The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American
medium bomber
A medium bomber is a military bomber Fixed-wing aircraft, aircraft designed to operate with medium-sized Aerial bomb, bombloads over medium Range (aeronautics), range distances; the name serves to distinguish this type from larger heavy bombe ...
that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General
William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many
Allied
An alliance is a relationship among people, groups, or states that have joined together for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out among them. Members of an alliance are called ...
air forces, the B-25 served in every theater of
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, and after the war ended, many remained in service, operating across four decades. Produced in numerous variants, nearly 10,000 B-25s were built.
These included several limited models such as the F-10
reconnaissance aircraft
A reconnaissance aircraft (colloquially, a spy plane) is a military aircraft designed or adapted to perform aerial reconnaissance with roles including collection of imagery intelligence (including using photography), signals intelligence, as ...
, the AT-24 crew trainers, and the
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
' PBJ-1
patrol bomber
A maritime patrol aircraft (MPA), also known as a patrol aircraft, maritime reconnaissance aircraft, or by the older American term patrol bomber, is a fixed-wing aircraft designed to operate for long durations over water in maritime patrol rol ...
.
Design and development
The Air Corps issued a specification for a medium bomber in March 1939 that was capable of carrying a payload of over at North American Aviation used its
NA-40B design to develop the NA-62, which competed for the medium bomber contract. No YB-25 was available for prototype service tests. In September 1939, the Air Corps ordered the NA-62 into production as the B-25, along with the other new Air Corps medium bomber, the
Martin B-26 Marauder "off the drawing board".
Early into B-25 production, NAA incorporated a significant redesign to the wing dihedral. The first nine aircraft had a constant-
dihedral, meaning the wing had a consistent, upward angle from the fuselage to the wingtip. This design caused stability problems. "Flattening" the outer wing panels by giving them a slight anhedral angle just outboard of the engine nacelles nullified the problem and gave the B-25 its
gull wing configuration.
[Chorlton ''Aeroplane'' May 2013, p. 74.] Less noticeable changes during this period included an increase in the size of the tail fins and a decrease in their inward tilt at their tops.
NAA continued design and development in 1940 and 1941. Both the B-25A and B-25B series entered USAAF service. The B-25B was operational in 1942. Combat requirements led to further developments. Before the year was over, NAA was producing the B-25C and B-25D series at different plants. Also in 1942, the manufacturer began design work on the cannon-armed B-25G series. The NA-100 of 1943 and 1944 was an interim armament development at the Kansas City complex known as the B-25D2. Similar armament upgrades by U.S-based commercial modification centers involved about half of the B-25G series. Further development led to the B-25H, B-25J, and B-25J2. The gunship design concept dates to late 1942 and NAA sent a field technical representative to the SWPA. The factory-produced B-25G entered production during the NA-96 order followed by the redesigned B-25H gunship. The B-25J reverted to the bomber role, but it, too, could be outfitted as a strafer.
![B25-1 300](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/B25-1_300.jpg)
NAA manufactured the greatest number of aircraft in World War II, the first time a company had produced trainers, bombers, and fighters simultaneously (the AT-6/SNJ Texan/Harvard, B-25 Mitchell, and the P-51 Mustang). It produced B-25s at both its Inglewood main plant and an additional 6,608 aircraft at its
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City, abbreviated as "KCK", is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas, and the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is an inner suburb of the older and more populous Kansas City, Missouri, after which it is named. As of the ...
, plant at
Fairfax Airport.
[Parker 2013, pp. 77–79, 83, 88, 92.][Borth 1945, pp. 70, 92, 244.]
After the war, the USAF placed a contract for the TB-25L trainer in 1952. This was a modification program by Hayes of
Birmingham, Alabama
Birmingham ( ) is a city in the north central region of the U.S. state of Alabama. Birmingham is the seat of Jefferson County, Alabama's most populous county. As of the 2021 census estimates, Birmingham had a population of 197,575, down 1% fr ...
. Its primary role was
reciprocating engine
A reciprocating engine, also often known as a piston engine, is typically a heat engine that uses one or more reciprocating pistons to convert high temperature and high pressure into a rotating motion. This article describes the common featu ...
pilot training.
A development of the B-25 was the
North American XB-28 Dragon, designed as a high-altitude bomber. Two prototypes were built with the second prototype, the XB-28A, evaluated as a photo-reconnaissance platform, but the aircraft did not enter production.
Operational history
Asia-Pacific
Most B-25s in American service were used in
the war against Japan in Asia and the Pacific. The Mitchell fought from the Northern Pacific to the South Pacific and the Far East. These areas included the campaigns in the
Aleutian Islands
The Aleutian Islands (; ; ale, Unangam Tanangin,”Land of the Aleuts", possibly from Chukchi language, Chukchi ''aliat'', "island"), also called the Aleut Islands or Aleutic Islands and known before 1867 as the Catherine Archipelago, are a cha ...
,
Papua New Guinea
Papua New Guinea (abbreviated PNG; , ; tpi, Papua Niugini; ho, Papua Niu Gini), officially the Independent State of Papua New Guinea ( tpi, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niugini; ho, Independen Stet bilong Papua Niu Gini), is a country i ...
, the Solomon Islands,
New Britain
New Britain ( tpi, Niu Briten) is the largest island in the Bismarck Archipelago, part of the Islands Region of Papua New Guinea. It is separated from New Guinea by a northwest corner of the Solomon Sea (or with an island hop of Umboi the Dam ...
, China, Burma and the
island hopping campaign in the Central Pacific. The aircraft's potential as a ground-
attack aircraft
An attack aircraft, strike aircraft, or attack bomber is a tactical military aircraft that has a primary role of carrying out airstrikes with greater precision than bombers, and is prepared to encounter strong low-level air defenses while pre ...
emerged during the Pacific war. The jungle environment reduced the usefulness of medium-level bombing, and made low-level attack the best tactic. Using similar
mast height level tactics and
skip bombing, the B-25 proved itself to be a capable anti-shipping weapon and sank many enemy sea vessels. An ever-increasing number of forward firing guns made the B-25 a formidable
strafing aircraft for island warfare. The strafer models were the B-25C1/D1, the B-25J1 and with the NAA strafer nose, the J2 subseries.
In Burma, the B-25 was used to attack Japanese communication links, especially bridges in central Burma. It also helped supply the
besieged troops at Imphal in 1944. The China Air Task Force, the Chinese American Composite Wing, the First Air Commando Group, the 341st Bomb Group, and eventually, the relocated 12th Bomb Group, all operated the B-25 in the
China Burma India Theater
China Burma India Theater (CBI) was the United States military designation during World War II for the China and Southeast Asian or India–Burma (IBT) theaters. Operational command of Allied forces (including U.S. forces) in the CBI was officia ...
. Many of these missions involved battle-field isolation, interdiction, and close air support.
Later in the war, as the USAAF acquired bases in other parts of the Pacific, the Mitchell could strike targets in
Indochina
Mainland Southeast Asia, also known as the Indochinese Peninsula or Indochina, is the continental portion of Southeast Asia. It lies east of the Indian subcontinent and south of Mainland China and is bordered by the Indian Ocean to the west an ...
,
Formosa
Taiwan, officially the Republic of China (ROC), is an island country located in East Asia. The main island of Taiwan, formerly known in the Western political circles, press and literature as Formosa, makes up 99% of the land area of the territorie ...
, and
Kyushu
is the third-largest island of Japan's five main islands and the most southerly of the four largest islands ( i.e. excluding Okinawa). In the past, it has been known as , and . The historical regional name referred to Kyushu and its surroun ...
, increasing the usefulness of the B-25. It was also used in some of the shortest raids of the Pacific War, striking from
Saipan
Saipan ( ch, Sa’ipan, cal, Seipél, formerly in es, Saipán, and in ja, 彩帆島, Saipan-tō) is the largest island of the Northern Mariana Islands, a Commonwealth (U.S. insular area), commonwealth of the United States in the western Pa ...
against
Guam
Guam (; ch, Guåhan ) is an organized, unincorporated territory of the United States in the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean. It is the westernmost point and territory of the United States (reckoned from the geographic cent ...
and
Tinian. The 41st Bomb Group used it against Japanese-occupied islands that had been bypassed by the main campaign, such as the
Marshall Islands
The Marshall Islands ( mh, Ṃajeḷ), officially the Republic of the Marshall Islands ( mh, Aolepān Aorōkin Ṃajeḷ),'' () is an independent island country and microstate near the Equator in the Pacific Ocean, slightly west of the Internati ...
.
