Beautiful new WWII color photos on LIFE.com

[the330thbg]

Why was the area below the pilots window 'blacked' out?

[The Inspector]

That subject was covered in the thread on the FHC's B-25 in The Hangar. It was a 'splinter shield' devised as a method to keep the pilot a bit more protected while straffing especially on G's and H's which were single pilot aircraft, the windshield cover carried over to the J models. The pane above it was a 'clear view' and could be opened in flight if needed. It was deleted after the war on Hayes modified airframes when the windshield was replaced with the now common two big panes and eyebrow glass we see now on most flying B-25's because after the war, the incidents of straffing dropped way, way off

I'd like more info on the subjects shown in the photo, group, location (obviously somewhere in Indiana) tail numbers, etc. etc. The two closest appear to be brand new and are getting their nose art put on.

[the330thbg]

All I can find was that "R.I. Red" aka Rhode Island Red was with the 41st BG

[dogsbodymk1]

[quote=" because after the war, the incidents of straffing dropped way, way off [/quote]


Yeah! Nothing like Peace to take the excitment out of life!



Chris

[The Inspector]

Unless you count Will Hutchins and Jamie Farr (Klinger later on) buzzing the drive-in in the movie 'No Time for Sargeants' 'HALLOOOW..HALLOOOW'

[Invader26]

hope they're using Plus 30 sunscreen...

[Chappie]

I believe the shield on the windscreen was specific to the 75mm cannon armed aircraft. I recall reading that somewhere, had to do with the concussion of the cannon when fired.


Chappie

[Jack Cook]

I believe the shield on the windscreen was specific to the 75mm cannon armed aircraft. I recall reading that somewhere, had to do with the concussion of the cannon when fired.

No, it was pretty much standard on G,H and all J models. Seen the link provided at the beginning of the thread.

[Rajay]

I'd like more info on the subjects shown in the photo, group, location (obviously somewhere in Indiana) tail numbers, etc. etc. The two closest appear to be brand new and are getting their nose art put on.

Indiana? Right! It's obviously Texas - unless there's a "San Antone" in Indiana, 'cuz the glare off of that ramp ain't from packed snow!

[the330thbg]

Three more beautiful, wonderful, color B-25 shots.

B-25 bombers on the outdoor assembly line at North American Aviation, almost ready for their first test flight. Kansas City, Kansas. October 1942


