This is for the 'Heavy Lifters' Cargo Plane Group Build that has been running all this year and finishes Dec 31. A german airfield in Sicily, April 22nd, 1943.
A little background first.......![Smile,Wink, & Grin [swg]](/emoticons/icon_smile_swg.gif)
April was a black month for KGzbV in Sicily. only 4 days previously, on April 18, the KG had lost 24 JU 52's over the Mediterranean, with another 35 aircraft breaking up after forced landings. The allies knew how crucial it was to stop the flow of supplies to the Afrika Korps. To hold the Tunisian bridgehead, Axis forces needed at least 150,000 tonnes of supplies a month. Since December 1942, re-supply had never averaged more than 75,000 tonnes per month. In March, this dropped to 51,000 tonnes. Gasoline was dangerously low, the food ration in some sub-units was down to two pieces of bread per man per day.
Things got no better this day for the KG, with the flight of 16 Gigants attacked by Spitfires and Marauders off Cape Bon. Only two Me 323s escaped, the others being shot down or broke up after emergency landings. One more was destroyed on the ground at Tunis, during an air raid. Only one aircraft managed to make the flight back to its Sicilian base at Trapani, filled with German wounded. Of the 140 pilots and aircrew, 19 had survived. In less than a month, the German dream for the conquest of North Africa would be over.
This is the old Italeri 1/72 Kit. With Academy and Airfix vehicles and Preiser and Airfix figurines. Only my second diorama, and the 2nd largest plane I've made, after my Superfortress. I cant say I'm 100% happy with it, but I think I'm getting (slowly) better.
Getting sick of black & white ? Me too.
Comments always welcome.
"Growing old is inevitable; growing up is optional"
" A hobby should pass the time - not fill it" -Norman Bates
