eBay: North American B-25 Mitchell

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Picture from 479th Photo Section, Robin Fields 1943.
479th Photo Section Robin Fields 1943.JPG
1943.
 
If you mean the "thing" to the left (starboard) of the cockpit, then it's the starboard vertical tail fin.
 
Snautzer01 said:
Whats that thing on the nose?

View attachment 688982

View attachment 688983

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WW2 Photo B-25 Mitchell Crew In Front Bomber Jackets | eBay

Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for WW2 Photo B-25 Mitchell Crew In Front Bomber Jackets at the best online prices at eBay! Free shipping for many products!
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The "thing" is called ENDFIRE ANTENNA and is part of the AN/APG-13A-Falcon radar system for the 75mm-canon. I've seen it usually mounted on PBJ-1H, not on B-25H though.
ackerj.jpg


P.S. I found an interesting description I've saved in my archive many years ago, explaining the Falcon-radar system:

"Not long ago the fixed 75mm cannon, in the nose of the B-25H, was regarded as a handy anti-shipping weapon that ought to be handier. With a range of over 5000 yards, the B-25H and its 763 lb. cannon represented a unit of highly mobile artillery that could stay clear of the light flak thrown up by Jap shipping while hammering away at the target.
But the cannon had no way of getting accuracy at long range; instead it had to be fired on the optical judgment of the pilots, which is a particularly tough ASV assignment. As a result, B-25H pilots worked mostly at short distances where optical range errors were small but the danger of getting shot down high. What was needed was something to give range data to the gunsight so that the necessary superelevation correction, allowing for the gravity drop of the 15-lb. projectiles, could be accurately applied.
The answer was AN/APG-13 (Falcon), radar range finder introduced early in 1944.* Falcon eliminates guesswork all the way from 5100 down to 300 yards, keeps the gunsight continuously corrected for range.
It turns out that pilots take readily to Falcon, and ring up good scores with little or no training in 75mm firing. Their performance isn't surprising, since their job,--providing the gunsight is fed correct data by the radar operator sitting alongside--is stripped down to flying so that the hairlines in the sight window are properly positioned on the target and then pushing the firing button as fast as the cannon is loaded.
AN/APG-13 was the crash-built, pre-production Falcon; test data mentioned in this report refer to that. The production model, incorporating several refinements, but essentially the same equipment, is designated AN/APG-13A.
Falcon now has been theater tested by the 5th, 13th and 14th Air Forces. Only the 14th was able to give it a real workout. Its performance in China (mainly along the Yangtze) resulted in a heavy requirement, fulfillment of which has been affected by the critical China base problem, though Jap river traffic still offers targets from existing westward bases. The 5th and 13th just didn't have the shipping to pit it against. But a Marine squadron fitted with Falcon now is in the Pacific and 6 more will follow."
 
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CATCH 22 said:
The "thing" is called ENDFIRE ANTENNA and is part of the AN/APG-13A-Falcon radar system for the 75mm-canon. I've seen it usually mounted on PBJ-1H, not on B-25H though.
View attachment 689053

P.S. I found an interesting description I've saved in my archive many years ago, explaining the Falcon-radar system:

"Not long ago the fixed 75mm cannon, in the nose of the B-25H, was regarded as a handy anti-shipping weapon that ought to be handier. With a range of over 5000 yards, the B-25H and its 763 lb. cannon represented a unit of highly mobile artillery that could stay clear of the light flak thrown up by Jap shipping while hammering away at the target.
But the cannon had no way of getting accuracy at long range; instead it had to be fired on the optical judgment of the pilots, which is a particularly tough ASV assignment. As a result, B-25H pilots worked mostly at short distances where optical range errors were small but the danger of getting shot down high. What was needed was something to give range data to the gunsight so that the necessary superelevation correction, allowing for the gravity drop of the 15-lb. projectiles, could be accurately applied.
The answer was AN/APG-13 (Falcon), radar range finder introduced early in 1944.* Falcon eliminates guesswork all the way from 5100 down to 300 yards, keeps the gunsight continuously corrected for range.
It turns out that pilots take readily to Falcon, and ring up good scores with little or no training in 75mm firing. Their performance isn't surprising, since their job,--providing the gunsight is fed correct data by the radar operator sitting alongside--is stripped down to flying so that the hairlines in the sight window are properly positioned on the target and then pushing the firing button as fast as the cannon is loaded.
AN/APG-13 was the crash-built, pre-production Falcon; test data mentioned in this report refer to that. The production model, incorporating several refinements, but essentially the same equipment, is designated AN/APG-13A.
Falcon now has been theater tested by the 5th, 13th and 14th Air Forces. Only the 14th was able to give it a real workout. Its performance in China (mainly along the Yangtze) resulted in a heavy requirement, fulfillment of which has been affected by the critical China base problem, though Jap river traffic still offers targets from existing westward bases. The 5th and 13th just didn't have the shipping to pit it against. But a Marine squadron fitted with Falcon now is in the Pacific and 6 more will follow."
Click to expand...
The only USMC unit to take the PBJ-1H into combat was VMB-613 which arrived on Kwajalein in Dec 1944. Plenty of info on their operations and more photos here:-

