Messerschmitt Me109E-4

This magnificent 1:72 scale Messerschmitt Me109E-4/B is a perfect replica of the one flown by Oberleutnant Walter Rupp. This bold yellow and green model features detailed crew figures, rotatable propellers and a replica bomb underneath the aircraft. Of course, it also has a stand for display. This die-cast model has a limited-edition run of 908 items. History As one of the finest fighting aeroplanes ever, the Messerschmitt Bf 109 became the backbone of Germany’s Air Force throughout the Second World War, and despite its diminutive stature, was also arguably the world’s first operational fighter-bomber, or Jabo. Carrying a single under-fuselage-mounted 250kg bomb, they delivered their weapon using the fighter’s Revi gunsight, usually from a shallow dive and often with surprisingly accurate results. However, not all such missions ended with the safe return of the pilot and aircraft. Taking off from Le Touquet airfield on 17th October 1940 in the hands of Oberleutnant Walter Rupp, this Jabo joined around 40 other Bf 109s for a patrol over the English Channel, but was later attacked by RAF Spitfires over Gravesend at high altitude. The Messerschmitt took a bullet strike to the radiator, and with the engine temperature rising rapidly, the pilot had no option but to look for a suitable field to bring his aircraft down in. That field was on the outskirts of RAF Manston, with the pilot managing to perform a textbook emergency landing, with his aircraft only sustaining superficial damage. Rupp was immediately taken prisoner, and his aircraft was subsequently recovered and taken to RAE Farnborough for evaluation. It was later placed on public display as a war prize in several locations around Britain.