Product Spotlight

Product Spotlight: Commerce Destroyers

Hobby Master’s US Army Air Force Douglas A-20G Havoc Medium Bomber – “The Hell’n Pelican II”, 90th Bombardment Squadron “Pair-O-Dice”, 3rd Bombardment Group, Gusap Airfield, Papua, New Guinea, 1944 (1:72 Scale)

Ordinarily, commerce raiding is a form of naval warfare used to destroy or disrupt logistics of the enemy on the open sea by attacking its merchant shipping, rather than engaging its combatants or enforcing a blockade against them. Privateering,, on the other hand, is a form of commerce raiding conducted by independent operators.

During World War II, elements of the United States Navy based in Brazil conducted operations in the Atlantic against German commerce raiders and blockade runners. In the Pacific, the U.S. Navy operated against Japanese merchant shipping, as well as engaging in offensive operations against ships of the Japanese Imperial Navy. The bulk of the Japanese merchant marine was sunk by American submarines. By the end of the war, only 12% of Japan’s pre-war merchant tonnage was still afloat.

The Indian Ocean raid was a naval sortie by the Carrier Striking Task Force of the Japanese Navy from March 31st to April 10th, 1942, against Allied shipping and bases in the Indian Ocean. It was an early engagement of the Pacific campaign of World War II.

The staff of the Imperial Japanese Navy decided to send some raiders to Indian Ocean waters from December 12th, 1941 to July 12th, 1942. The Germans had already been operating in the area and conducted mutual aid with Japanese submarines, in the form of re-supply and military intelligence. The Indian Ocean was the largest operating area involving direct contact between the two Axis partners, in which their primary objective was to keep pressure on the shipping lanes. The Japanese Navy participated in some commerce raiding, but concentrated its efforts toward a “decisive battle” in the Pacific, which never took place.

While naval assets continued to play a pivotal role in World War II, commerce destroyers took on an added dimension with the introduction of military aircraft. One such aircraft that took on this task was the inimitable Douglas A-20 Havoc, an American light bomber, attack aircraft, night intruder, night fighter, and reconnaissance aircraft of World War II. The A-20G, as it came to be known, filled the role perfectly. Delivered from February 1943, would be the most produced A-20 variant, with 2,850 built. The glazed nose was replaced by a solid nose containing four 20 mm (.79 in) Hispano cannon and two .50 in M2 Browning machine guns. After the first batch of 250, the less-accurate cannon were replaced by more machine guns. After 750 aircraft had been built, a power-driven gun turret fitted with two .50 in machine guns was fitted, with the fuselage 6 inches (15 cm) wider as a result, and the ventral tunnel gun changed from a .30 in to another .50 in Browning. The powerplants were two 1,600 hp (1,200 kW) R-2600-23. Many A-20Gs were delivered to the Soviet Union. Notably, U.S. A-20Gs were used on low-level sorties in the New Guinea campaign.

During World War II, the 90th Bombardment Squadron operated in the South Pacific, flying A-20 Havoc and B-25 Mitchell aircraft. Their main mission involved highly-dangerous skip bombings. In an effort to improve the effectiveness and protection of the 3rd Bombardment Group’s pilots, Major Paul ‘Pappy’ Gunn, 3rd Bombardment Group engineering officer, devised a modification to the B-25C. The modification replaced the forward bombardier with four forwards firing .50 caliber machine guns, supplemented with two twin .50 caliber gun packages side mounted on the fuselage. The lower turret was discarded. The A-20s received similar modifications. The modified aircraft were first employed by the 90th and proved exceptionally effective, receiving the nickname ‘commerce destroyers.’ During the Battle of the Bismarck Sea, every aircraft in the 90th scored a hit on the Japanese convoy of 18 ships. It was the first sea-level attack by B-25 strafers in World War II and demonstrated that this tactic was extremely effective. The squadron also participated in the raids on Wewak, New Guinea, which were preemptive strikes that virtually ended the threat of enemy offensive air capabilities.

