Tempered in the Spanish Civil War, the Messerschmitt BF-109 was ready and waiting when the German invasion of Poland started World War 2. The outstanding fighter of the day, the Messerschmitt quickly overcame all opposition and maintained its supremacy in the skies until it met its equal in the famed British Spitfire. During the war, the Messerschmitt fought on every front in which the German Luftwaffe was engaged.

N.A. P-51 MUSTANG   Wing Span: 24.75"  GUI402

The North American P-51 Mustang was probably the best all-around single-seat piston engine fighter to be used in World War 2. The first U.S.A.A.F. combat group arrived in Britain in November 1943 and from then until the end of the war, the P-51 earned an enviable reputation as a long-range fighter-escort for the B-17 and B-24 bombers raiding deep in the heart of the German homeland.

SUPERMARINE SPITFIRE   Span: 24 5/8"  GUI403

No fighter of World War 2 is more deserving of fame than the Supermarine Spitfire. During the Battle of Britain, the Spitfires blunted the attack of the German Luftwaffe and buoyed British hopes in their darkest hour. It also flew in every front between 1939 and 1945 and was engaged in every major action fought by the R.A.F. in that time.

MITSUBISHI ZERO   Wing Span: 24 5/8"  GUI404

Streaking out of the western skies in the early hours of Sunday, Dec. 7, 1941, the Japanese Zero-Sen launched the surprise attack on Pearl Harbor that plunged the United States into World War 2. For a time, the Zero appeared nearly invincible in combat and it was not until the Battle of Midway that its fortunes declined along with that of the Japanese empire.

CURTISS P-40 WARHAWK    Span: 28"  GUI405

The P-40 earned undying fame as the "Flying Tiger" of World War 2 when flown by General Claire Chennault's Volunteer Group fighting the Japanese in China and Burma. It also saw much service in the Middle East where it was used by Britain's R.A.F. and nicknamed the Tomahawk and Kittyhawk. When World War 2 broke out, the P-40 was the only fighter available in quantity to the U.S.A.A.F., it being the first American single-seat plane to be manufactured in the U.S. on a mass production basis. By the end of the war, over 14,000 planes had been delivered to fighting theatres.

FOCKE-WULF 190   Wing Span: 25 3/4"  GUI406

Although it had a radial engine, the German Focke-Wulf Fw-109 was one of the most beautifully proportioned fighters of World War 2. The pride of Marshall Goering, the 190 maintained superiority over the British Spitfire 5 for almost two years because it could out fly its opponent on nearly every count. Approximately 20, 000 Focke-Wulf’s were produced and, in various versions, were used as day and night fighters, fighter-bombers and in ground attack roles. One feature of the 190 was its wide track under carriage, which gave it, improved ground stability over the BF-109's.