Middle East and Italy
The first B-25s arrived in Egypt and were carrying out independent operations by October 1942. Operations there against Axis airfields and motorized vehicle columns supported the ground actions of the
Second Battle of El Alamein. Thereafter, the aircraft took part in the rest of the
campaign in North Africa, the
invasion of Sicily, and the
advance up Italy. In the Strait of Messina to the Aegean Sea, the B-25 conducted sea sweeps as part of the coastal air forces. In Italy, the B-25 was used in the
ground attack
In military tactics, close air support (CAS) is defined as air action such as air strikes by fixed or rotary-winged aircraft against hostile targets near friendly forces and require detailed integration of each air mission with fire and movement ...
role, concentrating on attacks against road and rail links in Italy, Austria, and the Balkans. The B-25 had a longer range than the
Douglas A-20 Havoc and
Douglas A-26 Invader, allowing it to reach further into occupied Europe. The five bombardment groups – 20 squadrons – of the Ninth and Twelfth Air Forces that used the B-25 in the
Mediterranean Theater of Operations
The Mediterranean Theater of Operations, United States Army (MTOUSA), originally called the North African Theater of Operations, United States Army (NATOUSA), was a military formation of the United States Army that supervised all U.S. Army forc ...
were the only U.S. units to employ the B-25 in Europe.
Europe
The RAF received nearly 900 Mitchells, using them to replace
Douglas Bostons,
Lockheed Ventura
The Lockheed Ventura is a twin-engine medium bomber and patrol bomber of World War II.
The Ventura first entered combat in Europe as a bomber with the RAF in late 1942. Designated PV-1 by the United States Navy (US Navy), it entered combat in 1 ...
s, and
Vickers Wellington
The Vickers Wellington was a British twin-engined, long-range medium bomber. It was designed during the mid-1930s at Brooklands in Weybridge, Surrey. Led by Vickers-Armstrongs' chief designer Rex Pierson; a key feature of the aircraft is its g ...
bombers. The Mitchell entered active RAF service on 22 January 1943. At first, it was used to bomb targets in occupied Europe. After the
Normandy
Normandy (; french: link=no, Normandie ; nrf, Normaundie, Nouormandie ; from Old French , plural of ''Normant'', originally from the word for "northman" in several Scandinavian languages) is a geographical and cultural region in Northwestern ...
invasion, the RAF and France used Mitchells in support of the Allies in Europe. Several squadrons moved to forward airbases on the continent. The USAAF used the B-25 in combat in the
European theater of operations
The European Theater of Operations, United States Army (ETOUSA) was a Theater of Operations responsible for directing United States Army operations throughout the European theatre of World War II, from 1942 to 1945. It commanded Army Ground For ...
.
USAAF
![Army B-25 (Doolittle Raid)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/dc/Army_B-25_%28Doolittle_Raid%29.jpg)
The B-25B found fame as the bomber used in the 18 April 1942
Doolittle Raid, in which 16 B-25Bs led by
Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colone ...
Jimmy Doolittle attacked mainland Japan, four months after the bombing of Pearl Harbor. The mission gave a much-needed lift in morale to the Americans and alarmed the Japanese, who had believed their home islands to be inviolable by enemy forces. Although the amount of actual damage done was relatively minor, it forced the Japanese to divert troops for home defense for the remainder of the war.
The raiders took off from the carrier and successfully bombed Tokyo and four other Japanese cities. Fifteen of the bombers subsequently crash-landed en route to recovery fields in eastern China. The losses resulted from the task force being spotted by a Japanese vessel, which forced the bombers to take off early, fuel exhaustion, stormy nighttime conditions with zero visibility, and unactivated electronic homing aids at the recovery bases. Only one B-25 bomber landed intact, in
Siberia
Siberia ( ; rus, Сибирь, r=Sibir', p=sʲɪˈbʲirʲ, a=Ru-Сибирь.ogg) is an extensive geographical region, constituting all of North Asia, from the Ural Mountains in the west to the Pacific Ocean in the east. It has been a part of ...
, where its five-man crew was interned and the aircraft confiscated. Of the 80 aircrew members, 69 survived their historic mission and eventually made it back to American lines.
![B-25C 90 BS](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/67/B-25C_90_BS.jpg)
Following additional modifications, including the addition of a
Plexiglas dome for navigational sightings to replace the overhead window for the navigator, and heavier nose armament,
de-icing and anti-icing equipment, the B-25C entered USAAF operations. Through block 20, the B-25C and B-25D differed only in the location of manufacture: C series at
Inglewood, California
Inglewood is a city in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. As of the 2020 U.S. Census, the city had a population of 107,762. It was incorporated on February 14, 1908. The city is in the South Bay ...
, and D series at
Kansas City, Kansas
Kansas City, abbreviated as "KCK", is the third-largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas, and the county seat of Wyandotte County. It is an inner suburb of the older and more populous Kansas City, Missouri, after which it is named. As of the ...
. After block 20, some NA-96s began the transition to the G series, while some NA-87s acquired interim modifications eventually produced as the B-25D2 and ordered as the NA-100. NAA built a total of 3,915 B-25Cs and Ds during World War II.
Although the B-25 was designed to bomb from medium altitudes in level flight, it was frequently used in the
Southwest Pacific theatre in treetop-level
strafing and missions with parachute-retarded fragmentation bombs against Japanese airfields in
New Guinea
New Guinea (; Hiri Motu
Hiri Motu, also known as Police Motu, Pidgin Motu, or just Hiri, is a language of Papua New Guinea, which is spoken in surrounding areas of Port Moresby (Capital of Papua New Guinea).
It is a simplified version of ...
and the Philippines. These heavily armed Mitchells were field-modified at
Townsville, Australia, under the direction of Major
Paul I. "Pappy" Gunn and North American technical representative Jack Fox. These "commerce destroyers" were also used on strafing and
skip bombing missions against Japanese shipping trying to resupply their armies.
Under the leadership of
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...
George C. Kenney
George Churchill Kenney (August 6, 1889 – August 9, 1977) was a United States Army general during World War II. He is best known as the commander of the Allied Air Forces in the Southwest Pacific Area (SWPA), a position he held between Augu ...
, Mitchells of the Far East Air Forces and its existing components, the
Fifth and
Thirteenth Air Force
The Thirteenth Air Force (Air Forces Pacific) (13 AF) was a numbered air force of the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It was last headquartered at Hickam Air Force Base on the island of Oahu, Hawaii. 13 AF has never been stat ...
s, devastated Japanese targets in the Southwest Pacific Theater during 1944 to 1945. The USAAF played a significant role in pushing the Japanese back to their home islands. The type operated with great effect in the
Central Pacific,
Alaska
Alaska ( ; russian: Аляска, Alyaska; ale, Alax̂sxax̂; ; ems, Alas'kaaq; Yup'ik: ''Alaskaq''; tli, Anáaski) is a state located in the Western United States on the northwest extremity of North America. A semi-exclave of the U.S., ...
,
North Africa
North Africa, or Northern Africa is a region encompassing the northern portion of the African continent. There is no singularly accepted scope for the region, and it is sometimes defined as stretching from the Atlantic shores of Mauritania in ...
,
Mediterranean
The Mediterranean Sea is a sea connected to the Atlantic Ocean, surrounded by the Mediterranean Basin and almost completely enclosed by land: on the north by Western and Southern Europe and Anatolia, on the south by North Africa, and on the e ...
, and
China-Burma-India
China Burma India Theater (CBI) was the United States military designation during World War II for the China and Southeast Asian or India–Burma (IBT) theaters. Operational command of Allied forces (including U.S. forces) in the CBI was officia ...
theaters.
The USAAF Antisubmarine Command made great use of the B-25 in 1942 and 1943. Some of the earliest B-25 bomb groups also flew the Mitchell on coastal patrols after the Pearl Harbor attack, prior to the AAFAC organization. Many of the two dozen or so antisubmarine squadrons flew the B-25C, D, and G series in the American Theater antisubmarine campaign, often in the distinctive, white sea-search camouflage.
Combat developments
= Use as a gunship
=
![North American B-25 Mitchell](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/47/North_American_B-25_Mitchell.JPG)
In anti-shipping operations, the USAAF had an urgent need for hard-hitting aircraft, and North American responded with the B-25G. In this series, the transparent nose and bombardier/navigator position was changed for a shorter, hatched nose with two fixed .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns and a manually loaded
75 mm (2.95 in) M4 cannon,
[Merriam, Ray, ed]
"U. S. Warplanes of World War II."
''World War II Journal, No. 15,'' 1 July 2000, p. 8. one of the largest weapons fitted to an aircraft, similar to the British
57 mm gun-armed
Mosquito Mk. XVIII and the autoloading German 75 mm long-barrel ''Bordkanone BK 7,5'' heavy-calibre ordnance fitted to both the
Henschel Hs 129B-3 and
Junkers Ju 88P-1. The B-25G's shorter nose placed the cannon breech behind the pilot, where it could be manually loaded and serviced by the navigator; his crew station was moved to a position just behind the pilot. The navigator signaled the pilot when the gun was ready and the pilot fired the weapon using a button on his control wheel.
