Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress Bomber Aircraft “Ye Olde Pub” United States Army Air Forces 1/155 Diecast Model Airplane by Postage Stamp

Product Description

HISTORY ASPECTS:
The B-17F Flying Fortress “Ye Olde Pub” became famous during World War II for an extraordinary act of chivalry between enemies. On December 20, 1943, “Ye Olde Pub,” piloted by 2nd Lt. Charlie Brown of the 379th Bomb Group, was part of a bombing mission over Bremen, Germany. During the mission, the bomber was severely damaged by enemy fighters and anti-aircraft fire, leaving it limping back toward England. The B-17 was heavily hit, with its crew injured, engines failing, and the aircraft barely holding together.
As “Ye Olde Pub” struggled to make its way back, a Luftwaffe pilot, Franz Stigler, flying a Bf 109, approached the crippled bomber. Instead of finishing off the stricken aircraft, Stigler saw the condition of the crew and chose to escort the B-17 away from German airspace, sparing the lives of Brown and his men. Stigler saluted the American crew before turning away and flying back to his base. Brown was able to safely return to England, and the encounter between the two pilots became one of the most well-known stories of aerial warfare during the war.
For decades, the story of “Ye Olde Pub” and Franz Stigler remained untold, until Charlie Brown began searching for the German pilot after the war. The two eventually met in the 1990s, becoming close friends until their deaths. This incredible act of mercy during a brutal conflict became a lasting symbol of humanity amid war.
A must-have for collectors and history enthusiasts alike, this 1:155 scale model pays tribute to a legendary moment in aviation history, where honor transcended the battlefield.