Gallery No 15 - B25 Mitchell

Aircraft - 4 Images

My thanks to Roger Dunn and the MOD for supplying these images.Wikipedia for text.

The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American designed twin-engined medium bomber, which was approved in September 1939, following an Army Air Corps competition, but instead of waiting for the prototypes, the Army awarded production contracts to North American for the B-25 and Martin for the B-26. The prototype B-25 made its maiden flight less than a year later, on 19 August, 1940. The XB-25 and the first production models had wings with a constant dihedral from roots to tips, but starting from the 10th airplane off the production line, the outer wings were re-rigged flat to give the characteristic gull wing arrangement.
Named in honor of US airpower proponent Brig. Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell, the B-25 served in every theater of World War II and was made in larger quantities than any other American twin-engine combat airplane. The 17th Bomb Group at McChord Field, Wash., was the first unit to receive B-25s in 1941. The 75-mm cannon in the B-25G/H was used with mixed results, primarily against ships. Recoil from the cannon was 21 inches and momentarily stopped the plane in flight. A total of over 11,433 B-25s were built.

The Marine Corps received 706 B-25Bs, Cs, and Ds, which were redesignated PBJ-1, and used for anti-submarine patrol duties. Mitchells were later relegated to support duties and did not see service in Korea. The last B-25s were used to train pilots assigned to fly bombers and tankers. Large numbers of B-25s were flown by the Soviet Union and Britain, where it was flown by the RAF, and by the French "Lorraine" squadron of the RAF, replacing the Boston.

It was also flown by the Netherlands, Taiwan, and Brazil. A number of surplus B-25s were used by civilian operators as aerial camera ships for Hollywood movies. On 21 May, 1960, the last serving aircraft, a VB-25J staff transport, was retired from service at Eglin AFB, Fla.

The Fleet Air Arm was supplied with B-25s under US lend-lease B-25s to the RAF. Four versions were supplied and three of them entered RAF service, of which 2 were used operationally by the RAF. Only one was assessed by the Fleet Air Arm and none saw operational service with the Royal Navy. This aircraft was FR370 which under went trials and w/t tests by Royal Navy test pilots at the A&AEE Boscombe Down on 12 December 1943.

Some aircraft may appear identical but there are differences which will not be discernible from the image.

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98 Squadron
180 Squadron
226 Squadron

 

 

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