Lioré & Olivier LeO 451 1/72 Scale Model

French LeO 451 - This is a model of a French-built medium bomber that flew against the British invasion of Vichy French Syria in 1941. The LeO 451 entered service with the French Armée de l'Air in 1938. After France surrendered to the Germans in June, 1940, Hitler decided to allow the production of LeO 451s to continue to help equip the Armée de l'Air de l'Armistice, the Vichy French air force, so it could defend Vichy France and the French colonial empire. Vichy LeO 451s flew bombing missions against Gibraltar in 1940 in retaliation for the British attack on Dakar. Vichy LeO 451s flew against the Allies again during Operation TORCH, the 1942 Allied invasion of Vichy French North Africa. In response to Operation TORCH, the Germans and Italians occupied Vichy France. The Italians seized numerous LeO 451s in southern France intending to use them against the Allies, but they discovered their engines had not been maintained. Most of the Vichy forces in Africa subsequently joined the Free French and flew some of the remaining LeO 451s in North Africa against the Germans and Italians in Tunisia in early 1943.

More Photos: Left, Right, Front, Top, Front Angle Right, Front Angle Left, Rear Angle Right, Rear Angle Left, Above Left, Above Right

Air Battle Dunkirk, Norman Franks

Dust Clouds in the Middle East: The Air War for East Africa, Iraq, Syria, Iran and Madagascar, 1940-42, Christopher Shores

Fighters Over France and the Low Countries, Bartlomiej Belcarz

Fledgling Eagles; The Complete Account of the Air War over Western Europe and Scandanavia, September 1939 - August 1940, Christopher Shores

French Aircraft from 1939 to 1942 - Vol 2: From Dewoitine to Potez, Dominique Breffort

French Bombers of WWII in Action, Alain Pelletier

Twelve Days in May; The Air Battle for Northern France and the Low Countries, May 1940, Brian Cull