The C-47 was one of the most successful aircraft ever, praised by General Eisenhower as one of the most important instruments of victory in WWII. Largely a military version of the highly successful Douglas DC-3 passenger aircraft, the C-47 Dakota carried supplies, airborne troops, and other personnel in all of the theaters of conflict in WWII. It was used as a troop transport and glider tug during the invasion of Europe and it kept the Allied forces in China supplied by carrying supplies "Over the Hump" of the Himalaya Mountains lying astride the India to China route. More than 13,300 of the DC-3s in all its forms were built, including Japanese and Soviet licensed aircraft. Although it first flew in 1941, many are still being used today. It last saw action in the Vietnam War as a gunship called "Puff the Magic Dragon", firing machine guns and cannons from it's windows for enemy troop suppression.

Taking place in the same year as the Centenary of the Royal Air Force, our popular Aviation Archive range boasts a commemoration of its own and marks the 20th anniversary of the first release in this popular series. Back in 1998, aviation enthusiasts were intrigued by the announcement of a new range of 1:144 scale diecast metal aircraft models from Corgi, which presented the collector with a number of iconic aircraft types from the world of military and civilian aviation.

Chronologically, the first release in the Aviation Archive series was model number 47101, a Douglas C-47A Skytrain named the "Fassberg Flyer", released to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Berlin Airlift and marking one of the most famous aircraft to take part in 'Operation Vittles'. To mark the 20th Anniversary of the Aviation Archive range, we are proud to announce the inclusion of AA38209, Douglas C-47A Skytrain 315208 'Fassberg Flyer', US Air Force, Berlin Airlift, 1948 in the range, which presents the collector with a magnificent new 1:72 scale representation of the very first model in this series. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 15-3/4-inches
Length: 10-3/4-inches

Release Date: August 2018

Historical Account: "The Berlin Blockade" - The Berlin Blockade (June 24th, 1948 - May 12th, 1949) was one of the first major international crises of the Cold War. During the multinational occupation of post-World War II Germany, the Soviet Union blocked the Western Allies' railway, road, and canal access to the sectors of Berlin under Western control. The Soviets offered to drop the blockade if the Western Allies withdrew the newly introduced Deutsche mark from West Berlin.

The Western Allies organized the Berlin airlift (June 26th, 1948 - September 30th, 1949) to carry supplies to the people of West Berlin, a difficult feat given the size of the city's population. Aircrews from the United States Air Force, the Royal Air Force, the French Air Force, the Royal Canadian Air Force, the Royal Australian Air Force, the Royal New Zealand Air Force, and the South African Air Force:338 flew over 200,000 flights in one year, providing to the West Berliners up to 8,893 tons of necessities each day, such as fuel and food. The Soviets did not disrupt the airlift for fear this might lead to open conflict.

By the spring of 1949, the airlift was clearly succeeding, and by April it was delivering more cargo than had previously been transported into the city by rail. On May 12th, 1949, the USSR lifted the blockade of West Berlin. The Berlin Blockade served to highlight the competing ideological and economic visions for postwar Europe.