Expect Hobby Master’s newest A-20G to strafe the competition in late November.

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Product Spotlight: Home on His Shield

The town of Velikye Luki in Russia was captured by German forces during July 1941. From the view of Heeresgruppe Mitte which was responsible for this sector, Velikye Luki was very important for several reasons. First, it formed a bridgehead across the Lowat River. Second, it was a major railroad junction, and third, it screened the vital Vitebsk-Leningrad railroad. The Red Army launched several attacks and partisan actions against Velikye Luki during the following 15 months, but failed to seize the town. By November 1942, Velikye Luki and the surrounding area was still in German hands, awaiting yet another storm of armor. While Velikye Luki would capture the attention of many on the eastern front, it was perhaps on the western front where it took on added meaning.

Legion’s British Sherman Firefly Mk. Vc Medium Tank – “Velikye Luki”, 3 Troop, A Squadron, Northamptonshire Yeomanry, Normandy, France, 1944 (1:72 Scale)

After being promoted to the rank of SS-Haupsturmfuhrer, legendary panzer ace Michael Wittmann was offered but refused a position as an instructor at an armored training school, instead returning to Normandy and his men on July 6th, 1944. His unit, sSSPzAbt. 101, took part in the Battle for Caen, which raged from July 3rd to the 10th. In August, Wittmann and his crew received a new Tiger Ausf. E tank, which was assigned the command identification number 007. Thereafter, Wittmann, along with the rest of sSSPzAbt. 101, was transferred to a region just outside Cintheaux, France. At the time, strong German forces attempted to recapture the crucial city of Caen, which had become completely destroyed by weeks of incessant fighting. On August 8th, 1944, a new battle raged near Cintheaux, which would later become Wittmann’s final engagement.

According to SS-Hauptscharfuhrer Hoflinger commanding Tiger #213, whose tank was positioned in the same field as Wittmann’s tank but towards the rear and to the right of Wittmann’s mount, at 12:55 AM he saw Wittmann’s tank explode as it sat near the road to Caen-Cintheaux, at Gaumesnil, apparently struck by a long-range tank round fired by a Sherman Firefly from the Northampton Yeomanry. Afterwards, Wittmann and his crew were laid to rest beside what was left of their burned out Tiger, sadly without any graveyard markings. The War’s most famous tank ace had paid the ultimate price in blood and iron, a fate awaiting many more tankers in the months to come.

We are currently expecting this vehicle, along with several other Sherman Fireflies, towards the end of November.

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Product Spotlight: Hog Heaven

Try as they might, the US Air Force has been unable to retire the venerable A-10 Warthog from its air armada. Essentially, Congress has consistently blocked previous attempts to retire the close attack aircraft, citing a lack of a viable replacement for its close air support (CAS) role and concerns about local jobs. While the Air Force views the A-10 as outdated for peer-to-peer conflict due to its lack of stealth, Congress has previously intervened to prevent its retirement by blocking budget requests and adding provisions to National Defense Authorization Acts. However, the Air Force has recently gained more permission to start retiring the fleet, with a plan to phase them out by 2028/2029, though this process was paused until a replacement was ready and has been subject to ongoing congressional debate

USAF Fairchild Republic A-10A Thunderbolt II Ground Attack Aircraft – 76-0530, 47th Tactical Fighter Squadron “Termites”, Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona, 1990 (1:72 Scale)

On October 7th, 1996, the 47th’s mission changed from combat to A-10 pilot training. Since that time they have participated in Operation Century Eagle 1999 & 2001, Saguaro Patriot 2001, Patriot Claw 2001 and Patriot Buccaneer 2002. During the first tactical and conventional gunnery competition open to A-10s, Hawgsmoke 2000, and the 47th took First Place for Top Hawgsmoke Tactical Unit, Top Overall Pilot and Top Overall Tactical Pilot. Then during the next Hawgsmoke competition in 2002, they won top A-10 Squadron in the world.

