SC 9892347
ID: 45
Category: Diecast Model Aeroplanes
F.S.B-25J Mitchell Bomber - 429600
499 BS/345 BG BATS OUT OF HELL 1945
Rare model no. 0325 of only 1420 world wide Limited Edition Corgi Aviation Archive
Scale 1/72 No Box
Price $195.00 plus postage and handling
contact: Shane phone 02 69647419 located in Griffith NSW
The 345th Medium Bombardment Group, "The Air Apaches" were widely known in the south west pacific theatre. There are brightly painted falcon (498th sqdn),BAT (499th sqdn), (500th sqdn) and panther (501st sqdn) Mitchell B-25 twin engine bombers flew at low level, often at tree top height. Converted to gun nosed B-25's, with up to 12 forward firing fifty caliber machine guns were well respected and feared by the Japanese. Used in conjunction with the heavy firepower were parafrag bombs, bombs using parachutes to allow the bomber to move away to a safe distance before detonation. Assigned to the 5th Air Force, the 345th entered combat on June 30th , 1943 from New Guinea. Missions flown were: Bombing/strafing airfields and installations, attaching shipping supporting ground forces, dropping supplies and flying courier and reconnaissance missions, The 499th Bombardment Squadron were commonly known as 'Bats outa Hell' due to their brightly pained nose scheme depicting a bats head. Seen here in the less common bare metal finish, this was one of the most famous and intimidating nose art schemes of the Second World War.
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