How about a Mighty Eighth Campaign. Any WWII aircraft in Eighth AAF colors. Suggestions or comments. Dates for campaign.

Amazing as it may seem,,I would definately be up for this one!
Not until next year though
Im working on a website of memorials to the Mighty Eighth at the moment. So far Ive visited and photographed over 40 of them.
Heres an example of what you can expect to see, and hopefully it will inspire some people to join the campaign.


Nige
Do we get bonus points for Assembly Ships?

I think this would be a great campaign that opens up a wide spectrum for many aircraft to be modeled with many different color shcemes. I am up for it, and with the diversity how about 6-8 months.

ROBERT

hey id be up for it. i got a old revell b-17g in my stash that i got at a yard sale for 6 bucks,only thing missing was the instructions.

If it is a 1/48 scale B-17G (Monogram). I can scan the instructions and send them to you.

well thanks for your offer Rex but I'm familiar with the kit(iv built 6 in my life.)

Nigel, I am glad to see you in this one. I thought you would like it. Assembly ships are a reward in themselves, aren't they?

Robert, Yes next year for sure, and probably a 6 month duration. Assembly ships do take longer after all.

Seth, Exactly what I was planning on building. That is where the idea came from.

Jesper, I guess you are MIA. Has anybody seen Jesper lately?

I'd be up for this one, got plenty of T-bolts, Mustangs and Fortresses in the stash that need doing.

Cheers

Allen

Captain A , What a wonderful idea . Would have to be next year . I'm planning a campaign at the moment and another cotest of short for us Ladies depending on the out come of the Ladies Campaign on right now . I do have a few WW2 aircraft in my stash left from when i was into them . This would be a good reason to build a mustang .

Do we really ever need an excuse. All I need is the time.

Carl you could be incharge of making extra time for all of us so that we could build more.

ROBERT

I think I can find something to build for this, may be even a 1/144 B-17 or B-24

As long as you allow the tiny scale

Ciao
Luciano

Tiiiiiiiime, is on my side, yes it is.

I personally like the bigger scales, but I have never turned down anything small. So, yes, small scale is cheerfully welcome in my campaigns. It is hard to find 1/32 Liberators, isn't it?

I have been doing some research on the 8th. I am amazed at just how many aircraft there were.

9 bombers in a squadron. =9
4 squadrons in a group. =36
3 groups in a wing. =108
5 wings in a division. =540
3 divisions =1620

And that does not include the fighters, transports, observation, and scouting aircraft.

That is a whole lot of nose art (read as scantily clad women).

I am suprised there isn't more interest in this one. We only need 3 more.

Carl I thought 12 made up a squadron, but I only know fighters.

ROBERT

Hi all.
I too was a bit surprised at the interest shown in this. I thought there would be more, but bear in mind that this is a very quiet time of year for the site, as the good weather and vacations take their toll on modelling time.
One thing that did spring to mind was what could be seen as a possible limitation to the type of aircraft for the campaign.
When you think of the Mighty Eighth the modeller automatically thinks B-17,B-24,P-47 and P-51. Only four types, albeit with some stunning decal options.
So,searching for inspiration and on the lookout for something that little bit different, I reached for the bookshelves and pulled out Roger Freemans "The Mighty Eighth War Manual", which lists all aircraft types used by the 8th.
Are you sitting comfortably reader?
Principal Combat Aircraft.
B-17E Flying Fortress
B-17F
Reed Project B-17F
B-17G
Airborne Lifeboat B-17
Transport and Utility B-17
Target Towing B-17...(red and white stripes )
Special Radar B-17
Aphrodite B-17
Radio Counter Measures B-17
Weather Reconn B-17
Assembly Ship B-17

B-24D Liberator
B-24H
B-24J
B-24L
H2S B-24
H2X B-24
Moling B-24
Eagle B-24
Azon B-24
Radio Countermeasures B-24
Carpet Bagger B-24
Fuel Tanker B-24
Assembly Ship B-24
Transport B-24

B-26B Marauder
B-26C
Night Photography B-26G

P-38F/G/H/J/L Lightning
P-38 F4/F-5A/F5-B/F5-C/F-5E/F-5F/F-5G
P-38 Droop Snoot
P-38L H2X

