The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber. It was designed by North American Aviation of the USA. The B-25 was a descendant of the earlier XB-21 (North American-39) project of the mid-1930s. Experience gained in developing that aircraft was eventually used by North American in designing the B-25 (called the NA-40 by the company). In 1939, the modified and improved NA-40B was submitted to the United States Army Air Corps for evaluation. This aircraft was originally intended to be an attack bomber for export to the United Kingdom and France, both of which had a pressing requirement for such aircraft in the early stages of World War II. But it was purchased by the American Forces as well and the type was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II. After the war ended it saw service across the globe for nearly four decades. The B-25 was named in honor of General Billy Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. By the end of its production, nearly 10,000 B-25s in numerous models had been built. These included several variants.
B-25J-NC
This Mitchell (serial 44-31258) was put into Dutch service in September 1945. Original code was N5-164, but later this changed to M-464. After Dutch redrawal from Indonseia, it was transferred to the AURI, the new Indonesian air force until about 1964. Later in the early seventies it was attained, restored and displayed at the old Dutch Air Force Museum (MLM) at Soesterberg. (This collection is now at a new location, the NMM museum at Soesterberg).
Photographed February 2013 by Cees Hendriks (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
PART ONE:
PART TWO:
B-25N "Duke of Brabant Air Force"
Serial no. 108-32782, civil registration PH-XXV. This aircraft was operated by the Dutch Stichting "Duke of Brabant Air Force", but now by Royal Netherlands Air Force Historical Flight Foundation (SKHV, Stichting Koninklijke Luchtmacht Historische Vlucht) operating from Gilze-Rijen Air Base, The Netherlands.
Photographed August 2010 by Cees Hendriks (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
PART ONE WITH OVER 140 PHOTOGRAPHS:
PART TWO WITH OVER 50 PHOTOGRAPHS:
B-25J Mitchell
This B-25J has s/n 43-28059 and has nose art "Apache Princess" and another lighter scheme at the left side. It is located at the "Fantasy of Flight" museum in Polk City, Florida, USA
Photographed Januari 2012 by Cees Hendriks (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
B-25H "Barbie III"
B-25H-1NA, c/n 98-21107 "Barbie III", Registration N5548N. It was photographed at Nellis , Nevada.
More info on this external website.
Photographed August 2007 by Cees Hendriks (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
B-25J-20NC "Strafer"
This B-25J-20NC is the strafer version with guns in the nose. It is conserved at the Battleship Alabama memorial park, USA.
Photographed 2011 by Cees Hendriks (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
PART ONE:
PART TWO:
B-25J Mitchell
The B-25J aircraft is located at Space Coast Museum in Florida,
Photographed 2011 by Cees Hendriks (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
B-25J Mitchell
The B-25J has serial 43-35972 and was later bought by civilian users. It is now registered N125AZ with the Commemorative AF in Mesa (AZ./ USA). It has the nickname "Maid in the Shade".
Photographed 2014 by Cees Hendriks (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
B-25J TNI-AU
This is a special B-25J coded "M-443" but is originally probably the "M-239" , a "former" Dutch aircraft N5-239 serial 108-32307. It was "transferred" in 1948/1949 to the AURI when Indonesia became independent. The B-25J was seen at the Indonesian Air Force Museum "Pusat TNI AU Dirgantara Mandala" at Yogyakarta in Central Java, Indonesia.
Photographed 2016 by Henk Hirs (c) Copyright IPMS Nederland
B-25J-30NC
The B-25J-30-NC serialled 44-30988 was delivered in March, 1945. It first flew with the US Navy and after the end of the war was used for test purposes. It was sold Summer 1947 and used for civilian tasks after being converted by various companies. It was bought by an enthusiast in 1979 and restored with registration N5865V. It is now the only known flying "PBJ-1J".
Seen at Camarillo, Ca.
Photographed 2017 by Cees Hendriks (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
B-25J "Betty's dream"
The B-25J coded "45-883" was manufactured mid 1945. As the war had ended was it went to the RFC and soon sold to civilian operator. It also flew later as fire bomber. It was acquired in 1994 to be restored to a bomber representing "Betty's dream", a B-25J flown by USAAF 499 squadron in the Pacific against Japan in mid 1945. Seen at an air show at Nellis AFB, Nevada flown by the "Texas Flying Legends".
Photographed 2017 by Cees Hendriks (C) Copyright IPMS Nederland
Many plastic scale models exist of the B-25, also of different versions. In 1/144 there is a Minicraft kit and Anigrand resin. In 1/48 old Monogram but also Italeri, Academy and Revell have kits. In 1/72 scale the Hasegawa kit is very good. In 1/32 scale "HK Models" has released several kits including the "Strafer" (seen in pictures above).
Check out our B-25 modellers' section here....
TIP: about the B-25 as used by various Dutch Military Services... check out our translated B-25 articles in English here....
The first version of this walk around page was created January 2012 by M. de Vreeze . For modellers, by modellers!!