This new decal
sheet from Cutting
Edge Modelworks includes markings for six different 1/48 captured
Allied aircraft. These aircraft include a P-51B Mustang, Sptifire Mk. XI
and a Typhoon 1a. During WW2, the
Luftwaffe captured many Allied aircraft and repaired them into flying
condition. The Verschuchsverband (the Trials and Research Unit of the
Luftwaffe High command) flew and assessed the capabilities of captured Allied
fighters and toured these aircraft to various Luftwaffe fighter units as the 'Wanderzirkus
Rosarius". The aircraft tested by them included P-51's, P-38's,
P-47's, Spitfires, Mosquitos and a Typhoon. There were also one or more
Spitfire that had it's nose removed and a Bf-109 nose and engine grafted onto
the Spitfire......this gave the capture Spitfire a very odd
appearance.........some would say...."unattractive
appearance".
The B-17 was also flown to
fighter bases to show the Luftwaffe pilots the strengths and weaknesses of the
B-17...armour etc. Captured B-17s flown by the Luftwaffe with KG 200 were
used on secret night time missions to deliver agents behind enemy lines.
Reports of B-17's in US markings shadowing US formations were made, but often
these were either lost bombers trying to find their way home or the bombers
weren't close enough to be fully identified, so this mystery
remains.
The first aircraft is a P-51B
with 2./VVB OKL out of Wunstorf in the summer of 1944. The paint scheme on
this Mustang typical for captured aircraft operated by the Luftwaffe. The
paint scheme is RLM 74 green on the topside and RLM 04 Yellow on the underside
and tail. Code letters on the side in white are small "T9" and
large black letters "CK". There is also a large Swastika on the
tail and the T9 CK are also on the underside of the wings.
The
second aircraft is a Spitfire with 2./VVB OKL out of Neumark in the summer of
1944. This was originally an RCAF Spitfire serial # Mk698 with 412 Sq.
that was shot down near Krefeld. The paint scheme on
this Spitfire typical for captured aircraft operated by the Luftwaffe. The
paint scheme is RLM 74 green on the topside and RLM 04 Yellow on the underside
and tail. Code letters on the side in white are small "T9" and
large black letters "EK". There is also a large Swastika on the
tail and the T9 EK are also on the underside of the wings. The third aircraft is a
Typhoon 1a with 2./VVB OKL out of Neumark in the summer of 1944. This was
originally an RNZAF Typhoon serial # EJ956 with 486 Sq. that was shot down by
flak over Fecamp. The paint scheme on
this Typhoon typical for captured aircraft operated by the Luftwaffe. The
paint scheme is RLM 74 green on the topside and RLM 04 Yellow on the underside
and tail. Code letters on the side in white are small "T9" and
large black letters "GK". There is also a large Swastika on the
tail and the T9 GK are also on the underside of the wings.
The decals were flawlessly
printed and in perfect registration and the clear carrier film is trimmed very
close to the crisply printed colored areas.
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