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B-25 'MITCHELL'

North American B-25J 'Mitchell', RIAT 2013 - pic by Nigel Key
North American B-25J 'Mitchell', RIAT 2013 ©Nigel Key

ROLE
Medium Bomber.

FIRST FLIGHT
19 August 1940.

The North American B-25 Mitchell is a medium bomber, named after Major General William “Billy” Mitchell.

The Mitchell is a semi-monocoque, mid-wing monoplane with an all metal skin. The forward section of the fuselage uses countersunk rivets to reduce drag and the remainder uses brazier head rivets.

The control surfaces are covered with doped fabric. The horizontal stabilisers are made with stressed skin with pressed ribs, stiffeners and two spars. The vertical stabiliser is similar in construction and attached with AN bolts.

There are two hatches in the belly with retracting ladders, which retract automatically, which are used routinely and there are escape hatches which can be used in crash landings or for bailing out in an emergency.

The bomb bay is integral with the centre wing section supported by upper and lower longerons which in turn are attached to wing spars.

The landing gear is fully retractable ‘tricycle’ configuration. The nose wheel has a 60 degree movement left and right which self-centre when there is no weight on the wheel.

The landing gear, flaps, bomb bay doors and brakes are operated by a single pressure hydraulic system with pumps powered by the engines. A manual system allows operation in the case of failure or when the engines aren’t running when on the ground.

The cockpit is made of Plexiglas and glass sheet with metal frames. The upper turret is located behind the cockpit.

The engines have independent fuel supply from four self-sealing fuel tanks, two located in each wing.

PRODUCTION
The North American B-25 Mitchell was produced from 1941, with over 9,800 built.

ENGINE
2 x Wright R-2600-92 Cyclones, producing 3,400 hp.

Press play to hear the B-25


ARMAMENT
12 x Browning 0.5” machine guns
3,000 lb (1,361 kg) Bomb/Rocket load.

The majority of B-25 Mitchells in U.S. service were used from North Pacific to South Pacific and the Far East.

The B-25 proved itself as a ground attack aircraft with low-level attacks on Jungle and sea vessel targets.

The B-25 with all its forward facing guns was also used on strafing missions.

The Mitchell was also used for attacks on Japanese communications, bridges and supply drops in Burma.

The B-25 Mitchell was also used in the Middle East, Italy and Europe.

Crew - 4 to 6
Length - 52ft 11in (16.13m)
Wingspan - 67ft 7in (20.6m)
Height - 16ft 4in (4.98m)
Empty Weight - 19,480lb (8,836kg)
Max. Weight - 35,000lb (15,876kg)
Max. Speed - 272 mph (438 km/h)
Range - 1,350 miles (2,173 km)


PHOTOGRAPHS

North American B-25J 'Mitchell', RIAT 2013 - pic by Nigel Key North American B-25J 'Mitchell', RIAT 2013 - pic by Nigel Key North American B-25J 'Mitchell', RIAT 2013 - pic by Nigel Key
RIAT 2013 RIAT 2013 RIAT 2013
North American B-25J 'Mitchell', RIAT 2013 - pic by Nigel Key North American B-25J 'Mitchell', RIAT 2013 - pic by Nigel Key North American B-25J 'Mitchell', RIAT 2013 - pic by Nigel Key
RIAT 2013 RIAT 2013 RIAT 2013


Photos copyright of ©Nigel Key




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