Airframes
Benevolens Magister
A couple of months back, someone was asking for pictures of B25 Mitchells. Since then, I have been searching all of my 'safe places', trying to locate a series of pics I took back in 1988 for a magazine article. Of course, I eventually found them filed with all my other Mitchell information, where they should be, in a file draw!
So here they are.
This is a B25D Mitchell, shortly after it arrived at The Fighter Collection, Duxford, UK, circa March 1988 IIRC, and I was allowed, by prior arrangement, to crawl all over it for an hour or so!
The aircraft was one of a batch destined for the R.A.F. during WW2, and served with the the R.C.A.F. and R.A.F., although, at the time of my visit, some records of the aircraft's service were missing. As far as was known at the time, it did not see action, being used for training and crew conversion, and I regret I can't locate the notes regarding it's service life or serial number. However, the aircraft was eventually painted in an accurate R.A.F. colour scheme, and joined the display circuit in the UK and Europe, and has recently returned from the U.S.A.
The pictures were taken in available light, so apologies if the quality is not perfect in some. But hopefully, they will be of interest, particularly to modellers.
Pictures 6 to 11, showing the interior, may benefit from a little explanation, as will the final two shots.
Pic 6 is a view aft, through the Bombardier's compartment, showing the access tunel running under the cockpit floor. This was a very tight squeeze, and must have been a nightmare, in an emergency, when wearing full flying kit and parachute harness.
Pics 7 and 8 show the original instrument panel, with the exception of the modern radio/nav aid fit in the centre, and note the differences in colour between the Interior Green seats, and the Bronze Green of the airframe.
Pic 9 is a view looking forward, over the bomb bay, taken directly above the rear entance hatch, the yellow internal hatch cover being visible to the right of frame. The seats are a later, post-war addition.
Pic 10 taken from the same position, is looking aft, beneath the tailplane.
Pic 11 shows the couch in the extreme tail. Note that the perspex 'blister' is not yet fitted.
The final two pics show the bomb bay, looking aft. This still carried the 'bolt on' long-range fuel tank, used for the ferry flight from America. The small red rectangle, just forward of the bomb bay, is the release latch for the forward belly entrance hatch, the outline of which is visible to the left of the latch.
The final pic shows the rear entrance hatch, with its telescopic ladder, looking forward.
I hope these are of interest/use, and please feel free to use them, but a credit to 'Airframes Studio' would be appreciated.
Terry.
So here they are.
This is a B25D Mitchell, shortly after it arrived at The Fighter Collection, Duxford, UK, circa March 1988 IIRC, and I was allowed, by prior arrangement, to crawl all over it for an hour or so!
The aircraft was one of a batch destined for the R.A.F. during WW2, and served with the the R.C.A.F. and R.A.F., although, at the time of my visit, some records of the aircraft's service were missing. As far as was known at the time, it did not see action, being used for training and crew conversion, and I regret I can't locate the notes regarding it's service life or serial number. However, the aircraft was eventually painted in an accurate R.A.F. colour scheme, and joined the display circuit in the UK and Europe, and has recently returned from the U.S.A.
The pictures were taken in available light, so apologies if the quality is not perfect in some. But hopefully, they will be of interest, particularly to modellers.
Pictures 6 to 11, showing the interior, may benefit from a little explanation, as will the final two shots.
Pic 6 is a view aft, through the Bombardier's compartment, showing the access tunel running under the cockpit floor. This was a very tight squeeze, and must have been a nightmare, in an emergency, when wearing full flying kit and parachute harness.
Pics 7 and 8 show the original instrument panel, with the exception of the modern radio/nav aid fit in the centre, and note the differences in colour between the Interior Green seats, and the Bronze Green of the airframe.
Pic 9 is a view looking forward, over the bomb bay, taken directly above the rear entance hatch, the yellow internal hatch cover being visible to the right of frame. The seats are a later, post-war addition.
Pic 10 taken from the same position, is looking aft, beneath the tailplane.
Pic 11 shows the couch in the extreme tail. Note that the perspex 'blister' is not yet fitted.
The final two pics show the bomb bay, looking aft. This still carried the 'bolt on' long-range fuel tank, used for the ferry flight from America. The small red rectangle, just forward of the bomb bay, is the release latch for the forward belly entrance hatch, the outline of which is visible to the left of the latch.
The final pic shows the rear entrance hatch, with its telescopic ladder, looking forward.
I hope these are of interest/use, and please feel free to use them, but a credit to 'Airframes Studio' would be appreciated.
Terry.