run. The Spitre Mk.II, produced at

  a new facility in Castle Bromwich, incorporated all of the pa-

  infully and exhaustively developed modications that took two

  years to develop in the Spitre Mk.I. The following illustrations

  and accompanying notes summarize the evolution of the Spitre

  Mk.I and its dierences from the Mk.II.

  4. Flat canopy

  5. Voltage regulator behind the seat in the bottom

  of the fuselage

  6. Antenna masts and leads for the TR.9B Radio

  7. Older ‘bi-ngered’ pitot tube

  8. Non armored fuel tank cover reinforcement

  FIGURE 1

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 23

  SThat the Spitre Mk.I would prove to be a design with great evo-

  lutionary potential became abundantly evident from its introdu-

  ction into service in the fall of 1938, and on through the beginning

  of the war a year later, and especially as the air war moved over

  western Europe. This evolution was very dramatic and could be

  seen through the physical changes in the details that the Spitre

  Mk.I went through. Changes were retrotted to existing airframes

  so that the appearance of specic aircraft went through changes

  as well. As a result, the look of a Spitre Mk.I in October, 1940

  diered to at least some extent from a Spitre Mk.I from October,

  - Powerplant: One 1,030hp Rolls-Royce Merlin II Engine

  - Fuel: 87-octane Aviation fuel

  Spitfire Mk.I, Fall 1938

  FIGURE 1

  1. Two blade wooden, xed Weybridge propeller

  2. Fixed mechanical sights

  3. Windscreen without armor plating or rearview mirror

  THE EVOLUTION OF THE SPITFIRE Mk.I and Mk.II

  SPITFIRE Mk.I

  1938. To the contrary, the Spitre Mk.II was a complete package

  from the initiation of its production in the summer of 1940. This

  was a thoroughbred ghter that did not see any practical chan-

  ges throughout its production run. The Spitre Mk.II, produced at

  a new facility in Castle Bromwich, incorporated all of the pa-

  infully and exhaustively developed modications that took two

  years to develop in the Spitre Mk.I. The following illustrations

  and accompanying notes summarize the evolution of the Spitre

  Mk.I and its dierences from the Mk.II.

  4. Flat canopy

  5. Voltage regulator behind the seat in the bottom

  of the fuselage

  6. Antenna masts and leads for the TR.9B Radio

  7. Older ‘bi-ngered’ pitot tube

  8. Non armored fuel tank cover reinforcement

  FIGURE 1

  FIGURE 2

  9. The rst Spitre Mk.Is were not equipped with gun heating

  systems, and so lacked the corresponding vents in the lower

  surfaces of the wings.

  10. The rst and third machine guns in each wing (from the

  fuselage) were staggered slightly, such that their barrels

  protruded just beyond the leading edge of the wings.

  Spitfire Mk.I, Beginning of 1939

  - Powerplant: One 1,030hp Rolls-Royce Merlin III Engine

  - Fuel: 87-octane aviation fuel

  FIGURE 3

  11. Two-position, three blade De Havilland 5/20 propel

  -

  ler (from the 78th production machine, May, 1939)

  2. Bulged canopy (from January, 1939)

  Spitre Mk.I K9906, F/O Robert Stanford Tuck,

  No. 65 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, Essex,

  Summer 1939

  FIGURE 2

  FIGURE 3

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 24

  FIGURE 4

  3. Addition of hot air gun heating system with corre-

  sponding vents in the lower wings, (from January, 1939).

  This feature was retrotted to existing aircraft.

  FIGURE 5

  5. In aircraft manufactured with the hot air gun heating system,

  the gun muzzles were within the leading edge of the wing.

  4. The rst and third machine guns (from the fuselage) remained

  staggered on aircraft that received the retrograde heating

  systems, and so their barrels protruded slightly forward

  of the leading edge of the wing.

  6. A G.42B gun camera was installed in the leading edge

  of the wing.

  FIGURE 4

  FIGURE 5

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 25

  Spitfire Mk.I, Fall 1939

  FIGURE 6

  1. Armor glass (50.8mm or 2 inch thickness) introdu-

  ced to the windscreen (from September, 1939)

  2. Barr & Stroud GM.2 reector gunsight

  3. New pitot tube conguration (standard from March, 1939)

  Spitfire Mk.I, Spring 1940

  FIGURE 7

  5. Voltage regulator moved to the bulkhead behind the pilot’s

  headrest.

  4. Armored fuel tank by adding a 3mm metal pla-

  te outside the tank (fall, 1939), with the lower tank

  covered with Limatex and later with a rubber com-

  pound eectively making it a self-sealing unit.

  6. Antenna system associated with the TR.9D Radio

  FIGURE 8

  1. A small number of Spitre Mk.Is were equipped with a constant speed

  Rotol RX 5/1 propeller.

  FIGURE 6

  FIGURE 7

  FIGURE 8

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

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  Spitfire Mk.Ia, Fall 1940

  FIGURE 10

  1. Antenna mast of the TR.1133 radio without wire leads

  2. The majority of aircraft that had their TR.9D radios replaced

  with TR.1133 units retained the mast on the tip of the n,

  usually without the insulator

  Spitfire Mk.Ia, Summer 1940

  FIGURE 9

  1. Constant speed De Havilland 5/39a propeller

  3. Wire leads of the R.3002 IFF system on the sides of the

  fuselage

  4. Entry point on both sides of the fuselage of the IFF wire leads

  2. Rearview mirror

  P9443, own by F/Lt Douglas Bader,

  No. 222 Squadron, RAF Duxford,

  Cambridgeshire / Kirton in Lindsey,

  Lincolnshire, early June 1940

  FIGURE 9

  FIGURE 10

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 27

  Spitfire Mk.Ia, Fall 1940

  FIGURE 10

  1. Antenna mast of the TR.1133 radio without wire leads

  2. The majority of aircraft that had their TR.9D radios replaced

  with TR.1133 units retained the mast on the tip of the n,

  usually without the insulator

  Spitfire Mk.Ia, Summer 1940

  FIGURE 9

  1. Constant speed De Havilland 5/39a propeller

  3. Wire leads of the R.3002 IFF system on the sides of the

  fuselage

  4. Entry point on both sides of the fuselage of the IFF wire leads

  2. Rearview mirror

  P9443, own by F/Lt Douglas Bader,

  No. 222 Squadron, RAF Duxford,

  Cambridgeshire / Kirton in Lindsey,

  Lincolnshire, early June 1940

  FIGURE 9

  FIGURE 10

  Spitfire Mk.Ib, Fall 1940

  FIGURE 11

  1. Two 20mm Hispano cannon in the wings. The rst Spitre

  Mk.Ib aircraft had only the two cannon, while later production

  planes also had four 7.7mm machine guns. After the start of pro-

  duction of the cannon armed version Mk.I, it was suxed with

  the ‘b’, amking it the Spitre Mk.Ib, while the version armed

  with eight 7.7mm machine guns continued to be identied as the

  Spitre Mk.Ia, and this included aircraft manufactured previously.

