Atlas Editions Fighter Aces of World War II 7896-014
Dewoitine D.520 Diecast Model
Armee de l'Air GC I/3, Marcel Albert, France, 1941 |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Dewoitine D.520 | | 4.75" | | 5.5" |
Marcel Albert was a French World War II flying ace who flew for the air forces of the Vichy government and the Free French forces, and also for the Soviet Air Force and the Royal Air Force. Albert was accepted for pilot training in the French Armee de l'Air in May 1938. After primary and advanced training, he was posted at the fighter training center in Chartres, where he flew Bloch 152, Morane-Saulnier MS.406 and Hawk 75 fighters. In February 1940 Albert was assigned to Groupe de Chasse I/3, a unit operating France's top fighter, the Dewoitine D.520. When German troops invaded France in May 1940, his squadron was redeployed to the Reims airfield. On 14 May 1940, Albert shot down a Do 17 bomber and later that day, a Messerschmitt Me 109 fighter, although this victory was not confirmed. He also earned a probable victory over a Heinkel He 111 bomber before the armistice.
Under the Vichy government, his squadron was redeployed to Algeria where Albert flew a few missions against the British forces in Gibraltar. On 14 October he and two other pilots defected and surrendered their airplanes to the British. Having reached England, Albert joined the RAF and flew 47 missions in Spitfires with 340 Squadron. In late 1942, Albert joined the Normandie fighter group, a Free French fighter unit that was being sent to the Soviet Union to help fight the Germans. The Normandie group entered the fight in April 1943, flying Russian-built Yak-1 fighters, and later Yak-9s and Yak-3s. Albert quickly proved to be one of Normandie's best pilots. His first kill was over a Focke-Wulf Fw 189 on 16 June 1943. In July he claimed 3 more, and he was given command of the 1st escadrille on 4 September 1943. During the offensive against Eastern Prussia in October 1944, he scored 7 victories.
His score totaled 23 victories (including 15 shared) in 262 combat missions, making him the second highest-scoring French ace of World War II. On 27 November 1944 he was awarded the Soviet Union's highest decoration, the Gold Star and title of "Hero of the Soviet Union" - an award almost never given to foreigners.
Designed as a more modern improvement on the unpromising D513, the D520 was first flown on October 2nd, 1938. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Atlas Editions "Fighter Aces of World War II" range presents affordable, ready made diecast models of military aircraft in 1:72 scale.
Atlas Editions diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal and plastic construction.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Fixed, non-spinning plastic propellers.
- No pilot figures.
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
