Recommended age: 12+
Scale: 1:48
Number of parts: 148
Length: 19.1875 in
Wingspan: 25.9375 in
Kit Features:
- Full interior detail, front to back, including all gun positions
- Bomb cart assembly with bombs
- Gun turrets rotate and the propellers spin
- 5 flight and crew figures
- Molded in silver, black, and clear
The best-known symbol of the air war over Germany during World War II is the iconic B-17 Flying Fortress. It was designed to inflict heavy damage on the enemy while protecting itself against enemy fire. The B-17 had upwards of 7 defensive gun positions with .50 caliber machine guns. It was capable of carrying over 4,000 lbs. of bombs, over 1,800 miles, at a cruising speed of 170 mph. The “G” model was the last production version, and 8,600 aircraft were built over 23 months.
Before D-Day, the air campaign over Germany was the second front for the allied forces during World War II. While suffering tremendous losses, the allied campaign brought the war home to Germany. The Luftwaffe held the upper hand over these heroic crews of the B-17. This changed drastically when the P-51 Mustang long-range fighter came into service and escorted the bombers. The B-17s were used in both the European and Pacific theaters of the war. Today, a handful of B-17s are still flying and reminding us of the sacrifices made in defense of our country.