TMN: Preview: ICM's 48th scale captured Heinkel in two different markings....

Captured or stolen, you decide the wording for ICM's newest boxing of the Heinkel He-111 H-20 kit in 48th scale. We tell the story of the two markings inside & show you the sprue layouts in today's tale...

Preview: ICM's 48th scale captured Heinkel in two different markings....

"Captured Heinkel" Heinkel He111H-20

Kit No. 48268

1/48th scale

Two marking choices included

Length: 344 x width: 471 mm

291pcs

Product Link on the ICM Website

The Subject - the RAF's "Captured Heinkel" Heinkel He111H-20

One of the He 111H-20 aircraft has a remarkable history. Built as a transport variant of one of the Luftwaffe’s most widely produced bombers, it was manufactured in 1944 with factory number 701152. Built in 1944 and modified to drop Fallschirmjäger (paratroops), the Heinkel He 111 H-20 (Wk. Nr. 701152), coded NT+SL, was captured by US forces during the final days of World War II in Europe Major Carter, Major Williamson, and Captain Ordway, three members of the 56th USAAF Fighter Group, flew it to Cherbourg. The aircraft was due to be shipped to the US for evaluation, but there was not enough room on the transport slated to take it across the Atlantic.

The original plan was to take it to the United States for assessment, but HMS Reaper did not have enough space. Rather, it was transported to the UK and given to the RAF.

The three US airmen decided to fly the abandoned aircraft to their base in Boxted, Essex before being ordered home. The Heinkel was painted in the unit's colours, which were black and matte purple, with red paint on the nose and tail rudder. A crimson monogram with a white outline formed the unique identification letter on one side of the fuselage. This was made up of the initials of the three American crew members—Ordway, Carter, and Williamson—in the shape of an O with a C in the middle. They knew they had to abandon their "private" He 111 when they were told to return to the United States.

The aircraft was converted with RAF roundels. After landing in the UK & being used for a while (mostly as a curiosity), the RAF Museum currently has this aircraft on exhibit, albeit now in German Battle of Britain-style markings...

This bold action ensured the aircraft’s preservation. It was subsequently featured at the German aircraft exhibition at RAE Farnborough before finding its permanent home in 1978 at the Royal Air Force Museum in London, where it remains today.

The Kit:

A standard He-111 H-20 kit, with all of the bombload that this aircraft probably did not carry because of its configuration, this kit, however, contains a great decal sheet that captures both of the familiar US and RAF schemes the kite wore while in captivity.

The sprues of the kit.