Marine Bombing Squadron Six-Thirteen (VMB-613)

vmb613.com vmb613.com
 
Snautzer01 said:
9th Air Force

View attachment 690275

View attachment 690276

  1. Org. Photo: Aerial View of 9th Air Force B-25 Bombers in Flight on Mission (#1)! | eBay
  2. Org. Photo: Aerial View of 9th Air Force B-25 Bombers in Flight on Mission (#2)! | eBay
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Great find! :thumbright:
The photos of 9R show a B-25 from 489-th Bomb. squadron/340-th BG with an extremely interesting feature: "double modified" tail.
I can't read the s/n but it could be for example 42-32507 - a B-25C-15 (see additional information below). This a/c is clearly a Sidi Ahmed -modification (note the small waist windows) BUT there is no tail gun!
csSHvv3.jpg

The tail cone was added back and it looks like the modified glazing for the tail gunner position was covered solid(? :rolleyes: ). I thought this might be just the shadow of the fin over the tail cone, but it is probably not. Or if the glazing from the first modification is still there, it's obscured in a way.
rZs9X7s.png

For comparison check an unmodified tail cone (9V) and a Sidi Ahmed tail mod (9C) from the same squadron below:
yXH9ndj.jpg
VZLwEdg.jpg

Cheers!
P.S. After some "digging" I found that there were 5 a/c with the tail code 9R in the squadron during the war. The most probable serial in this case is 42-32507 (as I suggested above based on a visual check only!:cool:) - below is an excerpt from a 489-th BS. Mission report from 1.Sept. 1943 with the same serial and tail code:
TbXe67T.jpg

From a different source I have the information that a/c 9R with the above s/n was in action between 9. June 1943 and 24. Sept. 1943 only.
Cheers!
 
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  1. B-25H-1 43-4198
  2. B-25H-1 43-4112
  3. B-25H-1 43-4105 first flew Jul 31, 1943. Stress tested to destruction by the manufacturer.


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28 WW2 Original B & W B-25 H Mitchell Aircraft (Mostly Interior) 8 1/2 X 11 | eBay

28 photographs in total, most are in very good condition, about four or five have some brown standing and a little ripping where they were stuck together. Each one measures 8.5 x 11" and are pictures for the B 25 or model enthusiast. Shows lots of the interior components and views that you never...
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1944 NOSE ART PHOTO - TOUCH OF TEXAS - 38th BOMB GROUP few other angles Search results for query: texas

1666610453892.png


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ORIG B-25 BOMBER WW2 1944 NOSE ART PHOTO - TOUCH OF TEXAS - 38th BOMB GROUP Rare | eBay

ORIGINAL vintage 1944 snapshot photograph of a B-25 Bomber Plane with Nose Art; "TOUCH OF TEXAS" & Crew. Pencil noted on the reverse; "38th Bomb Grp - 1944" snapshot photo measures approx. 2 3/8 in. x 3 3/8 in. Condition: Original vintage 1944 snapshot photograph in very good vintage condition...
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As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
As an eBay Associate we earn from qualifying purchases.
Crimea_River said:
Ooo, that one might be interesting for Yves CATCH 22 CATCH 22 and me.
Click to expand...
Yep, this is the famous "Desert Warrior" in the same nose configuration as discussed in your modelling thread. At that point (of the photos) it was not a battle plane anymore but pure advertisement.
6TAVjO1.jpg

"Desert Warrior" has s/n 41-12860 and is a B-25C (no block letter), showing the typical ball-and-socket mounts for a hand held 0.30 in the nose.
Cheers!
P.S. Forgot to mention, Canadian in the middle is Pilot Officer Anthony Martin, radio operator.
And because today is Remembrance Day, let us remember those guys who fought on many fronts and in many wars!:pilotsalute:
 
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