In reference to yesterday’s blog Quentin has kindly provided us with the construction plans for the Airfix 1: 600 scale Bismarck. Please note the title, “HMS Bismark”, (Even the spelling is wrong). And dear reader, note that the model was printed and manufactured in Kent. So we can gladly say that it’s not the inadvertent mistake made by a “foreign” individual. Furthermore he has also provided us with a stunning rendition of an airfix scale 1: 72  Me 110 Zerstorer, (destroyer) It also shows a sanitised tail fin, sans Swastika.

In the interests of technical and historical accuracy we trust out readers appreciate this corruption of historical accuracy. We await a response to our missive directed to the design staff of Airfix, that they be  sacked, and their recommendation that the Curtis Helldiver be re-named ‘the Judeo- Christian Faith based underworld retribution model’ should be denied. Similarly the noun, Grumman Avenger is preferred over the ‘non peaceful dispute based deliverence package’.

Hello Hello…. I think the first one is the more archetypal stuka, and of particular note, the large swastika, (now removed so not to entice young children into Nazism).

However I particularly like the second image becaue it depicts a fine example of a Ju87 G Tankcannonen.

This, (and I have several copies of his autobiography) is the chosen weapon as flown by Major Hans Ulrich Rudel.

Rudel is a fascinating character. he never drank nor smoked, and would down a pail of milk in celebration. And after each operation would take himself on long lonely runs through the Russian countryside. He was told quite emphatically he would never be a good stuka pilot and throughout the rest of the war, spent his entire energy in proving his detractors wrong. The 87 G was an adaptation of the Ju87 d, with a methanol liquid boost and two underwing 37 mm tank busting cannons, each magazine contained five rounds, each round about as long as your forearm.  He went onto destroy, (the gun camera proves it) over 500 russian tanks, one battleship, several destroyers, numerous fighters in aerial combat, (unbelivable as the ju87 was very slow) and numerous landing craft, columns of trucks and bridges.  In early 1945 he was shot down near a Russian column, had his leg amputated and was back in the air in two weeks.  He sort of makes Douglas Bader look like a pansy.  After the war he moved to Argentina, (surprise surprise) and climbed all the major peaks in the Andes with one leg.

His motto, was succinct, ( and I have learnt much from this): “He who gives up gives up on himself”.

He never gave up.

Funny though, as I grew up on a diet of Dam Busters and Reach for the Sky I’d never heard of him.  I dont believe the Russians liked him very much and he may have been a teensy weensy bit right wing.

You can  now, through the wonders of technology see his exploits on Youtube, though I am seriosuly worried as the censors have not yet digitally removed the swastikas, I suppose the censors are perfecting their digital penetration techniques.. (sorry that was in poor taste)

Cheers