History Behind Corgi AA34018: B-24 Liberator “Male Call”, 453rd BG (1944)
Introduction
Corgi Aviation Archive AA34018 depicts Ford-built Consolidated B-24H-10-FO Liberator 42-52154, nicknamed Male Call, in the markings of the 734th Bomb Squadron, 453rd Bomb Group, United States Eighth Air Force, during 1944.
The aircraft operated from RAF Old Buckenham in Norfolk and carried the early squadron identity E8-G+. It became one of the longest-serving Liberators associated with the group, reportedly completing 95 bombing missions and surviving long enough to return to the United States after the war.[1]
Male Call is also closely associated with Major James “Jimmy” Stewart. Already famous as a Hollywood actor, Stewart served as the 453rd Bomb Group's Operations Officer during the spring of 1944. Corgi identifies 42-52154 as one of several Liberators he flew while stationed at Old Buckenham.[2]
Quick Facts
- Aircraft: Consolidated B-24H-10-FO Liberator
- Manufacturer: Ford Motor Company, Willow Run
- USAAF serial: 42-52154
- Nickname: Male Call
- Early aircraft code: E8-G+
- Later individual marking: G-
- Squadron: 734th Bomb Squadron
- Bomb group: 453rd Bomb Group
- Air force: United States Eighth Air Force
- Base: RAF Old Buckenham, Norfolk
- Recorded arrival in Britain: 21 January 1944
- Reported wartime total: 95 bombing missions
- Associated officer: Major James “Jimmy” Stewart
- Model: Corgi Aviation Archive AA34018
- Scale: 1:72
- Limited edition: 1,500 pieces worldwide
The B-24H-10-FO: A Ford-Built Liberator
The complete designation B-24H-10-FO provides more information than simply identifying the aircraft as a Liberator. The H refers to the aircraft variant, 10 identifies its production block and FO indicates that it was manufactured by Ford at the vast Willow Run plant in Michigan.
Willow Run was created to bring automotive mass-production methods to military aircraft manufacturing. By 1944, workers at the plant were completing a finished B-24 at an average rate of approximately one every 63 minutes.[3]
The B-24H was the first Willow Run variant produced in large numbers for frontline combat. Its most visible improvement was the electrically powered Emerson nose turret, introduced to strengthen the aircraft's defence against head-on fighter attacks.
Earlier Liberators had comparatively weak forward-firing protection. Luftwaffe pilots recognised this vulnerability and increasingly attacked from ahead, closing rapidly before the bomber's waist, top and tail guns could be brought to bear.
The powered nose turret carried two .50-calibre machine guns and gave the H-model a more heavily defended appearance than earlier B-24D aircraft. Together with the top, ball, waist and tail positions, it allowed the Liberator's crew to defend the aircraft from several directions.
The Liberator's Range and Davis Wing
The B-24 was built around its long, narrow, shoulder-mounted wing, commonly known as the Davis wing. This efficient design helped give the aircraft the range required for long missions over occupied Europe, Germany, the Atlantic and the Pacific.
The Liberator's range was one of its greatest strengths. It could carry a substantial bomb load over long distances and was also adapted for maritime patrol, transport, reconnaissance and anti-submarine operations.
Its deep fuselage contained two bomb bays separated by a narrow structural walkway. Roller-type bomb-bay doors retracted into the fuselage rather than projecting into the airflow, helping reduce drag when the doors were opened.
The distinctive twin fins provided directional stability while keeping the aircraft's overall height manageable. Combined with the high-mounted wing and long undercarriage, they gave the Liberator a silhouette that remained unmistakable even at considerable distance.
More than 18,000 Liberators were ultimately produced, making the B-24 one of the most extensively manufactured combat aircraft of the Second World War.[4]
Heavy Bomber Operations over Europe
The American daylight bombing campaign relied on large formations of B-17 Flying Fortresses and B-24 Liberators crossing the Channel to attack German industrial, military and transport targets.
Aircraft flew in carefully arranged combat formations so their defensive guns could provide overlapping protection. Maintaining position was essential. A bomber that became damaged, lost an engine or fell behind the formation was far more vulnerable to enemy fighters.
Crews flew in unpressurised aircraft at altitudes where oxygen equipment was essential and temperatures could fall far below freezing. Heated clothing helped, but electrical failures could leave airmen exposed to extreme cold for several hours.
The mission did not become safe once fighters were no longer visible. German anti-aircraft artillery protected major cities, factories, airfields, oil plants and transport centres. Shells bursting among a formation could damage several aircraft within seconds.
