Corgi AA33304 1:72 Scale AA33304 Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress USAAF 97th BG, 414th BS, Yankee Doodle, RAF Grafton Underwood, England, September 1942

Corgi AA33304 1:72 Scale Boeing B-17E Flying Fortress  USAAF 97th BG, 414th BS, Yankee Doodle, RAF Grafton Underwood, England, September 1942

TIn 1941, the British Royal Air Force first used B-17s for high-altitude missions. As World War II progressed, the bombers required additional armor and armament. The B-17E, the first mass-produced model of the Flying Fortress, carried nine machine guns and a four thousand-pound bomb load. It was heavier than the prototypes and had more armament. Upon their arrival in the UK, the US Army Air Force re-acquired several B-17Es built for the RAF, which still carried the Dark Earth/Dark Green & Pale Blue camouflage of the RAF. This B-17E participated in the first USAAF combat mission of the 8th Air Force daylight bombing offensive, an attack on the railway marshalling yards at Rouen, France, on August 17, 1942. It remained based with 414 Squadron at Grafton Underwood in East Anglia until September 1942.

The B-17 was developed to fulfill a US Army Air Corps requirement for a multi-engined bomber to replace the B-10. Its first flight was on July 18, 1935. The B-17 is most well-known for its role in the US Army Air Forces' daylight strategic bombing campaign during World War II. It could fly high, had a long range, and was capable of defending itself from enemy fighters. It was also tough, withstanding extensive battle damage, and could carry a 6,000 lb bomb load. The B-17 became one of the symbols of Allied air power, equipping 32 overseas combat groups and dropping a total of 580,631 metric tons of bombs on European targets.

Corgi's 1:72 scale B-17 series includes the B-17E from the early war period and the B-17F and B-17G variants from the late war period. Corgi's WWII heavy bombers are some of the most sought after diecast models available in 1:72 scale. The model is true to the "Flying Fortress" name, bristling with M2 Browning .50 caliber machine guns, including those found on the rotating top and bottom ball turrets. The massive Wright R-1820-97 "Cyclone" engines can be seen inside the cowlings, while supercharger detail is visible on the underside of each engine nacelle. The wings feature deployable flaps and simulated die-icing boots on the leading edges, and the bomb-bay doors are hinged to reveal an ordnance load of eight 500 lb bombs. The mold includes a large number of diecast components, such as the fuselage, wings, and empennage, and comes with a heavily constructed all-metal display stand to support the aircraft for in-flight display.

Corgi's "Aviation Archive" range presents highly-detailed, ready-made diecast models of military and civilian aircraft. The Aviation Archive range has become the standard by which all other diecast airplane ranges are judged. Each Corgi model is based on a specific aircraft from an important historical or modern era of flight and has been authentically detailed from original documents and archival library material. The range honors famous airplanes and aviators from both military and commercial airline aviation.

Corgi "Aviation Archive" diecast airplanes feature diecast metal construction with some plastic components, realistic panel lines, antennas, access panels, and surface details, pad printed markings and placards that won't fade or peel like decals, interchangeable extended/retracted landing gear with rotating wheels, poseable presentation stands to display the aircraft "in flight", many limited editions with numbered certificates of authenticity, detailed, hand-painted pilot and crew member figures, authentic detachable ordnance loads complete with placards, and selected interchangeable features such as speed-brakes, opened canopies, and access panels, as well as selected moving parts such as gun turrets, control surfaces, and swing-wings.