The Royal Air Force, U.S. Navy, and Soviet VVS each conducted trials with this series, but none adopted it. The G series comprised one prototype, five preproduction C conversions, 58 C series modifications, and 400 production aircraft for a total of 464 B-25Gs. In its final version, the G-12, an interim armament modification, eliminated the lower Bendix turret and added a starboard dual gun pack, waist guns, and a canopy for the tail gunner to improve the view when firing the single tail gun. In April 1945, the air depots in Hawaii refurbished about two dozen of these and included the eight-gun nose and rocket launchers in the upgrade.
The B-25H series continued the development of the gunship version. NAA Inglewood produced 1000. The H had even more firepower. Most replaced the M4 gun with the lighter
T13E1,
designed specifically for the aircraft, but 20-odd H-1 block aircraft completed by the
Republic Aviation
The Republic Aviation Corporation was an American aircraft manufacturer based in Farmingdale, New York, on Long Island, New York, Long Island. Originally known as the Seversky Aircraft Company, the company was responsible for the design and produc ...
modification center at Evansville had the M4 and two-machine-gun nose armament. The 75 mm (2.95 in) gun fired at a muzzle velocity of . Due to its slow rate of fire (about four rounds could be fired in a single
strafing run), relative ineffectiveness against ground targets, and the substantial recoil, the 75 mm gun was sometimes removed from both G and H models and replaced with two additional .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns as a field modification. In the new FEAF, these were redesignated the G1 and H1 series, respectively.
![B-25H](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/B-25H.jpg)
The H series normally came from the factory mounting four fixed, forward-firing .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in the nose; four in a pair of under-cockpit
conformal flank-mount gun pod packages (two guns per side); two more in the manned dorsal turret, relocated forward to a position just behind the cockpit (which became standard for the J-model); one each in a pair of new waist positions, introduced simultaneously with the forward-relocated dorsal turret; and lastly, a pair of guns in a new tail-gunner's position. Company promotional material bragged that the B-25H could "bring to bear 10 machine guns coming and four going, in addition to the 75 mm cannon, eight
rockets, and 3,000 lb (1,360 kg) of bombs."
The H had a modified cockpit with single flight controls operated by the pilot. The co-pilot's station and controls were removed and replaced by a smaller seat used by the navigator/cannoneer, The radio operator crew position was aft of the bomb bay with access to the waist guns. Factory production totals were 405 B-25Gs and 1,000 B-25Hs, with 248 of the latter being used by the Navy as PBJ-1Hs.
Elimination of the co-pilot saved weight, and moving the dorsal turret forward partially counterbalanced the waist guns and the manned rear turret.
= Return to medium bomber
=
Following the two gunship series, NAA again produced the medium bomber configuration with the B-25J series. It optimized the mix of the interim NA-100 and the H series, having both the bombardier's station and fixed guns of the D and the forward turret and refined armament of the H series. NAA also produced a strafer nose-first shipped to air depots as kits, then introduced on the production line in alternating blocks with the bombardier nose. The solid-metal "strafer" nose housed eight centerline Browning M2 .50 caliber machine guns. The remainder of the armament was as in the H-5. NAA also supplied kits to mount eight underwing 5 inches "high velocity airborne rockets" (HVAR) just outside the propeller arcs. These were mounted on zero-length launch rails, four to a wing.
![Restored B-25J Take-off Time at an air show](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/13/Restored_B-25J_Take-off_Time_at_an_air_show.JPG)
The final, and most numerous, series of the Mitchell, the B-25J, looked less like earlier series apart from the well-glazed bombardier's nose of nearly identical appearance to the earliest B-25 subtypes.
Instead, the J followed the overall configuration of the H series from the cockpit aft. It had the forward dorsal turret and other armament and airframe advancements. All J models included four .50 in (12.7 mm) light-barrel Browning AN/M2 guns in a pair of "fuselage packages", conformal
gun pods each flanking the lower cockpit, each pod containing two
Browning M2s. By 1945, however, combat squadrons removed these. The J series restored the co-pilot's seat and dual flight controls. The factory made kits available to the Air Depot system to create the strafer-nose B-25J-2. This configuration carried a total of 18 .50 in (12.7 mm) light-barrel AN/M2 Browning M2 machine guns: eight in the nose, four in the flank-mount conformal gun pod packages, two in the dorsal turret, one each in the pair of waist positions, and a pair in the tail – with 14 of the guns either aimed directly forward or aimed to fire directly forward for strafing missions. Some aircraft had eight
5-inch (130 mm) high-velocity aircraft rockets.
NAA introduced the J-2 into production in alternating blocks at the J-22. Total J series production was 4,318.
Flight characteristics
The B-25 was a safe and forgiving aircraft to fly. With one engine out, 60° banking turns into the dead engine were possible, and control could be easily maintained down to 145 mph (230 km/h). The pilot had to remember to maintain engine-out directional control at low speeds after takeoff with rudder; if this maneuver were attempted with ailerons, the aircraft could snap out of control. The tricycle landing gear made for excellent visibility while taxiing. The only significant complaint about the B-25 was its extremely noisy engines; as a result, many pilots eventually suffered from some degree of
hearing loss
Hearing loss is a partial or total inability to Hearing, hear. Hearing loss may be present at birth or acquired at any time afterwards. Hearing loss may occur in one or both ears. In children, hearing problems can affect the ability to Language ...
.
[Higham 1975, 8; Higham 1978, 59.]
The high noise level was due to design and space restrictions in the engine cowlings, which resulted in the exhaust "stacks" protruding directly from the cowling ring and partly covered by a small triangular fairing. This arrangement directed exhaust and noise directly at the pilot and crew compartments.
Durability
![B-25 bomber is assembled](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d6/B-25_bomber_is_assembled.jpg)
The Mitchell was exceptionally sturdy and could withstand tremendous punishment. One B-25C of the
321st Bomb Group was nicknamed "Patches" because its crew chief painted all the aircraft's
flak hole patches with bright yellow
zinc chromate primer
Primer may refer to:
Arts, entertainment, and media Films
* ''Primer'' (film), a 2004 feature film written and directed by Shane Carruth
* ''Primer'' (video), a documentary about the funk band Living Colour
Literature
* Primer (textbook), a t ...
. By the end of the war, this aircraft had completed over 300 missions, had been belly-landed six times, and had over 400 patched holes. The airframe of "Patches" was so distorted from battle damage that straight-and-level flight required 8° of left
aileron
An aileron (French for "little wing" or "fin") is a hinged flight control surface usually forming part of the trailing edge of each wing of a fixed-wing aircraft. Ailerons are used in pairs to control the aircraft in roll (or movement around ...
trim and 6° of right rudder, causing the aircraft to "crab" sideways across the sky.
Postwar (USAF) use
In 1947, legislation created an independent
United States Air Force
The United States Air Force (USAF) is the air service branch of the United States Armed Forces, and is one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. Originally created on 1 August 1907, as a part of the United States Army Signal ...
and by that time, the B-25 inventory numbered only a few hundred. Some B-25s continued in service into the 1950s in training, reconnaissance, and support roles. The principal use during this period was undergraduate training of multiengine aircraft pilots slated for reciprocating engine or turboprop cargo, aerial refueling, or reconnaissance aircraft. Others were assigned to units of the
Air National Guard
The Air National Guard (ANG), also known as the Air Guard, is a federal military reserve force of the United States Air Force, as well as the air militia of each U.S. state, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the ter ...
in training roles in support of
Northrop F-89 Scorpion
The Northrop F-89 Scorpion was an American all-weather, twin-engined interceptor aircraft built during the 1950s, the first jet-powered aircraft designed for that role from the outset to enter service. Though its straight wings limited its per ...
and
Lockheed F-94 Starfire operations.
During its USAF tenure, many B-25s received the so-called "Hayes modification" and as a result, surviving B-25s often have exhaust systems with a semicollector ring that splits emissions into two different systems. The upper seven cylinders are collected by a ring, while the other cylinders remain directed to individual ports.
TB-25J-25-NC Mitchell, ''44-30854'', the last B-25 in the USAF inventory, assigned at
March AFB
March Air Reserve Base (March ARB), previously known as March Air Force Base (March AFB) is located in Riverside County, California between the cities of Riverside, Moreno Valley, and Perris. It is the home to the Air Force Reserve Command's Fo ...
, California, as of March 1960, was flown to
Eglin AFB, Florida, from
Turner Air Force Base
Turner may refer to:
People and fictional characters
*Turner (surname), a common surname, including a list of people and fictional characters with the name
*Turner (given name), a list of people with the given name
*One who uses a lathe for turnin ...
, Georgia, on 21 May 1960, the last flight by a USAF B-25. It was presented by Brigadier General A. J. Russell, Commander of
SAC
SAC or Sac may refer to:
Organizations Education
* Santa Ana College, California, US
* San Antonio College, Texas, US
* St. Andrew's College, Aurora, Canada
* Students' Administrative Council, University of Toronto, Canada
* SISD Student Activiti ...
