Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA32821
de Havilland Mosquito FB.Mk VI Diecast Model
RCAF No.418 Sqn, HJ719 Moonbeam McSwine, James Forrest 'Lou' Lima, England, Januar 1944 | Limited Edition
1200
Pieces Worldwide |
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| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| de Havilland Mosquito FB.Mk VI | | 6.75" | | 9" |
Encouraged to join the Royal Canadian Air Force following a chance meeting with a serving RCAF pilot, American James Forrest "Lou" Luma successfully negotiated his pilot training and was posted to fly the de Havilland Mosquito in England, even though he didn't even know what one looked like at that point. Arriving in England in the summer of 1943, he was assigned to No.418 squadron to fly night intruder missions and was given the luxury of just a single flight observing a flight instructor (from the navigator's seat), before making his first Mosquito solo. Re-assigned to the USAAF in July 1943, Luma was allowed to remain flying with the RCAF as they didn't want to break up his successful partnership with friend and navigator since training, Colin Finlayson, a man with whom he would go on to fly thirty operational missions. The Mosquito fighter the pair normally flew was quite unusual in that it sported nose artwork, something which was the exception rather than the norm on Royal Air Force fighters.
Known as "Moonbeam McSwine", the nose art featured a pipe smoking, gun toting Hillbilly girl of the same name, a character from the "Li"l Abner" comic strip which was popular at the time. The pair scored their first victory when shooting down a Messerschmitt Me 410 nightfighter near Wunstorf on the night of 21st/22nd January 1944, an aircraft which had shot down a British bomber earlier that same night and had returned to base to re-fuel and re-arm. On taking off for this second sortie, the Luftwaffe pilot forgot to turn off his lights, making the German fighter relatively easy prey for Luma in his prowling Mosquito intruder.
Designed in a private venture as a high-altitude, high-speed unarmed bomber, the de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito was first flown on November 25th, 1940. The Mosquito was one of the most successful aircraft of the Second World War. Only the Ju 88 could rival its versatility. Powered by two Rolls-Royce Merlin engines, the all-wood Mosquito was as fast as a fighter and could carry the payload of a medium bomber. During its lifetime, the Mosquito was used in varying roles, which included night fighter and ground attack. It carried radar systems and cannons, and there was even a carrier landing version. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Corgi's 1:72 scale Mosquitoes are highly prized by collectors. Each of these highly accurate replicas includes a large birdcage canopy that provides for easy viewing of crew figures. The landing gear installs quickly and locks in place for ground display. The air and oil coolant radiator ducts can be quickly configured for display in the open or closed positions. Fighter/bomber releases feature four machine guns barrels mounted on the nose and four 20mm cannon ports below the nose. Bomber and photo-reconnaissance variants do not include cannons, featuring instead transparent noses.
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored.
Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
- Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
- Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies and access panels.
- Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
