Revell Boeing B-17F Memphis Belle

The Boeing B-17 became synonymous with heavily armed strategic bombers during World War II, although with 12,677 units produced, it was far from being the most manufactured aircraft of its kind. It earned the nickname "Flying Fortress" from an American journalist after its first flight, and the name stuck. The Boeing B-17F was the first Flying Fortress to be produced in mass quantities. The most famous aircraft from this series was the B-17F-10-BO, built by Boeing, which was delivered on July 15, 1942, and entered service with the 324th Bomber Squadron, 91st Bomber Group in Bassingbourn, England. Its crew named it "Memphis Belle," after the pilot Lt. Robert K. Morgan's girlfriend. Its fame stemmed from the fact that it was officially the first bomber of the US Army Air Force in Europe to survive 25 missions and became the star of a Hollywood propaganda film. After this mission, the Memphis Belle was ordered back to the United States with its crew. Later, it was purchased by the city of Memphis and displayed outdoors as a monument. In 2004, the B-17F underwent a complete restoration, and today the Memphis Belle is once again open to the public. It features structured surfaces, a cockpit with an instrument panel, a bomb sight and seat, a rotating MG turret, a movable MG ball turret under the fuselage, MG mounts in the side windows, detailed main landing gear, and movable propellers.