Wild Weasel is a code name given by the United States Air Force (USAF) to an aircraft of any type equipped with anti-radiation missiles and tasked with the suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD): destroying the radar and surface-air-to-missile (SAM) installations of enemy air defense systems. The task of a Wild Weasel aircraft is to bait enemy anti-aircraft defenses into targeting it with their radars, whereupon the radar waves are traced back to their source, allowing the Weasel or its teammates to precisely target it for destruction.
The Wild Weasel concept was developed by the USAF in 1965 during the Vietnam War after the introduction of Soviet SAMs and their downing of American strike aircraft participating in Operation Rolling Thunder in the skies over North Vietnam. The program was headed by General Kenneth Dempster. “The first Wild Weasel success came soon after the first Wild Weasel mission 20 December 1965 when Captains Al Lamb and Jack Donovan took out a site during a Rolling Thunder strike on the railyard at Yen Bai, some 75 mi (120 km) northwest of Hanoi.” Wild Weasel tactics and techniques were later adapted by other nations in subsequent conflicts, as well as being integrated into the suppression of enemy air defenses, a plan used by U.S. air forces to establish immediate air supremacy prior to possible full-scale conflict.
Initially known by the operational code “Iron Hand” when first authorized on August 12th, 1965, the term “Wild Weasel” derives from Project Wild Weasel, the USAF development program for a dedicated SAM-detection and suppression aircraft. The technique was also called an “Iron Hand” mission, though technically this term referred only to the suppression attack before the main strike. Originally named “Project Ferret”, denoting a predatory animal that goes into its prey’s den to kill it (hence: “to ferret out”), the name was changed to differentiate it from the code-name “Ferret” that had been used during World War II for radar countermeasures bombers.
Hobby Master’s latest F-4G Wild Weasel is currently on track for an October fly-in, provided it can evade enemy radar.
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale US Navy Boeing F/A-18E Super Hornet Strike Fighter – 165536, “Top Gun”, NAS Fallon, Nevada, 2020
The United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program (SFTI program), more popularly known as TOPGUN, teaches fighter and strike tactics and techniques to selected naval aviators and naval flight officers, who return to their operating units as surrogate instructors. It began as the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School, established on March 3rd, 1969, at the former Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California. In 1996, the school was merged into the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Naval Air Station Fallon, Nevada.
In 1968, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Thomas Hinman Moorer ordered Captain Frank Ault to research the failings of the U.S. air-to-air missiles used in combat in the skies over North Vietnam. Operation Rolling Thunder, which lasted from March 2nd, 1965, to November 1st, 1968, ultimately saw almost 1,000 U.S. aircraft losses in about one million sorties. Rolling Thunder became the Rorschach test for the Navy and Air Force, which drew nearly opposite conclusions
The United States Navy Fighter Weapons School was established on March 3rd, 1969, at Naval Air Station Miramar, California. Placed under the control of the VF-121 “Pacemakers,” an F-4 Phantom-equipped Replacement Air Group (RAG) unit, the new school received relatively scant funding and resources. Its staff consisted of eight F-4 Phantom II instructors from VF-121 and one intelligence officer hand-picked by the school’s first officer-in-charge, Lieutenant Commander Dan Pedersen, USN. Together, F-4 aviators Darrell Gary, Mel Holmes, Jim Laing, John Nash, Jim Ruliffson, Jerry Sawatzky, J. C. Smith, Steve Smith, as well as Wayne Hildebrand, a naval intelligence officer, built the Naval Fighter Weapons School syllabus from scratch. To support their operations, they borrowed aircraft from its parent unit and other Miramar-based units, such as composite squadron VC-7 and Fighter Squadron VF-126. The school’s first headquarters at Miramar was in a stolen modular trailer.
According to the 1973 command history of the Navy Fighter Weapons School, the unit’s purpose was to “train fighter air crews at the graduate level in all aspects of fighter weapons systems including tactics, techniques, procedures and doctrine. It serves to build a nucleus of eminently knowledgeable fighter crews to construct, guide, and enhance weapons training cycles and subsequent aircrew performance. This select group acts as the F-4 community’s most operationally orientated weapons specialists. TOPGUN’s efforts are dedicated to the Navy’s professional fighter crews, past, present and future.”
