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USAAF Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Heavy Bomber - "2nd Patches", 346th Bombardment Squadron, 99th Bombardment Group, Tortorella, Italy, May 1944 (1:72 Scale)
USAAF Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Heavy Bomber - 2nd Patches, 346th Bombardment Squadron, 99th Bombardment Group, Tortorella, Italy, May 1944

Corgi USAAF Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Heavy Bomber - '2nd Patches', 346th Bombardment Squadron, 99th Bombardment Group, Tortorella, Italy, May 1944




 
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Product Code: AA33305

Description Extended Information
 
Corgi AA33305 USAAF Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Heavy Bomber - "2nd Patches", 346th Bombardment Squadron, 99th Bombardment Group, Tortorella, Italy, May 1944 (1:72 Scale) "Why should we have a navy at all? There are no enemies for it to fight except apparently the Army Air Force."
- General Carl Spaatz, Commander of the US 8th Army Air Force, after WWII

The B-17, arguably World War II's most famous heavy bomber, first flew on July 28th, 1935, before a crowd of reporters eager to see Boeing's new bomber take wing. It was dubbed the "Flying Fortress" by the members of the press in attendance because of its (at least for the time) heavy defensive armament. The prototype crashed in October, but because of its impressive speed and handling the US Army Air Corps (USAAC) decided to continue testing anyway. They ordered 13 YB-17s for further evaluation, a decision that would prove momentous in years to come.

The YB-17 had five machine guns, room for 4,800 pounds of bombs and a crew of nine. It had electrically retractable landing gear. After testing the YB-17, an improved prototype, the Y1B-17, was built with Wright Cyclone radial engines. Twelve were delivered to the USAAC's 2nd Bombardment Group for trials. One of these was soon equipped with new Moss/General Electric turbochargers that became standard on all future Flying Fortresses. The first production order was for 39 B-17Bs with turbo-charged engines, and as soon as these were under production another order for the B-17C was placed, with seven machine guns instead of the original five.

The RAF received their first B-17Cs in 1941, and were soon conducting daylight raids over Germany. The defensive armament soon proved inadequate, and the B-17's altitude was little defense against the German fighters. Orders for the B-17D were soon placed with self-sealing fuel tanks and more armor because of lessons learned in bombing missions over Europe. The B-17E and B-17F soon followed with larger tail. The B-17F was the first to serve with the USAAF 8th Air Force. After suffering staggering losses in late 1943, analysis proved head-on attacks by enemy fighters were a distinct problem. The final major version, the B-17G, added a chin turret with dual machineguns. This gave the B-17 a defensive armament of 13 guns.

After the war, several dozen B-17s lived on as fire-bombers and aerial surveyors until the last one was retired in the 1970s. Today, a few B-17s have been restored to their wartime splendor. Ten are currently flying in the United States, one in the UK and another one in France. Features extremely high level of details including full crew, rotating gun turrets, working undercarriage, and bomb load.

This particular 1:72 scale replica of a B-17G Flying Fortress heavy bomber was flown by the 346th Bombardment Squadron, 99th Bombardment Group based at Tortorella, Italy, in May 1944. Sold Out!

Dimensions:
Wingspan: 17-1/2-inches
Length: 12-1/4-inches

Release Date: November 2004

Historical Account: "Patchwork" - On March 31st, 1944, a B-17F, nicknamed "Patches" of the 346th BS/99th BG, effectively 'switched' places with a B-17G (serial no. 42-38201) of the 815th BS/483rd BG. The latter aircraft is seen here with a replacement wing panel, fin and crew access door. It carries 20 mission symbols and wears the late war markings of the 99th BG with the addition of a shark-tooted chin turret which is a point of debate over when or if it, in fact, had been decorated as such. The black diamond Y represents the 99th Bomb Group and the 'I' the 346th Bomber Squadron. "2nd Patches" crashed on take off on August 24th, 1844 and was salvaged, whilst the original 'Patches' only survived until March 31st, 1944.

Features
  • Diecast construction
  • Spinning propellers
  • Opening bomb bay doors
  • Interchangeable landing gear
  • Accurate markings and insignia
  • Comes with display stand

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