  FIGURE 12

  1. Hispano 20mm cannon

  2. Cannon fairings

  3. Browning 7.7mm machine guns

  FIGURE 11

  FIGURE 12

  upper wing surface

  underside wing surface

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 28

  FIGURE 13

  1. Hispano 20mm cannon

  2. Cannon Fairings

  - Powerplant: One 1,150hp Rolls-Royce Merlin XII

  - Fuel: 100-octane aviation fuel

  Spitfire Mk.IIa, Fall 1940

  FIGURE 14

  1. Constant speed Rotol RX 5/1 propeller. Some Spit-

  re Mk.IIs were equipped with a Rotol RX 5/3 with

  wooden blades or De Havilland 5/39s units

  2. Barr & Stroud GM.2 reector gunsight

  3. Armored glass 50.8mm (2 inches) thick in the windscreen

  4. Rearview mirror

  5. Bulged canopy

  SPITFIRE Mk.II

  6. Voltage regulator on fuselage bulkhead

  7. TR.1133 radio mast

  8. Newer incarnation of pitot tube

  9. 12v electrical outlet

  10. Entry point for the IFF antenna lead

  on both sides of the fuselage

  11. R.3002 IFF antenna, both sides

  FIGURE 13

  FIGURE 14

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 29

  FIGURE 15

  10. Entry point for the IFF antenna lead on both sides

  of the fuselage

  11. R.3002 IFF antenna, both sides

  12. Coman cartridge starter cover

  Spitfire Mk.IIb

  FIGURE16

  1. Constant speed Rotol RX 5/1 propeller

  2. Hispano 20mm cannon. The Spitre Mk.IIb standard was

  two 20mm cannon and four Browning 7.7mm machine guns

  P7916, Sgt William J. Johnson, No. 145 Squadron,

  RAF Tangmere, Great Britain, Spring 1941

  FIGURE 15

  FIGURE 16

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 30

  FIGURE 17

  2. Hispano 20mm cannon

  3. Costant speed De Havilland 5/39a propeller. A large number

  of Spitre Mk.IIbs were equipped with the De Havilland unit.

  FIGURE 18

  2. Hispano 20mm cannon

  4. Cannon Fairings

  P8385, F/O Mirosław Ferić, No. 303 (Polish)

  Squadron, RAF Northolt, Great Britain,

  May - June 1941

  FIGURE 17

  FIGURE 18

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 31

  FIGURE 17

  2. Hispano 20mm cannon

  3. Costant speed De Havilland 5/39a propeller. A large number

  of Spitre Mk.IIbs were equipped with the De Havilland unit.

  FIGURE 18

  2. Hispano 20mm cannon

  4. Cannon Fairings

  P8385, F/O Mirosław Ferić, No. 303 (Polish)

  Squadron, RAF Northolt, Great Britain,

  May - June 1941

  FIGURE 17

  FIGURE 18

  FIGURE19

  2. Hispano 20mm cannon

  4. Cannon fairings

  RADIO EQUIPMENT EVOLUTION,

  SPITFIRE Mk.I and SPITFIRE Mk.II

  FIGURE 20

  1. TR.9B radio with wire lead, without IFF. Only Mk.I, fall, 1938

  to spring, 1940

  2. TR.9B radio with wire lead, without IFF. Mk.I and Mk.II,

  spring 1940 to around October, 1940

  3. TR.1133 radio without wire lead, R.3002 IFF system with

  wire leads between the fuselage sides and leading edges of

  the horizontal tail units. Aircraft that were assembled with

  the TR.9D radio originally had the small antenna mast at the

  tip of the n. Mk.Is and Mk.IIs from September-October, 1940.

  4. TR.1133 radio without wire lead, R.3002 IFF system with

  wire leads between the fuselage sides and leading edges

  of the horizontal tail units. Aircraft that were assembled

  with the TR.1133 radio lacked the small antenna mast at

  the tip of the n. Mk.Is and Mk.IIs from October, 1940.

  FIGURE 19

  FIGURE 20

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 32

  FIGURE 21

  5. Plan view of an aircraft lacking the IFF system

  FIGURE 22

  1. Metal seat of the Spitre Mk.I

  6. Plan view of an aircraft with the IFF system and its

  associated wiring

  THE SEAT

  2. Composite seat of the Spitre Mk.II

  FIGURE 21

  FIGURE 22

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 33

  FIGURE 23

  1. Hydraulic hand pump for retracting the landing gear in the

  Spitre Mk.I

  FIGURE 24

  1. Unarmored seat. Only Mk.I from the fall of 1938 to spring,

  1940

  2. Seat with an armored panel behind the pilot’s back. Mk.I

  from early June, 1940

  THE GEAR RETRACTION SYSTEM

  EVOLUTION OF THE SEAT PROTECTION

  2. Motor driven hydraulic system in the Spitre Mk.II

  3. Seat, with back and head armor. Mk.I from November, 1940

  and Mk.II from the beginning of production in the summer

  of 1940

  FIGURE 23

  FIGURE 24

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 34

  FIGURE 25

  1. Fixed wooden Weybridge unit, Spitre Mk.I

  2. Metal, two-position adjustable De Havilland 5/20 unit

  or constant speed metal De Havilland 5/39a unit. Spitre Mk.I

  and Spitre Mk.II (5/39a only)

  FIGURE 26

  1. 2. Spitre Mk.I

  THE PROPELLER

  REARVIEW MIRRORS

  3. Constant speed metal Rotol RX 5/1 propeller. Spitre Mk.I

  and Mk.II

  4. Constant speed Rotol RX 5/3 propeller with wooden blades.

  Spitre Mk.II

  3. 4. Spitre Mk.II

  FIGURE 25

  FIGURE 26

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 35

  FIGURE 27

  1. 2. Fabric covered ailerons. All Mk.Is and a large

  number of Mk.IIs

  FIGURE 28

  1. Spitre Mk.I and Mk.II

  AILERONS

  RADIATOR

  3. 4. All metal ailerons, later production Spitre Mk.IIs

  2. Some Spitre Mk.IIs

  FIGURE 27

  FIGURE 28

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

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  FIGURA 29

  Spitre Mk.I at the start of production, fall of 1939

  FIGURE 30

  Spitre Mk.I, nal production version, winter of 1940, spring of 1941

  FIGURE 31

  Spitre Mk.IIa

  VERSION SUMMARY

  FIGURE 29

  FIGURE 30

  FIGURE 31

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 37

  FIGURE 32

  Spitre Mk.IIb

  Spitre Mk.Ia

  - Span: 11.23m

  - Length: 9.13m

  - Takeo Weight: 2744kg

  - Maximum speed at 6,100m: 568km/h

  - Ceiling: 10,584m

  - Time to 6,100m: 7 min, 42 seconds

  Total production: 1,567

  SPECIFICATIONS

  Spitre Mk.IIa

  - Span: 11.23m

  - Length: 9.13m

  - Takeo Weight: 2780kg

  - Maximum speed at 6,100m: 565km/h

  - Ceiling: 11,468m

  - Time to 6,100m: 7 min

  Total production: 751 Spire Mk.IIa and 178 Spitre Mk.IIb

  aircraft

  Spitre Mk.IIa, No. 65 Squadron RAF,

  Kirton in Lindsley

  FIGURE 32

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 38

  1/72 Cat. No. 7097

  Eduard plastic parts

  Photo-etched set

  Paiting mask

  6 marking options

  KITS 12/2020

  Z-37A Čmelák 1/72

  Product Page

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 39

  KITS 12/2020

  OK-DKT s/n 19-26, was manufactured in 1975, and since 1997 has been stored in a non-airworthy con-

  dion. It was sold in 2009 at aucon, overhauled in 2020 and now is own out of Hosin Air Field with

  a shark mouth reminiscent of what was worn by the F6F Hellcat. It was repainted back to its

  appearance when with Slovair in the 1980´s, including the red areas as well as the SlovAir logo

  on the vercal tail. The ferlizer tank was removed.

  Z-37A s/n 12-12 was one of two Z-37A delivered to India in 1975. The aircra was registered

  in Indian registers for Bharat Agro Aviaon Services (P) Ltd. – Delhi, withdrawn from use

  on December 1st, 2005.

  Z-37A s/n 17-30 was manufactured in 1974, own by the East German company Agroug, a division of

  Interug, East German Airlines. The aircra was used for defecon and emigraon of an East German

  family, two parents and two children on July 30th, 1979. The plane was re-registered to DDR-SSL in

  1981, and aer the re-unicaon of Germany, it was re-registered again to D-ENSL.

  Z-37A s/n 21-05. Originally delivered to East Germany’s Interug as DDD-SWF, aer the re-unicaon

  of Germany, it was re-registered as D-WSWF. It was sold to Slovakia in 1990´s and own by Agrolet as

  OM-FJA. It was overhauled in 2009, when it received a blue fuselage band and other blue accessories.

  OM-FJA is own in Trnava-Kopanka.

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 40

  RA-2309G was manufactured in 1970, registered in Russian registers in 2014, serial unknown.

  Purchased probably in the Ukraine, it was overhauled in Tolja. The aircra is equipped with

  a Yak-12 propeller and was also equipped with Mi-4 wheels. It was put up for sale in 2020.

  Z-37A s/n 13-29 was manufactured in 1971 and delivered to Hungary, registered there as HA-MCO.

  Purchased by SlovAir in 1981, it was registered as OK-AJM. It was sold back to Hungary in 2005, this

  me to perform glider tug dues under the registraon HA-MFY from 2009. The ferlizer storage tank

  apparatus was removed and the accesses were covered.

  KITS 12/2020

  Recommended for Z-37A 1/72

  672247 Z-37A wheels 1/72 (Brassin)

  672248 Z-37A aerial applicator 1/72 (Brassin)

  3DL72001 Z-37 SPACE 1/72 (SPACE) release 01/2021

  Cat. No. 672247

  Cat. No. 672248

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 41

  OVERTREES

  Z-37A

  cat. no. 7097X

  OVERLEPT

  cat. no. 7097-LEPT

  A

  B

  C

  Product Page

  Product Page

  KITS 12/2020

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 42

  KITS 12/2020

  Cat. No. 11146

  1/48

  DUAL

  COMBO

  Eduard plastic parts

  Photo-etched set

  Paiting mask

  10 marking options

  Extra: RAF pilots and ground crew

  Product Page

  eduard

  42

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 43

  P7370, S/Ldr Adolph G. Malan DFC & bar SAAF, CO of No. 74 Squadron, RAF Kirton-in-Linsey,

  Great Britain, September 1940

  P7666, S/Ldr Donald O. Finlay, CO of No. 41 Squadron, RAF Hornchurch, Great Britain, November 1940

  No.74 Squadron was among the rst Fighter Command units to be equipped with the new Spiire Mk.IIa in September 1940. The squadron,

  under the leadership of the South African Adolph ‘Sailor’ Malan, was also one of most successful ghter squadrons of the Bale of Britain.

  Malan himself was an ace with sixteen conrmed kills during the BoB. His aircra carried the standard RAF Temperate Land Scheme that

  included Sky boom surfaces, with blue/white/red roundels painted on the wing undersides. It is possible that this aircra was manufactu-

  red with a TR.9D radio installed, and with the associated wire antenna stretched between the fuselage and n masts, but it was certainly

  replaced with the newer TR.1133 VHF radio later in the fall, aer which the antenna wire was removed.

  Donald Finlay was a famous Brish athlete. He was the European champion in the 110 metre hurdle in 1938. He won the bronze medal

  at the 1932 Summer Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and the silver medal at the 1936 Summer Olympic Games in Berlin, both in the 110m

  hurdle event. Aer the war, he was Brish team captain at the 1948 Summer Olympics in London, where he was chosen to take the Olympic

  Oath. He joined the RAF in 1935. He led No. 54 Squadron in the Bale of Britain, and he was shot down over Ramsgate on August 28th and

  was wounded. Aer recovering, he took command of No. 41 Squadron and he achieved four kills during the BoB. His aircra here illustrates

  the camouage scheme and markings of Fighter Command aircra in late 1940 and early 1941. The black painted (Night) le wing, Sky fuse-

  lage band and Sky spinner were ordered by the Air Ministry on November 27th, 1940.

  KITS 12/2020

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 44

  P7916, own by Sgt William J. Johnson, No. 145 Squadron, RAF Tangmere, Great Britain, Spring 1941

  P8084, Fl/Lt James J. O´Meara DFC, No. 64 Squadron, RAF Drem, Great Britain, September – October 1941

  This No.145 Squadron Spiire Mk.IIa is another example of an aircra wearing the Temperate Land Scheme spulated by an Air Ministry

  order on November 27th, 1940. The black painted (Night) le wing had the le wing roundel appropriately outlined in yellow. To improve

  recognion of friendly aircra, an 18-inch wide Sky Blue fuselage band was added ahead of the tail, and the spinner was painted in the same

  color. This paint was usually a lile bit more blue than the standard under surface Sky. Some sources name this color ‘Air Ministry Blue’. As

  was the case with many Spiire Mk.IIs in 1941, this aircra wore a dedicaon on le side of fuselage, in this case the badge of the Hosiery

  Manufacturer Associaon of Hickley. This aircra is known also from a photograph taken aer May 22nd, 1941, with the boom surfaces

  completely painted Sky and a higher n ash. It is believed it was own by Sgt. W.J.Johnson, and occasionally by Czech pilot F/O J.Macháček.

  It is possible this aircra was equipped with a Rotol RX5/3 propeller with wooden blades.

  Belonging to No. 64 Squadron, this Mk.IIa is representave of the new Day Fighter Scheme, introduced on August 19th, 1941. From that

  date, RAF day ghters were to be painted in Dark Green and Ocean Grey on the upper surfaces and Medium Sea Grey on the lower surfaces.

  The aircra leers were by then changed to Sky, and the fuselage band and spinner remained in the same color. The n ash was made 24

  inches wide and 27 inches high. The aircra wore the dedicaon name GARFIELD WESTON SVI. The twelve kill marks belong to Fl/Lt James

  O´Meara, who began his combat carrier with No.64 Squadron over Dunkirk in late May 1940, then served with other squadrons from late

  August of the same year and returned to No.64 Squadron on September 3rd, 1941 with the rank of Flight Lieutenant. However, by October

  1941, he was rered from operaons, joining No. 1491 Target Towing Flight at Tain. His total warme tally was eleven conrmed kills with

  two shared, one unconrmed, four probables, eleven damaged and one shared damaged.

  KITS 12/2020

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

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  P8084, Fl/Lt James J. O´Meara DFC, No. 64 Squadron, RAF Drem, Great Britain, September – October 1941

  KITS 12/2020

  P7923 or P7926, No. 411 Squadron RCAF, RAF Digby, Great Britain, July 1941

  P7966, W/Cdr Douglas R.S. Bader, CO of Tangmere Wing, RAF Tangmere,

  Great Britain, June - July 1941

  No. 411 Squadron RCAF was the second Canadian squadron that operated as part of Fighter Command over connental Europe. The unit

  was formed on June 16th, 1941, at RAF Digby in Lincolnshire, equipped with the Spiire Mk.IIa. The unit aained operaonal status in Au-

  gust 1941 as part of Hornchurch Wing, with the new Spiires Mk.Vb. This aircra wore the typical camouage scheme of RAF ghters in the

  summer of 1941; Temperate Land Scheme with Sky under surfaces, 18 inch wide fuselage band and propeller spinner, all in Sky (Air Ministry

  Blue). Code leers were in Medium Sea Grey. Like other Spiire Mk.IIs at the me, this aircra was equipped with the TR.1133 VHF radio

  and, as such, there is no wire aerial between the antenna mast and the n p antenna mast. The R.3002 IFF device was carried, indicated by

  the two associated wire aerials stretching between the fuselage sides and the leading edges of the horizontal tail.

  P7966 was own by Douglas Bader aer he became CO of Tangmere Wing on March 18th, 1941. This Mk.IIa is one of Bader´s personal air-

  cra, sporng his inials DB as the code leers. The DB code was also the reason why Bader´s radio call sign was Dogsbody. It is not known

  with certainty if nose art was applied to this aircra, but probably not, because no photograph showing nose art specically on P7966 is

  known to exist. Of note is the fact that this aircra is equipped with a De Havilland 5/39A constant speed propeller. Bader crashed aer colli-

  ding with another Spiire, ying another ‘DB’, which was a new Spiire Mk.Va, near Saint Omer, losing one of his prosthec legs during the

  bailout and his subsequent capture on September 9th, 1941. He spent the rest of the war, unl his liberaon by advancing US troops in April

  1945, imprisoned at Oag IV-C in Colditz Castle in Saxony.

