Bharat Rakshak:Indian Air Force

Match Box 1/72 Westland Lysander

This a straight Out of the Box (OOB) build of the ancient but still lovely matchbox Lysander in the markings of No 1 Squadron IAF (The Tigers). Although already operating Lizzies from Aug 41, The Tigers officially were presented with twelve Lysanders bought by the people of Bombay on 07 Nov 41 by the Governor of Bombay at Peshawar (the Squadron converted from a mixed bag of Wapitis and Harts). The Squadron salvaged a further three Lysanders from crashed aircraft of 28 Squadron RAF. The Squadron was moved to Toungoo (today Bangladesh) on 01 Feb 42 to take part in the Ist Burma campaign. As expected the Japanese struck the field twice that morning and, with the challenge being thrown, the CO “Jumbo Majundar” flew singly with two 250 lb bombs and destroyed the hangars at the IJAAF base at Mae-Haungsaun in Siam. This practice became a regular feature with the Squadron which was on occasion escorted by RNZAF Buffaloes. With the debacle in Burma the Lizzies continued to provide reconnaissance for the retreating Chinese sixth army and also carried RAF officers in the rear seat, dropping them on deserted airfields to recover abandoned Hurricanes under the noses of the Japanese. 1 Squadron Lizzies were the last Allied aircraft out of Burma when, on 12 Mar 42, 1 Squadron was recalled to Secunderabad. Ultimately in the four months of continuous action, the Squadron lost only one Lizzie to enemy action. It was also the only Indian unit to fly the Lysander. The model is painted in the standard RAF dark earth/ dark green with the early large roundels. The Squadrons codes are represented in sky/grey. On the nose is the ‘Tiger’ motif and the word ‘Konkan’ relating to the coastal region of the eastern coastline.