12 B-25 MitchellBy Lou Drendel B-25 Mitchell Color by Lou Drendel and Don Greer Illustrated by Don Greer eg Walk Around Number 12 squadron/signal publicationsINTRODUCTION te was farand away te most popular medium bomber of Work War I twas named for the father of todcn aval bombarvet, General Billy Mitcball, who sacrificed his ears 0 rose tht silanes would avea signi impact on fue wars. Neary 10.000 B.25s were {wil ding the war Most were operate bythe US. Amy Air Corps, bat versions were so flown by he US Navy sr Matin Caps Te fough in vitally very thetrin World War Il, performing adverse series of misons ‘fom medium altde bombardment to fow-aktude arafing, photo recomalssance andes & iP rasport le theft high-profile mission ofthe war — Jimmy Doli’ daring Aayigh rid on Tokyo on Api 192, whic gave Americans a ge marae Bost ust ‘ven is needed the most Unlike many of its contemporaries, the B-2S soldered on well, er the war, survivin the change fom US Amy AM Cops to US Ar Rote, serving sa feaner and taspoet foraety 20 ears alr the ed ofthe War. ‘All ofthe 25s strated on the Following paps are CD, GH, oJ descr modifi tion of thee model. The details shown are forthe most heavily proced versions, the H model gunship an the Jmol Homer The Ht model stat the ly lying 25H ia the word, undergoing a extensive and liga estration proces. Its currently operated) {all gp of esis who have dae thermelve the "Weary Warn “The J model dts are rom varity ofthe most widely produced version, which has vive invbively large umber, de age part to conned we bythe USA int he 196s, The best example of estore suror is the magnificent restoration ovaed BY the Cavanagh Mascum tn Tests, dabed How Boot Tit?” This ist act combat veteran which cris the same scheme it dl 0 year ago dri World War I "The B28 became the mow widely wed medum homer of WW I esas of ts adap silty and drab, lew apres ait of msn all climates against all enemies and none of the most widely recognized bombers ofthat ra “This book sa mint of pei hiring he B-25 in mary servic, both wartime and post-war, andthe many reo example that fave boon og back Wo Mying tas, Most ofthe deal photos ar of restord Mitch's. Some have Den estore oa remarkable Tevet of authentic. Most have Incorporated varus depreesf compromise to mex pe ‘Mona elites, These ae mot vide inthe are of avon an in engine geometry. Where These ferences acur,have eo pia thm oui te phous eapuons. ‘A last word on te obvious diffrence between the per phos and thse of modern restorations, Mon restoration re det evel which would porta a alan fesh out ofthe Tatry, The peri po are include to remind youth in operational eve, hese ‘planes in no way esrb a atry-fresh plane Acknowledgements ‘Asana, Lam indebted to my goal end Noem Taso fr his generosity and wagging Sipps ol my os Most of he prc photos inthis ook ae om Nes very exe "ve collection, Anche long tine supporter and fen, Dave Mason, sent me is entire ie {he 25, Dave dscatedmovle an perennial IPMS award winner. is inpat on these took Has noc oe lnited wo photon. Peer Mall, Executive Director of he EAA Wari of ‘Aric, Inaed me photos fom the EAA collection and seme of the best shots af the (Cavanaugh 82S are courtesy of he talented Phil High, on of EAA a of ace eri ph tograpers, Nick Wier ao contd pice of the Cavanagh B25, Ted Caron, of Foo Dymus, sent sone pea sheeted 8-25. am grateful oll for making his book possible ‘COPYRIGHT 1997 SQUADRONSIGNAL. PUBLICATIONS INC fated ny fom by ea ical meta or ere, Sto write ermine ah Iymhave ans ptograpi of ater ror sero ship a any an partinlary ware ‘npn why at share thn i and ip ake SquadronSigaa' bo all he mere ter ‘Sng snd compli nthe future. Aay phtoaap sent to ws wl be coped aed the ial ferried The donor il be aly ei fo an pes wed, Pes he SundroSgal Puen, fe ca Bens y pac ects gororpagmn camoneTor, soopyatemia, conta It opaGaen 2io60n crpalin, aco6etiNo, cHIKN ROeMeH Bom, oXeRHTech € HaWit H LoMOTMTe CHenaTS HoBMe KHUTI HxaTe=BCTBA ‘Sexampou/Curnaa ene mTepectee. Mut nepecitwew pault ‘goTorpaguit 1 BepHew opurimans, Mieka Nowenazuntx emmuxa GyayT conponoxitaTs nce ony Gmnkonanwe GoTOr pad Hoxanyacta, npucunanre gororpagimt no anpecy’ Seundro/SignalPubcatons RM, ROEM, BE, MRCLORRE RAL TH ONEAE