Corgi Aviation Archive Series Diecast Model

Messerschmitt Bf 110 D – VJ+OQ, Rudolf Hess, Eaglesham, Scotland, May 10, 1941

1:72 Scale.  Length: 6.75".  Wingspan: 8.9"


Limited Edition of 1,200 Models Worldwide

One of the most mysterious episodes of World WarII occurred over Northern Britain on the night of Saturday, May 10, 1941, as the Chain Home radar network picked up an unidentified raid approaching the coast of Northumberland. Crossing the coast near Alnwick, the Royal Observer Corps identified the raid as a single Messerschmitt Bf110 fighter which continued flying inland in the direction of Glasgow and was tracked until it hit the west coast of Scotland. With a Defiant nightfighter now on its tail and with fuel reserves running low, the intruder was seen to turn back inland, before crashing at Bonnyton Moor, Eaglesham, near Glasgow at 23.09pm. The lone pilot was observed parachuting to earth and was promptly detained by a pitchfork toting farmer, who when inquiring if the airman was German, was surprised by the excellent English of his prisoner who went on to give his name as Hauptmann Albert Horn.

Collected by the Home Guard, the German prisoner was later interviewed by an Observer Corps Major who almost immediately recognized the airman as none other than Rudolf Hess, a senior Nazi Party official and Deputy Fuhrer of Germany. Why had such an important figure made such a one-way flight and what were his intentions?

Taking off from the Messerschmitt factory airfield at Augsburg-Haunstetten, Bavaria at 17:45 UK time on May 10, 1941, Nazi Party official Rudolf Hess had a long and dangerous flight ahead of him. Even though his unarmed Bf 110 was carrying additional fuel, this was always going to be a one-way flight and it is unclear what his intentions were. Surely capture by the British would be the best possible outcome. During later interrogation, it is reported that Hess planned to land by parachute on the estate of Scottish nobleman the Duke of Hamilton, a man he previously met at the 1936 Olympic Games in Berlin and someone thought to be politically influential in trying to muster support for a negotiated peace with Germany. A fascinating incident which has been the subject of a great many conspiracy theories over the years, Hess's exact intentions have never been definitively ascertained, however, the flight did coincide with Germany's decision to launch a massive offensive against the Soviet Union, in addition to Hess being somewhat side-lined in the Nazi Party hierarchy. Hitler was reported to have been enraged on hearing about the actions of his trusted deputy and described him as having lost his mind. This incident did highlight the invaluable contribution of the Royal Observer Corps during WWII, as once a hostile aircraft had reached the British mainland, radar was of no use and tracking information was provided by this impressive network of vigilant volunteers.

The Messerschmitt Bf110 was a German twin-engine heavy fighter used by the Luftwaffe during World War II. Later in the war it was developed into a formidable night-fighter aircraft. First flown on May 12, 1936, the Bf 110 entered service in 1937. It was used with considerable success in early campaigns against Poland, Denmark, Norway and France. Being a relatively large aircraft it lacked the agility of single-engine fighters such as the British Spitfire and Hurricane. This flaw was exposed during the Battle of Britain when some Bf 110 equipped units were withdrawn from combat after very heavy losses and redeployed as night fighters, a role that the aircraft was well suited for. It had a successful period following the Battle of Britain as an air superiority fighter in other theatres. During campaigns in the Balkans, Northern Africa and on the Eastern Front, the Bf 110 rendered valuable ground support to the German Army as a fighter-bomber.


The Corgi Aviation Archive features a wide selection of high quality, ready-made, diecast model airplanes. Each model is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, using specifications of the original aircraft. Corgi models are built with diecast metal and some plastic components.

This model of a Messerschmitt Bf110 features: