B-25 weapons thread

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Yves, check this out, is it me or does this look like the single fixed machine gun is mounted on the pilot side in the nose instead of on the co-pilot side?

1644407591282.png
 
I think we already had the same a/c No.55 (not 22!) in the thread B-25 Mitchell photos (see post # 490 and the answers #492 and # 493). The photos were mirrored there as well.
If there were no people, uniforms or anything else to help to understand what is left and what is right in the picture, for B-25 the nose wheel strut is very characteristic - the arm holding the wheel is on the right side (from pilot's point of view):
o98fQVi.jpg

On the other hand the bombardier's escape hatch is on the left side (again from pilots point of view).
 
Found this one on Facebook, note that the side blister package is removed and the ammo feed to the blister packs are patched. Other than that don't know much about this one.

View attachment 678720
Just playing with the idea here. ;)
It seems to me that the patch on the pilot's arm is the one of 13-th AAF. 42-nd BG was in the 13-th AAF (don't recall another B-25 equipped group in the 13-th though). This is a solid nose B-25J - 42-nd had plenty of them at the end of the war and with removed package guns too.
The big sheet of metal under the armor plate is of interest - the gun blast shield in this position was usually much smaller.
 
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Another photo from the same sequence is this one:
r70Z4tg.jpg

This is a B-25J2, named "Lucky Legs", s/n 43-3981.
Interestingly enough the B-25J-1 in the first photo was named "Luki-Bets":
unnamed-6.jpg

All photos are from the time of the first aerial/glide torpedo attack over Sasebo Harbour, Kyushu on July 31. 1945.
P.S. And here's a photo showing the balancing of the wing and tail plane of the Mk.13 torpedo:
NjKhxK1.jpg
 
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Morning, while looking for some info for Andy I found this first picture in the 321st Aug to Sept 1943 document. Yves has talked quite a bit about Mediterranean Mitchell modifications in thread 312 and a few other posts in this thread but this is the best I have seen as far as some one in the tail position in the first photo and a clearer look on how it was. Second photo I believe posted before but gives us a clearer view between the two.

321st Aug 1 to Sept 30 1943.jpg
17991331_1478053225578271_6162315061085622880_o.jpg
 
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Morning, while looking for some info for Andy I found this in the 321st Aug to Sept 1943 document. Yves has talked quite a bit about Mediterranean Mitchell modifications in thread 312 and a few other posts in this thread but this is the best I have seen as far as some one in the tail position in the first photo and a clearer look on how it was. Second photo I believe posted before but gives us a clearer view between the two.

View attachment 680907View attachment 680908
Paul, I found the first photo just 2 days ago - what a coincidence!
There is an interesting difference between the 2 photos: the first modification is the original one (for the 321-st BG.) performed in Warner Robins Mod Center (or Logistic Center) in Georgia. These were only 57 planes or so and were the first B-25 mods, following the needs of the war in the MTO. The tail gun looks like this from the inside:
SlULwRt.jpg

And this is the tail from outside (you posted the same photo earlier in this thread):
UNjA7lI.jpg

Note the characteristic box on top of the tail (I personally believe this is an ammunition storage for the cartridges; some authors say it's an additional support for the tail). Please note that this particular modification has 1 vertical and 1 horizontal frame through the new glazing.
The waist gun positions of the above modification are with a horizontal brace over the new opening:
02PirQR.jpg

Warner Robins couldn't deliver more modified a/c in a short time. For this reason the modification center in Sidi Ahmed airbase in Bizerte (Tunisia) did the bigger job, modifying in a similar way ca. 300 B-25 from different models and blocks. Your second photo shows the tail of one of those modifications. Here is a photo of the tail from outside:
T2SayHe.jpg

Note that there are no frames in the glazed area and the glazing does not go as deep as of the WR-modification. I believe the cartridge-belt remains below (on one side of the gunner) and not on top. Those planes were distributed through the other groups in the MTO, we see most of them with the 340-th BG. and with the 310-th BG..
The biggest difference is the waist windows being smaller and without a brace on the top:
RrvrLVP.jpg

9d1LgsW.jpg

Those are my 2 favorite modifications!
O4RIIW3.jpg

8tAzXUb.jpg

Cheers!
 
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Paul, I found the first photo just 2 days ago - what a coincidence!
There is an interesting difference between the 2 photos: the first modification is the original one (for the 321-st BG.) performed in Warner Robins Mod Center (or Logistic Center) in Georgia. These were only 68 planes or so and were the first B-25 mods, following the needs of the war in the MTO. The tail gun looks like this from the inside:
View attachment 680968
And this is the tail from outside (you posted the same photo earlier in this thread):
View attachment 680969
Note the characteristic box on top of the tail (I personally believe this is an ammunition storage for the cartridges; some authors say it's an additional support for the tail). Please note that this particular modification has 1 vertical and 1 horizontal frame through the new glazing.
The waist gun positions of the above modification are with a horizontal brace over the new opening:
View attachment 680970
Warner Robins couldn't deliver more modified a/c in a short time. For this reason the modification center in Sidi Ahmed airbase in Bizerte (Tunisia) did the bigger job, modifying in a similar way ca. 300 B-25 from different models and blocks. Your second photo shows the tail of one of those modifications. Here is a photo of the tail from outside:
View attachment 680971
Note that there are no frames in the glazed area and the glazing does not go as deep as of the WR-modification. I believe the cartridge-belt remains below (on one side of the gunner) and not on top. Those planes were distributed through the other groups in the MTO, we see most of them with the 340-th BG. and with the 310-th BG..
The biggest difference is the waist windows being smaller and without a brace on the top:
View attachment 680972
View attachment 680973
Those are my 2 favorite modifications!
Cheers!
That is funny that we both seen it within days. Great follow up of info. You hiding filing cabinets worth of info up there. May have to visit/move in LOL. I cant keep up :)
 
That is funny that we both seen it within days. Great follow up of info. You hiding filing cabinets worth of info up there. May have to visit/move in LOL. I cant keep up :)
The funniest part is that I was preparing a "surprise" for you and the "gang" with the above photos and the one from the war diary of the 445-th BS./321-st BG. was my latest acquisition!
Now we are both with the same "surprise".
Cheers!
.
 
A B-25H over Burma spraying DDT (this is still during WWII, not post-war).
View attachment 692478
IMHO the spraying mechanism is not the same as in your manual.

Morning Yves, its a M33 Smoke tank installation. See thread 227 of thread :) I have not seen this picture before. Attached is part of smoke tank document. Only part I put here was the part that deals with the B-25 Mitchell.
 

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Morning Yves, its a M33 Smoke tank installation. See thread 227 of thread :) I have not seen this picture before. Attached is part of smoke tank document. Only part I put here was the part that deals with the B-25 Mitchell.
Hi Paul! I had the feeling I've seen a B-25 with the strange pipe already. Didn't remember where and when. Thanks for the reminder.!
The H in Burma I have from the internet (it's obviously from a book) and it was in my "B-25 in the CBI" collection of photos. And here is an article about spraying DDT over Rockford
with some dark photos but it's a Mitchell for sure.
The tank and spraying nozzle are the same as in your last Bulletin - thank you for that one! :salute:
-photo-1-Rockford-Register-Republic-August-20-1945.png
 

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