Gunship B-25G named Lizzy PTO

The development of the B-25G Mitchell was a direct result of the successful field modifications made to B-25Cs and B-25Ds, which enhanced their capabilities in the strafer role, particularly in the Pacific theater. The B-25G was conceived to take this potential further by designing a variant specifically for low-level attacks, especially against shipping.

The XB-25G prototype, originally a B-25C-1-NA (serial number 41-13296), featured a solid, shorter nose that replaced the standard bombardier’s compartment. The nose housed an M4 75-mm cannon, measuring nine feet six inches long and weighing about 900 pounds, mounted in the former bombardier’s crawlway. This cannon fired 26-inch-long rounds, each weighing 20 pounds, with the projectile itself weighing 15 pounds. These rounds had to be manually loaded and fired one at a time, with the navigator responsible for loading the cannon during combat. In addition to the cannon, two .50-caliber machine guns were installed in the nose, providing the pilot with the means to suppress enemy fire and accurately aim the cannon during strafing runs.

The prototype was tested in January 1943, where it was flown to Columbia, South Carolina, and tested against targets off Myrtle Beach. Initially, the muzzle blast caused damage to the nose, which led to the barrel being lengthened by approximately three inches on production models.

Following the XB-25G, five B-25G-1-NA service test aircraft were produced, with serial numbers 42-32384 through 42-32388. A total of 400 production B-25Gs were built, originally ordered as B-25C-20-NAs but re-designated as B-25Gs. Additionally, 63 existing B-25C airframes were converted to B-25G standards.

The B-25G underwent various modifications during its production. Starting with B-25G-5-NA, 42-65001, the ineffective lower turret was removed, leaving the aircraft with only the top turret for defensive armament. Consequently, some B-25Gs received tail gun positions and waist gun positions added at modification centers. These tail positions resembled those found on later models like the B-25H and B-25J but were not as deep and typically mounted a single .50-caliber weapon.

Additional minor changes included the replacement of the wingtip navigation lights with a single larger light on each wing tip and the installation of a metal shield in the lower corner of the pilot’s windscreen to protect against the flash of the 75-mm cannon.

While the B-25G was intended for use against ships, it was also employed against ground targets. The slow-firing 75-mm cannon was not always effective against these targets, leading to its removal in some cases, where it was replaced with two additional .50-caliber machine guns in the field.

Only one B-25G, serial number 42-65031, was acquired by the Navy and redesignated as PBJ-1G (BuNo. 35097). A few B-25Gs were transferred to Australia, but no other foreign air forces received this variant. Within the USAAF, training versions of the B-25G were initially designated as AT-24Bs, but this designation was changed to TB-25G on June 11, 1948.

Data:

Version: B-25G
North American Model Number: NA-96
U.S. Navy/Marine Designation: PBJ-1G
British Designation: None
Number Built: 400 (plus one XB-25G prototype and five service test aircraft; 63 B-25Cs were also modified to B-25G standards)
First Flight: October 22, 1942
First Delivery: May 1943
Last Delivery: August 1943
Powerplants: Wright R-2600-13
Maximum Horsepower (each): 1,700
Maximum Speed: 281 mph at 15,000 feet
Initial Rate of Climb: 967 feet per minute
Ceiling: 24,300 feet
Combat Range: 1,525 miles
Empty Weight: 19,975 pounds
Maximum Take-off Weight: 35,000 pounds