's
822d Air Division
The 822d Air Division is an inactive United States Air Force organization. Its last assignment was with Strategic Air Command (SAC) at Turner Air Force Base, Georgia, where it was inactivated on 2 September 1966.
The division was formed to com ...
at Turner AFB, to the Air Proving Ground Center Commander, Brigadier General Robert H. Warren. He in turn presented the bomber to
Valparaiso, Florida, Mayor Randall Roberts on behalf of the Niceville-Valparaiso Chamber of Commerce. Four of the original
Tokyo Raiders were present for the ceremony, Colonel (later Major General)
David Jones, Colonel Jack Simms, Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Manske, and retired Master Sergeant Edwin W. Horton. It was donated back to the
Air Force Armament Museum c. 1974 and marked as Doolittle's ''40-2344''.
U.S. Navy and USMC
![PBJ-1D Mitchell in flight near NAS Patuxent River in February 1944](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/b9/PBJ-1D_Mitchell_in_flight_near_NAS_Patuxent_River_in_February_1944.jpg)
The U.S. Navy designation for the Mitchell was the PBJ-1 and apart from increased use of radar, it was configured like its Army Air Forces counterparts. Under the pre-1962 USN/USMC/USCG aircraft designation system, PBJ-1 stood for Patrol (P) Bomber (B) built by North American Aviation (J), first variant (-1) under the
existing American naval aircraft designation system of the era. The PBJ had its origin in an inter-service agreement of mid-1942 between the Navy and the USAAF exchanging the Boeing Renton plant for the Kansas plant for
B-29 Superfortress
The Boeing B-29 Superfortress is an American four-engined propeller-driven heavy bomber, designed by Boeing and flown primarily by the United States during World War II and the Korean War. Named in allusion to its predecessor, the B-17 Fl ...
production. The
Boeing XPBB Sea Ranger
The Boeing XPBB-1 Sea Ranger (Boeing 344) was a prototype twin-engined flying boat patrol bomber built for the United States Navy. The order for this aircraft was canceled, to free production capacity to build the Boeing B-29, and only a singl ...
flying boat, competing for B-29 engines, was cancelled in exchange for part of the Kansas City Mitchell production. Other terms included the interservice transfer of 50 B-25Cs and 152 B-25Ds to the Navy. The bombers carried Navy
bureau numbers (BuNos), beginning with BuNo 34998. The first PBJ-1 arrived in February 1943, and nearly all reached Marine Corps squadrons, beginning with Marine Bombing Squadron 413 (VMB-413). Following the AAFAC format, the Marine Mitchells had search
radar
Radar is a detection system that uses radio waves to determine the distance (''ranging''), angle, and radial velocity of objects relative to the site. It can be used to detect aircraft, ships, spacecraft, guided missiles, motor vehicles, w ...
in a retractable radome replacing the remotely operated ventral turret. Later D and J series had nose-mounted APS-3 radar; and later still, J and H series mounted radar in the starboard wingtip. The large quantities of B-25H and J series became known as PBJ-1H and PBJ-1J, respectively. These aircraft often operated along with earlier PBJ series in Marine squadrons.
The PBJs were operated almost exclusively by the Marine Corps as land-based bombers. The
U.S. Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through comb ...
established Marine bomber squadrons (VMB), beginning with VMB-413, in March 1943 at
MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina. Eight VMB squadrons were flying PBJs by the end of 1943 as the initial Marine medium bombardment group. Four more squadrons were in the process of formation in late 1945, but had not yet deployed by the time the war ended.
Operations of the Marine Corps PBJ-1s began in March 1944. The Marine PBJs flew from the Philippines, Saipan,
Iwo Jima
Iwo Jima (, also ), known in Japan as , is one of the Japanese Volcano Islands and lies south of the Bonin Islands. Together with other islands, they form the Ogasawara Archipelago. The highest point of Iwo Jima is Mount Suribachi at high.
...
, and
Okinawa
is a prefecture of Japan. Okinawa Prefecture is the southernmost and westernmost prefecture of Japan, has a population of 1,457,162 (as of 2 February 2020) and a geographic area of 2,281 km2 (880 sq mi).
Naha is the capital and largest city ...
during the last few months of the Pacific war. Their primary mission was the long-range
interdiction Interdiction is a military term for the act of delaying, disrupting, or destroying enemy forces or supplies en route to the battle area. A distinction is often made between strategic and tactical interdiction. The former refers to operations whose e ...
of enemy shipping trying to run the blockade, which was strangling Japan. The weapon of choice during these missions was usually the five-inch HVAR rocket, eight of which could be carried. Some VMB-612 intruder PBJ-1D and J series planes flew without top turrets to save weight and increase range on night patrols, especially towards the end of the war when air superiority had been achieved.
During the war, the Navy tested the cannon-armed G series and conducted carrier trials with an H equipped with arresting gear. After World War II, some PBJs stationed at the Navy's rocket laboratory in
Inyokern, California
Inyokern (formerly Siding 16 and Magnolia) is a census-designated place (CDP) in Kern County, California, United States. Its name derives from its location near the border between Inyo and Kern Counties. Inyokern is located west of Ridgecrest, a ...
, site of the present-day
Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake
Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake is a large military installation in California that supports the research, testing and evaluation programs of the United States Navy. It is part of Navy Region Southwest under Commander, Navy Installat ...
, tested air-to-ground rockets and arrangements. One arrangement was a twin-barrel nose that could fire 10 spin-stabilized five-inch rockets in one salvo.
Royal Air Force
The
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
(RAF) was an early customer for the B-25 via
Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease, formally the Lend-Lease Act and introduced as An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States (), was a policy under which the United States supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and other Allied nations with food, oil, ...
. The first Mitchells were given the service name Mitchell I by the RAF and were delivered in August 1941, to No. 111 Operational Training Unit based in
the Bahamas
The Bahamas (), officially the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, is an island country within the Lucayan Archipelago of the West Indies in the Atlantic Ocean, North Atlantic. It takes up 97% of the Lucayan Archipelago's land area and is home to ...
. These bombers were used exclusively for training and familiarization and never became operational. The B-25Cs and Ds were designated Mitchell II. Altogether, 167 B-25Cs and 371 B-25Ds were delivered to the RAF. The RAF tested the cannon-armed G series but did not adopt the series nor the follow-on H series.
By the end of 1942, the RAF had taken delivery of 93 Mitchells, marks I and II. Some served with squadrons of
No. 2 Group RAF
No. 2 Group is a group of the Royal Air Force which was first activated in 1918, served from 1918–20, from 1936 through the Second World War to 1947, from 1948 to 1958, from 1993 to 1996, was reactivated in 2000, and is today part of Air Comma ...
, the RAF's tactical medium-bomber force, including
No. 139 Wing RAF
No. 139 Wing RAF was a formation of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War. It comprised No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF, No. 98 Squadron RAF, No. 271 Squadron RAF and No. 416 Squadron RCAF.
On 6 June 1944 as part of No. 2 Group R ...
at
RAF Dunsfold
Dunsfold Aerodrome (former ICAO code EGTD) is an unlicensed airfield in Surrey, England, near the village of Cranleigh. It extends across land in the villages of Dunsfold and Alfold.
It was built by the Canadian Army and civilian contractors ...
. The first RAF operation with the Mitchell II took place on 22 January 1943, when six aircraft from
No. 180 Squadron RAF
No. 180 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron that flew medium bombers in World War II.
History
Formation in World War II
The Squadron was equipped with Mitchells at RAF West Raynham. It then flew its first raid from RAF Foulsham and su ...
attacked oil installations at
Ghent
Ghent ( nl, Gent ; french: Gand ; traditional English: Gaunt) is a city and a municipality in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is the capital and largest city of the East Flanders province, and the third largest in the country, exceeded in ...
. After the invasion of Europe (by which point 2 Group was part of
Second Tactical Air Force
The RAF Second Tactical Air Force (2TAF) was one of three tactical air forces within the Royal Air Force (RAF) during and after the Second World War. It was made up of squadrons and personnel from the RAF, other British Commonwealth air forces, ...
), all four Mitchell squadrons moved to bases in France and Belgium (Melsbroek) to support Allied ground forces. The British Mitchell squadrons were joined by
No. 342 (Lorraine) Squadron of the
French Air Force
The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Army; ...
in April 1945.
As part of its move from Bomber Command,
No 305 (Polish) Squadron flew Mitchell IIs from September to December 1943 before converting to the
de Havilland Mosquito
The de Havilland DH.98 Mosquito is a British twin-engined, shoulder-winged, multirole combat aircraft, introduced during the Second World War. Unusual in that its frame was constructed mostly of wood, it was nicknamed the "Wooden Wonder", or ...
. In addition to No. 2 Group, the B-25 was used by various second-line RAF units in the UK and abroad. In the Far East, No. 3 PRU, which consisted of
Nos. 681 and 684 Squadrons, flew the Mitchell (primarily Mk IIs) on photographic reconnaissance sorties.