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 46

  P8385, F/O Mirosław Ferić, No. 303 (Polish) Squadron, RAF Northolt, Great Britain,

  May - June 1941

  P7308, P/O William R. Dunn, No. 71 Squadron, RAF North Weald, Great Britain, August 1941

  Famed Polish No. 303 Squadron, top scoring RAF ghter squadron in the Bale of Britain, was one of the few RAF units equipped with the

  cannon armed Spiire Mk.IIb. The Polish Spiires were some of the most colorful RAF aircra ever. Note the De Havilland 5/39A constant

  speed propeller. The inscripon IMPREGNABLE on the le side of the nose is speculaon only, and it does not appear on any known photo-

  graph. The pilot, P/O Mirosław Ferić was a ghter ace with eight (and 2/3) conrmed kills and one probable. He was killed on February 14th,

  1942, aer his Spiire Mk.Vb BL432 fell into a tailspin and the G-forces prevented the pilot from bailing out. Mirosław Ferić had kept his

  personal diary since September 1939, which later became the basis for No.303 Squadron‘s unit history.

  No.71 Eagle Squadron was formed with US volunteers at RAF Church Fenton on September 19th, 1940 with Brewster Bualos, to be repla-

  ced by Hawker Hurricanes in November, and became operaonal at RAF Kirton in Lindsey on the 5th of February 1941. The squadron‘s rst

  conrmed victory came on the 21st of July 1941, when P/O W.R.Dunn, during a bomber escort mission, destroyed a Bf 109F over Lille. W.

  Dunn later became the rst American ghter ace of World War II by destroying ve German ghters in aerial combat. Spiire Mk.IIs replaced

  Hurricanes in August, before the squadron quickly re-equipped with the new Spiire Mk Vb. On September 29th, 1942, No. 71 Squadron,

  together with two other Eagle squadrons, was transferred to the USAAF, becoming the 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group of the 8th

  Air Force, ying P-47D Thunderbolts from Debden AFB.

  KITS 12/2020

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 47

  P8385, F/O Mirosław Ferić, No. 303 (Polish) Squadron, RAF Northolt, Great Britain,

  May - June 1941

  KITS 12/2020

  P8342, Sgt. Marcin Machowiak, No. 306 (Polish) Squadron, RAF Northolt, Great Britain, August 1941

  P7834, F/O Franšek Fajtl, No. 313 (Czechoslovak) Squadron, RAF Portreath, Great Britain,

  September 1941

  No. 306 (City of Torun) (Polish) Squadron, one of ten Polish ghter squadrons in the RAF, was formed on August 28th, 1940 at RAF Church

  Fenton. The squadron was formed with the personnel and tradions of the pre-war Polish Toruński Dywizjon Myśliwski. The unit received

  the Spiire Mk.IIb in mid July 1941 to replace its Hurricane Mk.IIa aircra. The nose art and name CERAM on P8342 are probably a remnant

  from previous service with No. 145 Squadron. The aircra was heavily damaged shortly aer being repainted in accordance with the Day

  Fighter Scheme requirement, when Sgt. Machowiak made a forced landing at RAF Biggin Hill on August 28th , 1941, aer combat with

  a Bf 109F. Sgt. Machowiak achieved a kill of another Bf 190F during the Circus 88 operaon. He later became a member of the Polish

  Fighng Team, also known as the Skalski Circus, which was actually C Flight of No. 145 Squadron in North Africa.

  The pilot of P7834, F/O Franšek Fajtl, was one of the most skilled and famous of Czech yers. Joining the Armée de l´Air, he fought in the

  Bale of France, then took part in the Bale of Britain as a member of No.1 and No. 17 Squadrons ying Hurricanes He was one of the foun-

  ding members of No. 313 (Czechoslovak) Squadron formed at RAF Caerick on May 10th, 1941. While leading No. 122 Squadron, S/Ldr Fajtl

  was shot down near Hazebrouck in Northern France on May 5th, 1942. He evaded capture and aer a long journey through occupied Vichy

  France and Spain, he returned back to the UK via Gibraltar. He was promoted to Wing Commander, and he later rejoined No. 313 Sqd. as

  Squadron Leader. He became CO of the 1st Czechoslovak Air Regiment in the USSR in 1944, ying the La-5FN. Aer enduring the persecuon

  that took place in the ies, he became renowned for his literary work. He died in 2006 at the age of 94 with the rank of Lieutenant General.

  He held countless awards bestowed upon him by various countries.

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 48

  KITS 12/2020

  Recommended for Spitre Mk.II 1/48

  481026 Spitre Mk.I landing aps 1/48 (PE-Set)

  FE1102 Spitre Mk.I seatbelts STEEL 1/48 (PE-Set)

  644080 Spitre Mk.II LööK 1/48 (Brassin) release 01/2021

  648579 Spitre Mk.I wheels 1/48 (Brassin)

  648580 Spitre Mk.I exhaust stacks 1/48 (Brassin)

  648589 Spitre Mk.I undercarriage legs BRONZE 1/48 (Brassin)

  648610 Spitre Mk.IIa gun bays 1/48 (Brassin)

  EX709 Spitre Mk.I TFace 1/48 (Mask)

  Cat. No. 648610

  Cat. No. 644080

  Cat. No. 648589

  Cat. No. 648579

  Cat. No. 648580

  eduard

  48

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 49

  KITS 12/2020

  OVERTREES

  Spitfire Mk.IIa

  cat. no. 82153X

  OVERLEPT

  cat. no. 82153-LEPT

  A P

  R

  S

  C

  K+j

  Product Page

  Product Page

  eduard

  49

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 50

  KITS 12/2020

  OVERTREES

  Spitfire Mk.IIB

  cat. no. 82154X

  OVERLEPT

  cat. no. 82153-LEPT

  A P

  R

  S

  C

  L

  Product Page

  Product Page

  eduard

  50

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 51

• Page 52

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted

  dashboard and STEEL seatbelts

  for Bf 109E in 1/32 scale. Easy to

  assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part,

  - decals: no,

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-pain-

  ted,

  - painting mask: no.

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted

  dashboard and STEEL seatbelts

  for Bf 110D in 1/48 scale. Easy to

  assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part,

  - decals: no,

  - photo-etched details: yes,

  pre-painted,

  - painting mask: no.

  12/2020

  634021

  Bf 109E LööK

  1/32 Eduard

  644077

  Bf 110D LööK

  1/48 Eduard

  Product Page

  Product Page

  LööK set - Brassin pre-painted dashboard

  and STEEL seatbelts for Bf 110C in 1/48

  scale. Easy to assemble, replaces plastic

  parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part,

  - decals: no,

  - photo-etched details: yes, pre-painted,

  - painting mask: no.

  644076

  Bf 110C LööK

  1/48 Eduard

  Product Page

  eduard

  52

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 53

  BRASSIN 12/2020

  Brassin set - Mk.20 Rockeye cluster

  bombs in 1/32 scale. The set consists

  of 6 bombs.

  Set contains:

  - resin: 30 parts,

  - decals: yes,

  - photo-etched details: yes,

  - painting mask: no.

  Product Page

  632162

  Mk.20 Rockeye

  1/32

  Brassin set - the US anti-radar missiles

  AGM-45 Shrike in 1/32 scale.

  The set consists of 4 missiles.

  Set contains:

  - resin: 24 parts,

  - decals: yes,

  - photo-etched details: yes,

  - painting mask: no.

  Product Page

  632163

  AGM-45 Shrike

  1/32

  eduard

  53

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 54

  Brassin set - the GBU-54 guided

  bombs in 1/48 scale. The set consists

  of 4 bombs. Compatible with A-10,

  AV-8B, B-1B, F-15, F-16 Block 72,

  F/A-18, Tornado IDS etc..

  Set contains:

  - resin: 20 parts,

  - decals: yes,

  - photo-etched details: yes,

  - painting mask: no.

