Corgi Aviation Archive Series Die-cast Model

Messerschmitt Bf 109G-6 - 'Mickey Mouse', Hptm. Horst Carganico, CO II./JG 5, Luftwaffe (German Air Force), Pskow South Airfield, Soviet Union, Operation Barbarossa

1:72 Scale.  Length: 5".  Wingspan: 5.4"


Limited Edition of 1000 Models Worldwide

Born in Silesia in October 1917 Horst Carganico was already a pilot with JG 1 at the outbreak of WWII and would see his first combat action against the RAF while flying from Luftwaffe bases in Norway. Despite this, it would be on the Eastern Front where Carganico would have his greatest success as a fighter pilot, taking an active part in Operation Barbarossa and claiming at least 20 aerial victories by the end of September 1941. In the six weeks from the beginning of April 1942, he would go on a scoring run which would see him claiming a further 23 victories, but as Soviet fighter effectiveness began to improve steadily during the year he would not have everything his own way. On two separate occasions, he would be brought down over Soviet territory following combat with the VVS (Soviet Air Force), luckily managing to evade capture and return to his unit both times.

Horst Carganico was known for adding a ‘Mickey Mouse’ emblem to most of the Messerschmitt fighters he flew, including the rather elaborate example which adorned this II./JG 5 Bf 109 G-6 which surely made this one of the most distinctive Bf105 fighters on the Eastern Front. He would survive the savage fighting in the East only to be killed in May of 1944 while engaged in combat with USAAF fighters over Saint-Dizier - attempting a forced landing in his damaged aircraft, the fighter struck high tension cables and crashed. Carganico posted an impressive combat record of 60 confirmed victories from a total mission count of around 600 sorties, mainly on the Eastern Front.

The Messerschmitt Bf 109 was a German fighter aircraft used during World War II. First flown in 1935, it was one of the first modern fighters of the era with all-metal construction and retractable landing gear. Originally conceived as an interceptor, the Bf 109 was developed to fulfill multiple roles including bomber escort, fighter-bomber, all-weather fighter and ground-attack. Although it had weaknesses, including short range and challenging take-off and landing characteristics, the Bf 109 stayed competitive with Allied fighters until the end of the war. The Bf 109 was produced in greater numbers than any other fighter in history with 33,984 units built up to April 1945.


Corgi is a leading manufacturer of high quality, pre-built, diecast model airplanes. Every model is crafted with meticulous attention to details, using specifications of the original aircraft. Corgi models are made with diecast metal and some plastic components.

This model of a Messerschmitt Bf 109 features: