The "Flying Fortress" bomber built by Boeing is one of the most famous airplanes ever made. The
prototype of the B-17 first flew on July 28, 1935. Few B-17's were in service on December 7,
1941, but production quickly accelerated. The aircraft served in every WW II
combat zone, but is best known for daylight strategic bombing of German
industrial targets. Production ended in May 1945 and totaled 12,726.
Boeing B17F serial number 41-24577, better known as 'Hells Angels', was the first US 8th Air Force B 17 to complete 25 missions on May 13th 1943. The following day, Captain Irl E. Baldwin the pilot of 'Hells Angels', became the first officer from the 303rd BG to complete a combat tour of 25 missions. After successfully completing 48 missions, Boeing B 17F 'Hells Angels' returned to the United States on January 20th 1944 to embark on a morale boosting tour of war production factories. When the tour finished in May 1944, 'Hells Angels' was transferred to the USAAF for use as an aircrew training aircraft before being scrapped in August 1945.
Scale: 1/72, Wingspan: 17.5"
Loose Parts: (not suitable for young children)
Fully assembled.
Rotating gun turrets
Working flaps and rudder
Working bomb bay doors with bomb load
Source and Links:
U.S.A.F. Museum
Wikipedia
Liberty Foundation's Liberty Belle
Official site of the 303rd "Hell's Angels" Bomb Group
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