PBJ-1J (B-25J MITCHELL) BUNO 35843, VMB-433

FLIGHT LINE - WITH FIGURES

Note:      MARINE AIR GROUP 61, US MARINE CORPS, EMIRAU ISLAND, SOLOMON ISLAND CHAIN, LATE 1944
Scale:    1:72

Item Number:    US35307  

SOLD OUT - SORRY!

Historical Note:    Formed in September 1943, VMB-433 was one of 16 Marine Corps units to be equipped with PBJ-1s in WWII - some 706 were delivered to the USMC by North American.  Seven of these units would see action with the aircraft in the Southwest Pacific in the hot and bloody war fought against the Japanese in the Solomon Islands chain.  VMB-433 commenced combat operations with MAG-61 on Green Island in July 1944, flying dreaded night bombing missions.  The unit remained in action until February 1945, when it returned to the US and was deactivated.  This particular aircraft was one of the very few PBJs to be adorned with nose art - an uncommon practice in the Marine Corps inWWII.