Two Bobs Aviation Graphics

1/48 B-1B Seek and Destroy decal sheet

Operation Iraqi Freedom

Product #48058

Review by Steve Bamford on Oct 15 2003

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This sheet depicts three aircraft that were deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  One of these jets will go down in history as THE jet that struck the "high priority" target of opportunity on 7 April 2003 (Saddam Hussein).

Aircraft # 86-138 "Seek and Destroy"  37th Bomb Squadron.  This jet struck 17 different targets in an 11-hour sortie on 7 April 2003.  The most important one though was the suspected hideout of Saddam Hussein.  References are from "in theater" and from a member of the crew that flew the mission that day.  This jet features a green dragon blowing fire while riding on a tiger.

Aircraft # 86-095 "Dakota Demolition" 34th Bomb Squadron.  This aircraft features nose art of a B-1 screaming low-level through some canyons while dropping bombs.  Another veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom with 11 mission markings.

 

Aircraft # 86-0125 "Swift Justice"  34th Bomb Squadron.  Nose art featuring an eagle superimposed on an American flag adornes this particular jet.  Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran with 8 mission markings.

References for all these jets were gathered from Ron Leonard and the 34th Bomb Squadron at Ellsworth AFB.  You get a pile of decals in this set.  Four different decal sheets in all.  Due to the delicate shading of the noseart, the TwoBobs elected to go with the airbrushed nose art decals from Archer Fine Transfers. The sheet features two complete sets of stencil data.

The instructions are clear and easy to follow.  Paint colour is listed in 4 different brands as well as the FS #.  The story of the Apr 7 sortie to kill Saddam is also mentioned in some depth on the back of the instruction sheets. 

I highly recommend this sheet for anyone with the big B-1 kit and in need of some interesting and colorful noseart for their B-1.

This sheet is available through http://www.twobobs.net/ and select US Hobby Shops.  Overseas customers can purchase these from Twobobs site or through Twobobs network of overseas distributors.  Remember, shipping is always FREE to US Customers at Twobobs!! 

Steve

Photos and text © by Steve Bamford