The school graduated approximately 45 active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve students per year.

In June 2003, the squadron deployed to Combat Readiness Training Center, Gulfport, Mississippi for Operation Patriot Pursuit.[2] In April 2004, the 47th hosted Hawgsmoke 2004 at the England Air Park (former England AFB), Louisiana. There were 18 A-10 teams from all over the world deployed to participate in the biennial A-10 bombing and tactical gunnery competition. The 47th deployed to MacDill Air Force Base, Florida for Operation Patriot Gator the end of July through the first of August 2004.[2] In 2005, the 47th deployed to McChord Air Force Base, Washington, for Operation Patriot Lightning, a close air support training exercise in conjunction with the Army National Guard.

In 2006 pursuant to a Base Realignment and Closure decision, the 47th gained eight A-10 aircraft and a number of full-time and part-time positions. In March the 47 FS won third overall out of 17 teams in Hawgsmoke 2006 at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base, Arizona. Also in March, they participated in Operation Atlantic Strike III, a joint training exercise held at Avon Park Air Force Range, Florida with the squadron operating from nearby MacDill AFB.

As a training unit augmenting the active duty A-10 Formal Training Unit (FTU) squadron at Davis-Monthan AFB, the 47th graduated about 45 active-duty, Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve students per year.

1 October 2011, the 47th Fighter Squadron converted from a training unit to a combat coded unit. January 2012, the 917 Wing was inactivated. The wing’s B-52 squadron, the 93d Bombardment Squadron, was assigned to the 307th Bombardment Wing and the 47th was assigned to the 917th Fighter Group, which became part of the 442d Fighter Wing at Whiteman Air Force Base, MO.

In September 2013, the squadron relocated to Davis-Monthan AFB.

In September 2024, the 47th Fighter Squadron won the biennial Hawgsmoke bombing, missile, and tactical gunnery competition.

While they may be retired sooner rather than later, you can still nab the latest rendition of the A-10 from Hobby Master in late November.

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Product Spotlight: Could Nippon Join NATO?

Ever since Russia attacked Ukraine in February 2022, several neutral nations have petitioned to join NATO, seeing the alliance as a bulwark against Russian aggression. Sweden and Finland joined the alliance in 2023 and 2024 respectively, leaving little doubt that they could better fend off a Russian invasion by being backed up by the rest of Europe and the US.

Over in the Pacific, Japan has witnessed the PRC become ever more aggressive in recent years while North Korea has repeatedly fired intercontinental missiles over parts of the island chain. While they are a member of a Pacific-based alliance with Taiwan, South Korea, Australia and the US, they recognize that additional allies are always welcome should a shooting war erupt over Taiwan or the North Koreans decide to invade South Korea for a second time. Despite being hampered by its own constitution regarding military endeavors outside of its own borders, Japan recently conducted and concluded its first ever exercise with several European nations, embarking on what they have termed Operation Atlantic Eagles.


According to the Japan Times, “Japan completed its first-ever fighter jet deployment to Canada and Europe on Wednesday in an unprecedented display of support for NATO partner countries as well as a demonstration of the Air Self-Defense Force’s long-distance operational capabilities amid growing concerns over the international security situation.

Named “Atlantic Eagles,” the mission involved four F-15Js from Chitose Air Base, accompanied by two refueling and two transport aircraft from various bases across Japan. The contingent, which also included 180 personnel, first landed at the U.S. Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska. From there, they proceeded to Canadian Forces Base Goose Bay in Canada, RAF Coningsby and RAF Brize Norton in England, and Laage Air Base in Germany.

The ASDF said the Sept. 14th to Oct. 1st deployment was meant to deepen cooperation and exchanges with fighter squadrons from partner countries in North America and Europe. But experts such as Sebastian Maslow, an associate professor at the University of Tokyo, go further, arguing that the move also highlights the growing momentum of Japan’s security cooperation with NATO partners as Tokyo appears increasingly willing to take on a more proactive role in international security affairs.

