"Bee" Pilot (1 Viewer)

[wwiibuff]

Duane Beeson pilot of the "Boise Bee" 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force based at Debden England in January 1944. Beeson was one of the best pilots of the 4th FG. Shown here is his P-47D Razorback "Boise Bee". Beeson basically had 17 confirmed kills, 12 in the P-47 and another 5 in the P-51B making him one of the few to achieve ace status in two different aircraft. Beeson was a native of Boise Idaho. He was shot down by anti-aircraft fire in 1944 and spent about a year in a German POW camp. After freed from the POW camp at the end of the war he returned to the USA, got married but sadly got ill and died of a brain tumor less than two years after the end of WWII in 1947 at the age of 25.

The model shown is a 1970's 1/32 kit from Revell that I just finished building and painting. It's an old kit and lacks some detail that the newer kits of today have, but I still enjoy building these as I remember them from my childhood. I only had to add tires from BarracudaCast and decals from BarracudaCals to finish off the model and even with the raised surface detail (which is not correct and not done on models of today) it still finishes off in a nice looking representation of the P-47D Razorback. The pilot figure is from King & Country.

I've included some WWII era photos of Beeson. One of the photos shows the nose art and one of the ground crewman imitating the Bee's six shooters with his fingers. (photos from littlefriends.co.uk)

Here's to remembering one of our best fighter pilots of WWII and his service to our country.

 

[King & Country]

Duane Beeson pilot of the "Boise Bee" 334th Fighter Squadron, 4th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force based at Debden England in January 1944. Beeson was one of the best pilots of the 4th FG. Shown here is his P-47D Razorback "Boise Bee". Beeson basically had 17 confirmed kills, 12 in the P-47 and another 5 in the P-51B making him one of the few to achieve ace status in two different aircraft. Beeson was a native of Boise Idaho. He was shot down by anti-aircraft fire in 1944 and spent about a year in a German POW camp. After freed from the POW camp at the end of the war he returned to the USA, got married but sadly got ill and died of a brain tumor less than two years after the end of WWII in 1947 at the age of 25.

The model shown is a 1970's 1/32 kit from Revell that I just finished building and painting. It's an old kit and lacks some detail that the newer kits of today have, but I still enjoy building these as I remember them from my childhood. I only had to add tires from BarracudaCast and decals from BarracudaCals to finish off the model and even with the raised surface detail (which is not correct and not done on models of today) it still finishes off in a nice looking representation of the P-47D Razorback. The pilot figure is from King & Country.

I've included some WWII era photos of Beeson. One of the photos shows the nose art and one of the ground crewman imitating the Bee's six shooters with his fingers. (photos from littlefriends.co.uk)

Here's to remembering one of our best fighter pilots of WWII and his service to our country.

As per usual Duke, you always bring something fresh and different to the 'party'...Keep 'em coming!
And Thankyou,
Andy.

 

[wwiibuff]

As per usual Duke, you always bring something fresh and different to the 'party'...Keep 'em coming!
And Thankyou,
Andy.

Thanks for that Andy. It amazes me what some of our veterans did/had to do at such a young age.

 

[TomNT]

Awesome bird Duke and nice pic's and dio once again. Hopefully if things go well this year i'll pop in and see this bird and your other creations and acquisitions in the flesh.

Tom

 

[wwiibuff]

Awesome bird Duke and nice pic's and dio once again. Hopefully if things go well this year i'll pop in and see this bird and your other creations and acquisitions in the flesh.

Tom

Hello Tom and thanks. Sounds good about your possible visit. Hope you can make it happen, would be great to see you again mate.

Here are a couple more of the "Bee"

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Duke, You have done that polystone warbird justice ! :salute::

Wayne

 

[mestell]

Very nicely done Duke . . . .
:smile2: MIke

 

[wwiibuff]

Duke, You have done that polystone warbird justice ! :salute::

Wayne

Wayne, this is not polystone model but an old plastic Revell 1/32 kit I built and painted

Very nicely done Duke . . . .
:smile2: MIke

Thanks Mike

 

[PanzerAce1944]

Wayne, this is not polystone model but an old plastic Revell 1/32 kit I built and painted



Thanks Mike

Duke, Nice and even more impressive !

Wayne

 

[wwiibuff]

Duke, Nice and even more impressive !

Wayne

Thanks for that Wayne.