  Product Page

  BRASSIN 12/2020

  648598

  GBU-54 Thermally Protected

  1/48

  Brassin set - cockpit for F-6D, the

  recce version of P-51D Mustang

  in 1/48 scale. Three versions of

  dashboard enable to built three sub-

  verisions of F-6D.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 42 parts,

  - decals: yes,

  - photo-etched details: yes,

  pre-painted,

  - painting mask: no.

  Product Page

  648600

  F-6D cockpit

  1/48 Eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 55

  BRASSIN 12/2020

  Brassin set - the AN/ALE-41 counter-

  measures dispensing system in 1/48

  scale. The set consists of 2 pods. Used

  in the A-3, EA-4, A-6, EA-6, A-7, EB-66,

  F-4, F-105F, AQM-34H/V.

  Set contains:

  - resin: 16 parts,

  - decals: yes,

  - photo-etched details: yes,

  - painting mask: no.

  Product Page

  Brassin set - the pre-painted radio

  equipment for Bf 110C/D in 1/48 scale.

  Easy to assemble, replaces plastic

  parts. Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 1 part,

  - decals: no,

  - photo-etched details: no,

  - painting mask: no.

  Product Page

  648601

  AN/ALE-41 cha pod

  1/48

  648602

  Bf 110C/D radio equipment

  1/48 Eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 56

  Brassin set - the undercarriage wheels

  for Z-37A Cmelak in 1/72 scale. Easy

  to assemble, replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Eduard

  Set contains:

  - resin: 7 parts,

  - decals: no,

  - photo-etched details: yes,

  - painting mask: yes.

  Product Page

  BRASSIN 12/2020

  672247

  Z-37A wheels

  1/72 Eduard

  Brassin set - the undercarriage whe-

  els for Beaufort Mk.I in 1/72 scale.

  The set consists of the main wheels

  and a tailwheel. Easy to assemble,

  replaces plastic parts.

  Recommended kit: Airx

  Set contains:

  - resin: 3 parts,

  - decals: no,

  - photo-etched details: no,

  - painting mask: yes.

  Product Page

  672251

  Beaufort Mk.I wheels

  1/72 Airx

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 57

  BRASSIN 12/2020

  Product Page

  Collection of 4 sets for Spitre Mk.I

  in 1/48 scale by Eduard.

  - cockpit,

  - undercarriage wheels,

  - undercarriage leg BRONZE,

  - exhaust stacks.

  All sets included in this BIG SIN are available separately,

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

  SIN64868

  Spitre Mk.I ESSENTIAL

  1/48 Eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 58

  Product Page

  BRASSIN 12/2020

  Collection of 4 sets for P-40E in 1/32 scale by Trumpeter.

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts),

  - TFace painting mask,

  - undercarriage wheels,

  - exhaust stacks.

  634022

  P-40E LööKplus

  1/32 Trumpeter

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 59

  BRASSIN 12/2020

  Product Page

  Collection of 3 sets for F-14A in 1/48 scale by Tamiya.

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts),

  - TFace painting mask,

  - undercarriage wheels.

  644078

  F-14A w/ early wheels LööKplus

  1/48 Tamiya

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 60

  SMS Viribus Unis 1/350 Trumpeter (53262)

  SMS Viribus Unis ags STEEL 1/350 Trumpeter (53263)

  SMS Viribus Unis railing 1/350 Trumpeter (53264)

  SMS Viribus Unitis

  1/350 Trumpeter

   DECEMBER 2020

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 61

  

  Fokker Dr.I 1/32 Meng (32978)

  Fokker Dr.I 1/32 Meng (JX265) (Mask)

  CR.42 1/32 ICM (32979)

  CR.42 1/32 ICM (33270) (Zoom)

  CR.42 seatbelts STEEL 1/32 ICM (33271) (Zoom)

  CR.42 1/32 ICM (JX266) (maska)

  Fokker Dr.I

  1/32 Meng

  CR.42

  1/32 ICM

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 62

  Jagdtiger

  1/35 Takom

  

  Jagdger 1/35 Takom (36454)

  Jagdger fenders 1/35 Takom (36455)

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 63

  

  Leopard 1A5 1/35 Hobby Boss (36456)

  Leopard 1A5

  1/35 Hobby Boss

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 64

  HH34J

  1/48 Trumpeter

  

  HH34J cargo interior 1/48 Trumpeter (481038)

  HH34J 1/48 Trumpeter (491132)

  HH34J 1/48 Trumpeter (FE1132)

  HH34J seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Trumpeter (FE1133)

  HH34J cargo seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Trumpeter (FE1134)

  HH34J 1/48 Trumpeter (EX736) (Mask)

  HH34J TFace 1/48 Trumpeter (EX737) (Mask)

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 65

  

  Beaufort Mk.I bomb bay 1/72 Airx (72711)

  Beaufort Mk.I landing aps 1/72 Airx (72712)

  Beaufort Mk.I 1/72 Airx (73725)

  Beaufort Mk.I 1/72 Airx (SS725) (Zoom)

  Beaufort Mk.I 1/72 Airx (CX588) (Mask)

  Beaufort Mk.I

  1/72 Airfix

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 66

  DECAL 12/2020

  Cat. No. D72026

  Mi-24V Around

  The World

  1/72 Zvezda

  Product Page

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 67

  Cat. No. D72027

  Mi-24V stencils

  Czech

  1/72 Zvezda

  Cat. No. D48066

  Bf 110 stencils

  1/48 Eduard

  Cat. No. D72028

  Mi-24V stencils

  Russian and English

  1/72 Zvezda

  Product Page

  Product Page

  Product Page

  DECAL 12/2020

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 68

  53259 Bismarck part 1 1/350

  53260 Bismarck part 2 1/350

  53261 Bismarck ags STEEL 1/350

  32974 P-40E interior 1/32

  33264 P-40E seatbelts STEEL 1/32

  JX260 P-40E 1/32

  32455 P-40E exterior 1/32

  32456 P-40E gun bays 1/32

  32457 P-40E landing aps 1/32

  BIG5357 Bismarck 1/350 Trumpeter

  BIG33122 P-40E part I 1/32 Trumpeter

  BIG33123 P-40E part II 1/32 Trumpeter

  Product Page

  Product Page

  Product Page

  All sets included in this BIG ED are available separately,

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

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 69

  481033 Bf 110E exterior 1/48

  491121 Bf 110E interior 1/48

  EX722 Bf 110E 1/48

  FE1122 Bf 110E seatbelts STEEL 1/48

  72710 Ju 88A-1 exterior 1/72

  73722 Ju 88A-1 interior 1/72

  CX584 Ju 88A-1 1/72

  BIG49271 Bf 110E 1/48 Dragon

  BIG72162 Ju 88A-1 1/72 Revell

  Product Page

  Product Page

  All sets included in this BIG ED are available separately,

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

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 70

  

  EDUARD MASK IT FITS!

  JX263 Mirage 2000D/N 1/32 Kiy Hawk

  JX264 Mirage 2000D/N TFace 1/32 Kiy Hawk

  JX265 Fokker Dr.I 1/32 Meng

  JX266 CR.42 1/32 ICM

  EX736 HH-34J 1/48 Trumpeter

  EX737 HH-34J TFace 1/48 Trumpeter

  CX586 MiG-21PF 1/72 Eduard

  CX587 Su-39 1/72 Zvezda

  CX588 Beaufort Mk.I 1/72 Airx

  JX263

  EX736

  CX587

  JX265

  CX588

  JX264

  JX264

  EX737

  EX737

  CX587

  JX266

  eduard

  70

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 71

  KITS

  7097 Z-37A Čmelák 1/72 ProPACK

  11146 THE SPITFIRE STORY: Tally Ho! 1/48 Limited edition

  PE-SETS

  53264 SMS Viribus Unitis railings 1/350 Trumpeter

  32976 Mirage 2000D 1/32 Kitty Hawk

  32977 Mirage 2000N 1/32 Kitty Hawk

  32978 Fokker Dr.I 1/32 Meng

  32979 CR.42 1/32 ICM

  36454 Jagdtiger 1/35 Takom

  36455 Jagdtiger fenders 1/35 Takom

  36456 Leopard 1A5 1/35 Hobby Boss

  481038 HH-34J cargo interior 1/48 Trumpeter

  481039 S-2E exterior 1/48 Kinetic

  491132 HH-34J 1/48 Trumpeter

  491135 S-2E interior 1/48 Kinetic

  72711 Beaufort Mk.I bomb bay 1/72 Airx

  72712 Beaufort Mk.I landing aps 1/72 Airx

  73725 Beaufort Mk.I 1/72 Airx

  73726 Hawk 100 series 1/72 Airx

  ZOOMS

  33267 Mirage 2000D 1/32 Kitty Hawk

  33268 Mirage 2000N 1/32 Kitty Hawk

  33269 Mirage 2000D/N seatbelts STEEL 1/32 Kitty Hawk

  33270 CR.42 1/32 ICM

  33271 CR.42 seatbelts STEEL 1/32 ICM

  FE1132 HH-34J 1/48 Trumpeter

  FE1133 HH-34J seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Trumpeter

  FE1134 HH-34J cargo seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Trumpeter

  FE1135 S-2E 1/48 Kinetic

  FE1136 S-2E seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Kinetic

  SS725 Beaufort Mk.I 1/72 Airx

  SS726 Hawk 100 series 1/72 Airx

  SS727 MiG-21PF Weekend 1/72 Eduard

  MASKS

  JX263 Mirage 2000D/N 1/32 Kitty Hawk

  JX264 Mirage 2000D/N TFace 1/32 Kitty Hawk

  JX265 Fokker Dr.I 1/32 Meng

  JX266 CR.42 1/32 ICM

  EX736 HH-34J 1/48 Trumpeter

  EX737 HH-34J TFace 1/48 Trumpeter

  CX586 MiG-21PF 1/72 Eduard

  CX587 Su-39 1/72 Zvezda

  CX588 Beaufort Mk.I 1/72 Airx

  BIGED

  BIG5357 Bismarck 1/350 Trumpeter

  BIG33122 P-40E part I 1/32 Trumpeter

  BIG33123 P-40E part II 1/32 Trumpeter

  BIG49271 Bf 110E 1/48 Dragon

  BIG72162 Ju 88A-1 1/72 Revell

  BRASSIN

  632162 Mk.20 Rockeye 1/32

  632163 AGM-45 Shrike 1/32

  634021 Bf 109E LööK 1/32 Eduard

  644076 Bf 110C LööK 1/48 Eduard

  644077 Bf 110D LööK 1/48 Eduard

  648598 GBU-54 Thermally Protected 1/48

  648600 F-6D cockpit 1/48 Eduard

  648601 AN/ALE-41 Chaff dispenser 1/48

  648602 Bf 110C/D radio equipment 1/48 Eduard

  672247 Z-37A wheels 1/72 Eduard

  672251 Beaufort Mk.I wheels 1/72 Airx

  BRASSIN

  SIN64868 Spitre Mk.I Essential 1/48 Eduard

  LookPLUS

  634022 P-40E LööKplus 1/32 Trumpeter

  644078 F-14A w/ early wheels LööKplus 1/48 Tamiya

  DECALS

  D48066 Bf 110 stencils 1/48 Eduard

  D72026 Mi-24V around the World 1/72 Zvezda

  D72027 Mi-24V stencils Czech 1/72 Zvezda

  D72028 Mi-24V stencils Russian & English 1/72 Zvezda

  December 2020

  Releases

• Page 72

  BUILT

  1/72

  Built by Tomáš Török

  Cat. No. 2131

  MARKING C

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 73

  BUILT

  Z-37 s/n 09-03 was registered on April 7th, 1970 for the County of Usti nad Orlici Agricultural Associa-

  tion. The aircraft was passed on to STS Lanskroun on August 4th, 1971. From November 8th, 1972,

  it was owned by Slov Air Prague, and was bought by Air Special Ltd. on February 19th, 1992. It was

  retired from ying in 1995, and subsequently stored at Marianske Lazne in 2009. The airframe was sold

  to the Riga Air Museum in Latvia in 2014.

  Product Page

  #672248 Z-37A aerial applicator (Brassin)

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 74

  BUILT

  Built by Robert Szwarc

  Cat. No. 82102

  Product Page

  #648517 P-51D gun bays (Brassin)

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

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 75

  BUILT

  P-51D-10, 44-14221, Maj. Pierce W. McKennon, CO of 335th FS, 4th FG, 8th AF,

  Debden, United Kingdom, April 1945

  Future Second World War twelve kill ace Pierce Winnigham McKennon was born on November 30th,

  1919 in Clarksville, Arkansas. Although his ability to play the piano awarded him a scholarship at the

  University of Arkansas, he did not complete those studies and in 1941, he neterred the USAAF with the

  wish to be a ghter pilot. After two months, however, he was let go due to his nausea, but he refused

  to let go of his dream. He joined the RCAF, where he nished his training and was assigned to an

  Operational Training Unit in Europe. He was reintegrated into the USAAF on February 22nd, 1943 with

  the rank of 2nd Lieutenant, and was assigned to the 335th FS, armed with the P-47, which were later

  replaced by the phenomenal Mustang. He was not only an excellent pilot, but due to the piano playing

  skills, was also a regular invitee to social functions. His nal sortie came about during a squadron-wide

  raid on an air bases around Prague, when his aircraft was hit in the canopy, and a piece of Plexiglass

  narrowly missed his eye. After the war, he remained with the Air Force, serving as an instructor. He was

  killed on June 18th, 1947, together with a student pilot in an AT-6D near San Antonio, Texas.

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

  #648495 P-51D undercarriage legs BRONZEs (Brassin)

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 76

  BUILT

  Built by Daniel Marek

  Cat. No. 11119

  eduard

  76

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 77

  BUILT

  Fw 190A-8/R2, W. Nr. 682958, Uz. Paul Lixfeld, 6.(Sturm)/ JG 300, Löbnitz, Germany, December 1944

  As was the case with sister unit JG 301, JG 300 was originally tasked with night interception of Allied bomber raids into occupied Europe. At the begin-

  ning of 1944, the unit’s role was changed to day ghting. II. Gruppe was formed in July 1943 and received heavily armed and armoured Fw 190A-8/R2

  aircraft in the summer of 1944 designed to combat the Allied raids and continued to be designated as a Sturmgruppe. One of the pilots of this unit became

  eighteen-year-old U󰀨z. Paul Lixfeld who’s ‘Yellow 12’ carried the name ‘Muschi’.

  JG 300 aircraft ying within the Defence of the Reich system carried a red fuselage band. Lixfeld’s Sturmbock didn’t carry the side armoured glass panels

  on the sliding section of the canopy, nicknamed ‘Scheuklappe’ (horse blinds). Many Sturmbocks had these removed because of freezing condensation

  between the armoured panels and the canopy proper, limiting visibility from the airplane.

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 78

  BUILT

  Built by Matthias Becker

  Spitre Mk.I

  Cat. No. 11143

  Product Page

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 79

  BUILT

  X4382, P/O Osgood Philip Villiers Hanbury, No. 602 Squadron,

  RAF Westhampne, West Sussex, September 1940.

  #648579 Spitre Mk.I wheels (Brassin)

  #648580 Spitre Mk.I exhaust stacks (Brassin)

  Spitre Mk.I

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 80

  BUILT

  Bf 108Bf 108

  Built by Luboš Zach

  Cat. No. 3404

  Product Page

  #32971 Bf 108 Weekend (PE-Set)

  #634017 Bf 108 LööK (Brassin)

  #634017 Bf 108 LööK (Brassin)

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 81

  BUILT

  Germany, September 1939

  The German pre-war colors were used to camouage this Taifun. Upper surfaces are painted RLM 61,

  RLM, 62 and RLM 63 colors, the undersides are RLM 65. The new camouage was painted over the

  original factory colors thus the stenciling is not visible.

