Widely considered a reliable and durable aircraft, the Mitchell was operated in every theater of the Second World War.
Named the Mitchell after the late General Billy Mitchell who led the push for American air power, the B-25 Mitchell first took flight in 1940 and became one of most well known planes in World War II. The B-25J is an improvement of the H version with an overhauled nose, alternate armament and restored co-pilot’s seat with dual flight controls. With the addition of what was known as a strafer nose, many of the B-25J aircraft were used in strafing missions—low-level ground attacks. Production of these aircraft ended in 1945 after 4,400 had been built.
During World War II, Hill Field performed maintenance and overhaul on B-25 engines, as well as stored the airframe due to demobilization at the end of the war. Later, Hill Air Force Base removed its B-25s from storage and modified them for use as trainers and staff transports.
North American Aviation manufactured the B-25J on display in 1945. After the Korean War, the aircraft remained in Argentina as a cargo plane and then was unused for decades. In 1993, a private entity restored the plane and transferred it to the Hill Aerospace Museum.
This aircraft is painted to resemble a B-25 aircraft flown by the “Air Apaches” of the 345th Bombardment Group. This US Army Air Forces unit was the the first full combat group to fly to the Pacific during World War II. All Apache B-25s were modified “strafers” like this one to attack ships at low levels.
This aircraft is a part of the USAF Heritage Program collection
Serial Number: 44-86772
Manufacturer: North American Aviation
Primary Function: Medium Bomber
Crew: Six (Pilot, Co-Pilot, Bombardier/Navigator, Flight Engineer, Radio Operator and Tail Gunner)
Engines: Two Wright R-2600-13 Double Cyclone radial; 1,700 horsepower each
Wingspan: 67 ft 7 in
Length: 53 ft 6 in
Height: 16 ft 5 in
Weight: 21,100 lbs (empty); 41,800 lbs (maximum takeoff weight)
Speed: 230 mph (cruising); 300 mph (maximum)
Range: 1,350 miles
Service Ceiling: 24,200 feet
Armament: Eighteen .50 caliber machine guns
Payload: 3,200 lbs. bombs
Cost: $142,194 (average B-25 cost of unit as of 1944)
Years of Service: 1943 – 1959
During World War II, Hill Air Force Base performed maintenance and overhaul for B-25 engines, as well as performed storage and reclamation efforts. Later, the base modified B-25s for the Korean conflict. The B-25J on display was manufactured in 1945.
Our B-25 at Hill Aerospace Museum was first accepted by the United States Air Force (USAF) in June 1945 and was immediately placed into storage. It was moved around between various maintenance and storage fields in California, Missouri and Texas. In January 1950 it was assigned to the 1050th Maintenance Service Unit at Andrews Air Force Base (AFB). In August 1952, the aircraft was transferred to the 1401st Air Base Wing Utility also at Andrews AFB.
After two years, the aircraft was sent to Birmingham, Alabama for Hayes conversion and then returned to Andrews AFB. In December 1957, the B-25 became part of the 1001st Air Base Wing, still at Andrews AFB, but was transferred to Davis-Monthan AFB for long-term storage a year later. It was declared surplus to the USAF needs and that summer it was sold to National Metals in Phoenix, Arizona.
In January 1962, the aircraft made a forced landing in a farmer’s field in Argentina after suffering either engine problems or running out of fuel. The aircraft was apparently being used to smuggle cigarettes into Argentina from Paraguay at the time of the incident. It landed in a rough field and the nose wheel collapsed, causing damage to the front of the aircraft.
It was then donated to a local flying club, where it was moved to a nearby airfield for display. Then a letter was sent to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in November 1964, requesting that the aircraft’s registration be cancelled since it was permanently out of service. The registration was cancelled the next month and it sat at the small airfield in Argentina for the next 27 years.
In 1990, Don Whittington of Fort Lauderdale, Florida obtained the aircraft, and it sat in pieces in his hangar until 1993. The aircraft was reassembled and restored, and Mr. Whittington traded the B-25 to the United States Air Force Museum System for four H-1 helicopters. The Mitchell was assigned to Hill Aerospace Museum for permanent display and was painted to resemble the B-25s flown by the “Air Apaches” of the 345th Bombardment Group.
Widely considered a reliable and durable aircraft, the Mitchell was operated in every theater of the Second World War.
Built as a medium bomber, the B-25 would later be reconfigured to fill a multitude of roles including as a gunship, strafing aircraft and as transportation.
The Mitchell was one of the first bombers to include the use of a tail gun to help aircraft survivability from enemy aircraft who regularly used the defenseless rear to make strafing runs.
Just four months after the devastating attack on Pearl Harbor, 16 B-25s made a successful attack against mainland Tokyo. Though the actual damage was minimal, the psychological effect was incalculable.
Of the 80 airmen who took part, 69 would return to active duty by war’s end. Of the 16 aircraft, only one landed intact in Siberia. The majority were lost across mainland China.