Highly qualified instructors were an essential element of TOPGUN’s success. Mediocre instructors are unable to hold the attention of talented students. TOPGUN instructors were knowledgeable fighter tacticians assigned to one or more specific fields of expertise, such as a particular weapon, threat, or tactic. Every instructor was required to become an expert in effective training techniques. All lectures were given without notes after being screened by a notorious “murder board” of evaluators who would point out ambiguities or flawed concepts in the draft presentation. The curriculum was in a constant state of flux based upon class critiques and integration of developing tactics to use new systems to combat emerging threats. Instructors often spent their first year on the staff learning to be an effective part of the training environment.
The scheme shown here was afforded a prominent role in the recently released feature film Top Gun Maverick. You can nab the latest Top Gun Hornet later this month as part of Hobby Master’s October cache of military aircraft replicas.
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale USAF Lockheed-Martin F-22A Raptor Air Dominance Fighter – 04-4070, 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron, 53d Test and Evaluation Group, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, March 2022 [Symbiote Reflective Coating]
With other modelmakers continuing to struggle to pump out new product, Hobby Master proved why they have become the dominant manufacturer of diecast military aircraft. Their latest leaflet shows a dozen new warbirds are being added to the mix, all supposedly slated for a June 2024 release. Interestingly, most of these new introductions are based upon US-built aircraft, most notably their second look at the experimental F-22 Raptor currently undergoing testing at Nellis AFB in Nevada.
Unlike the first “Chrome” scheme that appeared on a previous F-22, this so-called “symbiote” scheme is far less reflective yet intended to attain the same effects – i.e. reduce the radar cross section of the F-22, which, as many experts claim, is already the size of a small bird on most radar apparatus. According to the Aviationist, “it features smaller, mirror-like tiles applied on the nose section, weapons bay doors, fuselage and also inner and outer face of the twin tails.” Apparently, these new schemes are also being tested on the US Navy’s F-35C Joint Strike Fighter as well as the USAF F-117A stealth fighter, meaning these aircraft will likely be around for far longer than was originally intended, even as the upcoming Next Generation Air Dominance fighter (NGAD) approaches its initial production run date. Moreover, its a good bet Hobby Master will eventually get around to releasing “chrome” versions of these aircraft types.
A “Chrome”-plated F-35C Joint Strike FighterEven the F-117A Nighthawk who many believed was headed for the retirement home, seems to have escaped the boneyard and is conducting “cladding” RCS tests at Nellis AFB
Feel free to visit our October 2023 introductions to review all of the other new replicas due out alongside their newest F-22. Incidentally, the accompanying video does an excellent job of explaining the current thinking behind the F-22’s new super-secretive stealthy cladding and its potential implications for both air combat as well as the forthcoming NGAD program, which is rapidly reaching the selection process in 2024.
In other news, we’ve received word that Hobby Master will be including a pair of interchangeable air intakes with each F-15 Eagle multi-role fighter – one version is canted at a downward angle while the other is angled horizontally. The air intakes on an F-15 jet are pointed slightly downward to prevent the ingestion of foreign object debris (FOD) while the aircraft is on the ground. This is known as a “ground bump” and is designed to keep debris out of the engine while the aircraft is taxiing or parked. Additionally, the angle of the air intake also helps to reduce drag and improve the aircraft’s overall aerodynamic performance.
Also scheduled for inclusion will be interchangeable speed brakes. This updated packaging will begin with the upcoming HA4536 and continue with each version of the F-15 (A through EX). No word if this modification will affect the price of each unit.
“As a fighter pilot he was absolutely supreme. Above all, he possessed lightning reflexes and could make a quicker judgement in a bigger orbit than anyone else… Marseille was unique.”
