Blackburn Buccaneer S.Mk 2B – 12 Sqn, RAF Honington, England, 1979 DISPLAYED

Corgi Aviation 1/72 scale AA34102: Blackburn Buccaneer S.Mk 2B XW530 of 12 Sqn, RAF Honington, England, 1979. Limited Edition of 5,300 models.

Length 10.5 inches Wingspan 7.25 inches

PLEASE NOTE: Model has been on display and has some touched in paint imperfections, as per the photos. Refuel probe has been re attached. All parts present including box and display stand.

The first RAF squadron to re-equip with the Buccaneer was No.12 Squadron at RAF Honington, Suffolk, which formed on 1st October 1969. XW530 was one of the ‘new-build’ Buccaneer S.2Bs built in 1970 and which had the rotary bomb bay replaced by an extra-capacity fuel tank and could be equipped with Martel anti-ship guided missiles. It served with No.12 Squadron until they moved to Lossiemouth, Scotland in 1980. It took part in the 1991 “Gulf War”, following which the type was withdrawn from use in December 1993 and replaced by the Tornado GR.1.

Designed as a specialized strike aircraft capable of carrying nuclear weapons, the Blackburn Buccaneer was first flown on April 30, 1958. This mid-wing, twin-engine monoplane had a number of advanced features, including an area-ruled fuselage and a variable incidence tailplane. The Buccaneer served with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force between 1962 and 1994, seeing action in the first Gulf War when 12 Buccaneers flew 218 missions to drop bombs and to provide a laser designation capability for other British aircraft. Buccaneers also served with the Fleet Air Arm between 1962 and 1978, where some were modified to carry anti-ship missiles.