Shoo Shoo Baby at Bassingbourn Airfield 1944 (1 Viewer)

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The 91st Heavy Bombardment Group moved into RAF Bassingbourn in October of 1942. On the 23rd of March, 1944 the 91st took possession of Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby and she flew her first mission the next day. She flew 24 combat missions from England with the 91st BG, with three other missions aborted for mechanical problems, before being listed as missing in action on 29 May 1944. On its final mission, to the Focke Wulf aircraft component factory at Poznań, Poland, it crash-landed at Malmö Airport, Sweden. A deal was made between the Swedish and U.S. governments to permit around 300 American crewmen to be repatriated in exchange for a promise not to use the crewmen in combat again and to formally turn over to Sweden nine B-17s that had landed intact. Seven of these were converted by Saab Aircraft into airliners that could carry 14 passengers, and "Shoo Shoo Shoo Baby" flew for SILA (now Scandinavian Airlines). Some boring history follows, but in 1972 she was donated back to the USAF and has been fully restored.

I want to again thank Nicholas Cameron (Crowne Military Miniatures) for making the airfield base for me, some of the accessories and one of the bofors guns. He did a spectacular job and I'm thrilled with it!

and now....Some photos (sorry so many, I couldn't decide)

 

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A visit from Ike!!!

 

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And lastly, I always like to see dioramas as a whole. So, here are wide shots of the whole thing...

 

[Sentaapua]

Congratulatios Zach, it looks beautiful!

 

[sammy719]

Outstanding!!!! that has got to be one of the nicest airfield dios I have seen, with some of the older vehicles (Jimmy) and the Figarti Bofors gun, and of course the plane itself and crew are fantastic!!! congrats on a wonderful piece and thanks for sharing...Sammy

 

[lancer]

Just beautiful. Beautiful airfield, beautiful B-17, and loads of beautiful details. It is a display to be very proud of. ^&cool^&cool^&cool -- Al

 

[PanzerAce1944]

That is one Awesome looking aircraft model ! :salute::

 

[Guy]

BEAUTIFUL and so much going on on that field
guy

 

[Louis Badolato]

Awesome, Zach!^&cool^&cool

 

[zblang]

BEAUTIFUL and so much going on on that field
guy

Funny you say that bc I was looking at it and wondering if there was too much but I love all the vehicles and figures so much I decided to leave them all

 

[Flyboy]

Very nice work! Mike

 

[mikemiller1955]

Zach...

Nick killed that...absolutely perfect...

your presentation is awesome also...love the display case...that's a very attractive and interesting conversation piece...

will it be at your office or house?

also great pics to show it off!

 

[mikemiller1955]

Funny you say that bc I was looking at it and wondering if there was too much but I love all the vehicles and figures so much I decided to leave them all

ooooh no...it's not too busy...leave them all...it is very visually interesting...I wouldn't change a thing...

 

[mr colt 45]

Just fannnnntassssstic. What a great dio You have there. Keep the gooood work.{bravo}}{bravo}}{bravo}}

 

[zblang]

will it be at your office or house?

also great pics to show it off!

This one is at the house.

 

[bearybones]

Outstanding and interesting diorama. The bomber is a gorgeous piece and the supporting vehicles, people and antiaircraft guns make it a total scene that tells a story. Very nicely done!