Eduard Neumann, commander of Jagdgeschwader 27 ‘Afrika’ during the North African Campaign from 1941 to 1943
Regarded by many of his contemporaries as the most naturally gifted fighter pilot ever to take to the air, Hans-Joachim Marseille would make the clear blue skies of North Africa his hunting ground and the Messerschmitt Bf 109 fighter ‘Yellow 14’ his feared mount. Claiming 158 victories from 382 sorties flown, 151 of these were scored over the deserts of North Africa, making him the top scoring Luftwaffe ace in the Mediterranean theatre, gaining more victories against Western Allied airmen than any other pilot. Tragically, as was the case with so many of the young men who fought during WWII, the ‘Star of Africa’ would not survive the conflict and indeed would not live to see his 23rd birthday.
On September 30th, 1942, Marseille was leading his Squadron on a mission to support a flight of Stukas when his new Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2 fighter developed engine problems. With the cockpit filling with noxious fumes and unable to see out of the canopy, he relied on his wingman to guide him over friendly lines, before he could attempt to bale out. Once over German held territory, with the effects of smoke inhalation now causing disorientation, he turned the fighter on its back and rolled out of the cockpit. With the aircraft now adopting a nose down attitude, Marseille struck the tail of the Messerschmitt, probably killing him instantly and sending his lifeless body tumbling to the desert floor – the ‘Star of Africa’ had fallen.
A significant turning point in the career of Hans Joachim Marseille occurred in early 1941 when he was posted to North Africa, well away from distractions which had previously brought him so much trouble, now coming under the guidance of Commander Eduard Neumann. Neumann saw something special in Marseille and encouraged him to train himself to be a better fighter pilot and realize his combat potential – his style of man management seemed to suit Marseille, who began a regime of physical exercise and careful diet, strengthening his legs and abdominal muscles to better withstand the forces impost on a pilot during dogfighting. Unlike many of the other pilots of Jagdgeschwader 27, Marseille would never wear sunglasses during sorties, as he wanted his eyes to become accustomed to the harsh lighting in the desert. Significantly, he began to take a keen interest in his aircraft, preferring to spend much of his free time with his crew chief, or studying the art of deflection shooting, ensuring that he was better prepared for his next meeting with the enemy. With ever increasing regularity, these meetings would result in Marseille recording more victories and displaying exceptional flying ability and split second tactical awareness in the process – the ‘Star of Africa’ was beginning to shine.
The death of Hans Joachim Marseille was a terrible blow for the pilots of Jagdgeschwader 27 and indeed the entire German nation, who had started to think that the charismatic Marseille was invincible in the air. Facing increasingly superior numbers of Allied fighters in North Africa and with Rommel and his Afrika Korps now very much on the retreat, the Luftwaffe would never regain superiority of these desert skies again and it would not be long before the fighters of Jagdgeschwader 27 were redeployed to Northern France.
Eduard Neumann said of Marseille “As a fighter pilot he was absolutely supreme. Above all, he possessed lightning reflexes and could make a quicker judgement in a bigger orbit than anyone else… Marseille was unique.”
The distinctive yellow, black and brown crest of Jagdgeschwader 27 “Afrika”, signifying, in rather colorful fashion, its role in the aerial campaign over North Africa
Adolf Galland, himself one of the most celebrated Luftwaffe fighter aces of WWII, described Marseille as “An unrivaled virtuoso among the fighter pilots of World War II. His achievements had previously been regarded as impossible and they were never excelled by anyone after his death.”
Marseilles’ formidable 1:48 scale Bf-109F, Hobby Master’s first “Friedrich” version of the stalwart Messerschmitt Bf-109, is currently on track for an October release.
After years of speculation and a change of watching venues, it appears as if the third Spielberg/Hanks collaborative effort — Masters of the Air — will finally take wing this January. Its an epic retelling of the US Army Air Force’s bombing campaign over Nazi-occupied Europe, fraught will all the peril and risk that was associated with mid twentieth century aerial warfare.
At long last,the much anticipated sequel to both Band of Brothers and The Pacific finally has a debut date: January 26th. Masters of the Air, which follows the course of the US Air Forces’ bombing campaign over Nazi-occupied Europe, was green-lighted for production some time ago, after much hoopla and consternation from adoring fans. Scheduled to appear on Apple TV+, the series will open with two episodes on January 26th and run until March 15th, meaning a total of nine episodes are in the can. Runtime information for each episode is still sketchy although they’re likely to fill at least an hour’s worth of time without advertisements. It is reported that Apple spent over $250 million on the production of the series, which includes a $7 million dollar set depicting a US air base, so Apple will no doubt do its best to recoup its investment in short order.
