Hispano HA-1112M1L "Buchón"
Escuadron 71 of Ala 7 de Caza Bombardeo

Operating from Tenerife in the Canary Islands, 1958


The Hispano Aviación HA-1112 was a license-built version of the Messerschmitt Bf 109G-2 developed in Spain during and after WWII. The 1112-M1L was equipped with the 1,600 hp Rolls-Royce Merlin 500-45 engine and Rotol propeller, both purchased as surplus from the UK. HA-1112-M1Ls remained in flying condition until the mid-1960s. This made them available for theatrical use, masquerading as Bf 109Es and Gs in movies like Battle of Britain, Der Stern von Afrika, Memphis Belle, and The Tuskegee Airmen. Remarkably, Buchons also played the Bf 109's opposition, the Hawker Hurricane, in one scene in Battle of Britain.

The last war in which a Bf-109 derivative saw combat was The Ifni War, also known as The Forgotten War (la Guerra Olvidada) in Spain. Now independent of France, Morocco determined it wanted Spain to return what was now known as Spanish West Africa. As the Moroccan insurgents took over several villages and attacked Spanish garrisons, a relief force was sent in supported by Ha-1112's operating as ground attack aircraft. The aircraft continued to be employed in the support role throughout the year long engagement. After several battles the Saharan Liberation Army was defeated by a combined Spanish/French force. After this the combat career of the 109 came to an end.

This was a nice kit from Hobby Craft. The cockpit had nice detail and I only needed to add some masking tape seat belts. For once the Hobby Craft decals worked as expected and they also had white backgrounds so you did not see the blue paint through them. The aircraft were painted Blue as they were considered "navy" aircraft operating from the Canary Islands. I left the plane relatively clean as I wanted to show the aircraft as it would have looked after being repainted and deployed at the start of the Ifni War.