Corgi AA33705 Heinkel He 111H-6 Diecast Model Luftwaffe II./KG 27, USSR, January 1943

Corgi AA33705 Heinkel He 111H-6 Diecast Model Luftwaffe II./KG 27, USSR, January 1943

Operation Barbarossa, Hitler's invasion of Russia, opened with an unprecedented level of ferocity, and the Luftwaffe's bombers were at the forefront of the action. German bombers launched raids against numerous targets and played an essential role in the speedy conquest of vast tracts of land. German bombers were called upon to fly in conditions, which varied, from the heat of the Crimea to the frozen wastes of the Arctic. As the tide turned, the Luftwaffe took heavy punishment and, by the end of the war, Hitler's bombers were flying increasingly desperate missions intended to stem the advance of the Red Army. Defeat in North Africa and the disastrous loss of the Sixth Army at Stalingrad were undoubtedly huge blows to the Wehrmacht, but the most critical battle of 1943 was fought at Kursk. In Spring 1943, the Russian front bulged into the German lines between Kharkov and Orel.

Heinkel He 111H-6
Designed in direct violation of the Treaty of Versailles, the Heinkel He 111 first flew on February 24, 1935. Masquerading as a transport aircraft, the He 111 was actually a fast medium bomber that went on to become the most prolific Luftwaffe bomber used during the early part of WWII. During its early service career, the He 111 had the distinction of being one of the fastest aircraft in the world, with speeds exceeding 250 mph. It was also versatile, serving as a medium bomber, strategic bomber and as a torpedo bomber. By late 1944 the Luftwaffe halted bomber production, and the He 111 became a transport aircraft.

Corgi's 1:72 scale He 111 series replicates this famous symbol of the WWII German bomber forces (Kampfwaffe). This model is constructed using only the smallest amount of plastic, with its fuselage and distinctive massive elliptical wing and tail in diecast metal. The large offset "greenhouse" nose canopy allows for easy viewing of the pilot and forward gunner/bombardier lying prone over the bomb site. The model features many defensive machine gun positions, such as a rotating dorsal mounted gunner, waist gunners and an intricate ventral birdcage gondola. Additional features include opening hinged bomb doors to reveal bomb details, an intricate ventral antenna and subassembly landing gear.