Size:Scale:1/54  |  Color:B-17f Memphis Belle Product Description The B-2 Spirit is a strategic bomber aircraft built by Northrop Grumman. This two-seater stealth bomber was designed as an all-altitude attacker with specialization on nuclear attacks. It can drop 16 B83 nuclear bombs (2,400 lbs.). In 1997, the average manufacturing cost of each B-2 Spirit aircraft was US$737 million; the total program cost (includes development and testing) was US$2.1 billion per aircraft. Due to its high operating cost, the project became controversial and the need for the aircraft had been reduced toward the end of the Cold War. The US Congress decided to reduce the number of B-2 Spirit units to purchase from 132 to 21. From the Manufacturer B-17F Flying Fortress had a nickname which was Memphis Belle during the Second World War. It became the first U.S. Army Air Forces heavy bomber to complete 25 missions over Europe and return to the United States. In September 1942, the Memphis Belle was delivered to the 91st Bomb Group at Dow Field, Bangor, Maine and was deployed to Prestwick, Scotland on September 30. On October 14, the Memphis Belle deployed to its permanent base at Bassingbourn, England. Captain Robert Morgan's crew had flown 25 combat missions with the 324th Bomb Squadron, all but four in the Memphis Belle and on May 19, 1943, Memphis Belle flew its 25th and last mission with a different crew to Kiel, Germany. On JUne 8, 1943, Memphis Belle was flown back to the United States by Morgan's crew for war bond tours.
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