Allan's Marseill Mig

[Allan]

Hi fellows,
Finished it last night and will post some piccies here tonight or tomorrow, but here is the little AH I knocked up over a cup of tea. Tell me what you think.

                                          Marseille's MIG 21
Following the successful assassination of Hitler in July 1944, Rommel took over the leadership of the German nation and negotiated a conclusion to the war in Europe, both with the western Allies and the Russians, who had had their own democratic revolution on 1943.

Rommel was able to bring the war in Europe to a cease fire and armistice by promising to prosecute all German war criminals, which he and his government did with surprising vigour, speed and ruthlessness. Peace then settled over Europe.

And Marseille? After the defeat of the Africa Korps he was transferred to the northern European theatre and by mid-1944 his aerial victories totalled a neat and tidy 300. He finished the war as the Kommodore of JG 27. Marseille continued to serve in the post-war German Air force and his MIG 21, which was purchased by Germany from Russia in small numbers, was painted to reflect this.

The desert ace Neville Duke, who entered politics after the war, was elected Prime Minister of Great Britain in 1963. Australia, in the meantime, had grown to be an Asian superpower with strong links to democratic China and a very powerful economy. It would be in the best interests of any European power to have close and friendly relations with Australia and the German Government fully realized this.

Clive Caldwell, who had operated in North Africa and actually had once shot down Marseille's close friend Hans-Arnold Stahlschmidt (Marseille himself later said that it was a fabulous shot by Caldwell), was posted to London as Australia's ambassador quite soon after Duke's party assumed office. The stage was set for a German diplomatic masterstroke. Despite his young age of 43, Marseille was seconded to the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs and assigned as German's ambassador to London as well.

It should be added in passing that in some quarters there had been suspicion that some of Marseille's desert victory claims were over-optimistic or even fraudulent. The public release of secret documents in the late 1950s relating to clandestine missions carried out by the Long Range Desert Group, Popski's Private Army and the fledgling SAS with secret RAF and USAAF support removed all doubt. These secret documents fully verified those claims of Marseille that could not be supported at the time by ordinary Allied records. The result was that every one of Marseille's desert victory claims was fully supported by official loss records. This development removed all impediment to his diplomatic assignment to London.

The three desert aces got on famously and there were regular photos in the London press of them dining out together or reminiscing at Downing Street or Chequers. The almost free access that Marseille enjoyed to the British Prime Minster and the Australian Ambassador was the envy of London's diplomat corps.

Marseille returned to assume command of the German Air Force after his stay in London and later retired with the thanks and love of a grateful nation.  Still a vigorous 87, Marseille and his wife Hannaliese now live in retirement in Monaco.

Not too bad, eh?

Allan  in Canberra

[Rafael]

Not too bad at all, Mr. Allan!!!
I'm willing to see the model too.
I'm sure it will be as captivating as your backstory. B)

Rafa