Weather created further danger. Cloud could obscure targets, ice could build on wings and propellers, and strong winds could disrupt navigation or carry formations away from their planned routes.
The 453rd Bomb Group and RAF Old Buckenham
The 453rd Bomb Group deployed to England at the end of 1943 and established its combat base at RAF Old Buckenham, known to the United States Army Air Forces as Station 144.
The group consisted of the 732nd, 733rd, 734th and 735th Bomb Squadrons. It flew its first combat mission on 4 February 1944, attacking an airfield at Tours in France.[5]
During the months that followed, the group attacked aircraft factories, railway centres, oil installations, airfields, coastal defences and other targets supporting the German war effort.
Its operations also changed according to the requirements of the Allied armies. Before D-Day, the group's Liberators attacked airfields, transport links and German defensive positions. On 6 June 1944, the 453rd struck coastal defences supporting the Normandy landings.
Further missions supported the Allied breakout from Normandy, the advance across France, the Battle of the Bulge and the crossing of the Rhine. The group eventually completed 259 combat missions before being withdrawn from operations in April 1945.[5]
RAF Old Buckenham as a Wartime Airfield
Old Buckenham had been constructed specifically for American heavy-bomber operations. The airfield included three intersecting concrete runways, dispersal areas, hard standings, maintenance facilities, bomb stores and accommodation for thousands of personnel.
A single bomber mission depended on far more people than the aircrew. Mechanics inspected engines and controls, armourers loaded ammunition and bombs, fuel crews filled the aircraft's tanks, and intelligence officers prepared maps and target information.
Before take-off, dozens of Liberators had to taxi, depart and assemble into formation without colliding. On return, damaged aircraft might request priority landings while emergency crews waited beside the runway.
The American Air Museum records Old Buckenham as the exclusive wartime home of the 453rd Bomb Group from December 1943 until May 1945.[6]
The surviving control tower, memorials and airfield features continue to connect the Norfolk landscape with the thousands of American personnel who served there.
Male Call, Serial 42-52154
B-24H-10-FO 42-52154 arrived in Britain on 21 January 1944 and was assigned to the 734th Bomb Squadron of the 453rd Bomb Group.
The aircraft initially carried the squadron code E8-G+. E8 identified the 734th Bomb Squadron, while G was the individual aircraft letter. Group research records that its visible code was later simplified to G- during May 1944.[1]
The Corgi model represents the earlier and more visually elaborate appearance, retaining the large E8 letters and G+ identification together with the 453rd Bomb Group's black-and-white tail marking.
The bomber's olive-drab upper surfaces and neutral-grey underside were typical of many early 1944 Liberators. Later replacement aircraft increasingly arrived without camouflage paint, giving them a natural aluminium finish.
By surviving throughout the group's combat tour, Male Call became increasingly unusual. Heavy bombers could be lost through enemy action, mechanical failure, poor weather, collisions or accidents during take-off and landing.
The Male Call Nose Art
The name Male Call was painted prominently on the port side of the forward fuselage. The design incorporated stylised lettering and a reclining female figure, giving the aircraft an identity very different from the standard markings applied at the factory.
Nose art helped crews and ground personnel form an emotional connection with an aircraft. Names might refer to popular songs, films, comic strips, girlfriends, home towns, jokes or the personalities of the men who flew and maintained the bomber.
Although aircraft are often associated with a single named crew, heavy bombers could be flown by several crews during their operational lives. Aircrew availability, maintenance requirements and formation assignments meant that a particular aircraft was not always flown by the same pilot.
Male Call therefore belonged to the wider operational life of the 734th Bomb Squadron rather than functioning solely as one airman's personal aircraft.
Jimmy Stewart's Wartime Service
James Maitland Stewart was already one of America's best-known actors when he enlisted in the United States Army in March 1941. He had significant civilian flying experience and was determined to serve as an operational airman rather than remain in a publicity or training role.
After qualifying on multi-engined aircraft, Stewart eventually deployed to England with the 445th Bomb Group. He flew twelve combat missions as a B-24 squadron commander, including attacks against heavily defended targets in Germany.[7]
At the end of March 1944, he transferred to Old Buckenham as Group Operations Officer of the 453rd Bomb Group. His responsibilities included helping plan missions, briefing crews, monitoring departures and waiting for the aircraft to return.