No LeMd ei? Lom LOTLAA TT. HH EBSA LOFAEA MOTT. Seton SinalLORE 2 TT Ebnt, CORSE AGNES MARL, MRACTELE CRT. MACH BOM als, AKORIM LOL LIT, MANET EMEL CMO, OFRE ROS ZmeIRE SUCHSET. BRR TRCN CON, SquaironSgnalPuictons In (Front Cover) "MY DUCHESS”, a B-254 of the 499th Squadron, 245th Bombardment Group in the Philippines, 1945. (Back Cover) “Barbie i Burma, 1944. ‘2.B-25H of the 1st Air Commando Group,“The reconty completed NA-#0 at Wight Field ready te undergo esting. The NAA was 8 ‘gh ming avert white the B28 would bear wing ser {344 Wort of nots ih exhaust con lt sata serine ttn on ne egne coving, ober Aneta wa NamExteriorLower Nose Assemblying exterior restr Bomb Squron ate Shima n August 1845. (Lou Oren250-5.NA NA ison mains te i pol rom i.‘inet ow age sting wae more stetve han medium sttuce bombing. Evenly. Me Nose Configurations 8-250 Gunship intaled gun nose version (ou Dende) B-25H B-25C/D/J B-25J Gunship75mm Gun and Mount75mm Ammo Bin18.250-251NC (42.6714) of the 377 Bomb Squdroi\ gm wm See Fc fB-25J Left and Right External Gun Packs sme. Cutout nthe fuselage skin lowed passage ‘and tonal panel riveted tothe fuselage in ont of the lower gun protected the fuselage from the muzze blast. (Lou Drende) 26‘theca ave locked wt chooks connec pe for rapid vomoval‘ou fang covers the upper gun's nk chute. The tn ‘ck {nd exted a = common port at the ont of he lowe ‘lou DronNose Gear Components Nose Gear DoorsB-25C Mitchell 34Main Landing Gear Componentscl PeB-25J Mitchell B-25H Gunship Nose B-25J Gunship B-25J Gunship Nose 46B-25J Specifications B-25H Gunship 67 feet, 7 inches aj 52 feet, 11 inches 15 feet, 10 inches 33500 Ibs = “) Wright R-2600-13 c 3000 Ibs an 2 13 x 50 .Caliber 18 x 50 Caliber Machine Guns ment: Bomber: ine Guns Gunship: Arm MacAmmunition Boxes Spent Cartridge and Link Box Ser eid. Tet | ' i Ammunition Chutes air . A ., eee a) - al B-25H/J Waist Gun Position n & aa] ry O w o c S&S o a ad a 2 < 3 o oO we > 2 3 a TT c a 50B-25 Tail Gun Position and Ventral Turret Trailing Aerial Sighting Window Spent Cartridge/Link Ejection Port Ammunition Boxes B-25B-G Late B-25D and G (Single Gun) Cartridge Belt Booster Motor B-25H and J (Twin Guns) 51ao38-254.25.NC (4430785) rash rom the actor and anoute to Russian 194. The Russian 9.254.25:NC (44-2952) at Nome, Alaska during the winter of 1844 Lend-Lease suppied Scheme le Dark Green tnd Dar Earth over Blak 70 B 258, 6,0, Hand J motels were ‘etvered to Russia suring Wore War ander he Land Lasse progiem. (Bon © Brown ‘ia Norm Taylor Catiaction) Cetecton)Cowl Flap Inner Surface Teyana seen rm we nn were ce ne nig oe th Barbie IIIFixed .50 Caliber Nose Gun Flexible .50 Caliber Nose Gun Spent Cartridge Bag Suspension Cables and Pulleys Ammunition Box Twin Fixed .50 Caliber Nose Guns Spent Cartridge Bag ed Ammunition BoxeCockpit Engine Control Pedestal Pi “The cock of the nortyng B25 of op tectharng convo. (Lou Dende)Main Landing Gear Doorsorn 8.2811 422775) of 310% Bomb Go cing tan Amarr be (elo) Ary fk 8:25) NG (9278. Teer tl of he Tunisia. The absence ofall armament Inlctes tho is bomber wes Used es a hgh- deepened by 7” wo make room fo te all “har bampe bein he dove ‘oned anspor and our. Worm Taylor Coteton) {ume are armored decir pistes designed to ne ram ing into te back ‘ote ta quoners canopy. (Norm Tayler Coiction) atu RaatTail Gun Control Yoke Azimuth Control Pivot Elevation Control a ‘Activation Switch bout the pivot pain. Elevating the guns was accomplished by rotating te hands Dackwards (up) or trwaras (Sou) much ikea fighter contr! elk, Squeezing Inger with he index ingore the guns. ” (above) Postarar survivors [Georgia In 1088 inclucedF- Gx5" and this B-25i-254NC, (44'30750. Weathered Ozu 1 ie each of he ow panels Small patches cover ‘the halee lat ator the side package gune were {emoved. (1160 TFW, Goorgla ANG via Norm ‘Tayler Galeton) (Below) 8-25K-25.NC (4490649), of tho 108r4 Fighter Squadron, Pennsylvania’ ANG, uring 1986. 117 8-25Je wore modified a= FF-23Ke Dy Hughes with te Instaition ofthe Et e cone tol system to tain 69 and F94 radar opera. tors. A rounded fring has been placed Over i postion. (@ Sormertch via Norm Taylor catection)ced pilot waners with ena prt hy ar via Non {he oseage sie, (ave Mon reaistion)