Atlantic Eagles comes as several NATO member states have increased their own deployments of military assets to Asia, including Japan, particularly after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.

Defense Minister Gen Nakatani highlighted this when talking to reporters ahead of the mission. “In recent years, European countries such as Canada, the United Kingdom, and Germany have been steadily strengthening their engagement in the Indo-Pacific region, regularly dispatching fighter jets and naval vessels to areas surrounding Japan,” he said on Sept. 12th.

In this context, the ASDF deployment was meant to embody the “shared recognition that the security of the Euro-Atlantic and the Indo-Pacific regions is inseparable and interrelated,” Nakatani added, as the ASDF gradually expands the scope of its overseas activities.

Japan, which earlier this year launched its first dedicated mission to NATO, already has one of the closest relationships with the Western military alliance among nonmember partner states.

But Japan has been aiming to take things a step further by boosting joint activities and increasing defense-industrial cooperation, with the latest development seen as symbolizing Tokyo’s commitment to strengthening ties with NATO.

The geostrategic rationale behind these steps is to “reinforce deterrence” against China and Russia while offsetting uncertainties over NATO cohesion and U.S.-led security alliances in Asia through the development of new security partnerships, Maslow said.

Another objective, he said, is to signal readiness and resolve as the scope of military cooperation continues to expand and a new security architecture emerges that increasingly connects the European and Indo-Pacific theaters.

The ASDF deployment took place after elements of the U.K. Carrier Strike Group 25, led by the Prince of Wales aircraft carrier, docked in Japan between Aug. 12th and Sept. 2nd.

The warships’ arrival in Japan had been preceded by naval exercises with the Maritime Self-Defense Force, some of which included the first landing and takeoff of a British F-35B fighter aircraft from a Japanese carrier — a move designed to enhance interoperability, flexibility and operational capacity between the partner navies.”

Look for this JASDF Boeing F-15DJ Eagle multirole fighter to land this December.

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Product Spotlight: From Whence the Boogeyman Comes

German Messerschmitt Me 410A-1/U4 Heavy Fighter – Oberleutnant Friedrich “Fritz” Stehle, 5./Zerstorergeschwader 26 “Horst Wessel”, Hildesheim, Germany, March 1944 (1:72 Scale)

The culmination of Germany’s vaunted “Destroyer” concept, the Messerschmitt Me 410 was the intended successor of the Messerschmitt Bf 110 heavy fighter. Despite entering service almost two years late, it was arguably the Luftwaffe aircraft which most closely matched Britain’s magnificent de Havilland Mosquito in terms of role and performance.

Unquestionably one of the most interesting aircraft of the Second World War in appearance, the Me 410 was a true multi-role aircraft and could be adapted to perform a number of offensive roles, including that of heavy bomber killer.

Equipped with the mighty Rheinmetall manufactured BK-5 autocannon which protruded from the nose of the fighter, this weapon was a development of the 50mm Kampfwagenkanone anti-tank gun found in Panzer III tanks.

With 21 shells housed in a magazine in the weapons bay of the fighter and a shell already loaded in the breach ready to fire, the pilot could usually only rely on one round being fired, before this temperamental system jammed, leaving just reduced standard armament to be used during the sortie.

A single, well-aimed shell did possess the destructive power to easily bring down an Allied bomber and could be fired at ranges where the attacking Luftwaffe aircraft were effectively impervious to the wall of return fire put up by the bomber stream. However, the additional weight and drag caused by using this powerful gun made the Me 410 incredibly vulnerable to marauding Allied fighters.

On March 6th, 1944, the US 8th Air Force launched Mission No. 250, sending 730 Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and Consolidated B-24 Liberator bombers to targets in Berlin and the surrounding area. This vast armada was escorted by a total of 801 Lockheed P-38 Lightnings, Republic P-47 Thunderbolts and North American P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft of VII Fighter Command. The Reichsluftverteidigung controllers sent 463 Luftwaffe aircraft to intercept and engage the approaching bombers.

