B-17G Flying Fortress “Rose of York” Limited Edition
It’s July 6th, 1944. King George VI, Queen Elizabeth and 18 year old Princess Elizabeth of York are on a morale boosting tour of operational RAF and American air force bases in England. The Royal visitors are escorted round American bomber stations by General James H Doolittle, Commander Eighth Air Force. At RAF Thurleigh in Bedfordshire where the US Air Force 306th Bombardment Group is stationed, Her Royal Highness the Princess Elizabeth names a B-17. A bottle of British cider is cracked against the chin turret and it’s christened “Rose of York”.
Boeing Flying Fortress 102547 with tail letter “F” had flown 13 sorties when it was named “Rose of York”. Its 63rd mission on February 3rd 1945 would be its last. The ‘Fort’ was part of “Jimmy” Doolittle’s 1,000-bomber daylight raid on Berlin but was hit by anti-aircraft fire and came down in the Channel with the loss of all nine crew and intrepid BBC war correspondent Guy Byam who was on board “Rose of York” reporting on the mission.
The limited edition HK Models kit includes a Princess Elizabeth figure.
Early production G version with chin turret, staggered waist guns, ‘Stinger’tail turret (F version). Limited edition resin figure of Princess Elizabeth by Life Miniatures included. Markings for (1) B-17G-55-BO, s/n 42-102547, 367th BS/306th BG, RAF Thurleigh, UK, 6th July 1944 (2) B-17G-55-BO, s/n 42-102547, 367th BS/306th BG, RAF Thurleigh, UK, after August 1944. L: 707mm, W: 989mm, Total parts 662.
