Corgi AA37705 Royal Aircraft Factory SE5a – No.56 Sqn Capt James McCudden, Balzieux, France, Feb 1918

James McCudden joined the RFC in 1913 and rose through the ranks, from Air Mechanic to Major, to become the British Empire’s most decorated pilot of WWI. He amassed a total of fifty seven victories and was awarded the VC for ‘conspicuous bravery, exceptional perseverance and a high devotion to duty’. In mid-1917 Captain McCudden was appointed Flight Commander of 56 Sqn flying SE5A’s. McCudden scored thirty two victories in SE5A, B4891 which he flew from December 1917 until March 1918 when he left 56 Sqn. He fitted the aircraft with the spinner from a LVG C.V which he had shot down and it was claimed it increased the top speed of the aircraft by 3mph. On 9th July 1918 McCudden was tragically killed when a new SE5a he was flying, stalled shortly after takeoff and crashed. He was just 23 years old.