Corgi AA31704 Shorts Sunderland Mk I Royal Air Force N9046/KG-F Flt Lt Frank Phillips & Cpl Bill Lillie, No205 Squadron, Invergordon, April 1940

On 3rd April 1940 N9046 became the first Sunderland to truly lift the aircraft's reputation in combat and is credited as being the incident that probably earned its "Fliegended Stachelschwein" (Flying Porcupine) reputation. Fighting off two and then four and then another six Ju 88s which attempted to bomb a convoy it was escorting, the aircraft took heavy damage, had its fuel tanks holed and several crew members injured but still managed to hold the German Bombers at bay and protected the convoy. Lt. Frank Philips was awarded the DFC while Cpl. Lillie was awarded the DFM.