P-47C/D/M
P-47 Air Sea Rescue
P-47 Formation Mashalling.
P-47 Double bolt

P-51 A/B/C/D/K

DeHavilland Mosquito PR XVI
Weather Reconn/H2X/Night Photography/Chaff/Red Stocking
Mosquito T III ( dual control trainer)

Supermarine Spitfire MK V/IX/XI

Other Aircraft, Combat And Support,Just Passing Through,(but eligible for the campaign?)
B-25 Mitchell
B-29 Superfortress. (One was allocated to the 8th for 3 months for techniacal and tactical evaluation and also mislead German Intelligence into thinking B-29 deployment was imminent.
Douglas DB-7B Boston
Douglas DB-7/7A/A-20B Havoc
Douglas A-26 Invader
Vultee A-35 Vengeance
Consolidated OA-10 Catalina

Bell P-39 Airacobra
Curtiss P-40 Warhawk
Northrop P-61 Black Widow

Transport And Liason
Douglas C-47 Skytrain
Douglas C-53 Skytrooper
Lockheed Hudson V
Beech UC-45 Expediator
Fairchild UC-61 Forwarder
Noorduyn UC-64 Norseman
Cessna UC-78 Bobcat
Lockheed C-57 Lodestar
North American AT-6 Texan
Beech AT-7
Piper L-4 Grasshopper
Vultee L-5 Sentinel

British Communications and Training Aircraft
Airspeed Oxford
Avro Anson
Percival Proctor
DeHavilland Dominie
Miles Master
Hawker Hurricane
De Havilland Tiger Moth
Westland Lysander
Boulton Paul Defiant.

Still looking for inspiration?
Nige

.....no, got a pile of P-51s to do and some great 4th, 357th and 352nd FG schemes for them, so count me in..

...nice idea for the website Nige ..and did you get your copy of Aces & Wingmen II ?? ...

Ok, Ok!

I´m in!

I´m a Campaign-junkie and I have about every type listed in my stash!

If time is enough (6months+), perhaps I will find a spot for my favourite B-17G, the famous "A Bit O´Lace" in 1/48.

Cheers!

Stefan E

We are now one short




I thought so also. My research showed 9. I do believe tha number varied according to Availability, and may have even been in excess of 12 at times. Additionally, the radio codes on the aircraft ran from A through Z, which leads me to believe the numbers may have been general guidelins. But even though there were 9 in a squadron, throughout the war, each squadron may have had 50-60 bombers assigned to it. Attrition and rotation accounted for the numbers. Here is one typical squadron:

