They ruled the skies, shaped history, and became absolute icons of aviation. Now, three of our most requested WWII-inspired designs are flying back into the Heel Tread hangar with a fresh, re-engineered look.
This collection brings together three absolute icons of the skies: the agile Mitsubishi A6M Zero "Zeke," undisputed master of the Pacific; the legendary B-17 "Memphis Belle," a symbol of American endurance over Europe; and the mighty Avro Lancaster "Just Jane," the ultimate backbone of British resilience. Three distinct stories of engineering and grit, re-engineered for your daily journey.
MEMPHIS BELLE
25 missions. Zero casualties. Discover the incredible true story of the Memphis Belle and the crew that made history.
In 1943, the life expectancy of a B-17 bomber crew was measured in weeks, not months. The "Flying Fortress" was a marvel of engineering, but the daylight bombing raids over Germany were often a one-way ticket. Amidst this grim reality, one aircraft emerged as a symbol of hope: the Memphis Belle.
The Belle wasn’t just lucky; she was tough. During her 10 months of service, she was riddled with bullets, had her tail nearly blown off, and saw her engines fail mid-flight. Yet, through the skill of her crew and the sheer durability of the Boeing airframe, she never lost a man.
The plane’s name was a tribute to Margaret Polk, the sweetheart of Captain Robert Morgan, and the iconic nose art—a lady in a blue and red suit—became a totem of protection for the men of the 324th Bomb Squadron. When the Belle finally touched down back on American soil for her legendary bond tour, she wasn't just a plane anymore; she was a testament to American industrial might and individual bravery.
JUST JANE
By the mid-1930s the initial strategy of the British was to develop a multirole twin-engined medium bomber. This solution required very powerful engines that at the time we're hard to produce and maintain. Following the footsteps of both the Americans and the Soviets, they instead started development on a larger, heavier airframe with four smaller, but readily available, engines that could still guarantee excellent range and airlifting capability.
Initially still called Manchester from the previous twin-engine endeavour, by January 1941 the second prototype was renamed the Lancaster. Its first flight was a huge success, having later seen improvement by the use of a new elliptical twin-finned tail, greatly increasing stability and field of fire for the dorsal gun over the Manchester's three-fin design.
The Lancaster had a very tough and durable airframe. It gained a reputation for consistently being able to fly the return journey on only two engines, and even on a single engine for short distances. The standard crew consisted of seven men. The pilot, the flight engineer (there were no controls on the other cockpit seat, so there was no co-pilot), the bomb aimer (who doubled as an operator for the nose turret gun as needed), the navigator, the wireless operator for comms, the 360° mid-upper gun turret operator, and finally the rear gunner. The initial underside turret was quickly dropped, considered pointless for being too slow and hard to operate in order to keep a target within its sights.
It first saw service with the RAF Bomber Command in 1942 and soon became the main aircraft for the night-time bombing campaigns that followed. It was also a delivery system for the largest payload of any bomber of its time, the 22,000 lb (10,000 kg) Grand Slam earthquake bombs. By the end of the war in Europe, the 'Lanc' had conducted 156,000 sorties being operated in almost every major bombing raid of the European conflict. It became known as the RAF's 'shining sword' and was called by a commander of the Luftwaffe "the best night bomber of the war". The most successful survivor of the fleet flew 139 missions, but around half of the more than 7000 built were lost and never made it past a few missions.
After World War II the Lancaster took on the role of long-range patrol and air-sea rescue aircraft. It was also used for photo-reconnaissance and aerial mapping, as a flying tanker for aerial refuelling and as the Avro Lancastrian, a long-range, high-speed, transatlantic passenger and postal delivery airliner.
"The achievements of the Lancaster and the men who flew it have been widely acclaimed, and the aircraft has been described as the greatest single factor in winning WWII, an exaggeration but a pardonable one".
- Goulding and Garbett, 1966
ZERO “ZEKE”
The Pacific Master
The Legend: In the opening chapters of WWII, the Mitsubishi A6M Zero was the undisputed ruler of the Pacific skies. Manufactured by Mitsubishi Aircraft Company and operated by the Imperial Japanese Navy from 1940 to 1945, this legendary carrier-based fighter stunned opponents with its unmatched maneuverability and extraordinary long-range endurance. It was a masterpiece of lightweight engineering—so lethal in close combat that Allied pilots were given a strict tactical order: never engage a Zero in a single-plane dogfight.
The Design: This upgraded remake honors Japan's most famous fighter, famously codenamed "Zeke" by the Allies. We’ve translated its clean, minimalist lines and the unmistakable crimson Hinomaru (rising sun) insignia into a premium knit. It's a tribute to an era where weight and agility defined the fate of the skies.
Expanding our horizons beyond the asphalt has always been part of the Heel Tread DNA. Our passion naturally bleeds from iconic cars and motorsport into other loud-engined, high-octane speed machines. WWII warbirds fly right at the top of that list—fueled by the bravery of their heroes, the raw ferocity of the dogfights, and, of course, those glorious vintage wartime liveries.
Because for us, it’s never just been about the cars. It’s about the unmistakable roar of an epic engine, the relentless pursuit of speed, and chasing the pure adrenaline that sets your heart racing. It’s about beauty, raw emotion, and keeping legends alive.
