The Little World

It must have been difficult for the French Air Force to realise that they were beaten. And beaten before they started.

Handicapped by their government’s penurious attitude to developing new aircraft – coupled with the vicious labour infighting that crippled their factories so often – they started WW2 with few planes and fewer good ones. They tried desperately to import better ones from the USA, but it was all too late. Even the Hawk Model 75’s that were to go to them never got there – they went to other combatants in other theatres.

Eventually, though, some would be available to French pilots to fly in combat. This Model 75 came to the Free French Air Force in Syria through British hands and bears brown and green camouflage similar to RAF colours – albeit with a darker grey underside.

The pilot in this case was Commandant Jean Tulasne, a hawk-nosed man himself. Serving in Syria, with De Gaulle before the latter was ousted, Tulasne went on to fly with the Normadie-Neimen squadron on the eastern front. He fell in combat in 1943 – which gives somewhat of a lie to the instruction sheet of this model.

It depicts a Hawk 75, assigns his name, and dates it to 1944.

Observant readers will note the double roundel on the underside of the wing. This is depicted in another internet site dealing with after-market decals. Unfortunately I cannot find enough other details to confirm them, but I like them, and I am prepared to honour my own prejudices every time.

The kit was well worth the fin it cost, even if the resin gun barrels have proved a little fragile. When they bust off, I will drill the leading edge and substitute piano wire.