Type S/N Code Unit Name Status
B-17E 41-9023 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG “YANKEE DOODLE”
B-17F-10 41-24479 LG-R 322nd BS, 91st BG "SAD SACK".
B-17F-10 41-24453 LG-O 322nd BS, 91st BG “Bearded Beauty / Mizpah""
B-17F-10 41-24481 LG-M 322nd BS, 91st BG “HELL'S ANGELS”
B-17F-10 41-24482 322nd BS, 91st BG "Heavyweight Annihilators"
B-17F-10 41-24483 LG-U 322nd BS, 91st BG Spirit of Alcohol
B-17F-15 41-24497 LG-P 322nd BS, 91st BG "Mizpah II / Friscoe Jennie"
B-17F-20 41-24511 LG-W 322nd BS, 91st BG "Wheel and Deal"
B-17F-20 41-24512 LG-N 322nd BS, 91st BG "Rosie O'Day"
B-17F-20 41-24515 LG-U 322nd BS, 91st BG "Marie Jane"
B-17F-25 41-24545 LG-T 322nd BS, 91st BG "Luftwaffe's Waterloo"
B-17G-50 42-102527 LG-A 322nd BS, 91st BG “SLEEPYTIME GAL”
B-17G-35 42-107030 LG-T 322nd BS, 91st BG “FIFINELLA”
B-17G-35 42-107033 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG “MY BABY”
B-17F-65 42-29656 LG-S 322nd BS, 91st BG "SKUNKFACE"
B-17F-65 42-29711 LG-V 322nd BS, 91st BG "Chief Sly III"
B-17F-70 42-29778 LG-M 322nd BS, 91st BG
B-17F-70 42-29794 LG-O 322nd BS, 91st BG
B-17F-70 42-29815 LG-P 322nd BS, 91st BG “MIAMI Clipper”
B-17F-10 42-2990 LG-R 322nd BS, 91st BG “DAME SATAN”
B-17F-80 42-29972 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG "Paddy's Gremlin Jr."
B-17F-20 42-3057 LG-N 322nd BS, 91st BG “BLONDE BOMBER”
B-17F-115 42-30624 LG-Q 322nd BS, 91st BG
B-17F-115 42-30624 322nd BS, 91st BG "Queen Bee"
B-17G-1 42-31070 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG “DAME SATAN II”
B-17F-25- 42-3119 LG-M 322nd BS, 91st BG “Destiny’s Tot”
B-17G-15 42-31333 LG-W 322nd BS, 91st BG “WEE WILLIE”
B-17G-15 42-31353 LG-Q 322nd BS, 91st BG "Queenie"
B-17G-15 42-31367 LG-R 322nd BS, 91st BG “Chow Hound”
B-17G-25 42-31634 LG-O 322nd BS, 91st BG “TEXAS CHUBBY”
B-17G-35 42-31982 LG-S 322nd BS, 91st BG “SUPERSTITIOUS AL-O-YSIUS”
B-17G-10 42-37738 LG-T 322nd BS, 91st BG “MISS AMERICA II”
B-17G-10 42-37761 322nd BS, 91st BG "BLUE DREAMS"
B-17G-20 42-37939 OR- 322nd BS, 91st BG “SUGAR BLUES”
B-17G-20 42-37940 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG “SPIRIT OF '44”
B-17G-25 42-38027 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG “Heavenly Body”
B-17G-25 42-38083  LG-V 322nd BS, 91st BG “MAN O WAR II”
B-17G-1 42-39836 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG
B-17F-35 42-5139 LG-V 322nd BS, 91st BG “Chief Sly II”
B-17F-40 42-5178 LG-L 322nd BS, 91st BG "The Old Standby"
B-17F-5 42-5712 LG-S 322nd BS, 91st BG "Heavyweight Annihilators II"
B-17F-5- 42-5724 LG-T 322nd BS, 91st BG "Thunderbird"
B-17F-20 42-5789 LG-X 322nd BS, 91st BG "Golden Bear"
B-17G-45 42-97292 LG-C 322nd BS, 91st BG "BACHELOR'S BRIDE"
B-17G-15 42-97483 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG
B-17G-20 42-97626 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG
B-17G-40 42-98012 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG “WABASH CANNON BALL”
B-17G-85 43 38306 LG-B 322nd BS, 91st BG "the Biggest Bird"
B-17G-70 43-37707 LG-M 322nd BS, 91st BG “MADAME SHOO SHOO”
B-17G-70 43-37819 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG
B-17G-80 43-38202 LG-T 322nd BS, 91st BG "Miss Slipstream"
B-17G-80 43-38212 LG-P 322nd BS, 91st BG “Gal O' My Dreams”
B-17G-80 43-38234 LG-E 322nd BS, 91st BG "Easy Does It"
B-17G-85 43-38348 LG-O 322nd BS, 91st BG "Roxy's Special"
B-17G-85 43-38360 D 322nd BS, 91st BG "BRIDE OF MARS "
B-17G-95 43-38693 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG
B-17G-95 43-38755 322nd BS, 91st BG "LEWD ANGEL"
B-17G-40 44-6117 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG
B-17G-50 44-6298 LG-A 322nd BS, 91st BG “WHITE CARGO”, ,
B-17G-55 44-6596 LG- 322nd BS, 91st BG “SWEET DISH”
B-17G-55 44-8208 LD- 322nd BS, 91st BG "My Baby II"

That makes 62 assigned to this squadron, and I haven't finished researching it yet. I still have another 159 Bomber squadrons I haven't even started yet. BTW, if anybody can fill in some of the blank spaces...