Led by Staffelkapitan Oblt. “Fritz” Stehle, 5./Zerstorergeschwader 26 “Horst Wessel” operating from Hildesheim dispatched 10 Messerschmitt Me 410 aircraft, and formed part of a large ‘Gefechtsverbande’. Some of the aircraft were fitted with the Bordkanone 5 (BK 5) a hard hitting 50 mm Kanone which it was planned would enable the Me 410s to engage the attacking bomber aircraft outside of the range of their withering defensive fire. In practice, this was not realized and they were forced to commence their attacks at close range, making them vulnerable to both return fire from the bombers, and slow and thus outmaneuvered by the escorting fighters.

5./Zerstorergeschwader 26 “Horst Wessel” were able to engage Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress aircraft from the 1 Bombardment Division, and claimed 7 ‘abschuss’ between 12:35 and 13:15. Claims were submitted by Uffz. Hartl, Oblt. Stehle, Uffz. Retschy, Fw. Schneider, Ltn. Kutscher, Ofw. Fros and Ofw. Pennekamp. In the ensuing air battle, 5./Zerstorergeschwader 26 “Horst Wessel” were intercepted by North American P-51 Mustang fighter aircraft over the Doberitz-Brandenburg-Bernburg area, and six Messerschmitt Me 410 aircraft were shot down. Ofw. Ziesch, Feldwebel Bonnecke and Uffz. Patsch were all killed in this engagement. The Luftwaffe lost 63 fighters, with a further 19 damaged on this day. The US 8th Air Force lost 74 bombers and 14 fighters. Oblt. Stehle would go on to fly Focke Wulf Fw 190 aircraft with 6./Jagdgeschwader, before being assigned as Kommandeur I./Jagdgeschwader 7 flying the Messerschmitt Me 262.

On May 8th, 1945, Oblt Stehle shot down a Russian Bell P-39 Airacobra which crashed near the village of Klinyin. This may have been the last fighter victory of WWII in Europe. Post war, he helped train the Syrian Air Force before joining Lufthansa. He died in October 2008, and was credited with 26 victories. He was awarded the Deutsche Kreuz in Gold, and the Ehrenpokal fur besondere Leistung im Luftkreig.

Note: the barrel of the BK 5 with five white abschuss rings. The machine was fitted with the Zielfernohr ZFR4 telescopic gun-sight installed in the cockpit. Characteristic of II./Zerstorergeschwader 26 “Horst Wessel” is the yellow ‘Holzschuhe’ (wooden clog) ‘Wappen’ on the engine-cowling.

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Product Spotlight: “One a Day in Tampa Bay”

USAAF Martin B-26C-45-MO Marauder Medium Bomber – Lieutenant Leo Lampman, “Miss Arkansas”, 444th Bomb Squadron, 320th Bomb Group, Montesquieu Airfield, Algeria, 1943 (1:72 Scale)

After leaving the confines of New York City nearly three years ago, we decided to set up shop here in West Central Florida, or more specifically in Wesley Chapel, which is about 30 miles northeast of Tampa. Since then, I’ve come to learn a lot of things about our adopted new city, in particular its important contribution to the US war effort during the Second World War.

The Martin B-26 Marauder medium bomber played a critical role in the prosecution of the air war, taking on many low-level bombing missions for which it was suited. For an aircraft which initially attracted such unwanted nicknames as ‘Widow Maker’ and the ‘Flying Coffin’, and had training crews referring to it as, ‘One a day in Tampa Bay’ because of the high number of aircraft lost to crashes, the Martin B-26 Marauder actually posted the lowest loss rate of all USAAF bombers during the Second World War.

A high-performance aircraft incorporating advanced technologies, the Marauder was a delight to fly but had some vices which could cause problems for the unwary and inexperienced. However, some design modifications and a revised training program soon improved the aircraft’s fortunes.

