FORCES OF VALOR US B-25J MITCHELL USAAF 345th BG "Air Apaches" Phillipines 1945

Description

Unimax Forces of Valor - #85045 - Issued 2012
North American B-25J  Mitchell; Tail #226
USAAF 345th Bombardment Group "
AIR APACHES
", Philippines, 1945
Dimensions:  1/72 scale; pre-finished diecast metal
Wingspan: 11 1/4 inches - Length: 8 3/4 inches
Historical:
The 345th Bomb Group was first activated at Columbia Army Air Base, South Carolina, in November of 1942, with flight crew training beginning in December of that same year. They trained there for five months before moving to Walterboro, S.C., for final preparation before deployment overseas. It was here in Walterboro that the four squadrons that made up the 345th (
AIR APACHES
) adopted their nicknames, the 498th became the
FALCONS
, the 499TH ,
BATS OUTA HELL
, the 500th,
ROUGH RAIDERS
, and the 501ST became the
BLACK PANTHERS
.
August of 1943 began the conversion from level bomber to the "strafer" role that the 345th would become famous for. This conversion entailed the removal of the bottom turret which was replaced with an extra gas tank, and the three hand-held machine guns manned by the bombardier-navigator were removed and the "greenhouse" nose was rebuilt to accommodate four forward-firing .50-caliber machine guns. Two side-pack machine guns were added on each side of the lower fuselage just aft of the cockpit, giving the plane eight new fifty-caliber machine guns in addition to the twin fifties in the top turret and tail, and single fifties at the waist positions. Later versions would bring the total forward firing capabilities to (14) forward firing .50 caliber machine guns that would make the superstructure of an enemy ship dissolve as the armor-piercing incendiary projectiles melted it.
NOTE:  Prepaid shipping applicable only within domestic USA - Shipping to include insurance - Models are well packed BUT they still may get things broke during ship - All sales are final - No returns.