Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA34906
Messerschmitt Bf 109G Diecast Model
Luftwaffe 6./JG 5 Eismeer, "Yellow 12", Heinrich Ehrler, Petasmo, Finland, March 1943

1:32 Scale		Length		Width
Messerschmitt Bf 109G		11.25"		12.5"

Heinrich Ehrler began flying training in 1940. On completion of his training he was posted to 4/JG 77 operating from bases in Norway. He gained his first victory in May 1940 shooting down a RAF Blenheim bomber. 4/JG 77 was redesignated 4/JG 5 on 1 February 1941. Ehrler recorded his second victory on19 February 1942 and was now operating over the Northern front from bases in Finland and northern Norway. He was to score a total of 11 victories with the unit before he was promoted to Staffelkapitan of 6/JG 5 on 22 August. Between January and September 1942, Ehrler recorded 54 victories. Lieutenant Ehrler was awarded the Ritterkreuz on 4 September for 64 victories. On Saturday, 27 March 1943, Ehrler, in short order, downed five Russian Kittyhawks and Air cobras in aerial combat. While attempting to engage another Russian fighter his aircraft was hit by a 20mm cannon shell forcing his disengagement from the battle. He returned safely to base with slight wounds. On 1 June, he was named Gruppenkommandeur of II./JG 5. On June 6, he claimed four Russian-flown Hurricanes to record his 96th through 99th victories. After recording his 112th victory on 2 August , he was awarded the Eichenlaub (Nr 265). He shot down eight enemy aircraft on 17 March 1944to record his 124th to 131st victories. He bettered this effort on 25 May 1944 downing nine to record his 147th to 155th victories. On 1 August 1944 he was promoted to Kommodore of JG 5. On 12 November 1944 a message reporting incoming British bombers reached the 27 year old Geschwaderkommodore of JG 5. Ehrler, with his score at 199 victories, scrambled to intercept the Lancasters of 9 and 617 Squadrons at the head of a Gruppe of Bf 109s. The fighters were too late. The British Lancasters sank the battleship Tirpitz north of Tromso with the loss of a thousand sailors. Ehrler was called to account for this disaster and at his court martial was accused of flying to get his 200th victory, instead of guiding his fighters from ground control. Ehrler was sentenced to three years Festungshaft, a more honorable punishment than imprisonment. Ehrler had been nominated for the Schwerten prior to the battleship disaster. The award was never made. He wad stripped of his command. However, he was able to record his 200th victory on 20 November 1944. Ehrler joined JG 7 on 27 February 1945. His comrades knew that the old dire had been burned out of the gifted Ehrler. On April 4 1945, he shot down two B-17s. Ehrler then reported he had run out of ammunition and rammed a third. Ehrler did not return from the mission, and his body was found the next day at Schaarlippe near Berlin. Heinrich Ehrler achieved 208 victories, of which about ten were recorded over the Western front. This particular aircraft is remarkable for the livery. To provide camouflage more suited to the terrain over which it was operating, Ehrlers early Gustav has been given a coat of washable paint (including the fuselage cross), to which large irregular patches of dark green have been added. 77 recorded Soviet kills are recorded on the rudder and to preserve this ,the rudder has been left untouched by the winter white wash.

Messerschmitt Bf 109G

© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.

Corgi's 1:32 scale Bf 109G is a large model loaded with features. All of the control surfaces are movable with metal hinges. The landing gear is hinged and can be locked into position for ground or in-flight display. The removable upper portion of the engine cowling hides a detailed inverted DB 601 V-12 engine and two engine-bay mounted machine guns. The hinged canopy opens to reveal a pilot figure and cockpit detail. The wing has forward leading edge slats and independently deployable radiator cowls. Each release includes a removable center mounted drop tank, and some releases also include 20mm cannon pods under each wing (see photos).

© Copyright 2003-2013 The Flying Mule, Inc.

Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series

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.