Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress – Mount ‘N’ Ride, 323rd BS, 91st BG USAAF, Bassingbourn 1944. With Nose Art Panel

Corgi Aviation 1/72 scale US33308: Boeing B-17G Flying Fortress Mount ‘N’ Ride of 323rd BS, 91st BG USAAF, RAF Bassingbourn, England, April 1944. Part of the Nose Art series, with a large scale panel showing the aircrafts Nose Art insignia. Limited Edition of 1,260 models, intended mainly for US issue.

Length 12.25 inches Wingspan 17.25 inches

This aircraft was quickly adorned with artwork by the 91st BG’s prolific and famous Tony Starcer. His painting was based on a calendar girl, placed against a mountainous backdrop, and accompanied by the audacious titling “Mount ‘N’ Ride!”

During WW2, young airmen separated from home, family, loved ones and a familiar way of life often sought ways of escaping the harsh reality of war by personalising their aircraft with what has become known as nose art. Humour, slogans, nicknames, cartoons, girls; all were used to bring a touch of light relief to their deadly day-to-day existence. The Corgi Nose Art range aims to capture some of the superb works of art that adorned aircraft on all sides of the conflict. Each model includes a diecast body panel featuring the art in colourful, large-scale detail.

Designed to meet a US Army Air Corps requirement for a multi-engined bomber to replace the B-10, the B-17 first flew on July 18, 1935. Best known for its role in the US Army Air Forces’ daylight strategic bombing campaign during World War II, the B-17 could fly high and had a long range, and was capable of defending itself from enemy fighters. It was also tough, withstanding extensive battle damage, and was capable of carrying a 6,000 lb bombload. 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.

As of early November 2023, there are six airworthy and registered B-17 aircraft still flying. Five of these are in the US, and one is based in the UK. There are 19 examples that have a current (November 2023) registration with the US FAA. These are not all airworthy, but some have the potential to fly again or have in the past. Note that many of these aircraft have been renamed in preservation – they do not necessarily have their original war names or liveries. Approximately 45 airframes survive in total.