Both Band of Brothers and The Pacific are considered by many to be the holy grail of WWII film making, so Masters of the Air has some big shoes to fill from any number of standpoints. Thus far, no trailer has appeared, although its a sure bet several will surface well before the series opens to entice would-be viewers to subscribe to their pay-per-view channel.
From a collectibles standpoint, Masters of the Air differs markedly from both Band of Brothers and The Pacific since a great deal of the emphasis in the series is placed upon the machines of war rather than the men who carried out the aerial campaign. Yes, the morale, training and skill for each airman will be taken into account and examined closely, but just as importantly are the warbirds that carried out each mission, from the early war B-17E and F Flying Fortress bombers to the late war chin-mounted guns that personified the G models. Likewise, the fighters and interceptors will come into play, from the tough but short-range P-47 Thunderbolts to the late war P-51D Mustangs who were able to fly all the way to Berlin and back thanks to their drop tanks and streamlined designs.
Playtone, the production company for Masters of the Air, spared no expense at recreating a realistic set. Shown here is an airfield set built and located at Abingdon in the UK. Two stationary B-17 replicas, a Control Tower and other articles of war were faithfully recreated to help breathe life into their war torn set.
Thus far nothing has been formally announced regarding product tie-ins, although its reasonable to conclude that a bevy of diecast collectibles will eventually be produced from any number of model makers, encompassing everything from heavy bombers to jet interceptors, all faithfully reproduced and bearing the markings, unit insignia and nose art depicted in the series. If you’re an avid follower of WWII, then Masters of the Air will certainly satisfy your aviation ambitions while modelmakers do their best to keep up with and replicate many of the key aircraft depicted in the series.
Corgi’s 1:72 scale German Messerschmitt Me 262A-1A Fighter – Leutnant Walter Hagenah, “Yellow 17”, Jagdgeschwader 3 “Udet”, Germany, 1945
One of the most advanced WWII combat aircraft, the Me 262 operated as a light bomber, reconnaissance, and experimental night fighter. The Me 262 proved an effective dogfighter against Allied fighters; German pilots claimed 542 Allied aircraft shot down, although higher claims have sometimes been made. The aircraft had reliability problems because of strategic materials shortages and design compromises with its Junkers Jumo 004 axial-flow turbojet engines. Late-war Allied attacks on fuel supplies also reduced the aircraft’s effectiveness. Armament production within Germany was focused on more easily manufactured aircraft. Ultimately, the Me 262 had little effect on the war because of its late introduction and the small numbers that entered service.
While still in its nascent stage, direct interference from senior military commanders severely restricted the effectiveness of the Messerschmitt Me 262 jet, as they procrastinated about whether it should be used as a fighter, or a bomber. Luftwaffe pilot Franz Gapp perfectly illustrated this problem – a highly decorated bomber pilot, who flew more than 400 missions, mainly in the Ju-88 fighter-bomber, Gapp transferred to an Me 262 attack unit, where it was hoped the speed of the new jet would see significant strategic bombing successes.
One of the most interesting engagements involving a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet fighter during WWII occurred on April 10th, 1945, when pilot Lt Walther Hagenah and his wingman were ordered to intercept a heavy raid of USAAF bombers attacking an area north of Berlin. Knowing they would be massively outnumbered by Allied aircraft, the pair intended to attack the formation at high speed, using cannon and their underwing mounted R4M unguided rocket projectiles to break up the formation and spread confusion.
With the mighty bomber stream in sight, Hagenah noticed a flight of six American P-51D Mustangs above them, which immediately dropped their external fuel tanks as they dived in to attack. Hagenah’s experience told him that if he turned to face them, or made any violent evasive maneuver, the speed of the Mustangs would soon bring him into their gunsights, so instead, he pushed the throttles to full power and began a gentle dive towards the ground, but crucially, not changing heading.