Inglewood, CA


Inglewood, CA


______________________________________________________
Known B-25 H Models
Tail Number Group Squadron(s) Notes
43-4113 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4114 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4116 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4124 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4127 345BG 498BS
43-4129 "Lost 5 August 1944, SW Pacific"
43-4130 345BG 498BS
43-4146 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4150 345BG 498BS
43-4159 341BG 491BS
43-4160 345BG 498BS
43-4164 345BG 498BS
43-4165 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4171 345BG 498BS
43-4173 345BG 498BS
43-4174 345BG 498BS
43-4178 7BG "Lost 23 December 1944, SW Pacific"
43-4183 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4184 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4186 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4188 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4189 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4189 12BG 81BS http://members.northrock.bm/~ehetzel/b25names.html
43-4193 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4199 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4201 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4208 12BG 82BS """VIKIN?S VICIOUS VIRGIN""; http://members.northrock.bm/~ehetzel/b25names.html"
43-4209 341BG "Shot down 8 April 1945, Hainan Island airfield raid"
43-4227 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4240 341BG 491BS
43-4241 "Converted to TB-25H; Crashed 10 November 1945 near Pruden, Kentucky; 5 killed including Chester Anderson"
43-4244 12BG 81BS http://members.northrock.bm/~ehetzel/b25names.html
43-4245 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4245 341BG 491BS Engine Failure
43-4249 341BG 491BS Crash
43-4250 345BG 498BS
43-4264 341BG 491BS
43-4272 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4277 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4282 12BG 81BS http://members.northrock.bm/~ehetzel/b25names.html
43-4315 345BG 498BS
43-4318 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4319 341BG 491BS Crash
43-4330 "Lost 14 February 1944, Central Pacific"
43-4331 345BG 498BS
43-4332 345BG 498BS
43-4335 345BG 498BS
43-4336 345BG 498BS
43-4336 "Sold on civilian market, 1950"
43-4338 345BG 498BS
43-4341 345BG 498BS
43-4344 345BG 498BS
43-4345 345BG 498BS
43-4347 345BG 498BS
43-4355 345BG 498BS
43-4356 345BG 498BS
43-4357 12BG 82BS """Leroy's Joy""; http://members.northrock.bm/~ehetzel/b25names.html"
43-4358 345BG 498BS
43-4361 341BG 491BS Crash
43-4368 341BG 490BS "(Baugher) Lost 26 February 1944, CBI"
43-4372 USN PBJ-1H 35255; Marine Corps VMB-613; Airplane MB-4
43-4384 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4387 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4388 12BG 434BS
43-4393 341BG 491BS
43-4395 341BG 490BS "(Baugher) Short down 8 Apr 1944, Hainan Island airfield raid"
43-4398 341BG 490BS 491BS
43-4403 341BG 490BS "(Baugher) Crashed 1 February 1945, Momgpawn, Burma"
43-4407 345BG 498BS
43-4408 42BG 100BS
43-4408 345BG 498BS
43-4409 341BG 490BS
43-4411 341BG 490BS
43-4424 345BG 498BS
43-4432 Sold on commercial market as NL90399
43-4434 345BG 498BS
43-4436 345BG 498BS
43-4437 345BG 498BS
43-4442 345BG 498BS
43-4443 341BG 22BS
43-4443 341BG 490BS
43-4447 "Crashed 29 May 1945, Crystal Peak, CA, 11 mi SW of Reno, NV"
43-4450 "Abandoned at Girua AP, Popondetta, PNG"
43-4451 345BG 498BS
43-4452 345BG 498BS
43-4453 345BG 498BS
43-4454 345BG 498BS
43-4457 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4458 345BG 498BS
43-4469 42BG 100BS
43-4470 341BG 11BS
43-4471 USN PBJ-1H 35280
43-4478 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4480 42BG 100BS
43-4481 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4482 USN PBJ-1H 35281
43-4483 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4484 42BG 100BS "Accident after landing, 8 Sep 1944, with pilot and two others killed"
43-4486 42BG 100BS
43-4488 42BG 100BS
43-4492 USN PBJ-1H 35282
43-4498 42BG 100BS """Dutch"""
43-4502 42BG 100BS
43-4511 42BG 100BS
43-4513 42BG 100BS "Abandoned on Talasea, 3 Sep 1944, after forced landing due to engine failure"
43-4515 42BG 100BS
43-4523 42BG 100BS
43-4528 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4530 USN PBJ-1H 88872
43-4542 USN PBJ-1H 35283
43-4543 USN PBJ-1H 35284
43-4544 USN PBJ-1H 35285; Marine Corps VMB-16; Airplane MB-7
43-4545 42BG 100BS