Royal Canadian Air Force
The
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
(RCAF) used the B-25 Mitchell for training during the war. Postwar use continued operations with most of the 162 Mitchells received. The first B-25s had been diverted to Canada from RAF orders. These included one Mitchell I, 42 Mitchell IIs, and 19 Mitchell IIIs. No 13 (P) Squadron was formed unofficially at
RCAF Rockcliffe in May 1944 and used Mitchell IIs on high-altitude aerial photography sorties. No. 5 Operational Training Unit at Boundary Bay, British Columbia and Abbotsford, British Columbia, operated the B-25D Mitchell in the training role together with B-24 Liberators for Heavy Conversion as part of the BCATP. The RCAF retained the Mitchell until October 1963.
No 418 (Auxiliary) Squadron received its first Mitchell IIs in January 1947. It was followed by No 406 (auxiliary), which flew Mitchell IIs and IIIs from April 1947 to June 1958. No 418 operated a mix of IIs and IIIs until March 1958. No 12 Squadron of Air Transport Command also flew Mitchell IIIs along with other types from September 1956 to November 1960. In 1951, the RCAF received an additional 75 B-25Js from USAF stocks to make up for attrition and to equip various second-line units.
Royal Australian Air Force
The Australians received Mitchells by the spring of 1944. The joint Australian-Dutch
No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF
No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron was a joint Dutch and Australian bomber squadron of World War II. Formed in April 1942, the squadron was staffed by a mixture of Dutch and Australian personnel and placed under Royal Australian Air Forc ...
had more than enough Mitchells for one squadron, so the surplus went to re-equip the RAAF's
No. 2 Squadron, replacing their
Beauforts.
Dutch Air Force
![18 Sqn (AWM P02769-001)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/cf/18_Sqn_%28AWM_P02769-001%29.jpg)
During World War II, the Mitchell served in fairly large numbers with the Air Force of the Dutch government-in-exile. They participated in combat in the East Indies, as well as on the European front. On 30 June 1941, the Netherlands Purchasing Commission, acting on behalf of the Dutch government-in-exile in London, signed a contract with North American Aviation for 162 B-25C aircraft. The bombers were to be delivered to the
Netherlands East Indies
The Dutch East Indies, also known as the Netherlands East Indies ( nl, Nederlands(ch)-Indië; ), was a Dutch colony consisting of what is now Indonesia. It was formed from the nationalised trading posts of the Dutch East India Company, which ...
to help deter any Japanese aggression into the region.
In February 1942, the
British Overseas Airways Corporation agreed to ferry 20 Dutch B-25s from Florida to Australia travelling via Africa and India, and an additional 10 via the South Pacific route from California. During March, five of the bombers on the Dutch order had reached
Bangalore
Bangalore (), officially Bengaluru (), is the capital and largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. It has a population of more than and a metropolitan population of around , making it the third most populous city and fifth most ...
, India, and 12 had reached Archerfield in Australia. The B-25s in Australia were used as the nucleus of a new squadron, No. 18. This squadron was staffed jointly by Australian and Dutch aircrews plus a smattering of aircrews from other nations, and operated under Royal Australian Air Force command for the remainder of the war.
The B-25s of No. 18 Squadron were painted with the Dutch national insignia (at that time a rectangular Netherlands flag) and carried NEIAF serials. Discounting the ten "temporary" B-25s delivered to 18 Squadron in early 1942, a total of 150 Mitchells were taken on strength by the NEIAF, 19 in 1942, 16 in 1943, 87 in 1944, and 28 in 1945. They flew bombing raids against Japanese targets in the East Indies. In 1944, the more capable B-25J Mitchells replaced most of the earlier C and D models.
In June 1940,
No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF
No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force during World War II formed from the personnel of the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service.
History
Formation
Formed on 1 June 1940 at RAF Pembroke Dock, after flying from the N ...
had been formed from personnel formerly serving with the
Royal Dutch Naval Air Service, who had escaped to England after the German occupation of the Netherlands. Equipped with various British aircraft, No. 320 Squadron flew antisubmarine patrols, convoy escort missions, and performed air-sea rescue duties. They acquired the Mitchell II in September 1943, performing operations over Europe against gun emplacements, railway yards, bridges, troops, and other tactical targets. They moved to Belgium in October 1944, and transitioned to the Mitchell III in 1945. No. 320 Squadron was disbanded in August 1945. Following the war, B-25s were used by Dutch forces during the
Indonesian National Revolution
The Indonesian National Revolution, or the Indonesian War of Independence, was an armed conflict and diplomatic struggle between the Republic of Indonesia and the Dutch Empire and an internal social revolution during Aftermath of WWII, postw ...
.
Soviet Air Force
The USSR received 862 B-25s (B, C, D, G, and J types) from the United States under
Lend-Lease
Lend-Lease, formally the Lend-Lease Act and introduced as An Act to Promote the Defense of the United States (), was a policy under which the United States supplied the United Kingdom, the Soviet Union and other Allied nations with food, oil, ...
during World War II via the Alaska–Siberia
ALSIB ferry route. A total of 870 B-25s were sent to the Soviets, meaning that 8 aircraft were lost during transportation.
Other damaged B-25s arrived or crashed in the Far East of Russia, and one Doolittle Raid aircraft landed there short of fuel after attacking Japan. This lone airworthy Doolittle Raid aircraft to reach the Soviet Union was lost in a hangar fire in the early 1950s while undergoing routine maintenance. In general, the B-25 was operated as a ground-support and tactical daylight bomber (as similar Douglas A-20 Havocs were used). It saw action in fights from Stalingrad (with B/C/D models) to the German surrender during May 1945 (with G/J types).
The B-25s that remained in Soviet Air Force service after the war were assigned the
NATO reporting name
NATO reporting names are code names for military equipment from Russia, China, and historically, the Eastern Bloc (Soviet Union and other nations of the Warsaw Pact). They provide unambiguous and easily understood English words in a uniform manne ...
"Bank".
China
Well over 100 B-25Cs and Ds were supplied to the
Nationalist Chinese during the
Second Sino-Japanese War
The Second Sino-Japanese War (1937–1945) or War of Resistance (Chinese term) was a military conflict that was primarily waged between the Republic of China and the Empire of Japan. The war made up the Chinese theater of the wider Pacific Th ...
. In addition, a total of 131 B-25Js were supplied to China under Lend-Lease.
The four squadrons of the 1st BG (1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th) of the 1st Medium Bomber Group were formed during the war. They formerly operated Russian-built
Tupolev SB bombers, then transferred to the B-25. The 1st BG was under the command of Chinese-American Composite Wing while operating B-25s. Following the end of the war in the Pacific, these four bombardment squadrons were established to fight against the Communist insurgency that was rapidly spreading throughout the country. During the
Chinese Civil War
The Chinese Civil War was fought between the Kuomintang-led government of the Republic of China and forces of the Chinese Communist Party, continuing intermittently since 1 August 1927 until 7 December 1949 with a Communist victory on m ...
, Chinese Mitchells fought alongside de Havilland Mosquitos.
In December 1948, the Nationalists were forced to retreat to the island of Taiwan, taking many of their Mitchells with them. However, some B-25s were left behind and were pressed into service with the
air force of the new People's Republic of China.
Brazilian Air Force
![B-25J Mitchell - s-n 44-30069 - at Museu Aerospacial in Campos dos Afonsos Air Force Base - Rio de Janeiro](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/9d/B-25J_Mitchell_-_s-n_44-30069_-_at_Museu_Aerospacial_in_Campos_dos_Afonsos_Air_Force_Base_-_Rio_de_Janeiro.jpg)
During the war, the
Força Aérea Brasileira
"Wings that protect the country"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march = Hino dos Aviadores
, mascot =
, anniversaries = 22 May (anniver ...
received a few B-25s under Lend-Lease. Brazil declared war against the Axis powers in August 1942 and participated in the war against the U-boats in the southern Atlantic. The last Brazilian B-25 was finally declared surplus in 1970.
Free French
The Royal Air Force issued at least 21 Mitchell IIIs to No 342 Squadron, which was made up primarily of Free French aircrews. Following the liberation of France, this squadron transferred to the newly formed
French Air Force
The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Army; ...
(''Armée de l'Air'') as GB I/20 Lorraine. The aircraft continued in operation after the war, with some being converted into fast VIP transports. They were struck off charge in June 1947.
Biafra
In October 1967, during the
Nigerian Civil War
The Nigerian Civil War (6 July 1967 – 15 January 1970), also known as the Nigerian–Biafran War or the Biafran War, was a civil war fought between Nigeria and the Republic of Biafra, a secessionist state which had declared its independence f ...
,
Biafra
Biafra, officially the Republic of Biafra, was a partially recognised secessionist state in West Africa that declared independence from Nigeria and existed from 1967 until 1970. Its territory consisted of the predominantly Igbo-populated form ...
bought two Mitchells. After a few bombings in November, they were put out of action in December.
