Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA34711
English Electric Canberra B.Mk 6 Diecast Model
RAF No.139 Sqn, WT370, Paul Mallorie, Operation Musketeer, 1956 | |
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| English Electric Canberra B.Mk 6 | | 11" | | 11.25" |
PLEASE NOTE: This item is not currently in stock and has a planned arrival date of April 2026.- Orders may not ship until complete. If you wish to receive in-stock items prior to pre-ordered items, you must place separate orders.
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When the English Electric Canberra entered Royal Air Force service during the spring of 1951, it was unquestionably the most advanced and most capable jet powered bomber aircraft the world had ever seen. Whilst it wasn't integrated enough to see service during the Korean War, the conflict did see production of the Canberra accelerate significantly, with the jet designated a 'Super priority' type.
The Suez Crisis of 1956 saw RAF Canberra units finally able to show what they could do in an offensive capacity, with five Canberra units allocated to operations against Egyptian forces. The jets of RAF No.139 Squadron from Binbrook were deployed to RAF Nicosia, and were assigned to fly target marking missions for other Canberra bombers flying from Malta following behind them, using a combination of Target Indicator incendiaries and 1000lb bombs.
On 3rd November 1956, Wing Commander Paul Mallorie led No.139 Squadron against the Egyptian airfield at Luxor and the Soviet made Il-28 'Beagle' bombers based there, and once the targets had been illuminated, the Canberras were to return to make their own bombing strike against the airfield. With smoke covering the site and with light fading fast, Mallorie led his squadron in an audacious dive bombing attack against the parked Egyptian bombers, to devastating effect.
The Operation Musketeer Canberras of RAF No.139 Squadron were arguably the most colourfully presented aircraft to take part in this controversial period in British history.
Designed s a successor to the de Havilland Mosquito, the English Electric Canberra was first flown on May 13, 1949. Like the Mosquito, this high-altitude, high-speed bomber had no defensive armament. Instead, it was designed with room only for a large bomb load and two powerful jet engines, and with a state-of-the-art aerodynamic shape and the speed to avoid airborne conflict altogether. Its design was so adaptable that its role was expanded to include tactical bombing and reconnaissance. It set a world altitude record in 1957 and served for an astonishing 57 years, retiring in 2006. © Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Corgi's 1:72 scale Canberra is one of the largest of any jet models available in this scale, similar in size to a WWII heavy bomber. The massive wing with its long integrated engine nacelles features turbofan and exhaust details at the rear. The robust landing gear with actuator and is easy to install and locks into place for ground display. The nose has a transparent bomb-aimers window, a large bubble fighter-style canopy and a pilot figure. The series includes both early and late variants with a heavily offset tear drop canopy featured on the later variant.
© Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Corgi "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The vast Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight, and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. Famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation are all honored.
Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal construction with some plastic components.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels.
- Poseable presention stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
- Many limited editions with numbered certificate of authenticity.
- Detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures.
- Authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards.
- Selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies and access panels.
- Selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces and swing-wings.
© Copyright 2003-2026 The Flying Mule, Inc.
