On 14 October 1943 — "Black Thursday" — the Eighth Air Force sent 291 B-17s against the ball-bearing works at Schweinfurt and lost sixty of them outright, with dozens more crippled. Deep-penetration raids like this ran beyond the reach of fighter escort, leaving the bombers to fight through German interceptors and belts of 88mm flak alone. Over the target the formation held straight and level while the bombardiers worked their sights — the longest minutes of any mission. Airmen flew it in leather helmets and layered sheepskin, and only when long-range P-51 Mustangs began riding shotgun the whole way in, early in 1944, did the loss rates finally break.

This crewman stands at ease, one hand on his hip, his B-6 leather flying helmet and goggles worn up on his brow. He wears a brown shearling-collared flight jacket over a yellow B-4 "Mae West" life vest with the parachute harness cinched across it, green flight trousers laced at the ankles, and carries a canvas kit bag at his side. He pairs directly with the Heavy Bomber Crewman Walking with Parachute; add the Ball Turret Gunner and the U.S.A.A.F. Bomber Captain to build a dispersal-hardstand diorama of a crew gathering before a mission.

W. Britain model 10206. 1/30 scale (approximately 60mm), matte-painted metal. Single foot figure on a sculpted groundwork base. Boxed.