After some time in Florida, the 444th Bomb Squadron were sent to England before completing their training program. They stayed for just over a month before being sent onwards with the rest of the 320th Bomb Group to North Africa and operations across the Mediterranean Theatre.

The Group was awarded a Distinguished Unit Citation for pressing home an attack against Axis troop concentrations at Fondi, in support of the 5th Army’s push towards Rome, despite coming under heavy enemy anti-aircraft fire.

This particular aircraft was one of the most flamboyantly decorated of all the 444th BS Marauders, with striking sharks’ teeth to put fear in the hearts of enemy fighter pilots, and beach belle artwork on both sides of the aircraft’s nose. Look for this particular model to join the bomber stream this November.

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You Can’t Say They Don’t Love Their Spitfires

In a surprise announcement, Corgi today announced plans to roll out not one but three new 1:72 scale Supermarine Spitfires this summer. All three models are based upon aircraft currently on display at hangars across the UK, making them unique in their own right. So, while a Spitfire model always does well at retail, the fact that all three can be seen in the flesh means they’ll help to ignite a renewed passion for these iconic aircraft. The Supermarine Spitfire T.9 is a two-seat fighter aircraft that was developed after World War II. All T.9s started as single-seat fighters, usually the Mk. VIII or Mk. IX. The pre-order window is now open and detailed information concerning each model can be found at the bottom of each listing.

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Product Spotlight: Clipped Wings

Beginning in early 1941, well after the Battle of Britain had been fought and won, there suddenly appeared a new shape in the skies over occupied Europe. Early reports of a new Luftwaffe fighter were initially met with derision, but losses soon began to mount as the RAF tangled with this latest warbird. Fighter Command soon realized that this new adversary had a significant advantage over the Spitfire, its incredible rate of roll and maneuverability far surpassing that of the Spitfire. This new scourge had a name — the Focke-Wulf Fw-190 — and it had tasted blood for the first time. Something had to be done to deal with this harbinger of death before the pendulum swung back to the Axis side.

To increase the roll rate of the Spitfire and improve its combat fighting qualities, the wingspan needed to be made shorter. Fortunately, ever since the first Spitfires, the wingtips were a separate piece constructed from wood with an aluminum skin, often by Rolls-Royce coach building firms such as Freestone and Webb. They were attached with two bolts and a number of small screws to hold a covering strip where the wing and the tip joined, so naturally, it was an obvious idea to unmount them and fit a simple fairing in its place. All you needed to do was remove the two bolts, undo the screws, remove the tip, remembering to disconnect the wingtip light and replace it with a simple cover fairing, which was held in place by the same screws. With the light reconnected the job was done. Simple, and effective – but just how effective?

A test flight was arranged by the Air Fighting Development Unit at RAF Duxford, comparing a standard wing Spitfire Mk V with the new modified version at various heights up to 25,000 feet. It was discovered that the clipped Spitfire wing made the aircraft 5mph faster at 10,000 feet and slightly faster at 25,000 feet, but with better acceleration across the board. In a dive, the clipped wing aircraft could pull away from the standard version and in a dogfight, the improved roll rate meant it could shake off the pursuing unmodified Spitfire. Climb performance wasn’t affected much and there was no noticeable change to the take-off and landing performance.

The Spitfire wing is quite large and actually blocks out a lot of the ground from the pilot’s perspective, which could potentially hide an enemy aircraft, but the removal of the wingtips, shaves over four feet from each side. Clipped Spitfire wings improve the downward view considerably. From a combat perspective, a downward view becomes a sideways view at large angles of bank.

