Morane-Saulnier MS 406 1/72 Scale Model

French MS 406 - This is a model of a French-built fighter that flew against the German invasion of France in 1940. MS 406s shot down more German planes during this campaign than any other fighter used by the French. MS 406s saw action again in 1941 when the Finns flew them against the Soviets during Operation Barbarossa. These were planes the Finns had obtained from France in early 1940 along with some more they had obtained from Germany after the French surrender that June. In 1942 the Finns obtained even more MS 406s from Vichy France. The Vichy French flew MS 406s against the Thai invasion of French Indochina in January, 1941, the Allied invasion of Syria in the summer of 1941, and the Allied invasion of Madagascar in 1942. In November, 1942, the Germans and Italians occupied Vichy France in response to Operation TORCH, the Allied invasion of French North Africa. The Germans sent several dozen of the Vichy French MS 406s they had seized to Axis Croatia between July, 1943, and January, 1944, to help the Croatians fight Yugoslavian partisans. The MS 406 originally entered service with the French in early 1938, and when its production ended in early 1940, a little more than 1,000 had been built.

More Photos: Right, Front Angle Left, Front Angle Right, Front Angle Right2, Rear Angle Left, Rear Angle Right, Above Left, Above Right

Croatian Aces of WWII, Dragan Savic

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

Finnish Aces of WWII, Kari Stenman

Finnish Air Force 1918-1968, Christopher Shores

Finnish Air Force 1939-1945, Kalevi Keskinen

Fledgling Eagles; The Complete Account of Air Operations During the "Phoney War" and Norwegian Campaign, 1940, Christopher Shores

French Aces of WWII, Barry Ketley

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

French Fighters of WWII in Action, Alain Pelletier

In the Skies of Europe: Air Forces Allied to the Luftwaffe 1939-1945, John Cochrane

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