ICM (149)

Serial production of the Hs 123 aircraft began in September 1936. Its main purpose was to provide air support for ground forces, with armament consisting of two synchronized machine guns and bombs weighing up to 450 kg. The Hs 123 was supplied to infantry direct support aircraft groups and widely used by training units. During World War II, these aircraft demonstrated high survivability while being deployed in the invasion of Poland, and later in France and the Balkans. Early production models were distinguishable by the absence of a fairing behind the pilot’s cockpit. In the summer of 1938, an interesting story unfolded involving one such Hs 123. Lieutenant Siegfried Hamann, the adjutant of the 3./Fliegergruppe 50 commander who had no formal pilot training, secretly learned to fly the aircraft and later confessed this to his commander. Given permission to demonstrate his skills, Hamann was provided with an Hs 123 that ground personnel had painted with large, whimsical inscriptions of a humorous and skeptical nature—expressing their disbelief in his abilities. Despite this skepticism, Hamann’s flight was successful, proving his capabilities and earning him status as a full-fledged pilot. By 1939, he had joined III./St.G2 as a pilot and participated in the attack on Poland. Markings Hs 123A, pre-production aircraft, 1936 Hs 123A-1, 3./St.G. 165 “Immelmann”, 1937 Hs 123A-1, 3./Fliegergruppe 50, pilot - Lieutenant Siegfried Hamann, Langensalza airfield, Summer 1938 Specifications Model size (length x width): 330 х 272 mm Box size: 410 x 260 x 55 mm Number of details: 220

In 1933, at the initiative of the German Reich Ministry of Aviation, development began on a specialized dive bomber. In the spring of 1935, the prototype developed by Henschel Flugzeug-Werke A.G. made its first flight. This prototype was designated Hs-123 V1. The aircraft received positive evaluations, and in September 1936, serial production of the Hs 123A-1 modification commenced. The new attack aircraft was equipped with a BMW 132 engine, delivering 880 horsepower at takeoff. As its built-in armament, it carried two synchronized machine guns mounted behind the instrument panel, firing through special ducts in the engine cowling. The lower wing, fitted with flaps, had four hardpoints for 50-kg bombs, and a single 250-kg bomb could be mounted under the fuselage. The Hs 123s were deployed with units assigned to direct infantry support, and they were also widely used in training units. At the start of World War II, these aircraft were used during the invasion of Poland, and shortly after in France and the Balkans, where they demonstrated high survivability against anti-aircraft fire, even withstanding direct hits. Later, the Hs 123 saw action in Luftwaffe units during operations against the Soviet Union. Despite its outdated design, the aircraft remained in service with the German Air Force until as late as 1944. Markings Hs 123A-1, II.(Sch)/LG 2, 2nd (assault) Group of the 2nd Training Squadron, France, Spring 1940 Hs 123A-1, Flugzeugführerschule A/B 71, Pilot School A/B 71, Prossnitz, Summer 1941 Hs 123A-1, Erg.St.(Sch.)/LG 2, Auxiliary (Assault) Squadron of the 2nd Training Squadron, Eastern Front, Winter 1942 Hs 123A-1, II./SG 2, 2nd Group, 2nd Assault Squadron, Eastern Front, Spring 1944 Specifications Model size (length x width): 330 x 272 mm Box size: 410 x 260 x 55 mm Number of details: 201

In the summer of 1936, a civil war broke out in Spain. During this conflict, Germany supported the Nationalists by secretly supplying them with weapons. Between the autumn of 1936 and the spring of 1937, five Hs 123A aircraft were sent to Spain for combat trials and were assigned to the experimental unit VJ/88. This unit was part of the German Condor Legion, which operated several types of aircraft. Although officially classified as fighters, the Hs 123A aircraft were primarily used in the ground-attack role. Their first combat operation was during the battles for Málaga. As close air support aircraft, the Hs 123s performed excellently, demonstrating high survivability and the ability to operate from short, unprepared airstrips. They also showed an outstanding balance of speed and maneuverability—when damaged, the Hs 123 could escape enemy fighters by diving steeply. Out of the five aircraft deployed, three were lost in action, while the remaining two were later transferred to the Nationalist air force. In 1939, Spain ordered an additional twelve Hs 123 aircraft, which remained in service until 1949. Specification Model size (length x width): 272 х 330 mm Box size: 410 x 260 x 55 mm Number of details: 197 Markings: Hs 123A 24●3, VJ/88, Legion Condor, Spain, 1937 Hs 123A 24●4, VJ/88, Legion Condor, Spain, 1937 Hs 123A 24●5, VJ/88, Legion Condor, Spain, 1937 ICM 32016 1/32 Henschel HS 123A-1 Legion Condor

The Yak-9K is a front-line fighter with heavy cannon armament. It became a continuationof the Yak-9 fighter line and a modification of the serial Yak-9T aircraft. Its feature was a 45-mm gun NS-45, which was placed in the vee of the engine and fired through thegearbox shaft. To reduce the force of recoil when fired, the barrel of the gun was equipped with a clearly visible muzzle brake, which absorbed up to 85% of the energy of the shot and was the main visual difference of the aircraft. The armament also included a large-caliber UBS machine gun. Shooting from a cannon and a machine gun could beconducted simultaneously, and they could also be used separately. The ammunitionconsisted of 29 cannon shots and 200 cartridges for the machine gun. Powerful gunarmament made it possible to hit enemy aircraft with a single projectile. Theseaircrafts were involved in combat operations at the front and were recommendedfor adoption as one of the main types of fighters. However, its 45 mm gun wasunderdeveloped, and despite its powerful armament, the fighter was only producedin a small series. Markings Yak-9K, 274th Fighter Aviatbn Regiment August 1944 Yak-9К, 43rd Fighter Aviation tegirnent, 1944 Yak-9K, 812th Fighter Aviation Regiment Germany, 1945