This handmade pen was crafted using an aluminum fragment embedded into the pen body cut from the original lower left wing tip of the historic “Desert Rat” B-17E.
The Boeing B-17 “Flying Fortress” was probably the most famous and best-known aircraft during WWII. The Boeing made B-17 “Desert Rat” was one of 12,731 B-17’s built. After its completion in 1942, it was assigned to the USAF 97th Bomb Group and used as a training aircraft. It later served in the 383rd Bomb Group as a staff transport plane. In 1945, after WWII, it was sold as scrap. Most of the remaining B-17’s were smelted and destroyed.
The “Desert Rat” was placed in service as a cargo plane for a short period, and then sold to a farmer in Maine who also operated an airplane junkyard selling airplane parts to supplement his farming income. It was discovered in 1985 stripped and cut into pieces. The new buyer paid $7250 for it and began restoration that continues today at the Vintage Aviation Museum in Illinois.
The B-17 is well known as a tough aircraft as noted by the extent of damage as they returned from a war mission. It was nicknamed the “Flying Fortress” due to its heavy defense armament, long range, relatively fast, high flying and it dropped more bombs than any other US aircraft. It had four 1200 hp, 9-cylinder radial engines, one 30cal and eight 50cal machine guns and could carry 4,800lbs of bombs. There are only 10 B-17 aircraft in flying condition left.
I personally handmake this historic pen and include a 4" x 6" Certificate of Authentication in a protective cover with each pen detaling the history of the aircraft and where on the aircraft the material came from. The authentic material from the Desert Rat B17 I have is only an small section about 1" x 2". When the material is gone, I wil no longer be able to offer this limited edition rare pen.
The pen components are plated chrome and gun metal. It operates with a simple twist and uses a standard Parker compatible refill available at office supply stores or on this website.
I have been custom creating fine writing instruments since 2005. Experience counts.
Thanks for looking.