Carl that was an eye opener, goes to show how little I do know. Thanks for the information list it did give me pause to try and put myself in the shoes of those who had to put together the squadrons. Must have been on the job training while driving at 200 at the same time.

ROBERT

The 91st BG were based at Bassinbourn, and was the home of the Memphis Belle.
The Belle was actualy the 2nd B-17 to complete 25 missions. Bonus points for anyone who knows which one was first.
Bassingbourn today is an army barracks, and although there is a museum there its only open on Sundays, and I havent been able to visit yet.
However, in Bassingbourn village you'll find evidence of the villages history if you look closely.


Nige

Hi All,

Thisis great idea for a campaign, so many different subjects available and infinate variations on colours schemes.. Count me IN..

Steve

Count me in! Main inspiration for getting back into modelling was so I could build a B-17, still haven't built any WW2 kits yet so this is a good excuse as any! Nigel, "Hells Angels" was the first to complete 25 missions I beleive.

Correct Nick
"Hells Angels" 41-24577, a B-17F flying out of Molesworth with the 358th BS 303rd BG was indeed the first to complete 25 missions, not Memphis Belle.

I reckon that takes us over the 10 required "enlistees"?
Chucks on holiday at the moment so it will be a while before it becomes a full Campaign page
Nige

I will try to get my act together and submit it. Any sugestion on dates?

42-4577, 303rd BG, 358th BS, "Hells Angels" was first aircraft to complete 25 combat missions in 8th AF, doing so May 14, 1943. It returned to USA after its 48th mission December 13, 1943. It was scrapped August 14, 1945. The "Memphis Belle" crew actually flew some of its 25 missions on other planes. So all the fanfare was for the first crew to complete 25 missions, not the first aircraft. Besides, the censors decided Mamphis Belle was a better name to set before the public.

Here are some other aircraft that can be built. Sorry if there is any repitition repetition repetition.

Beech AT-7
Boeing B-17F-25-BO Fortress
Cessna UC-78 Bobcat
Douglas A-20B Havoc
Douglas C-47A-15-DL
Douglas C-47A-1-DL
Douglas C-47A-DL
Douglas C-47-DL
Douglas C-68-DO
Fairchild UC-61A Forwarder
Lockheed P-38H-1-LO Lightning
Lockheed P-38H-5-LO Lightning
Lockheed P-38J-10-LO Lightning
Lockheed P-38J-15-LO Lightning
Lockheed P-38J-15-LO Lightning converted to droop snoot configuration
Lockheed P-38J-5-LO Lightning
Lockheed/Vega B-17F-20-VE Fortress
Lockheed/Vega B-17G-1-VE Fortress
Lockheed/Vega B-17G-75-VE Fortress
Martin B-26B-45-MA Marauder converted to AT-23A
Noorduyn UC-64A Norseman
North American AT-6D-NT Texan S/N 34608 used in England as communications aircraft by 20th FG.
North American P-51B-10-NA Mustang
North American P-51B-15-NA Mustang
North American P-51B-1-NA Mustang
North American P-51B-1-NA Mustang two seater
North American P-51B-5 Mustang
North American P-51C-10-NT Mustang
North American P-51C-5-NT Mustang
North American P-51D-10-NA Mustang
North American P-51D-15-NA Mustang
North American P-51D-20-NA Mustang
North American P-51D-5-NA Mustang
North American P-51D-5-NT Mustang
North American P-51K-1-NT Mustang
North American P-51K-5-NT Mustang
Piper L-4B Grasshopper
Republic P-47C-1-RE Thunderbolt
Republic P-47C-2-RE Thunderbolt
Republic P-47C-5-RE Thunderbolt
Republic P-47D-28-RE Thunderbolt
Republic P-47D-30-RE Thunderbolt
Republic P-47M Thunderbolt
Consolidated B-24J-145-CO Liberator
Consolidated B-24J-150-CO Liberator
Consolidated B-24J-155-CO Liberator
Consolidated B-24J-160-CO Liberator
Consolidated B-24J-165-CO Liberator
YB 17 Gunship

I bet even Jean Luc and Rowan can find something exotic enough to build on these lists