Having improved the performance of the Spitfire Mk V, in conjunction with supercharger modifications (although losses were still heavy against the FW190s), the latter stages of the war saw the clipped wing configuration became a very common, almost standard specification on Mk 9 and Mk16 Spitfires, as high altitude sorties became fewer and low altitude missions such as ground strafing became a priority. (Courtesy: www.Flyaspitfire.com)

Pictured here is a 1:48 scale replica of a clipped wing Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb fighter that was piloted by Flying Officer Jack Sheppard, who was attached to No.401 Squadron, then deployed to RAF Catterick, England, during 1943. Look for this modified Spitfire to take wing this December.

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Product Spotlight: Green with Envy

The Martin B-26 Marauder is an American twin-engined medium bomber that saw extensive service during World War II. The B-26 was built at two locations: Baltimore, Maryland, and Omaha, Nebraska, by the Glenn L. Martin Company. First used in the Pacific Theater of World War II in early 1942, it was also used in the Mediterranean Theater and in Western Europe.

After entering service with the United States Army aviation units, the aircraft quickly received the reputation of a “widow maker” due to the early models’ high accident rate during takeoffs and landings. This was because the Marauder had to be flown at precise air speeds, particularly on final runway approach or when one engine was out. The unusually high 150 mph (241 km/h) speed on short final runway approach was intimidating to many pilots who were used to much slower approach speeds, and when they slowed to speeds below those stipulated in the manual, the aircraft would often stall and crash.

Martin B-26B-15-MA Marauder 41-31576/AN-Z ‘Dinah Might’, was given the important task of leading an anti-beach fortification raid against Widerstandsnest 5 (which means ‘nest of resistance’, or ‘strong point’) overlooking Utah beach. The raid happened only a couple of minutes before the landing craft released their troops on their assigned beaches on D-Day itself, one of the final missions to take place before the landings.

Flown by Major David Dewhurst, the experienced Commander of the 553rd Bomb Squadron, US 8th Air Force, this was one final opportunity to neutralize German defensive fortifications, therefore giving Allied troops a better chance of making it off their assigned landing beach in the terrifying hours to come.

Dewhurst’s aircraft, which was named ‘Dinah Might’ after a Bing Crosby tune of the day, released its bombs at exactly 06.24.30 on D-Day, with navigation and timing critical to the success of the mission and the safety of the men waiting to make their historic seaborne assault.

The details behind this final bombing raid of D-Day clearly illustrate why the Utah Beach D-Day Museum elected to finish their preserved Marauder in this historic scheme and why it forms such a poignant center piece for their impressive museum.

‘Dinah Might’s’ target on that fateful morning in June 1944 was only meters from where this magnificent preserved aircraft is displayed today, even though it’s actually only a representation of that famous wartime aircraft.

“Dinah Might” is currently en route to us and should be ready for immediate shipment by the middle of September.

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Product Spotlight: “The Jolly Rogers”

Strike Fighter Squadron 103 (VFA-103), nicknamed the Jolly Rogers, is an aviation unit of the United States Navy established in 1952. VFA-103 flies the F/A-18F Super Hornet and is based at Naval Air Station Oceana, Virginia (US). The squadron’s radio callsign is Victory and it is assigned to Carrier Air Wing Seven.

In January 1983, VF-103 was among the last fighter squadrons to transition to the F-14A Tomcat. The squadron conducted the first East Coast fighter squadron’s low altitude AIM-54 Phoenix missile shoot a month later. In October 1985, VF-103 and VF-74 participated in the interception of the Egyptian Boeing 737 carrying the Achille Lauro hijackers. During a long range night intercept by VF-74 and VF-103, the 737 was forced to land at Naval Air Station Sigonella, Sicily. The terrorists were taken into Italian custody, tried and sentenced.

VF-103 and the rest of the airwing participated in Operation Attain Document and Operation El Dorado Canyon in the spring of 1986. In 1989, VF-103 transitioned to the F-14A+ (later re-designated F-14B).