Variants
![North American B-25J (00910460 117)](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/87/North_American_B-25J_%2800910460_117%29.jpg)
;B-25
:The initial production version of B-25s, they were powered by R-2600-9 engines. and carried up to 3,600 lb (1,600 kg) of bombs and defensive armament of three .30 machine guns in nose, waist, and ventral positions, with one .50 machine gun in the tail. The first nine aircraft were built with constant
dihedral angle. Due to low stability, the wing was redesigned so that the dihedral was eliminated on the outboard section (number made: 24).
[Dorr ''Wings of Fame'' Volume 3, p. 124.]["Factsheets: North American B-25."](_blank)
National Museum of the United States Air Force, 26 June 2009. Retrieved: 16 July 2017.
;B-25A
:This version of the B-25 was modified to make it combat ready; additions included
self-sealing fuel tanks, crew armor, and an improved tail-gunner station. No changes were made in the armament. It was redesignated obsolete (''RB-25A'') in 1942 (number made: 40).
["Factsheets: North American B-25A"](_blank)
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, 26 June 2009. Retrieved: 16 July 2017.
;B-25B
:The tail and gun position were removed and replaced by a manned dorsal turret on the rear fuselage and retractable, remotely operated ventral turret, each with a pair of .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns. A total of 120 were built (this version was used in the Doolittle Raid). A total of 23 were supplied to the Royal Air Force as the Mitchell Mk I.
[Dorr ''Wings of Fame'' Volume 3, pp. 125–126.]["Factsheets: North American B-25B."](_blank)
National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, 26 June 2009. Retrieved: 16 July 2017.
;B-25C
:An improved version of the B-25B, its powerplants were upgraded from
Wright R-2600-9 radials to R-2600-13s; de-icing and anti-icing equipment were added; the navigator received a sighting blister; and nose armament was increased to two .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns, one fixed and one flexible. The B-25C model was the first mass-produced B-25 version; it was also used in the United Kingdom (as the Mitchell Mk II), in Canada, China, the Netherlands, and the Soviet Union (number made: 1,625).
;ZB-25C
;B-25D
:Through block 20, the series was near identical to the B-25C. The series designation differed in that the B-25D was made in Kansas City, Kansas, whereas the B-25C was made in Inglewood, California. Later blocks with interim armament upgrades, the D2s, first flew on 3 January 1942 (number made: 2,290).
![North American F-10 Mitchell](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/North_American_F-10_Mitchell.jpg)
;F-10
:The F-10 designation distinguished 45 B-25Ds modified for photographic reconnaissance. All armament, armor, and bombing equipment were stripped. Three K.17 cameras were installed, one pointing down and two more mounted at oblique angles within blisters on each side of the nose. Optionally, a second downward-pointing camera could also be installed in the aft fuselage. Although designed for combat operations, these aircraft were mainly used for ground mapping.
;B-25D weather reconnaissance variant
:In 1944, four B-25Ds were converted for weather reconnaissance. One later user was the
53d Weather Reconnaissance Squadron
The 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, also known by its nickname, Hurricane Hunters, is a flying unit of the United States Air Force, and "the only Department of Defense organization still flying into tropical storms and hurricanes." Aligne ...
, originally called the Army Hurricane Reconnaissance Unit, now called the "Hurricane Hunters". Weather reconnaissance first started in 1943 with the
1st Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, with flights on the North Atlantic ferry routes.
;ZB-25D
;XB-25E
:A single B-25C was modified to test de-icing and anti-icing equipment that circulated exhaust from the engines in chambers in the leading and trailing edges and empennage. The aircraft was tested for almost two years, beginning in 1942; while the system proved extremely effective, no production models were built that used it before the end of World War II. Many surviving
warbird
A warbird is any vintage military aircraft now operated by civilian organizations and individuals, or in some instances, by historic arms of military forces, such as the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, the RAAF Museum Historic Flight, or the ...
-flown B-25 aircraft today use the de-icing system from the XB-25E (number made: 1, converted).
;ZXB-25E
;XB-25F-A
:A modified B-25C, it used insulated electrical coils mounted inside the wing and empennage leading edges to test the effectiveness as a de-icing system. The hot air de-icing system tested on the XB-25E was determined to be the more practical of the two (number made: 1, converted).
;XB-25G
:This modified B-25C had the transparent nose replaced to create a short-nosed gunship carrying two fixed .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns and a 75 mm (2.95 in) M4 cannon, then the largest weapon ever carried on an American bomber (number made: 1, converted).
;B-25G
:The B-25G followed the success of the prototype XB-25G and production was a continuation of the NA96. The production model featured increased armor and a greater fuel supply than the XB-25G. One B-25G was passed to the British, who gave it the name Mitchell II that had been used for the B-25C. The USSR also tested the G (number made: 463; five converted Cs, 58 modified Cs, 400 production).
![B-25 At Centennial](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0d/B-25_At_Centennial.jpg)
;B-25H
:An improved version of the B-25G, this version relocated the manned dorsal turret to a more forward location on the fuselage just aft of the flight deck. It also featured two additional fixed .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns in the nose and in the H-5 onward, four in fuselage-mounted pods. The T13E1 light weight cannon replaced the heavy M4 cannon 75 mm (2.95 in). Single controls were installed from the factory with navigator in the right seat (number made: 1000; two airworthy ).
;B-25J-NC
: Follow-on production at Kansas City, the B-25J could be called a cross between the B-25D and the B-25H. It had a transparent nose, but many of the delivered aircraft were modified to have a strafer nose (J2). Most of its 14–18 machine guns were forward-facing for strafing missions, including the two guns of the forward-located dorsal turret. The RAF received 316 aircraft, which were known as the Mitchell III. The J series was the last factory series production of the B-25 (number made: 4,318).
;CB-25J
:Utility transport version
;VB-25J
:A number of B-25s were converted for use as staff and VIP transports.
Henry H. Arnold
Henry Harley Arnold (June 25, 1886 – January 15, 1950) was an American general officer holding the ranks of General of the Army and later, General of the Air Force. Arnold was an aviation pioneer, Chief of the Air Corps (1938–1941), ...
and
Dwight D. Eisenhower
Dwight David "Ike" Eisenhower (born David Dwight Eisenhower; ; October 14, 1890 – March 28, 1969) was an American military officer and statesman who served as the 34th president of the United States from 1953 to 1961. During World War II, ...
both used converted B-25Js as their personal transports. The last VB-25J in active service was retired in May 1960 at the
Eglin Air Force Base
Eglin Air Force Base is a United States Air Force (USAF) base in the western Florida Panhandle, located about southwest of Valparaiso in Okaloosa County.
The host unit at Eglin is the 96th Test Wing (formerly the 96th Air Base Wing). The ...
in Florida.
Trainer variants
Most models of the B-25 were used at some point as training aircraft.
;TB-25D
:Originally designated AT-24A (Advanced Trainer, Model 24, Version A), trainer modification of B-25D often with the dorsal turret omitted, in total, 60 AT-24s were built.
;TB-25G
:Originally designated AT-24B, trainer modification of B-25G
;TB-25C
:Originally designated AT-24C, trainer modification of B-25C
;TB-25J
:Originally designated AT-24D, trainer modification of B-25J, another 600 B-25Js were modified after the war.
;TB-25K
:Hughes E1 fire-control radar trainer (Hughes) (number made: 117)
;TB-25L
:Hayes pilot-trainer conversion (number made: 90)
;TB-25M
:Hughes E5 fire-control radar trainer (number made: 40)
;TB-25N
:Hayes navigator-trainer conversion (number made: 47)
U.S. Navy / U.S. Marine Corps variants
![PBJ Philippine guerillas 1945](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f2/PBJ_Philippine_guerillas_1945.jpg)
;PBJ-1C
:Similar to the B-25C for the U.S. Navy, it was often fitted with airborne search radar and used in the antisubmarine role.
;PBJ-1D
:Similar to the B-25D for the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps, it differed in having a single .50 in (12.7 mm) machine gun in the tail turret and waist gun positions similar to the B-25H. Often it was fitted with airborne search radar and used in the antisubmarine role.
;PBJ-1G
:U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps designation for the B-25G, trials only
;PBJ-1H
:U.S. Navy/U.S. Marine Corps designation for the B-25H
:One PBJ-1H was modified with carrier takeoff and landing equipment and successfully tested on the
USS ''Shangri-La'', but the Navy did not continue development.
;PBJ-1J
:U.S. Navy designation for the B-25J (Blocks −1 through −35), it had improvements in radio and other equipment. Beside the standard armament package, the Marines often fitted it with 5-inch underwing rockets and search radar for the antishipping/antisubmarine role. The large
Tiny Tim rocket-powered warhead was used in 1945.
