In 1948, Israel had
signed a deal with Czechoslovakia for several Avia S-199 fighters. These
were crated and shipped by Israeli transport planes. What is little known is
that included with the shipments were 3 crates containing S-92 jets (licensed
version of the Me-262) and several spare engines.
These were assembled and housed in a hanger at the far end of Ekron AFB and kept
in secret. To fly these planes, Israel recruited former RAF test pilot
Flight Capt. Henry Biggles. Biggles had flown several captured German
aircraft including the Me-262 and would be the perfect pilot to get theses
planes operational.
Unfortunately, on the first test flight, one of the other pilots landed too fast
and ran off the end of the runway. The plane was cannibalized to keep the
other two flying. Due to shortages in fuel and ammo, the planes were
seldom used and only achieved one kill against an Egyptian C-47.
The kit is the Revell ProModeler 1/72nd scale Me-262. The model was built
out of the box and fit well except for where the rear of the wing meets the
fuselage. I put a brace in to assist with the fit. Model was sprayed
with a rattle can and decals scrounged from an old Micro Scale Israeli set.
Phil
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