What an awesome project! I've first heard of this story when listening to Swedish heavy metal band Sabaton when they released a song 'No Bullets Fly' a few years ago. Of course I had to immediately read the 'Higher Call' book and was amazed, especially by the story, morale and career of Franz Stigler. So from the info from the book, are those decals correct to depict kill markings on the rudder? As from what I remember, he didn't wore them after returning from African theater.

Likewise, David!

Yeah, the kill marking thing escaped me a bit, so I wasn't totally sure. I would love to build his Messer one day and there are a couple of Eduard's G6s waiting in the stash... I'd just wished a day had at least 36 hours 😀

Just breathing a little life into this WiP; it's a very important 'diorama' to me (love the B17, the story, and the Bf 109) but 'time being the enemy of all men' it's just hard to prioritise.

But, yesterday a key component fell into place when I found and ordered this.

Meet 2nd Lt. Spencer 'Pinky' Luke, co-pilot.

And here is the actual crew of 'Ye Olde Pub' - Spencer is second from the left in the front row.

The 379th Bomb Group (H) (heavy), based at Kimbolton, flew more sorties than any other Bomb Group in the Eighth Air Force and dropped a greater bomb tonnage than any other Group. The B-17 Flying Fortress Group was awarded two Distinguished Unit Citations, the first for operations across the period beginning 28 May 1943 to 31 July 1944. The second was awarded to the 1st Bomb Division as a whole for flying without fighter protection to bomb aircraft factories at Oschersleben on 11 January 1944.

The 379th was comprised of four (4) Bombardment Squadrons (All B-17's)
1) 524th - Squadron Marking: WA
2) 525th - Squadron Marking: FR
3) 526th - Squadron Marking: LF
4) 527th - Squadron Marking: FO

(Details from Imperil War Museum)

"Glad to see you woke up on this build" - how that made me laugh, Tom. I'm glad to wake up on it!

These old Forts took a beating for sure. I am always amazed at what some of these planes went through and still managed to make it home. About 15 years ago I met a gentlemen who flew B-24's over Europe. He told me that he still loved the B-24 because he always came home in it. I asked him about his opinion on the B-17, and in a typical pilot fashion he replied that the B-24 was faster, carried a heavier bomb load at a higher speed and a higher altitude than the B-17. He threw in the ringer when he said that they made more of them too ! He had his points ...
I have had the opportunity to crawl through both types and both seem quite cramped inside, even more so when you think about how much more awkward it must have been when wearing combat flight gear and a parachute ! Some guys supposedly set their chutes next to them since it was so cramped inside these planes.

The final twist to this story ...

The B-24 pilot became best friends with his next door neighbor ( who I also had the pleasure of meeting). She was a tiny little woman who still spoke with a broken English accent. She was German !
And she lived in a town that the B-24 pilot actually bombed during the War ! Not once, but twice !

He pulled out his log book and showed me ...

Amazing how we can sometimes get along given the opportunity.

He stayed in the Army Air Force and eventually flew F-86 Sabre jets in Korea.

I'll be looking forward to seeing your progress on this one Dave ... The aluminum foil is a great idea for battle damage.

I have added a few pictures for you. I have quite a few of them, and if you need more please don't hesitate to ask.

The waist gunners position:

The bomb bays

And the nose ...

The "radio room"

And the "office"

Are just a few of what I have taken.

Thanks again David.

David, detailing the interior of the Fortress is a gigantic task, even more with the pics Louis added...superb photos, reminds me of the old Verlinden lock-on books (I think that was the name). Good luck for the rest of the build, gonna follow all the way, already got some popcorn

Hi Pedro and thanks for the encouragement. I realised when I took this on that there'd be a lot of work in the 'fort. However, I'm resisting the 'detail up' kits available from Eduard (they do separate kits for engines, cockpit, bomb bay, waist, and tail) as it'd bust the kitty.

My plans are to scratch detail the areas that are open, which will mainly be the waist. The Eduard 109 will just about build herself, and the other main part will be the base (which I have one or two ideas about).

This build is right up on the bench after this weekend and I'm looking forward to kick starting her again.

This is going to turn out great. Especially poignant given Bernie's passing...

I live in the Seattle area where most B-17s were built. A while ago I was sitting at a cage and looked--as if responding to the sound of a Cessna--and here was a lumbering B-17, passing right overhead, for all the world looking like she was heading out on another mission.