Corgi WWII Ju 87R Stuka
- Capitano Raul Zucconi, 208a Squadriglia, 101 Gruppo, Regia Aeronautica
- Sicily June 1941 In 1940 the Regia Aeronautica of Italy, negotiated the purchase of JU87 ‘ Stukas’ from its Axis ally Germany to replace its own SM85 divebombers that had been declared unsuitable for combat operations. During July 1940, 15 Italian pilots arrived for intensive training on the JU87 at the Luftwaffe ‘ Stuka’ training school in Graz, Austria with a similar number arriving the following month. The first batch of JU87s supplied were from existing Luftwaffe units so Italian emblems & insignia were painted over the original German markings. To further personalise their aircraft the ‘ Stuka’ was re-named ‘ Picchiatello’ by the Italian crews.