  #32971 Bf 108 Weekend (PE-Set)

  #JX258 Bf 108 (Mask)

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 82

  BUILT

  Bf 109G-14

  1/48

  Built by Daniel Marek

  CAMO C

  Cat. No. 82118

  Product Page

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 83

  BUILT

  Bf 109G-14, W. Nr. 464380, Magg. M. Bellagambi, CO of 5a Squadriglia, 2o Gruppo Caccia, Aeronauca Nazionale Repubblicana,

  Osoppo, Italy, March 1945

  Aer the declaraon of Italian Social Republic on September 18th, 1943, a puppet state on the territory of Italy, occupied by German military

  under the command of Benito Mussolini, Germany allowed this Republic to establish its own military force of four divisions. Its air force com-

  ponent called Aeronauca Nazionale Repubblicana consisted of two ghter plane groups (Gruppo Caccia), torpedo groups (Gruppo Aerosilu-

  ran Buscaglia) and several transportaon squadrons. In 1945, both ghter plane squadrons ew Messerschmis Bf 109G-6/G-10/G-14. The

  commander of 5a Squadriglia, called Diavoli Rossi, was Maggiore Mario Bellagambi, a ghter ace with 14 shot downs. Aer WWII, in 1949,

  he was, once again, admied to Italian air force where he, prior to his rerement, became a Generale di brigata aerea. He died in Florence

  on June 25th, 2001.

  Bellagambi’s 109 is camouaged with RLM 74/75/76 colours, the sides of the fuselage are very likely darkened with Italian Verde Oliva Scuro

  2 colour. The same colour is applied to the stain underneath the red devil, the emblem of 5a squadriglia. The rudder, supplied by one of the

  subcontractors, bears a camouage painted in RLM 81 and 82. It is probable that the boom engine part was yellow or repainted by RLM 76.

  The yellow lining of fuselage marking of the ANR aircra is, compared to other aircra, reversed or bears yellow triangles around the ag.

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 84

  BUILT

  Built by Robert Szwarc

  CAMO C

  Cat. No. 82103

  Product Page

  #648517 P-51D gun bays (Brassin)

  eduard

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  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 85

  BUILT

  F-6D-15, 44-15417, Lt. Edwin H. Pearle, 2nd FS, 2nd ACG, Cox´s Bazar, India, Spring 1945

  2nd Air Commando Group, equipped with P-51, C-47 and L-5 aircraft relocated from the United States

  to India during the fall 1944 and its main task was support of the ground units operating on the territory

  of China and Burma, including the resupplying the units with armament and equipment. Part of this

  group were two ghter squadrons - 1st FS and 2nd FS. Each one was equipped with 22 P-51D ghters

  and three reconnaissance F-6. Both 2nd ACG squadrons were mainly busy with ground units’ support

  but in the spring 1945 pilots of the both squadrons organized several extremely long distance attacks

  against the Japanese air bases during which they claimed 60 enemy aircraft destroyed and 40 probably

  destroyed or damaged. Lt. Pearle contributed with one damaged bomber to this score.

  2nd FS recognition marking was a propeller spinner with natural metal tip and base in black paint.

  Rebel Gal, same as several other airplanes from this unit, carried the unit marking on the fuselage nose

  in the form of an eagle carrying machine gun in his claws. The fuselage and wings sported 2nd ACG

  markings in the form of lightnings.

  eduard

  85

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 86

  BUILT

  1/72

  Built by Ugur Kenel

  Cat. No. 2131

  eduard

  86

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 87

  BUILT

  Z-37A s/n 25-14 was registered on November 25th, 1983 for Slov-Air Division 02 in Prague, from

  January 29th, 1993 was owned by Air Speciál a.s., in 1994 was being own out of Mariánské Lázně,

  from 1997 was owned by Air Special in Liberec. Overhauled in 2000, the aircraft was sold to AgroAir

  Chrudim in 2016. Note the nose in a tiger motif with tiger prints on the tail.

  Product Page

  New van, built and delivered

  to the unit 7.PG today. We‘ll call her Meyer.

  eduard

  87

  INFO Eduard - DECEMBER 2020

• Page 88

  BIG33124 PT-17 / N2S-3 1/32 ICM

  BIG49272 SBD-2 1/48 Academy

  BIG49273 Su-27S 1/48 Kiy Hawk

  BIG49274 Su-27UB 1/48 Kiy Hawk

  BIG49275 Beaughter Mk.IF 1/48 Revell

  632164 AGM-88 HARM 1/32

  644079 Beaughter Mk.IF LööK 1/48 Revell

  644080 Spiire Mk.II LööK 1/48 Eduard

  644081 Bf 110G-4 LööK 1/48 Eduard

  648582 Spiire Mk.I engine 1/48 Eduard

  648584 Lysander Twin Browning machine gun 1/48 Eduard

  648603 Bf 110G wheels 1/48 Eduard

  648606 Bf 110G-4 exhaust stacks 1/48 Eduard

  648607 Bf 110C/D/E exhaust stacks 1/48 Eduard

  648610 Spiire Mk.IIa gun bays 1/48 Eduard

  672249 Spiire Mk.Vc wheels 1/72 Airx

  672250 Spiire Mk.Vc exhaust stacks 1/72 Airx

  644083 P-38H LööKplus 1/48 Tamiya

  644084 F-14A w/ late wheels LööKplus 1/48 Tamiya

  BIG ED (January)

  BRASSIN (January)

  LöökPlus (January)

  BIG33124

  BIG49273

  BIG49275

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

  JANUARY 2021

  BRASSIN

  644079 Beaughter Mk.IF LööK 1/48 Revell

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  644080 Spitre Mk.II LööK 1/48 Eduard

  BIG33124 PT-17 / N2S-3 1/32 ICM

  BIG49272 SBD-2 1/48 Academy

  BIG49273 Su-27S 1/48 Kiy Hawk

  BIG49274 Su-27UB 1/48 Kiy Hawk

  BIG49275 Beaughter Mk.IF 1/48 Revell

  644081 Bf 110G-4 LööK 1/48 Eduard

  BRASSIN

  JANUARY 2021

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

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  632164 AGM-88 HARM 1/32

  BRASSIN

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

  648582 Spitre Mk.I engine 1/48 Eduard

  JANUARY 2021

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  648584 Lysander Twin Browning machine gun 1/48 Eduard

  648603 Bf 110G wheels 1/48 Eduard

  BRASSIN

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

  JANUARY 2021

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  648606 Bf 110G-4 exhaust stacks 1/48 Eduard

  BRASSIN

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

  648607 Bf 110C/D/E exhaust stacks 1/48 Eduard

  JANUARY 2021

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  672249 Spitre Mk.Vc wheels 1/72 Airx

  BRASSIN

  648610 Spitre Mk.IIa gun bays 1/48 Eduard

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

  JANUARY 2021

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  BRASSIN

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

  672250 Spitre Mk.Vc exhaust stacks 1/72 Airx

  JANUARY 2021

• Page 95

  BRASSIN

  644083 P-38H LööKplus 1/48 Tamiya

  Collection of 4 sets for P-38H in 1/48 scale by Tamiya.

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts),

  - TFace painting mask,

  - undercarriage wheels,

  - gun barrels.

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

  JANUARY 2021

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  644084 F-14A w/ late wheels LööKplus 1/48 Tamiya

  Collection of 3 sets for F-14A in 1/48 scale by Tamiya.

  - LööK set (pre-painted Brassin dashboard & Steelbelts),

  - TFace painting mask,

  - undercarriage wheels.

