Motor City Classics Militaria Diecast 27289-41
Polikarpov I-16 Diecast Model
Soviet Air Force 72nd FAP, For Stalin!, Boris Feoktistovich Safonov, Murmansk, USSR, 1941 | Limited Edition
1002
Pieces Worldwide |
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| 1:72 Scale | | Length | | Width |
|---|
| Polikarpov I-16 | | 3.25" | | 4.75" |
Boris Feoktistovich Safonov (26 August 1915 - 30 May 1942) was a Soviet Naval Aviation fighter ace of World War II who was twice awarded the title Hero of the Soviet Union. At the beginning of the German-Soviet War, Safonov was based at Vaenga (now called Severomorsk) on the Murmansk Front, commanding the 4th Squadron of the 72nd Mixed Aviation Regiment, flying the Polikarpov I-16 fighter. A widely circulated photograph of Safonov showed him with an I-16 bearing the slogan "For Stalin!" on its fuselage, although this probably was not his personal machine.
In September 1941, No. 151 Wing RAF arrived at Vaenga by sea, with 39 Hawker Hurricane fighters which they were to train Soviet personnel to operate and then hand over. Safonov headed the Soviet side of the training programme and made a good impression on his British colleagues, who remembered him as serious and likeable. By the time he converted to the Hurricane, Safonov had already scored 14 individual and 6 shared victories with the I-16.
In March 1942, Safonov returned as a lieutenant colonel to command 72nd Mixed Aviation Regiment, by then renamed as the 2nd Guards Mixed Aviation Regiment. On 30 May, he took off for his 234th combat mission, flying a Curtiss P-40E to cover the approach of arctic convoy PQ-16. He shot down three Ju-88s, but crashed into the sea following engine failure. The convoy escorts were unable to find him.
Known primarily for its role in the Spanish Civil War, this advanced monoplane fighter first flew in December of 1933. Featuring revolutionary innovations such as retractable landing gear and a fully enclosed cockpit, by the beginning of World War II the Polikarpov I-16 comprised the heart of the Soviet Air Force. Light and easy to build, the I-16 was both practical and exceptional. Early variants were known for their aerobatic capabilities, including a 1.5 second barrel roll, and later versions lay claim to the title of fastest production fighter, with superior climb rates and a top speed of 282 mph. © Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
The Motor City Classics "Militaria Diecast" range presents affordable, ready made diecast models of military aircraft.
Motor City Classics "Militaria Diecast" diecast airplanes feature:
- Diecast metal and plastic construction.
- Realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels and surface details.
- Interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear.
- Presentation stand to display the aircraft "in flight".
© Copyright 2003-2024 The Flying Mule, Inc.
