B-25J

	North American B-25J Mitchell
	Medium Bomber (WWII)
	HEIGHT-15' 9"   LENGTH-51'   WINGSPAN-67' 7"   PAYLOAD-3,000   LBS MAX WEIGHT-35,000 LBS ARMAMENT-4 FIXED .50 CAL MACHINE GUNS, 2 WAIST GUNS, 2 TAIL GUNS, 2 IN THE TOP TURRET AND 2-3 IN THE NOSE   CREW SIZE-6   MAX SPEED-275 MPH ENGINES-TWO WRIGHT R-2600, 1,850 HP RADIALS
	The B-25 was the most veratile medium bomber used during WWII. It was named after General "Billy" Mitchell, who pioneered strategic aerial bombardment. In April 1942 Lt. Col. James H. "Jimmy" Doolittle led one of the most daring missions of the war. Five months after the attack on Pearl Harbor, he launched 16 B-25 bombers off the deck of the U.S.S. Hornet and bombed Japan. Doolittle's "Tokyo Raiders" were successful in their mission, even though all the aircraft were lost and 5 crew members killed. Later experience showed that low level attacks were more effective than high altitude bombing thus eliminating the bombardier position and adding a solid nose allowing 8 50 caliber guns two package 50's to be added. With the top turret this gave the plane 14 forward guns and was used in low level attacks against Japanese naval and ground units. This aircraft was delivered to the Army Air Corps in 1945 and put into storage until 1947. It was then assigned to Vance AFB as a trainer until her retirement in 1958. It was then sold and used in the 1970 movie "Catch-22". The museum received the aircraft by truck in 1982 and in 1998 it was restored to represent the 42nd Bomb Group, 13th A.F.
	44-31032 served the U.S. Air Force from 1945-1958 This aircraft is on loan from the U.S. Air Force Museum.