  BRASSIN

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

  JANUARY 2021

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  PE-SETS

  32458 F-100F exterior 1/32 Trumpeter

  32459 F-100F slats 1/32 Trumpeter

  32460 F-100F air brake 1/32 Trumpeter

  32461 F-100F undercarriage 1/32 Trumpeter

  32980 F-100F interior 1/32 Trumpeter

  36457 Jagdpanzer Marder I 1/35 Tamiya

  481040 Tornado ASSTA 3.1 exterior 1/48 Revell

  491137 Tornado ASSTA 3.1 interior 1/48 Revell

  491138 Tornado ASSTA 3.1 undercarriage 1/48 Revell

  491139 TF-104G 1/48 Kinec

  72713 C-130H exterior 1/72 Zvezda

  73728 Spiire Mk.Vc 1/72 Airx

  73729 C-130H interior 1/72 Zvezda

  73730 C-130H cargo seatbelts 1/72 Zvezda

  73731 C-130H cargo interior 1/72 Zvezda

  73732 C-130H cargo oor 1/72 Zvezda

  ZOOMS

  33272 F-100F 1/32 Trumpeter

  33273 F-100F seatbelts STEEL 1/32 Trumpeter

  FE1137 Tornado ASSTA 3.1 1/48 Revell

  FE1138 Tornado ASSTA 3.1 seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Revell

  FE1139 TF-104G 1/48 Kinec

  FE1140 TF-104G seatbelts STEEL 1/48 Kinec

  FE1141 P-51D-5 Weekend 1/48 Eduard

  FE1142 Bf 109G-6/AS Weekend 1/48 Eduard

  SS728 Spiire Mk.Vc 1/72 Airx

  SS729 C-130H 1/72 Zvezda

  MASKS

  JX267 F-100F 1/32 Trumpeter

  JX268 F-100F TFace 1/48 Trumpeter

  EX738 TF-104G 1/48 Kinec

  EX739 TF-104G TFace 1/48 Kinec

  EX740 P-51D Weekend 1/48 Eduard

  EX741 Tornado ASSTA 3.1 1/48 Revell

  EX742 Tornado ASSTA 3.1 TFace 1/48 Revell

  CX589 Spiire Mk.Vc 1/72 Airx

  CX590 C-130H 1/72 Zvezda

  CX591 EF-111A 1/72 Revell

  DECALS

  D32006 Die roten Flieger 1/32 Meng

  D48067 Spiire Mk.II stencils 1/48 Eduard

  D48068 P-39 stencils 1/48 Eduard

  D48069 P-47D stencils 1/48 Eduard

  D72029 Z-37 stencils, code leers & labels 1/72 Eduard

  PE-Sets, Masks and Decals

  JANUARY 2021

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  KITS

  Bf 110G-4

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

  Cat. No. 8208 1/ 4 8

  Lt. Heinz-Wolfgang Schnaufer, II./NJG 1, Saint-Trond,

  Belgium, April/May 1943

  WNr. 740039, Oblt. Leopold Fellerer, CO of II./NJG 5,

  Parchim, Germany, January 1944

  Maj. Helmut Lent, the CO of Stab NJG 3,

  Stade, Germany, September 1944

  Hptm. Walter Borchers, CO of III./NJG 5,

  Neuruppin, Germany, January 1944

  WNr. 5547, Ofw. Helmut Treynogga, 6./NJG 6,

  Echterdingen, Germany, March 1944

  JANUARY 2021

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  KITS

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

  Fokker Fokker!

  Cat. No. 2133

  Maj. Helmut Lent, the CO of Stab NJG 3,

  Stade, Germany, September 1944

  Hptm. Walter Borchers, CO of III./NJG 5,

  Neuruppin, Germany, January 1944

  JANUARY 2021

  1/72 DUAL COMBO

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  PRELIMINARY IMAGES

  KITS

  Bf 109G-6/AS

  Cat. No. 84169

  1/48

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

  JANUARY 2021

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  KITS

  P-51D-5

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

  Cat. No. 84172

  1/ 4 8

  44-13761, Capt. Jack M. Ilfrey, 79th FS, 20th FG,

  8th AF, USAAF Station 367 Kings Cliffe,

  Northamptonshire, Great Britain, Autumn 1944

  44-13317, Capt. Donald R. Emerson, 336th FS,

  4th FG, 8th AF, USAAF Station 356 Debden, Essex,

  Great Britain, September 1944

  44-13597, Lt. William E. Fowler, 487th FS,

  352nd FG, 8th AF, USAAF Station 141 Bodney,

  Norfolk, Great Britain, September 1944

  44-13316, Leonard K. Carson, 362nd FS,

  357th FG, 8th AF, USAAF Station 373 Leiston,

  Suffolk, Great Britain, June 1944

  JANUARY 2021

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  KITS

  ON APPROACHON APPROACH

  P-47D Razorback

  Cat. No. 4469 1/144

  JANUARY 2021

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  LET’S GET DIGITAL!

  Over the past ve or six years, and with quite

  a bit of eort, I wrote about three articles

  that came out in the Czech Republic and be-

  yond. I worked in construction, and travelled

  a lot. There was less and less free time, and

  so I relied on my extensive, personal library

  and on my friends, both at home and abroad.

  Naturally, my on-line references took advan-

  tage of the American digital archive Fold3.

  com, to which I was a long-time subscriber.

  It is an absolutely priceless source of infor-

  mation when it comes to American military

  history, and not just American. I had acce-

  ssed their archives two years ago, when over

  the Christmas break, I was in the process of

  completing an update to an article I wrote

  for the French magazine ACES about Japane-

  se ace Saburo Sakai. I was surprised to nd

  log entries accessible of Japanese combat

  units on the Japan Center for Asian Histori-

  cal Records (JACAR) site. The entries I went

  through (I spent a few years studying the lan-

  guage) elevated the article by several levels,

  and helped to break down some of the myths

  surrounding this pilot.

  But, that did not prepare me for what was

  to come, when I began putting together two

  articles for REVI magazine last January – the

  rst about the Western Front during the First

  World War (Albatros D.III from Jasta 20 cap-

  tured by the Dutch) and the second outlining

  a similar scenario, but with a Soviet Curtiss

  P-40 captured by the Finns in 1943. The

  amount of material accessed, and the ease

  with which it was done, took my breath away.

  Dutch, Finnish, Swedish, German, Czech, Po-

  lish, Estonian, and especially Russian archives

  contain an insane amount of information, the

  contents of which can be searched with the

  use of some key words. My former Russian

  colleagues were somewhat derailed! There

  is something in Russia digitalized? For free?

  They didn’t want to believe it. In all hone-

  sty, archives in the EU are in this respect so-

  mewhat behind their Russian and American

  counterparts.

  The archives dating from the First World

  War are a theme unto itself. Much of them,

  that contain personal information, are only

  accessible now, after a hundred years. The

  amount of archived documentation from this

  period, including photographs, continues to

  expand.

  Thanks to digitalization, it is not long ago that

  the nurse that took care of Manfred Freiherr

  von Richthofen after he was wounded in July

  1917 could be identied. In the coming year,

  you may look forward to articles from our

  team of authors that will make much more

  use of on-line databases, but will also conti-

  nue to make use of the tried and true method

  of researchers and authors, which is itself in-

  dispensable.

  The world, at least the historical research

  world, is much more digitalized than

  I thought possible even a year ago. And this is

  the idea that I wanted to express here. The

  way that the pandemic has forced us to stop,

  has enabled us to ponder over many themes

  of life and of conducting business…for instan-

  ce, how to make full use of the information

  that is around us.

  And by that, I don’t mean sitting in front of

  a screen and inputting keywords to Google.

  Even that requires a certain knowledge. I had

  to make an eort with the archives…to nd

  them, register in the right databases, under-

  stand their structure and shortcomings, and

  generally play around with them. Finding

  quality data requires eort. But it also rai-

  ses quality on the whole, and eectiveness.

  It eliminates the uncertainties of ‘reinven-

  ting the wheel’ and lls in the blanks. I am

  certain that this applies to all elds. Once

  we emerge from our quarantines, let’s get

  digital!

  Jan Bobek

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