During the early to mid-stages of the Second World War, the Stuka (short for "sturzkampfflugzeug" or dive-bomber) struck terror in the hearts and minds of soldiers and civilians alike. The Stuka was a rugged machine, designed to swoop down and destroy its target using 500-lb bombs or tear into them using 37mm flak guns mounted underneath the wings.

Flying at 4,600 meters (15,000 ft), the pilot of a Stuka located his target through a bombsight window in the cockpit floor. After opening the dive brakes and slowing his throttle, he then rolled the aircraft 180 degrees, automatically nosing the aircraft into a dive. Red tabs protruded from the upper surfaces of the wing as a visual indicator to the pilot that in case of a g induced black-out, the automatic dive recovery system would be activated.

The Stuka dived at a 60 - 90 degree angle, accelerating to 600 km/h (350 mph). When the aircraft was reasonably close to the target, a light on the contact altimeter came on to indicate the bomb-release point, usually at a minimum height of 450 m (1,500 ft). The pilot released the bomb by depressing a knob on the control column to release weapons and to initiate the automatic pull-out mechanism. A clutch located under the fuselage would swing the bomb out of the way of the propeller, and the aircraft would automatically begin a 6g pullout.

Once the nose was above the horizon, dive brakes were retracted, the throttle was opened, and the propeller was set to climb. The pilot regained control and resumed normal flight. The remaining bombs under the wings were used for other targets.

This particular 1:72 scale replica of a Junkers Ju 87D-3 Stuka dive-bomber was captured by British forces on a raid at Sidi Haneish, Egypt, during November 1942. Only 1,200 pieces produced and comes with numbered certificate of authenticity. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 7-1/2-inches
Length: 7-inches

Release Date: January 2008

Historical Account: "Of Viscounts and Victories" - Montgomery had always envisioned the Second Battle of El Alamein as being one of attrition, similar to those fought in the Great War and had correctly predicted both the length of the battle and the number of Allied casualties. Commonwealth artillery was superbly handled but armoured tactics displayed the cavalry mentality that repeatedly cost Allied forces dearly as they attacked in open country in mass formation with insufficient infantry and air support. Commonwealth air support was therefore of limited use, but contrasted with the Luftwaffe and Regia Aeronautica who offered little or no support to ground forces, preferring to engage in air-to-air combat.

In the end, the Allies' victory was all but total. El Alamein was the first great offensive against the Germans in which the Allies were victorious. Winston Churchill famously summed up the battle on November 10th, 1942 with the words, "Now this is not the end, it is not even the beginning of the end. But it is, perhaps, the end of the beginning." It was Montgomery's greatest triumph; he took the title "Viscount Montgomery of Alamein" when he was raised to the peerage.

Rommel was driven directly all the way to the Tunisian highlands where his forces were supplied with men and materials after Hitler had learned of Operation Torch and the subsequent betrayal of the Vichy French government to the Allies. These supplies would have been very helpful during the Battle of El Alamein. Rommel now faced a war on two fronts with the Commonwealth forces pursuing him from the east and the Americans from the west. The prospect of a short campaign against the Axis forces was thwarted by the mistakes made by the inexperienced American forces and this ensured that the Tunisian Campaign would be a long, hard and costly engagement.