Luftwaffe Heinkel He-111 H-6, W. Nr. 4500, A1+FN

Lt. Erich Horn, 5./KG53 Yukhnov, 21 January 1942

Corgi 1:72 AA33718

Heinkel He-111H-6, W. Nr. 4500, A1+FN, Lt. Erich Horn, 5./KG53, Crashed behind German Lines, Yukhnov, West of Moscow, 21st January 1942.

If the Messerschmitt Bf 109 was the most famous Luftwaffe fighter aircraft of the Second World War, then its direct bomber equivalent had to be the HeinkelHe-111, an aircraft which can trace its origins back to the early 1930s and its development as a supposed fast civilian airliner, due to the restrictions imposed on Germany by the Treaty of Versailles. Once the country was no longer concerned with the pretence of trying to duplicate the other European powers, the Heinkel showed itself to be a ‘wolf in sheep’s clothing’ and thanks to its large, fully glazed ‘greenhouse’ nose, would become one of the most famous aircraft of WWII.

Possessing greater range than other Luftwaffe strike aircraft, the Heinkel He-111 would see heavy use during Operation Barbarossa and the air battles which raged over the Eastern Front from 1942 onwards, but not always in its primary strike role. Due to the rapidly deteriorating situation for the Germans, Heinkel He-111 bombers were also used for casualty evacuation and re-supply duties, where they would supplemented the efforts of the lumbering Junkers Ju-52 Trimotors. This particular Heinkel has added rather effective whitewash blotches over its standard camouflage, something which would have looked rather effective against the frozen Russian tundra from above.

Whilst attempting a low level bombing attack against targets in the Kaluga area, south of Moscow, this bomber was hit by accurate Soviet anti-aircraft fire and was forced to crash land, thankfully for the crew, safely behind German lines.

The Corgi Aviation series includes collectible models designed for collectors by collectors.

The models are highly detailed, authentically decorated and made of die-cast metal.

The Corgi Aviation Series offers: 

• Die-cast metal construction with some plastic components.
• Panel lines, antennas, access panels and realistic surface details.
• Markings and stamped plates that will not fade or peel like decals
• Interchangeable landing gear extended / retracted with rotating wheels.
• A display to display the plane "in flight".
• Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
• Detailed and hand-painted characters of pilots and crew members.
• Loads of genuine detachable ammunition
• Some interchangeable features such as speed brakes, open awnings and access panels.
• Some moving parts such as turrets, control surfaces and swivel wings