This new decal sheet from Cutting
Edge Modelworks includes markings for three different 1/48 captured Allied
aircraft. These aircraft include a Mosquito IVB, P-47D and a P-51BDuring WW2, the
Luftwaffe captured many Allied aircraft and repaired them into flying
condition. The Verschuchsverband (the Trials and Research Unit of the
Luftwaffe High command) flew and assessed the capabilities of captured Allied
fighters and toured these aircraft to various Luftwaffe fighter units as the 'Wanderzirkus
Rosarius". The aircraft tested by them included P-51's, P-38's,
P-47's, Spitfires, Mosquitos and a Typhoon. There were also one or more
Spitfire that had it's nose removed and a Bf-109 nose and engine grafted onto
the Spitfire......this gave the capture Spitfire a very odd
appearance.........some would say...."unattractive
appearance".
The B-17 was also flown to
fighter bases to show the Luftwaffe pilots the strengths and weaknesses of the
B-17...armour etc. Captured B-17s flown by the Luftwaffe with KG 200 were
used on secret night time missions to deliver agents behind enemy lines.
Reports of B-17's in US markings shadowing US formations were made, but often
these were either lost bombers trying to find their way home or the bombers
weren't close enough to be fully identified, so this mystery
remains.
The first aircraft is a Mosquito
Mk IV B flown by 2./VVB OKL from Konigsberg, Neumark in July 1944. This
Mosquito was painted RLM 74 green on the topside and RLM 04 Yellow on the
underside and tail. Marking codes were T9 XB.
The
second aircraft is a P-47D-2-RA with 2./VVB OKL out of Wunstorf in July
1944. This aircraft was operated by the Beute-Zirkus Rosarius (Rosarius
Traveling Circus under the command of Flugkapitan Rosarius). This was one
of 3 P-47's operated by Beute-Zirkus Rosarius to educate Luftwaffe pilots on
flight characteristics of the P-47. The paint scheme is RLM 74 green on
the topside and RLM 04 Yellow on the underside and tail. Code letters on
the side in black are small "T9" and large "FK".
The third aircraft is a
P-51B with 2./VVB OKL out of Neuruppin in late 1944. This aircraft was
used to train Hungarian FW-190 pilots on how to best use their aircraft against
the Mustang. Experienced pilots were also permitted to fly the
Mustang. The paint scheme on this Mustang is interesting. A bare
metal finish on the topside and the tail and underside was painted in RLM 04
yellow.