Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA36304
Fairey Swordfish Mk III Diecast Model
RAF Coastal Command No.119 Sqn, 1945 | Limited Edition
2640
Pieces Worldwide |
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| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Fairey Swordfish Mk III | | 6" | | 7.75" |
Throughout WWII, several Swordfish Squadrons operated under the control of RAF Coastal Command and were engaged in operations in the English Channel area. The swift movement of German forces through the Low Countries in 1940 led to eight Naval Air Squadrons put at the disposal of Coastal Command, and these included Swordfish squadrons 812,815,818,825, and 829. Operating from their main bases at Manston and Detling in Kent, North Cotes in Lincolnshire, Bircham Newton in Norfolk, and Thorney Island near Portsmouth, their main duties included convoy protection, and dive-bombing military targets such as tanks, gun positions, vehicle convoys, shipping, barges, and E-Boats. At night they bombed ports, airfields, power stations and fuel dumps, or mined Dutch, Belgian and even German harbors, estuaries and waterways. Mining operations were known as "gardening" – an apt term as the long cylindrical mines dropped by Swordfish aircraft were known as "Cucumbers"! much later in the war, 833 and 819 Squadrons were also seconded to RAF Coastal Command and were involved in laying smoke screens over the Allied Forces en route to the Normandy beaches on and around D-Day, June 6th 1944 (6 June 1944). Coastal Command even had its own RAF Swordfish Squadron, No.119, which swapped the Albacores, which they had been flying, for Swordfish MKII aircraft in January 1945. This squadron was used for day and night patrols seeking troublesome E-Boats and midget submarines, and in fact successfully attacked a Biber midget submarine on 13 March 1945, the vessel becoming the last submarine to be sunk by British Forces in WWII.
This spotter-reconnaissance aircraft, built by the Fairey Aviation Company for the British Royal Navy, was first flown on February 22nd, 1934. Nicknamed "Stringbag" after a housewife's string shopping bag, the Swordfish could carry an unlikely combination of loads. It could lift off a carrier deck with a standard torpedo, although this made it vulnerable to fighter attack. Its low speed and stable stance made it easy to line up for a torpedo attack, as it did against the German Bismark and on the Italian naval base at Taranto, where 21 Swordfish destroyed three battleships, a cruiser, two destroyers and other warships. © Copyright 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Corgi's 1:72 scale Swordfish series demonstrates this aircraft's versatility. Each release highlights its roles as a spotter-reconnaissance aircraft and a torpedo-bomber. One of the most impressive features of this model is its replicated folding wings, a feature uncommon in 1:72 scale. The wings are both pinned and keyed to insure proper alignment when fully deployed. Fine gauge wire is used to recreate the structurally significant bracing wires found between the wings and on the horizontal stabilizer. The open cockpit allows for easy viewing of the three-man crew, correctly poised for action with pivoting machine gun at the rear.
© Copyright 2003-2013 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 2003-2025 The Flying Mule, Inc.