Despite occupying a staff position, Stewart continued to fly operationally. He believed that an officer responsible for sending crews into combat should understand the conditions they faced.
Corgi's history of AA34018 identifies Male Call as one of several Liberators flown by Stewart during his service with the 453rd Bomb Group.[2]
The Famous Photograph with Male Call
One of the best-known photographs from Stewart's wartime service shows him standing beside the Male Call nose art with members of the aircraft's crew.
The American Air Museum identifies the men as Major James Stewart, Staff Sergeant Keith M. Dibble, Lieutenant Roger Counselman, Staff Sergeant Joseph T. Fiorentino and Second Lieutenant Abraham E. Wilensky.[8]
The photograph was passed for publication in April 1944 and helped connect Stewart's civilian fame with the service of ordinary bomber airmen. However, Stewart generally resisted attempts to turn his combat career into a publicity exercise.
Men at Old Buckenham initially worried that the arrival of a Hollywood star might be little more than a public-relations appointment. Accounts from the group instead describe an officer who worked long hours, planned difficult missions and remained at the control tower until returning aircraft had been accounted for.[7]
The photograph confirms Stewart's close association with the aircraft and its crew, but Male Call should not be presented as his exclusive or permanent personal bomber.
Landing Accident at Bovingdon
On 24 August 1944, 42-52154 was involved in a landing accident at Bovingdon, another American-operated airfield in England. Group research identifies Lieutenant Ray L. Sears as the pilot during the incident.[1]
The surviving USAAF accident index also records 42-52154, the 734th Bomb Squadron and Bovingdon on that date.[9]
The aircraft was repaired and returned to service. This was not unusual for a heavily used bomber. Damaged airframes could receive replacement engines, landing-gear components, control surfaces, glazing and patched sections of aluminium skin before flying again.
The ability to repair and return aircraft to operations was a major part of the Eighth Air Force's strength. Maintenance and depot personnel ensured that aircraft which might otherwise have been written off could continue contributing to the campaign.
Reported 95-Mission Career
Historical research associated with the 453rd Bomb Group credits Male Call with completing 95 bombing missions. Corgi repeats this figure in its official history of the AA34018 release.[2]
The aircraft is also reported to have been the only survivor among the original 61 Liberators assigned to the group when it deployed to England. This distinction is particularly striking because it refers to the survival of the aircraft rather than one individual crew.
Some bombers were destroyed on their first few operations, while others accumulated dozens of missions under changing crews. An aircraft completing 95 bombing missions would have required repeated inspection, repair and replacement of worn or damaged components.
On 11 March 1945, records note that maintenance personnel at Thorpe carried out work on Male Call's number one engine. The aircraft nevertheless remained with the group until the end of its combat operations.[1]
Because the 95-mission total and sole-survivor distinction originate from group historical research and later published accounts, they are best described as reported or recorded distinctions rather than unsupported absolute claims.
The Human Cost of the Bomber Campaign
The number of missions painted on an aircraft can make wartime service appear like a simple total, but every symbol represented a long and dangerous operation involving a crew of approximately ten men.
Crews faced fighters, anti-aircraft fire, oxygen-system failure, frostbite, fire, collision and the possibility of being forced to abandon the aircraft over enemy territory.
Even when a bomber returned, crew members could have been killed or wounded and the aircraft might be so badly damaged that it required extensive repair. Ground personnel then worked to make it airworthy before the next scheduled mission.
Jimmy Stewart later avoided romanticising his service. Accounts describe the strain of planning missions, watching aircraft depart and waiting to learn which crews would return. His experience was shared by officers and airmen throughout the heavy-bomber force.
The historical significance of Male Call therefore extends beyond its connection with a famous actor. Its reported longevity represents the combined work of numerous crews, mechanics, armourers and support personnel over more than a year of combat operations.
Return to the United States
After the 453rd Bomb Group completed its final combat mission in April 1945, the unit prepared for possible transfer to the Pacific. The end of the war in Europe brought its operations from Old Buckenham to a close.
Records indicate that 42-52154 survived the conflict and was returned to the Zone of the Interior, the wartime term used for the continental United States.
The aircraft was recorded at Altus, Oklahoma, on 29 October 1945.[1]
Like most surviving Liberators, it was not preserved. The rapid reduction of the enormous wartime air fleet left thousands of aircraft surplus to requirements, and most B-24s were eventually dismantled or sold for scrap.
No original complete B-24 connected with the 453rd Bomb Group survives today. Photographs, records, memorials and scale models therefore play an important role in preserving the visual identity of aircraft such as Male Call.
