Corgi Aviation Archive Collector Series AA36616
Lockheed P-38J Lightning Diecast Model
USAAF 20th FG, 79th FS, #43-28431 Happy Jack's Go Buggy, Jack Ilfrey, RAF Kings Cliffe, England, June 12th 1944 | Limited Edition
1000
Pieces Worldwide |
|
| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Lockheed P-38J Lightning | | 6.25" | | 8.75" |
When learning about the exploits of pilots who served during the Second World War, some seem to be so incredible that they appear to have come straight from the pages of a Boy's Own magazine. One such airman was American Jack M. Ilfrey, a man who was already a P-38 Lightning "ace" when he joined the 79th Fighter Squadron of the 20th Fighter Group at Kings Cliffe in April 1944. At that time, missions were heading deep into Germany and although the Luftwaffe could be elusive, when they did show up, they came in numbers and were extremely aggressive. On his third mission with the 79th, Ilfrey's Lightning was involved in a mid-air collision with a Messerschmitt Bf 109, ripping almost four feet of his starboard wing off - he made it back to base, but only just.
His Lightning carried the name "Happy Jack's Go Buggy" on its nose, reputedly applied by his crew chief as a joke, because everyone thought Ilfrey always looked a bit miserable. By the 12th June, the Lightnings of the 20th FG had been assigned dive bombing and strafing missions behind enemy lines and the mission that day was to destroy a vital railway bridge near the French village of La Possonniere on the banks of the river Loire. The Lightnings executed their mission with ruthless effectiveness, however, the minutes which would prove particularly memorable for Jack Ilfrey.
Designed to meet a USAAC requirement for a high-performance fighter, the P-38 Lightning was first flown on January 27th, 1939. The easily recognizable P-38 had twin-booms, twin turbo-supercharged engines, a central pod for the pilot, contra-rotating propellers and tricycle landing gear. Its roles included dive bombing, level bombing, ground strafing and photo reconnaissance. When equipped with drop tanks it was also flown as a long-range escort fighter. The Lightning's armament was clustered in the nose of the plane, which gave the pilot a direct line of site to the target and also gave the weapons a "buzz saw" effect that was useful for strafing. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
Corgi's 1:72 scale P-38s have separately applied turbocharger detail and accurate twin engine radiator scoops mounted on the booms. The large canopy provides a clear view of the pilot figure and radio equipment located in the rear bay. Most releases include landing gear complete with tires that have a textured tread pattern, and gear doors that are easy to install for ground display. Some of the most remarkable releases in this series are fighter bombers with four machine gun barrels surrounding a center-mounted 20mm cannon barrel.
© Copyright 2003-2024 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 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
