Corgi 1/72 AA34017 Consolidated B24D-25 Liberator Ruth-less 506th BS/44th BG Shipdham Summer 1943

AA34017 Consolidated B24D -25 Liberator 'Ruth-less' 506th BS/44th BG, Shipdham, Summer 1943

B-24D 'Ruth-less' had an eventful life before even leaving the United States. While pilot Frank Slough was practising formation flying another machine lost control and slammed into his aircraft, severing the tail of the other B-24 and smashing the nose of Slough's B-24. The co-pilot panicked and abandoned the aircraft, leaving the engineer James Caillier to take over as co-pilot, helping to land the stricken craft. For this both received medals. Once in the UK the aircraft undertook many tough raids, including missions to Kiel and, while on detachment to Libya, assaults on the Ploesti oil fields. 'Ruth-less' was lost on 2nd February 1944 when it smashed into the top of a hill near Eastbourne. All were killed in the accident and today a memorial marks the spot.