Carousel 1 AirCraft 7102
Messerschmitt Bf 109E Diecast Model
Luftwaffe 8./JG 27, "Black 8", Werner Schroer, Libya, August 1941 | Limited Edition
1200
Pieces Worldwide |
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| 1:48 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Messerschmitt Bf 109E | | 7.5" | | 8.25" |
Werner Schroer was one of the few German aces to achieve more than 100 victories against the Westem Allies, yet he is probably best known as the pilot of "Black 8" in a much-published German color publicity photo. Schroer joined Jagdgeschwader 27 in August 1940 and flew with them in the Battle of Britain. While in France, JG 27 acquired their famous "Leopard over Africa" emblem, which reflected a determination to re-take the former colonial territories Germany lost in the First World War. When Hitler decided to send General Rommel and the Afrika Corps join Italy's North African campaign against British Egypt, JG 27 was the fighter unit selected to support them. They landed at the Ainel-Gazla airfield in Libya on 18 April 1941. The next day JG 27 shot down four British Hurricanes, one of which was Leutnant Schroer's first kill. In the next few days Schroer added three more victories. In late April several JG 27 109s, including Schroer's, were cleaned and photographed for home front consupmtion. White wall tires shown on several 109s were not a decoration, but an attempt to protect rubber tires from desert heat. On 30 August 1941. Schroer and his wingman attacked RAF Tomahawks over Tobruk, setting one on fire and claiming a victory. Unfortunately for the Axis powers, Schroer's victim, Australian Clive Caldwell, although wounded and nursing a crippled aircraft, did not crash. Caldwell not only limped back to base, he shot down a 109 on the way, and ultimately was credited with 20 victories in the North Athcan fighting. Schroer had scored 11 when he was appointed Staffelkapitane of 8./JG 27 in June 1942, then tallied another 11 victories in two weeks. Schroer's 61 victories in North Africa with JG 27 made him the second leading ace of the Mediterranean Theater, after Hans Joachim Marseilles. After rising to command II./JG 27 in April 1943, Schroer was sent to lead III./JG 54 in March 1944. In July1944 he was taken out of a combat role to lead the Unit Commander's School. Schroer was named Kommodore of JG 3 'Udet' in February 1945. His final score of 114 included 102 RAF and USAAF opponents (including 26 American four-engine bombers) and 12 Russians in only 197 missions. Werner Schroer died in 1985.
Please note: This model comes with a Swastika decal that can optionally be applied to the tail for added authenticity.
Designed to meet a Luftwaffe need for a single-seat fighter/interceptor, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was first flown on May 28th, 1935. Its all-metal construction, closed canopy and retractable gear made the Bf 109 one of the first true modern fighters of WWII. This versatile aircraft served in many roles and was the most produced aircraft of the war and the backbone of the Luftwaffe, and was flown by Germany's top three aces, who claimed a total of 928 victories between them. Armed with two cannons and two machine guns, the Bf 109's design underwent constant revisions, which allowed it to remain competitive until the end of the war. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Carousel 1 "AirCraft" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military aircraft. Carousel 1 have an excellent reputation for producing superbly accurate diecast models of racing cars and their "AirCraft" range is worthy of the same praise. Aircraft in the Carousel 1 AirCraft range are carefully researched and reproduced with a level of detail that is unmatched by most other manufacturers in this scale.
Carousel 1 "AirCraft" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted metal landing gear with rotating wheels and rubber tires.
- Extremely detailed cockpit interiors with glazed instruments.
- Detailed removable pilot figures.
- Spinning metal propellers.
- Accurately detailed underside with concealed screwheads.
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