Markings and Display Appeal
AA34018 is visually dominated by its olive-drab finish, twin vertical tails and long high-mounted wing. The large E8 code and black-and-white tail markings give the model a clear 453rd Bomb Group identity.
The Male Call artwork is positioned prominently beneath the cockpit, while the rows of mission symbols immediately communicate the aircraft's extensive operational history.
The powered nose turret distinguishes the B-24H from earlier Liberator variants. Other visible defensive positions include the dorsal turret, retractable ball turret, waist guns and tail turret.
At 1:72 scale, the model measures approximately 11.25 inches or 28.6 cm in length and has a wingspan of approximately 18.25 inches or 46.4 cm.[10]
This substantial width gives the Liberator considerable display presence and makes the distinctive Davis wing, twin-fin tail and nose artwork clearly visible.
Lasting Legacy and Collector Appeal
Corgi AA34018 represents much more than a generic B-24 Liberator. It depicts an individually documented Ford-built aircraft with a recorded serial number, squadron identity, distinctive nose art and an unusually long operational history.
Its association with Jimmy Stewart provides an additional layer of interest, but the aircraft's story remains significant independently of his fame. Male Call reportedly completed 95 bombing missions, survived accidents and repairs, and remained with the 453rd Bomb Group until the end of its combat tour.
The model also records the contribution of the 734th Bomb Squadron and RAF Old Buckenham, subjects that are less frequently represented than some of the better-known B-17 groups of the Eighth Air Force.
For collectors, Corgi Aviation Archive AA34018 combines a large four-engine model with recognisable nose art, historically traceable markings and one of the most famous personal connections in American wartime aviation.
The release was limited to 1,500 individually numbered pieces worldwide.[10]
LOOKING TO ADD THIS TO YOUR VAULT?
Retired Corgi Aviation Archive releases can be difficult to replace once sold, particularly when they feature large four-engine aircraft, memorable nose art and limited production runs.
CORGI AVIATION ARCHIVE B-24H LIBERATOR MALE CALL AA34018
1:72 Scale • Limited Edition of 1,500 • Retired Release
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Sources and Further Reading
- Old Buck Shots and the 453rd Bomb Group Memorial Association: B-24H Male Call - aircraft variant, serial, squadron assignment, E8-G+ code, arrival in Britain, Bovingdon accident, maintenance history, reported 95 missions and post-war return to the United States.
- Corgi Die-cast Diaries: Male Call and Jimmy Stewart - official AA34018 background, reported mission total, sole-survivor distinction and the aircraft's association with Stewart during his service as 453rd Bomb Group Operations Officer.
- The Henry Ford: Willow Run Bomber Plant - history of Ford's B-24 production line and the wartime achievement of completing approximately one Liberator every 63 minutes.
- National Museum of the United States Air Force: Consolidated B-24 Liberator - operational roles, range, production total, armament and technical specifications of the Liberator family.
- American Air Museum: 453rd Bomb Group - group organisation, combat operations, strategic and tactical missions, operational dates and Old Buckenham service.
- American Air Museum: RAF Old Buckenham - airfield history and its exclusive wartime use by the 453rd Bomb Group from December 1943 to May 1945.
- Air & Space Forces Magazine: Jimmy Stewart - Stewart's B-24 combat service, transfer to the 453rd Bomb Group, work as Operations Officer and continued participation in combat missions.
- American Air Museum: B-24 42-52154 Male Call - aircraft identity, surviving photographs, nose art and the image of Stewart with members of the bomber's crew.
- Aviation Archaeological Investigation and Research: August 1944 USAAF Accident Index - contemporary accident-record index identifying 42-52154, the 734th Bomb Squadron and Bovingdon on 24 August 1944.
- The Collectables Vault: Corgi Aviation Archive AA34018 - model photographs, product identity, dimensions, certificate information and confirmation of the 1,500-piece limited edition.
Historical note: AA34018 represents Ford-built B-24H-10-FO 42-52154 “Male Call” of the 734th Bomb Squadron, 453rd Bomb Group. Corgi and 453rd Bomb Group historical accounts identify it as one of several Liberators flown by James Stewart while he served as Group Operations Officer, but it was not his exclusive personal aircraft. The frequently quoted 95-mission total and description as the sole survivor of the group's original 61 aircraft are retained as reported distinctions based on group historical research.
Written by Jay Sawyer
