North American B-25D Mitchell 41-30818

The B-25 Mitchell, a medium bomber designed by North American Aviation, became one of the most versatile and widely used aircraft during World War II. The increasing demands of wartime production led to the establishment of a second production line in Kansas City, Missouri, to supplement the output from North American’s primary plant in Inglewood, California. To differentiate between the aircraft produced at these two plants, Mitchells from Inglewood were designated as B-25Cs, while those from Kansas City were designated as B-25Ds, despite both versions being nearly identical.

Key Features and Modifications

B-25C:

The B-25C was the first variant produced in significant numbers, with 1,625 units built at the Inglewood plant.
Powered by Wright R-2600-13 engines with Holley carburetors, these aircraft had several upgrades over earlier models, such as fuel vents at the aft end of each nacelle, a 24-volt electrical system, and a fixed tail bumper instead of a retractable tail skid.
Additional features included a Stewart Warner cabin heater, Autosyne instruments, high-pressure brakes, an emergency landing gear extension system, and redesigned bomb racks with A-2 electrical releases.
Over the course of its production, the B-25C received numerous updates, such as increased fuel capacity, provisions for under-wing bomb racks, the introduction of a fixed .50-caliber machine gun in the nose, and various exhaust and gun mounting modifications.

B-25D:

The B-25D, produced in Kansas City, featured all the improvements found in the B-25C, including the Wright R-2600-13 engines.
The aircraft had several changes introduced during its production, starting with B-25D-1-NC, such as the addition of external under-wing bomb racks, self-sealing fuel cells, and the “finger” style exhaust collectors.
Subsequent production blocks included enhancements like winterization equipment, emergency landing gear systems, and improvements to cabin heating and defensive armament.
The B-25D also saw significant use as a strafer in the Pacific, where it was modified for low-level attacks with added fixed machine guns and gun packs on the forward fuselage.

Roles and Variants

Combat and Training:

Both B-25C and B-25D models were adapted for various roles, including the addition of tail and waist gun positions to enhance defensive capabilities. In some cases, these modifications were performed in the field, especially on aircraft operating in the Pacific Theater.
The aircraft were also used for training, designated initially as AT-24C and AT-24A for the B-25C and B-25D, respectively, later reclassified as TB-25C and TB-25D post-war.

F-10 Photographic Reconnaissance:

A subset of B-25Ds was converted into F-10 reconnaissance aircraft, equipped with specialized cameras and stripped of their gun turrets to focus on ground mapping and reconnaissance missions.

Naval Service:

The U.S. Navy acquired both B-25C and B-25D models, redesignating them as PBJ-1C and PBJ-1D, respectively. These aircraft were often modified with additional armament and radar equipment for use by Marine Corps squadrons.

International Service:

The B-25C and B-25D were also supplied to Allied nations, including Great Britain (where they were known as Mitchell II), Australia, China, Canada, France, the Netherlands, and Russia, playing crucial roles in various theaters of the war.

Performance Data

Maximum Speed: 284 mph at 15,000 feet
Range: 1,525 miles (with 974 gallons of fuel and a 3,200-pound bomb load)
Ceiling: 21,200 feet
Powerplant: Wright R-2600-13 engines, each providing 1,700 horsepower
Weight: Empty – 20,300 pounds; Maximum Take-off – 33,500 pounds