80 Years of the Mighty 8th GB

Modeling Subjects Group Builds
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The VIII Bomber Command was established in Jan 1942 and by the following month an advanced detachment had arrived in England to begin preparing for the arrival of combat units. The first misson over Europe took place in July with attacks in German airfields in the Netherlands.

In early 1944 there was a re-organisation of US Air Forces in Europe and VIII Bomber Command was re-designated 8th Air Force, with the VIII fighter and VIII Air Support Commands also coming under its control.

My first GB on this forum, in 2010, was dedicated to the 8th AAF in Europe in WW2. Now, to mark the 80th Anniversary, this GB will be open to builds on the 8th thrpoughout its history to the current day. The 8th has been in continuous service since its creation, elements served in Korea, Vietnam and in both campaigns against Iraq and Afghanistan. In WW2 its B-17’s and B-24’s helped to destroy German war production, and today, under the Air Force Global Strike command, it operated the USAF’s B-1’s, B-2’s and B-52’s. In between, it has operated a wide range of types, fighters, bombers, tankers and ICBM’s.

So, this GB is dedicated to the 80 years of the Mighty 8th and is open to any subject belonging to the 8th Air Force. It can be an aircraft, bust, missile or even a ground vehicle that can be linked to the 8th.

The general rules are:

GB runs from 1st Jan 2022 until the 31st Dec 22.

Any subject in any scale, witrh or without AM, of any subject belonging or serving with the 8th.

Plenty of photo’s, of course.

Cross overs allowed.

Partly started allowed, within reason.

Enjoy.

I have done 3 badges, please choose one and host with pride. For the first 2 i picked subjects based in Norfolk, as some may know i have an on going project to build subjects from all 37 military airfields in Norfolk, and the 8th AAF airfields are to found all over the county as well as the rest of East Anglia.

A B-24 from the 491st BG.

Next, P-51’s of the 452nd FG based at Bodney. I especially like this one as the B-17’s in the background are from the 447th BG based at Rattlesdon. Part of the runway and the old contol tower is still in use today by a glider club and its only a mile from my home.

And somthing a bit more up to date.

So, sign yourself up letting me know subject, scale and manufacturer and i’ll get you on the roster and look forward to some very heavy metal.

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Roster

Armor_Aficionado ICM 1/48th P-51D

Bish Hasegawa 1/72nd B-24H

Academy 1/72nd P-47D

cbaltrin Airfix 1/48 P-51D-5

crown r n7 Hasegawa 1/72nd B-17F

fearlessfarless Eduard 1/48th Spitefire Mk.V

Eduard 1/48thP-51D (completed)

fotofrank Monogram 1/72nd F-82

GAF Revell 1/32nd P-51D

JBRaider Academy 1/72nd P-51B

jeaton ProModeler 1/48th B-24D

Justinryan Academy 1/72nd B-17F

keavdog Tamiya 1/48th P-51B

Modelcrazy Airfix 1/72nd B-17G

Plasticjunkie Revell 1/32nd P-51D

rooster513 Monogram 1/48th B-17 (possably)

scottrc 1/72nd B-24

Stikpusher 1/48th P-51D

taxtp Hasegawa 1/72nd P-47D

tempestjohnny Revell 1/72nd P-47D

Revell 1/72nd P-47M

TheMongoose Dragon 1/32nd P-51K

Completed builds

fearlessfairless Eduard 1/48thP-51D

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I’m in with a 1/72 Hasegawa B-17F

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I’m in bish. I’m thinking it will be the 1-48 monogram b-17 but will let you know for sure when it gets closer.

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I am DEFINITELY in for this one! ihave an Academy “Memphis Belle” in 1/72 that has been calling my name as of late!

**may not come out on the other end as the 'belle, though…

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In with 1/48 Tamiya P-51B - Gentile’s mount.

Paint bleeding allowed [:P]

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Bish, Sign me up with an Eduard or Airfix P-51D-5

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Glad to have you on board guys.

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Bian you are really exceeding expectations when it comes to group builds! I’m booked up on group builds next year but I might fit this one in. I will definitely let you know if I want to commit.

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I’m thinking of building a Mustang or two in the near future, so I might join in.

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Look forward to having you on board Carlos.

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I’m sure you can squeeze one in [:D]

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Bish, you know I always make room or your GB’s. In fact I bought a 1/72 Airfix B-17G when you first anounced that you wanted to do an GB to honor the mighty 8th.

So he!! yeah I’m in mate.

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Glad to have you on board as always Steve, i’ll wait till the weekend and uopdate the roster in one hit.

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Hell’s Angels of 303rd bombardment group 358th sqd.

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Nice choice Nick.

You should check out the book

Hell’s Angels: The True Story of the 303rd Bomb Group in World War II

by Jay A Stout

Good book. I didn’t know it before but to 303 trained right here in Boise ID.

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Bish, your group builds are always about such great topics. This GB might be a little too tough to resist. I don’t have a subject or a plan yet but i think I am working on it. The National Museum of the Mighty Eighth is just under 300 miles north of me near Pooler, GA. There is a B-47 parked outside near the front entrance to the museum. This is their B-17 inside of the museum: https://www.mightyeighth.org/

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Steve. I just ordered it on Kindle, I remember that cover thankyou,cant wait to get started on it.

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You’re welcome Nick. I recently finished it on Audiable myself. I was going to mark my G as “Thunderbird”

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Nice choice. Based at Molseworth where the first 8th AAf mission took off from in 1942 and along with Alconbury the only WW2 8th bases in England still used by the USAF.