Operators
![18 sqn (AWM P01818](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/b/bc/18_sqn_%28AWM_P01818.011%29.jpg)
;
* An ex-USAAF TB-25N (s/n 44-31173) acquired in June 1961 and registered locally as LV-GXH, it was privately operated as a
smuggling
Smuggling is the illegal transportation of objects, substances, information or people, such as out of a house or buildings, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.
There are various ...
aircraft. It was confiscated by provincial authorities in 1971 and handed over to ''Empresa Provincial de Aviacion Civil de San Juan'', which operated it until its retirement due to a double engine failure in 1976. Currently, it is under restoration to airworthiness.
;
* The
Royal Australian Air Force
"Through Adversity to the Stars"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march =
, mascot =
, anniversaries = RAAF Anniversary Commemoration ...
operated 50 aircraft.
**
No. 2 Squadron RAAF
No. 2 Squadron is a Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) squadron that operates from RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, New South Wales. From its formation in 1916 as part of the Australian Flying Corps, it has flown a variety of aircraft types ...
[Chorlton ''Aeroplane'' May 2013, p. 85.]
;
*
Biafran Air Force
The Biafran Armed Forces (BAF) were the military of the Nigerian secessionist state of Biafra, which existed from 1967 until 1970.
History
At the beginning of the Nigerian Civil War, Biafra had 3,000 soldiers. This number grew as the war pro ...
operated two aircraft.
[Chorlton ''Aeroplane'' May 2013, p. 86.]
;
![B-25 en Cochabamba Bolivia 01](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/35/B-25_en_Cochabamba_Bolivia_01.jpg)
*
Bolivian Air Force operated 13 aircraft
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Brazilian Air Force
"Wings that protect the country"
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march = Hino dos Aviadores
, mascot =
, anniversaries = 22 May (anniver ...
operated 75 aircraft, including B-25B, B-25C, and B-25J.
;
*
Royal Canadian Air Force
The Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF; french: Aviation royale canadienne, ARC) is the air and space force of Canada. Its role is to "provide the Canadian Forces with relevant, responsive and effective airpower". The RCAF is one of three environm ...
operated 164 aircraft in bomber, light transport, trainer, and "special" mission roles.
** No. 13 (P) Squadron Mitchell II at RCAF Station Rockcliffe
** No. 406 Auxiliary Squadron Mitchell III
;
*
Republic of China Air Force operated more than 180 aircraft.
;
*
People's Liberation Army Air Force operated captured Nationalist Chinese aircraft.
;
*
Chilean Air Force operated 12 aircraft.
;
*
Colombian Air Force operated three aircraft.
;
*
Cuban Army Air Force
The Cuban Revolutionary Air and Air Defense Force ( es, Defensa Anti-Aérea y Fuerza Aérea Revolucionaria) commonly abbreviated to DAAFAR in both Spanish and English, is the air force of Cuba.
History
Background
The Cuban Army Air Force was ...
operated six aircraft.
*
Fuerza Aérea del Ejército de Cuba
*
Cuerpo de Aviación del Ejército de Cuba
;
*
Dominican Air Force
The Air Force of the Dominican Republic ( es, Fuerza Aérea de República Dominicana), is one of the three branches of the Armed Forces of the Dominican Republic, together with the Army and the Navy.
History
At the end of the United States ...
operated five aircraft.
;
*
French Air Force
The French Air and Space Force (AAE) (french: Armée de l'air et de l'espace, ) is the air and space force of the French Armed Forces. It was the first military aviation force in history, formed in 1909 as the , a service arm of the French Army; ...
operated 11 aircraft.
*
Free French Air Force operated 18 aircraft.
;
*
Indonesian Air Force received some B-25 Mitchells from the Netherlands; the last example retired in 1979.
;
*
Mexican Air Force received three B-25Js in December 1945, which remained in use until at least 1950.
[Hagedorn ''Air Enthusiast'' May/June 2003, pp. 53–54.]
* Eight Mexican civil registrations were allocated to B-25s, including one aircraft registered to the Bank of Mexico, but used by the
President of Mexico
The president of Mexico ( es, link=no, Presidente de México), officially the president of the United Mexican States ( es, link=no, Presidente de los Estados Unidos Mexicanos), is the head of state and head of government of Mexico. Under the Co ...
.
[Hagedorn ''Air Enthusiast'' May/June 2003, p. 55.]
;
*
Royal Netherlands Air Force
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march = ''Parade March of the Royal Netherlands Air Force''
, mascot =
, anniversaries =
, equipment ...
operated 62 aircraft.
**
No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF
No. 18 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron was a joint Dutch and Australian bomber squadron of World War II. Formed in April 1942, the squadron was staffed by a mixture of Dutch and Australian personnel and placed under Royal Australian Air Forc ...
**
No. 119 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron RAAF
No. 119 (Netherlands East Indies) Squadron was a joint Dutch and Australian squadron of World War II which formed part of the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF). The squadron was formed in September 1943 but could not be made operational due to a ...
**
No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF
No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force during World War II formed from the personnel of the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service.
History
Formation
Formed on 1 June 1940 at RAF Pembroke Dock, after flying from the N ...
*
Dutch Naval Aviation Service operated 107 aircraft.
**
No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF
No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force during World War II formed from the personnel of the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service.
History
Formation
Formed on 1 June 1940 at RAF Pembroke Dock, after flying from the N ...
*
Royal Netherlands East Indies Army Air Force – operated 149 aircraft, including many after the war.
;
*
Peruvian Air Force received 8 B-25Js in 1947, which formed Bomber Squadron N° 21 at
Talara
Talara is a city in the Talara Province of the Piura Region, in northwestern Peru. It is a port city on the Pacific Ocean with a population of 91,444 as of 2017. Its climate is hot and dry. Due to its oil reserves, and ability to produce aviatio ...
.
;
*
Polish Air Forces on exile in Great Britain
**
No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron
;
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Spanish Air Force
, colours =
, colours_label =
, march = Spanish Air and Space Force Anthem
, mascot =
, anniversaries = 10 December
, equipment ...
operated one ex-USAAF example interned in 1944 and operated between 1948 and 1956.
;
*
Soviet Air Force
The Soviet Air Forces ( rus, Военно-воздушные силы, r=Voyenno-vozdushnyye sily, VVS; literally "Military Air Forces") were one of the air forces of the Soviet Union. The other was the Soviet Air Defence Forces. The Air Forces ...
(''Voyenno-Vozdushnye Sily'' or VVS) received a total of 866 B-25s of the C, D, G*, and J series. * trials only (5).
;
*
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force (RAF) is the United Kingdom's air and space force. It was formed towards the end of the First World War on 1 April 1918, becoming the first independent air force in the world, by regrouping the Royal Flying Corps (RFC) and ...
received just over 700 aircraft.
["Mitchells: The North American Mitchell in Royal Air Force service." ''Aeromilitaria'' ( Air-Britain Historians), Issue 2, 1978, pp. 41–48.]
**
No. 98 Squadron RAF
No. 98 Squadron was a Royal Air Force bomber squadron during World War I and World War II. It flew fighter-bombers post-war, and converted to fighters in 1955. Reformed as a ballistic missile unit between 1959 and 1963, its final incarnation wa ...
– September 1942 – November 1945 (converted to the Mosquito
**
No. 180 Squadron RAF
No. 180 Squadron RAF was a Royal Air Force squadron that flew medium bombers in World War II.
History
Formation in World War II
The Squadron was equipped with Mitchells at RAF West Raynham. It then flew its first raid from RAF Foulsham and su ...
– September 1942 – September 1945 (converted to the Mosquito)
**
No. 226 Squadron RAF
No. 226 Squadron RAF was a unit of the British Royal Air Force that existed as a bomber squadron during the First and Second World Wars, and as part of the UK's nuclear ballistic missile force in the early 1960s.
Squadron history
First formed o ...
– May 1943 – September 1945 (disbanded)
**
No. 305 Polish Bomber Squadron – September 1943 – December 1943 (converted to the Mosquito)
**
No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF
No. 320 (Netherlands) Squadron RAF was a unit of the Royal Air Force during World War II formed from the personnel of the Royal Netherlands Naval Air Service.
History
Formation
Formed on 1 June 1940 at RAF Pembroke Dock, after flying from the N ...
– March 1943 – August 1945 (transferred to Netherlands)
**
No. 342 (GB I/20 'Lorraine') Squadron RAF – March 1945 – December 1945 (transferred to France)
**
No. 681 Squadron RAF
No. 681 Squadron RAF was a photo-reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Air Force during the Second World War.
History
It was formed out of No. 3 PRU, at Dum Dum in India on 2 January 1943, as part of RAF Far East Air Force. Initially it was most ...
– January 1943 – December 1943 (Mitchell withdrawn)
**
No. 684 Squadron RAF
No. 684 Squadron RAF was a photo-reconnaissance squadron of the Royal Air Force from 1943 to 1946.
History
The squadron was formed on 29 September 1943 at RAF Dum Dum near Calcutta, (then) British India from the twin-engined elements of No. 68 ...
