Decal Manufacturer: Scale Master / PRO Modeler

 

Title: B-24D Liberators 343rd BS, 98th BG, 9th AF

 

Ref: 88100100200

 

Scale: 1/48

 

Decals: The sheet contains decals for three United States Army Air Force (USAAF) Consolidated B-24D Liberator aircraft, all with superb nose art, serving with the 343rd Bombardment Squadron (BS), 98th Bombardment Group (BG), 9th Air Force (AF) that took part in Operation TIDAL WAVE, the low level bombing mission over the Ploesti oilfields, on 1st August 1943.

 

Includes Black bureau numbers, Black aircraft code letters, superb nose art in the form of White outlined in Black and Dark Blue “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” titles alongside art work of the Disney “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, character “Snow White”, Black shadowed in White “Prince Charming” titles alongside art work of the Disney “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” character “Prince Charming” , and Black “The Witch” titles alongside art work of the Disney “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs” character “The Witch” and mission markings and some data/stencils integrated into the nose art. Note that the Star roundels will and data/stencils will need to come from the kit.

There are sufficient decals to complete all three B-24D Liberator aircraft in full from the sheet, using the kit Star roundels. All the B-24D’s are finished inn Desert Pink uppers over Neutral Grey lowers with Black de-icer boots on the wing and tail fin leading edges.

 

Also includes a double sided A4 black and white placement guide showing side, upper and lower profiles.

 

Decals for three B-24D Liberator aircraft - click the highlighted links above and below for images of the actual aircraft or similar:

 

1. B-24D-53-CO Liberator, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”, Lt J A Gunn III, 343rd BS, 98th BG, 9th AF, Ploesti mission, 1st August 1943, 4240364 Y (This B-24D started combat operations on 13th May 1943 and was shot down during the low level Ploesti mission of the 1st August 1943 near the Yugoslavia/ Bulgaria border by enemy fighters during the withdrawal from the target in the same action that downed “The Witch” (41-11840) flown by Pilot Julian Darlington. The sole survivor from “Snow White”, Tail Gunner Stanley Horine, and Pilot Julian Darlington from “The Witch”, were Prisoners of War (POWs) together in Bulgaria)

2. B-24D-30-CO Liberator, “Prince Charming”, T Bennett, 343rd BS, 98th BG, 9th AF, Ploesti mission, 1st August 1943, 4240082 Y (Flown by Tom Bennett “Prince Charming” turned back early in the vicinity of Corfu and did not reach the target area of Ploesti. The B-24D series “Prince Charming” retired from combat operations and was replaced in February 1944 by a B-24J series “Prince Charming” (42-40082), which carried similar nose art. Rudolph "Rudy" Gaydosh was the Crew Chief on both Prince Charming’s and proudly claims that none of "his" ships were lost in combat.)

3. B-24D-CO Liberator, “The Witch”, J Darlington, 343rd BS, 98th BG, 9th AF, Ploesti mission, 1st August 1943, 4II840 P (This aircraft was named and painted before the 343rd BS left Florida for duty in the MTO in July 1942. It played a supporting role in an effort made by the Rollo Lawrence crew to interest other 343rd BS crews in using characters from the Snow White movie as a theme for naming their nine ships. The proposal met a cool reception from the other 343rd BS crews and only two of the aircraft were so named “Snow White” (42-40364) - Rollo Lawrence crew and “The Witch” (41-11840) - Glade Jorgenson crew. The 343rd BS started combat operations from Palestine in August 1942. This aircraft was lost on the low-level Ploesti mission 1st August 1943. It was flown by the Julian Darlington crew (on loan to the 98th BG from the 389th BG) and made a forced landing near the border of Bulgaria and Yugoslavia following a running-fight with enemy fighters. Six of the crew became POWs in Bulgaria, the other four evaded and joined with Yugoslav partisans for almost a year.)

 

Condition: mint