History Behind Corgi AA35311: B-25 Mitchell II, No. 226 Sqn (1944)
INTRODUCTION
By June 1944, Allied air power was operating at full intensity as preparations for D-Day reached their peak. Across southern England, bomber and strike squadrons trained and launched daily missions designed to weaken German transport, communications, and coastal defences ahead of the landings in Normandy.
Among the aircraft supporting this effort was the North American B-25 Mitchell, a tough, adaptable twin-engine bomber that served across multiple theatres. In RAF service, the type became a reliable medium bomber and strike aircraft, well suited to the fast-moving demands of the campaign in north-west Europe.
QUICK FACTS
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Aircraft: North American B-25 Mitchell II
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Serial/Markings: FW130 / MQ-A
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Operator/Unit: Royal Air Force - No. 226 Squadron
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Base: Hartford Bridge (Hampshire), England
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Period: June 1944
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Model represented: 1:72 Corgi Aviation Archive AA35311
THE B-25 MITCHELL II AND RAF MEDIUM BOMBER OPERATIONS
The B-25 earned its reputation through versatility. It could carry a meaningful bomb load, operate from relatively short runways, and handle the punishment that came with low- and medium-altitude operations. For crews, it offered a balance of performance and practicality - a steady platform that could deliver accurate strikes and get home again.
In the run-up to D-Day, aircraft like the Mitchell were used to hit rail lines, bridges, airfields, and supply points. The goal was clear: disrupt German movement and reinforcement routes so that when the invasion began, the defenders would be slower to respond and less able to concentrate strength where it mattered.
NO. 226 SQUADRON, HARTFORD BRIDGE AND JUNE 1944
No. 226 Squadron operated the Mitchell from Hartford Bridge in Hampshire, placing it close to the Channel and within reach of occupied Europe. As June 1944 arrived, missions intensified - operations that demanded accuracy, timing, and coordination with the wider air plan supporting the landings.
The markings on this aircraft, FW130 / MQ-A, tie the model to that crucial moment. It’s the period where RAF medium bomber operations were not just about strategic bombing, but about shaping a battlefield - turning air power into a tool that directly supported the success of Allied ground forces.
LASTING LEGACY AND COLLECTOR APPEAL
The B-25 Mitchell is often remembered for its global service, but its RAF story is just as compelling - especially in 1944, when medium bombers played a vital role in the lead-up to D-Day and the push into north-west Europe.
For collectors, Corgi Aviation Archive AA35311 captures that exact slice of history - a 1:72 Mitchell II in RAF markings, linked to No. 226 Squadron, Hartford Bridge, and the intense operational tempo of June 1944.