His wingman decided to take a different course of action, turning to face the Mustangs and immediately being enveloped in a hail of .50 calibre bullets. With his own jet now at full speed, Hagenah expertly positioned his Messerschmitt for an attack on the American fighters, opening up on them with everything he had, including ripple-firing his R4M rockets at the enemy fighter formation. In his memoirs, he later recalled how two of the Mustangs were hit by rockets and immediately fell out of the sky, but having made his defiant gesture, he now needed to find the nearest Luftwaffe airfield, as he was dangerously low on fuel. Unfortunately, the airfield at Larz was under attack by swarms of strafing USAAF fighters, but with his fuel situation now critical, he had no option but to land the jet with American fighters still in the overhead.
Combat record keeping at this stage of the war has proved notoriously difficult to corroborate historically, particularly when it came to those submitted by Luftwaffe pilots and despite the availability of Hagenah’s personal recollection in this case, he would only be credited with a single Mustang victory during this engagement. Corresponding USAAF records did little to help corroborate his claims, even though reports filed from the American bombers they were ordered to attack did confirm the presence of rocket carrying Messerschmitt Me 262 jets on the day in question.
In fact, even the individual aircraft Hagenah used for this sortie cannot be definitively corroborated, however ‘Yellow 17’ was one of the jets on the airfield that day and was also one of the machines equipped with the R4M rocket projectiles. One of the most unusual combat engagements of the Second World War, it is thought that this was the only time a USAAF fighter was brought down during an operational sortie using an unguided rocket projectile fired from a Messerschmitt Me 262 jet. If Lt. Hagenah’s account is to be believed, the April 10th,1945, encounter witnessed a truly unique combat engagement in the skies above Berlin.
Panzerkampf’s 1:64 scale US HMMWV M1046 Humvee with TOW Missile Launcher – KFOR
In a curious development, Panzerkampf announced over the weekend that they would soon be building out their product portfolio by adding 1:64 scale military vehicles to the mix. Two Humvees were shown on their Facebook account, both featuring four-wheel steering, opening engine bonnets and a detailed undercarriage. Its unclear if the doors and rear compartment will swing open as well. Earlier, we reported that Forces of Valor was planning on re-developing its own line of 1:64 scale military vehicles largely due to their take over of Greenlight Collectibles earlier this year.
Panzerkampf’s 1:64 scale US HMMWV M1046 Humvee with TOW Missile Launcher – Desert
No word was provided on the cost of the items, dates of availability and other products scheduled for inclusion in this new line. We are presuming that these vehicles will be marketed under their Panzerkampf label as opposed to their entry-level Legion Models line.
The Humvee’s four-wheel drive as exemplified by its’ two axles angled at opposing directions
Hobby Master’s 1:72 scale Israeli Defense Force General Dynamics F-16I Sufa Fighter – “470”, 253 “Negev” Squadron, Ramon Airbase, Israel, 2022
Per Hobby Master’s MAP guidelines, we will be removing any price restrictions on all of the March 2023 Hobby Master arrivals. The price for each item has been reduced to their regular selling price and you may now apply any discounts we offer towards the purchase of these items. This process will recur on the first of every month in compliance with their updated MAP pricing program. You can tell if an item is no longer MAP protected if the blue MAP seal that appears alongside its image and just below its price has been removed. In effect, a retailer is no longer bound by the 6-month introductory MAP restriction policy and can sell the item for whatever price they deem appropriate.
Forces of Valor’s 1:72 scale US Boeing AH-64D Apache Longbow Attack Helicopter – 1-227 ATKHB, 11th Aviation Regiment (Attack), 1st Cavalry Division, Karbala, Iraq, March 2003
An attack helicopter is an armed helicopter with the primary role of an attack aircraft, with the offensive capability of engaging ground targets such as enemy infantry, military vehicles and fortifications. Due to their heavy armament they are sometimes called helicopter gunships.
Attack helicopters can use weapons including auto cannons, machine guns, rockets, and anti-tank missiles such as the AGN-114 Hellfire. Some attack helicopters are also capable of carrying air-to-air missiles, though mostly for purposes of self-defense against other helicopters and low-flying light combat aircraft.
