Junkers Ju 87R Stuka – 1./StG 1, Luftwaffe, Krainici, Bulgaria, 1941

Corgi Aviation Archive 1/72 scale Legends HC32508: Junkers Ju 87R Stuka of 1./StG 1, Luftwaffe, Krainici, Bulgaria, 1941

Length 6.25 inches Wingspan 7.5 inches

Hastily summoned from North Africa to reinforce StG.2 in Bulgaria immediately prior to the invasions of Yugoslavia and Greece, L/StG.1 nevertheless found time to apply the yellow markings of Operation Marita. This particular aircraft is unusual in having the entire tail unit (not just the rudder) painted yellow, presumably as a formation leaders aircraft. The Gruppe emblem is on the cowling, as is a depiction of ‘Hans Huckebein’, a cartoon raven popular in the 19th Century.

Designed to function as a close support aircraft, the Ju 87 was first flown on September 17th, 1935. The Ju 87 had an innovative design that included automatic dive brakes under each wing-a feature that protected against the consequences of pilot blackout by ensuring recovery from an attack dive. Crewed by a pilot and rear gunner, the Ju 87 had twin 37mm cannons and a bomb that swung away from the propeller on an elongated U-shaped crutch. Its inverted gull wings improved pilot-to-ground visibility, gave the undercarriage a shorter height and made the Ju 87 instantly recognizable to its enemies.