Corgi 1/72 Westland Lysander Nkllla Restored as V9673 RAF 161Sqn Hugh Verity IWM Duxford Cambs (AA36806)LIMITED EDITION

An excellent fully detailed diecast model of the Wetsland Lysander V9673, a restored example based at Duxford, home of the Imperial War Museums' aircraft collection�and many privately owned historic warbirds�supported by professional restoration facilities.

The paint scheme chosen for V9673 represents 161 Squadron, a special duties squadron operating in support of the Special Operations Executive and their agents in occupied Europe.

Lysanders of 161 squadron (Special Duties) formed part of the Special Operations Executive (S.O.E) based at Tempsford in Bedfordshire from April 1942. The role most associated with the squadron was that of inserting or retrieving secret agents, resistance fighters or downed aircrew after making a pre-arranged landing in enemy occupied territory. These clandestine operations were usually flown at low level and in full moonlight. Squadron Leader Hugh Verity DFC took command of the Lysander flight in 1943, overseeing one of the busiest periods of airborne undercover operations and completing a personal tally of over 30 missions. His trusty plane, Westland Lysander III, V9673, MA-J, was given the nickname �Jiminy Cricket� and the cartoon character was painted below the cockpit along with �V for Victory� markings that were added after each mission. Hugh Verity gave an excellent account of his wartime exploits in his book �We landed by Moonlight� and The Imperial War Museum at Duxford has on display a Lysander restored in the colours of Verity�s Lysander V9673.