In August 1990 when Kuwait was invaded by Iraq, USS Saratoga was in the Mediterranean and soon joined USS Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Red Sea. VF-84 was part of the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71) Battle Group during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. VF-103 and VF-74 worked together to develop the fighter tactics which were used during the Gulf War. When the war started in January 1991, VF-103 conducted fighter escort for the air wing’s strike packages, reconnaissance and bomb damage assessment and combat air patrols. On the fourth day of the war, while on an escort mission, a VF-103 F-14A+ was shot down by what is believed to be an SA-2 “Guideline” surface=to-air missile. After ejecting from his aircraft, the Radar Intercept Officer, Lieutenant Larry Slade, was captured by Iraqi troops and held in Baghdad as a POW until the end of the war. The pilot, Lieutenant Devon Jones, was able to evade capture and, after eight hours deep in enemy territory, was rescued by USAF Special Operations Forces.

On October 1st, 1995, VF-84 was disestablished bringing an end to the Jolly Rogers. Not wanting the Jolly Rogers insignia to fade away from U.S. NAval Aviation, VF-103 requested to do away with their “Slugger” moniker and adopt the Jolly Rogers name and insignia that had been previously used by VF-84.

Also in 1995, VF-103 conducted the fleet feasibility testing of the US Air Force’s LANTIRN targeting pod in a rapid prototyping initiative that led to adoption of the LANTIRN for the Tomcat community. When they deployed with USS Enterprise in the summer of 1996, VF-103 became the first Tomcat squadron to introduce the LANTIRN targeting pod to operational service. The LANTIRN radically improved the F-14’s strike capabilities by providing an autonomous precision strike capability.

In 1997 VF-103 transferred from USS Enterprise to USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, and set sail to former Yugoslavia in June 1998 in support of NATO operations in Kosovo. In November, the carrier moved to the Persian Gulf in response to aggressive Iraqi posturing.

In June 2002, VF-103 and its carrier USS George Washington deployed to the North Arabian Sea and the Persian Gulf and participated in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Southern Watch. VF-103 supported Coalition forces in Afghanistan flying Close Air Support, Forward Air Controller and TARPS missions. VF-103 was already on their way home by the start of Operation Iraqi Freedom in early 2003.

VF-103 returned to the Persian Gulf for its final Tomcat cruise with USS John Kennedy on July 10th, 2004, and ten days later the squadron bombed an insurgent position. The unit participated in Operation Phantom Fury in October 2004 to provide aerial support over Fallujah for the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force and Iraqi Army soldiers. During one mission an F-14 from VF-103 provided laser designation for an AH-1W Super Cobra helicopter’s AGM-114 Hellfire missile to destroy a building where insurgents had taken cover. This operation had never previously been attempted with a Hellfire, but the missile successfully hit the building, neutralizing the enemy fire that the US troops were receiving. The F-14 crew was ordered to two drop additional GBU-12 laser-guided bombs on the building, leveling the structure. During another mission, air support was requested for Marines fighting on the ground. An F-14 from VF-103 provided close air support and suffered a ruptured hydraulic line. The F-14 declared an in flight emergency and landed without incident at Al Asad Air Base. Repairs took a few days on the base as the starboard engine had to be removed and later the crew flew the F-14 back to the John F. Kennedy.

After a last deployment USS John F. Kennedy with CVW-17 and returning to NAS Oceana in December 2004, VF-103 retired their F-14B Tomcats and began transition to the F/A-18F Super Hornet and transfer to Carrier Air Wing Seven (CVW-7). Following their transition to the F/A-18F, the squadron was officially re-designated as VFA-103 in February 2005.

Recently, we received a double shipment of JC Wings’ latest F-14 Tomcat, which, coincidentally, bears the Jolly Rogers insignia and the reason for this Product Spotlight. While the Skull and Crossbones markings are usually more than enough to help sell an item of this caliber, we decided to lower the price so that we could get back to our normal stock levels. So, for a limited time only, you can purchase this aircraft for only $129.99, and, if you’re crafty, apply any sales discounts we may be currently running. Bear in mind that this is a limited time only sale that could end once we’ve successfully sold off enough of these stellar models.

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