Tamiya Focke Wulf Fw 190A-4 of Ofw. Heinrich Sterr in 1/72 Scale

In the Spring of 1942 Heinrich Sterr was posted to the Eastern Front as a replacement pilot flying the Bf 109 assigned to 6./JG 54, the “Grünherz”.  His first claim was a MiG-3 on 06APR42.  He continued to score steadily but was himself shot down and wounded on 07JAN43.  After a brief convalescence he recovered and rejoined the Gruppe as they were converting to the Fw 190.

In December Sterr was awarded the Knight’s Cross for his 86 victories and was sent back to the Reich for officer’s training.  He returned to 6./JG 54 and was made Staffelkapitän in April 1944.  Elements of JG 54 were withdrawn to the West in September 1944, just in time to oppose the Allied airborne landings of Operation Market Garden.  Like so many other Eastern Front Experten, Sterr found a much different air war in the West with overwhelming numbers of excellent Allied aircraft, flown by competent pilots.  He was able to score only two additional victories, a P-47 and a B-25, before he was shot down and killed by a Thunderbolt from the 78^th Fighter Group on 26NOV44.  Heinrich Sterr was credited with a total of 127 aerial victories.

The model represents the Fw 190A-4 of Ofw. Heinrich Sterr, 6./JG 54, March 1943.