Corgi AA99151 IDF/AF, Israel, Suez Campaign 1956, Mustang and Mosquito 2-Piece Set

Corgi AA99151 IDF/AF, Israel, Suez Campaign 1956, Mustang and Mosquito 2-Piece Set

In the early 1950s, Egypt blocked Israeli ships from passing through the Suez Canal, and it also began to block traffic through the Straits of Tirana. This violated the terms of the Egyptian-Israeli armistice agreement. As a result, on October 29, 1956, Israel launched an attack on Egyptian military positions. They were able to capture the whole of the Gaza Strip and the Sinai Peninsula with the help of their DeHavilland Mosquitos and P-51D Mustangs. France and Britain joined the fray on October 31, and hostilities ended on November 5. The Mustangs were able to carry out 184 sorties, but lost seven aircraft, including No. 19 (above) near Sharm-A-Sheik in the southern Sinai Peninsula.

The de Havilland Mosquito PR.Mk XVI was designed in a private venture as a high-altitude, high-speed unarmed bomber. It was first flown on November 25, 1940. The Mosquito was one of the most successful aircraft of the Second World War, and only the Ju 88 could rival its versatility. This all-wood aircraft was powered by two Rolls-Royce Merlin engines and was as fast as a fighter, but could also carry the payload of a medium bomber. During its lifetime, the Mosquito was used in varying roles, including night fighter and ground attack. It carried radar systems and cannons, and there was even a carrier landing version.