The Boeing AH-64 Apache is an American twin-turboshaft attack helicopter with a tail wheel-type landing gear arrangement and a tandem cockpit for a crew of two. It features a nose-mounted sensor suite for target acquisition and night vision systems. It is armed with a 30mm (1.18in) M230 chan gun carried between the main landing gear, under the aircraft’s forward fuselage, and four hard points mounted on stub-wing pylons for carrying armament and stores, typically a mixture of AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and Hydro 70 rocket pods. The AH-64 has significant systems redundancy to improve combat survivability.
A modern attack helicopter has two primary roles: first, to provide direct and accurate close air support for ground troops; and second, the anti-tank role to destroy grouped enemy armor. Attack helicopters are also used as protective escort for transport helicopters, or to supplement lighter helicopters in the armed reconnaissance roles. In combat, an attack helicopter is projected to destroy targets worth around 17 times its own production cost before being destroyed.
The Apache began as the Model 77 developed by Hughes Helicopters for the United States Army’s Advanced Attack Helicopter program to replace the AH-1 Cobra. The prototype YAH-64 was first flown on 30 September 1975. The U.S. Army selected the YAH-64 over the Bell YAH-63 in 1976, and later approved full production in 1982. After acquiring Hughes Helicopters in 1984, McDonnell Douglas continued AH-64 production and development. The helicopter was introduced to U.S. Army service in April 1986. The advanced AH-64D Apache Longbow was delivered to the Army in March 1997. Production has been continued by Boeing Defense, Space & Security, with over 2,400 AH-64s being produced by 2020.
The U.S. Army is the primary operator of the AH-64. It has also become the primary attack helicopter of multiple nations, including Greece, Japan, Israel, the Netherlands, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates. It has been built under license in the United Kingdom as the AgustaWestland Apache. American AH-64s have served in conflicts in Panama, the Persian Gulf Kosovo Afghanistan, and Iraq. Israel used the Apache in its military conflicts in Lebanon and the Gaz Strip. British and Dutch Apaches have seen deployments in wars in Afghanistan and Iraq.
The AH-64D Apache Longbow is equipped with a glass cockpit and advanced sensors, the most noticeable of which being the AN/APG-78 Longbow millimeter-wave fire-control radar (FCR) target acquisition system and the Radar Frequency Interferometer (RFI), housed in a dome located above the main rotor. The radome’s raised position enables target detection while the helicopter is behind obstacles (e.g. terrain, trees or buildings). The AN/APG-78 is capable of simultaneously tracking up to 128 targets and engaging up to 16 at once; an attack can be initiated within 30 seconds. A radio modem integrated with the sensor suite allows data to be shared with ground units and other Apaches, allowing them to fire on targets detected by a single helicopter.
The aircraft is powered by a pair of up-rated T700-GE-701C engines. The forward fuselage was expanded to accommodate new systems to improve survivability, navigation, and ‘tactical internet’ communications capabilities. In February 2003, the first Block II Apache was delivered to the U.S. Army, featuring digital communications upgrades. The Japanese Apache AH-64DJP variant is based on the AH-64D; it can be equipped with the AIM-92 Stinger air-to-air missiles for self-defense.
Forces of Valor’s upcoming pair of 1:72 scale AH-64D Apache attack helicopters are currently on the docket for an October release. Pre-orders are still being accepted.
Hinted at some time ago when their family of Kurganets infantry fighting vehicles was first shown, Panzerkampf is now following up by beefing up their Russian arsenal with a gaggle of Russian-built VPK-7829 Bumerang APCs/IFVs. Two releases are based upon the K16 amphibious armored personnel carrier variant and a second pairing are based upon the K17 amphibious infantry fighting vehicle. Europe is well known for its litany of major and minor rivers that run in a north-south direction, so having a troop carrier on hand is important should they ever consider amphibious operations where bridges have either been blown or are nowhere to be found.
Since they are wheeled vehicles instead of being fully tracked, its not likely that the Bumerang will be of much service to the nation’s Arctic Defense Forces that are used to seeing snow ad infinitum in the northern reaches of Russia. As a result, the Bumerang will eventually replace older BTR-60s and BMPs that have been in service with the Russian armed forces since the collapse of the Soviet Union in the early 1990s.