– September 1943 – April 1944 (Replaced by Mosquito)
**
No. 111 Operational Training Unit RAF
The numero sign or numero symbol, №, (also represented as Nº, No, No. or no.), is a typographic abbreviation of the word ''number''(''s'') indicating ordinal numeration, especially in names and titles. For example, using the numero sign, t ...
,
Nassau Airport
Lynden Pindling International Airport , formerly known as Nassau International Airport, is the largest airport in the Bahamas and the largest international gateway into the country. It is a major hub for Bahamasair, Western Air, and Pineapple A ...
, Bahamas, August 1942 – August 1945 (disbanded)
*
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy (RN) is the United Kingdom's naval warfare force. Although warships were used by English and Scottish kings from the early medieval period, the first major maritime engagements were fought in the Hundred Years' War against F ...
Fleet Air Arm
The Fleet Air Arm (FAA) is one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy and is responsible for the delivery of naval air power both from land and at sea. The Fleet Air Arm operates the F-35 Lightning II for maritime strike, the AW159 Wil ...
** operated 1 aircraft for evaluation
;
*
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces (USAAF or AAF) was the major land-based aerial warfare service component of the United States Army and ''de facto'' aerial warfare service branch of the United States during and immediately after World War II ...
: see
B-25 Mitchell units of the United States Army Air Forces
:''See also List of United States Army Air Forces reconnaissance units for F-10 Mitchell reconnaissance groups''
This is a list of United States Army Air Forces B-25 Mitchell medium bomber units. It does not include non-combat units assigned wi ...
*
United States Navy
The United States Navy (USN) is the maritime service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the eight uniformed services of the United States. It is the largest and most powerful navy in the world, with the estimated tonnage ...
received 706 aircraft, most of which were then transferred to the USMC.
*
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for conducting expeditionary and amphibious operations through combi ...
;
*
Uruguayan Air Force operated 15 aircraft.
;
*
Venezuelan Air Force operated 24 aircraft.
Accidents and incidents
;Empire State Building crash
At 9:40 on Saturday, 28 July 1945, a USAAF B-25D crashed in thick fog into the north side of the
Empire State Building
The Empire State Building is a 102-story Art Deco skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, New York City. The building was designed by Shreve, Lamb & Harmon and built from 1930 to 1931. Its name is derived from "Empire State", the nickname of the st ...
between the 79th and 80th floors. Fourteen people died — 11 in the building and the three occupants of the aircraft, including the pilot, Colonel William F. Smith. Betty Lou Oliver, an elevator attendant, survived the impact and the subsequent fall of the elevator cage 75 stories to the basement.
French general
Philippe Leclerc was aboard his North American B-25 Mitchell, Tailly II, when it crashed near Colomb-Béchar in French Algeria on 28 November 1947, killing everyone on board.
Surviving aircraft
![B-25J Mitchell high bank 80th](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e3/B-25J_Mitchell_high_bank_80th.JPG)
Many B-25s are currently kept in airworthy condition by air museums and collectors.
Specifications (B-25H)
Notable appearances in media
See also
Notes
References
Bibliography
* Borth, Christy. ''Masters of Mass Production''. Indianapolis, Indiana: Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1945.
* Bridgman, Leonard, ed. "The North American Mitchell." ''Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II''. London: Studio, 1946. .
*
Caidin, Martin''Air Force.''New York: Arno Press, 1957.
* Chorlton, Martyn. "Database: North American B-25 Mitchell". ''
Aeroplane
An airplane or aeroplane (informally plane) is a fixed-wing aircraft that is propelled forward by thrust from a jet engine, propeller, or rocket engine. Airplanes come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and wing configurations. The broad spectr ...
'', Vol. 41, No. 5, May 2013. pp. 69–86.
* Dorr, Robert F. "North American B-25 Variant Briefing". ''Wings of Fame'', Volume 3, 1996. London: Aerospace Publishing. . . pp. 118–141.
* Green, William. ''Famous Bombers of the Second World War''. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1975. .
* Hagedorn, Dan. "Latin Mitchells: North American B-25s in South America, Part One". ''
Air Enthusiast'' No. 105, May/June 2003. pp. 52–55.
* Hagedorn, Dan. "Latin Mitchells: North American B-25s in South America, Part Three". ''
Air Enthusiast'' Mo. 107, September/October 2003. pp. 36–41.
* Hardesty, Von. ''Red Phoenix: The Rise of Soviet Air Power 1941–1945''. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 1991, first edition 1982. .
* Heller, Joseph. ''Catch 22''. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1961. .
* Herman, Arthur. ''Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II,'' New York: Random House, 2012. .
* Higham, Roy and Carol Williams, eds. ''Flying Combat Aircraft of USAAF-USAF (Vol. 1)''. Andrews AFB, Maryland: Air Force Historical Foundation, 1975. .
* Higham, Roy and Carol Williams, eds. ''Flying Combat Aircraft of USAAF-USAF (Vol. 2)''. Andrews AFB, Maryland: Air Force Historical Foundation, 1978. .
* Johnsen, Frederick A. ''North American B-25 Mitchell''. Stillwater, Minnesota: Voyageur Press, 1997. .
* Kingwell, Mark. ''Nearest Thing to Heaven: The Empire State Building and American Dreams''. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 2007. .
* Kinzey, Bert. ''B-25 Mitchell in Detail''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., 1999. .
* Kit, Mister and Jean-Pierre De Cock. ''North American B-25 Mitchell'' (in French). Paris, France: Éditions Atlas, 1980.
* McDowell, Ernest R. ''B-25 Mitchell in Action (Aircraft number 34)''. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., 1978. .
* McDowell, Ernest R. ''North American B-25A/J Mitchell'' (Aircam No.22). Canterbury, Kent, UK: Osprey Publications Ltd., 1971. .
* Mizrahi, J.V. ''North American B-25: The Full Story of World War II's Classic Medium''. Hollywood, California: Challenge Publications Inc., 1965.
* Norton, Bill. ''American Bomber Aircraft Development in World War 2.'' Hersham, Surrey, UK: Midland Publishing, 2012. .
* Pace, Steve. ''B-25 Mitchell Units in the MTO''. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2002. .
* Pace, Steve. ''Warbird History: B-25 Mitchell''. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International, 1994. .
* Parker, Dana T. ''Building Victory: Aircraft Manufacturing in the Los Angeles Area in World War II''. Cypress, California: Dana Parker Enterprises, 2013. .
*
* Powell, Albrecht
"Mystery in the Mon". 1994
*
* Scutts, Jerry. ''B-25 Mitchell at War''. London: Ian Allan, 1983. .
* Scutts, Jerry. ''North American B-25 Mitchell''. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press, 2001. .
* Skaarup, Harold A. ''Canadian Warplanes''. Bloomington, Indiana: IUniverse, 2009. .
* Swanborough, F.G. and
Peter M. Bowers
Peter M. Bowers (May 15, 1918 – April 27, 2003) was an aeronautical engineer, airplane designer, and a journalist and historian specializing in the field of aviation. . ''United States Military Aircraft since 1909''. London: Putnam, 1963.
* Swanborough, Gordon. ''North American, An Aircraft Album No. 6''. New York: Arco Publishing Company Inc., 1973. .
* Tallman, Frank. ''Flying the Old Planes''. New York: Doubleday and Company, 1973. .
*
* Wolf, William. ''North American B-25 Mitchell, The Ultimate Look: from Drawing Board to Flying Arsenal''. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 2008. .
* Yenne, Bill. ''Rockwell: The Heritage of North American''. New York: Crescent Books, 1989. .
External links
North American B-25 MitchellJoe Baugher, ''American Military Aircraft: US Bomber Aircraft''
*
I Fly Mitchell's, February 1944''
Popular Science
''Popular Science'' (also known as ''PopSci'') is an American digital magazine carrying popular science content, which refers to articles for the general reader on science and technology subjects. ''Popular Science'' has won over 58 awards, incl ...
'' article on B-25s in North Africa Theater
Flying Big Gun, February 1944, ''Popular Science'' article on 75 mm cannon mountEarly B-25 model's tail gun position, extremely rare photo* A collection photos of the Marine VMB-613 post in the Kwajalein Island at th
University of Houston Digital Library
Hi-res spherical panoramas; B-25H: A look inside & out – "Barbie III"(1943) Report No. NA-5785 Temporary Handbook of Erection and Maintenance Instructions for the B-25 H-1-NA Medium Bombardment Airplanes*
ttp://www.airspacemag.com/history-of-flight/lake-murrays-mitchell-14033140/?no-ist Lake Murray's MitchellB-25 Recovery and Preservation ProjectRubicon Foundation
{{Authority control
Aircraft first flown in 1940
Gull-wing aircraft
Mid-wing aircraft
B-25
The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served in e ...
1940s United States bomber aircraft
World War II bombers of the United States
Twin piston-engined tractor aircraft