The B-17 Flying Fortress was a four-engine heavy bomber developed in the 1930s by Boeing for the United States Army Air Corps. It was a high-altitude long-range bomber used in World War II for daylight bombing raids on Nazi Germany's industrial and military centers. Early in the war, B-17s participated in the Pacific war by attacking Japanese shipping and airfields, but their use was limited. The aircraft was reliable, effective, and developed a reputation for returning home despite extensive battle damage.
The Boeing Bee was built in 1943 just up the street from the Museum of Flight at Boeing's Seattle Plant No.2 (no longer standing). It spent much of its military service in the United States in Wyoming, California, and Washington. In 1944, it left for England, where it spent three months in a non-combat role. After the war, it was used as a war memorial in Arkansas, a fire bomber, and even participated in the movie Memphis Belle. It came to The Museum of Flight in 1991 for restoration and for a time was the only flyable B-17F model left in the world. Read more about our B-17F Boeing Bee.
This diecast metal model from Postage Stamp features authentic paint scheme with pad printed markings, landing gear fixed retracted and plastic display stand.
