North American B-25 Mitchell
Verstile Medium Bomber
Era: WWI
Part of the Air Zoo Collection
Location: Flight Innovation Center
Did You Know?
- The Air Zoo's model was originally an "H" with a 75-millimeter cannon in its nose, but it was converted to a "J" model strafer.
- The North American B-25 Mitchell was designed as a medium bomber, operating at altitudes of 10,000-15,000 feet. It was perhaps the most versatile aircraft of World War II.
- The B-25 was used for high- and low-level bombing, strafing, photoreconnaissance, submarine patrol, and even as a fighter.
- The B-25 was the type of aircraft that completed the historic Doolittle Raid over Tokyo in 1942. The raiders took off from the carrier USS Hornet and successfully bombed Tokyo and four other Japanese cities without loss. However, 15 B-25 bombers subsequently crash-landed en route to recovery fields in Eastern China. Of the 80 aircrew, 69 survived their historic mission and eventually made it back to American lines.
- Nearly 10,000 B-25s were produced from 1939-1945. The Air Zoo's B-25 features the markings of the 498th Bomb Squadron ("Falcons"), 345th Bomb Group.
- Normal bomb load was 3,000 pounds. This model carries 18 .50-caliber machine guns, 14 of which can fire forward.