43-4551 "Lost 10 July 1945, Central Pacific"
43-4552 345BG 498BS
43-4573 42BG 100BS
43-4584 341BG 11BS 22BS APG-13A Gunsight Radar
43-4587 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4588 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4589 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4590 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4591 USN "PBJ-1H 35286; Marine Corps VMB-613, Airplane MB-2"
43-4592 USN PBJ-1H 35287
43-4593 USN PBJ-1H 35288
43-4601 341BG 11BS 22BS APG-13A Gunsight Radar
43-4602 341BG 491BS
43-4603 341BG 491BS
43-4604 341BG 491BS Crash
43-4607 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4610 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4611 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4638 USN PBJ-1H 88873
43-4643 Redesignated a TB-25H; Sold on civilian market
43-4645 Sold on civilian market
43-4654 USN PBJ-1H 88874
43-4655 USN PBJ-1H 35292
43-4656 USN PBJ-1H 35259
43-4658 USN "PBJ-1H 35293; Marine Corps VMB-613, Airplane MB-9"
43-4659 USN PBJ-1H 35250
43-4660 USN PBJ-1H 35251
43-4661 USN PBJ-1H 88875
43-4662 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4663 341BG 491BS
43-4663 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4664 USN PBJ-1H 35294
43-4665 USN PBJ-1H 35295
43-4666 USN PBJ-1H 35296
43-4667 USN PBJ-1H 35252
43-4668 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4669 USN PBJ-1H 35253
43-4670 USN PBJ-1H 35260
43-4671 USN PBJ-1H 35254
43-4672 USN PBJ-1H 35255
43-4673 USN PBJ-1H 35256
43-4674 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4675 USN "PBJ-1H 35261; Marine Corps VMB-613, Airplane MB-16"
43-4676 USN PBJ-1H 35257
43-4678 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4679 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4680 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4681 Chinese Nationalist Air Force
43-4682 USN "PBJ-1H 35289, Marine Corps VMB-613; Airplane MB-5"
43-4683 USN PBJ-1H 35290
43-4684 USN "PBJ-1H 35291; Marine Corps VMB-613; Airplane MB-11, ""Miss-Carriage"""
43-4685 USN PBJ-1H 35262
43-4686 USN PBJ-1H 35263
43-4687 USN "PBJ-1H 35264; Marine Corps VMB-613, Airplane MB-8; ""8 Ball"""
43-4688 USN PBJ-1H 35265; Marine Corps VMB-613; Airplane MB-3
43-4689 USN "PBJ-1H 35266; Marine Corps VMB-613, Airplane MB-1; ""Ladders Up"""
43-4690 USN "PBJ-1H 35267; Marine Corps VMB-613, Airplane MB-13"
43-4691 USN "PBJ-1H 35268; Marine Corps VMB-613, Airplane MB-14"
43-4692 USN PBJ-1H 35269
43-4693 USN "PBJ-1H 35270; Marine Corps VMB-613, Airplane MB-15"
43-4694 USN PBJ-1H 35271; Marine Corps VMB-613; Airplaine MB-12
43-4695 USN PBJ-1H 35272
43-4696 USN PBJ-1H 35273
43-4697 USN PBJ-1H 35274
43-4698 USN "PBJ-1H 35275; Marine Corps VMB-613; Airplane MB-6; ""Love Bug""; shot down 6 Feb 1945 over Ponape"
43-4699 USN "PBJ-1H 35276; Marine Corps VMB-613, Airplane MB-10"
43-4700 USN PBJ-1H 35277
43-4701 USN PBJ-1H 35278
43-4702 USN PBJ-1H 35279
43-4703 USN PBJ-1H 88876
43-4704 USN PBJ-1H 88877
43-4705 USN PBJ-1H 89051
43-4709 USN PBJ-1H 35297
43-4710 USN PBJ-1H 35258
43-4711 USN PBJ-1H 88878
43-4712 USN PBJ-1H 88879
43-4713 USN PBJ-1H 88880
43-4714 USN PBJ-1H 88881
43-4715 USN PBJ-1H 88882
43-4716 USN PBJ-1H 88883
43-4717 USN PBJ-1H 88884
43-4718 USN PBJ-1H 88885
43-4719 USN PBJ-1H 88886
43-4720 USN PBJ-1H 88887
43-4721 USN PBJ-1H 88888
43-4722 USN PBJ-1H 88889
43-4723 USN PBJ-1H 88890
43-4724 USN PBJ-1H 88891
43-4725 USN PBJ-1H 88892
43-4726 USN PBJ-1H 88893
43-4727 USN PBJ-1H 88894
43-4728 USN PBJ-1H 88895
43-4729 USN PBJ-1H 88896
43-4730 USN PBJ-1H 88897
43-4731 USN PBJ-1H 88898
43-4732 USN PBJ-1H 88899
43-4733 USN PBJ-1H 88900
43-4734 USN PBJ-1H 88901
43-4735 USN PBJ-1H 88902
43-4736 USN PBJ-1H 88903
43-4737 USN PBJ-1H 88904
43-4738 USN PBJ-1H 88905
43-4739 USN PBJ-1H 88906
43-4740 USN PBJ-1H 88907
43-4741 USN PBJ-1H 88908
43-4742 USN PBJ-1H 88909
43-4743 USN PBJ-1H 88910
43-4744 USN PBJ-1H 88911
43-4745 USN PBJ-1H 88912
43-4746 USN PBJ-1H 88913
43-4747 USN PBJ-1H 88914
43-4748 USN PBJ-1H 88915
43-4749 USN PBJ-1H 88916
43-4750 USN PBJ-1H 88917
43-4751 USN PBJ-1H 88918
43-4752 USN PBJ-1H 88919
43-4753 USN PBJ-1H 88920
43-4754 USN PBJ-1H 88921
43-4755 USN PBJ-1H 88922
43-4756 USN PBJ-1H 88923
43-4757 USN PBJ-1H 88924
43-4758 USN PBJ-1H 88925
43-4759 USN PBJ-1H 88926
43-4760 USN PBJ-1H 88927
43-4761 USN PBJ-1H 88928
43-4762 USN PBJ-1H 88929
43-4763 USN PBJ-1H 88930
43-4764 USN PBJ-1H 88931
43-4765 USN PBJ-1H 88932
43-4766 USN PBJ-1H 88933
43-4767 USN PBJ-1H 88934
43-4768 USN PBJ-1H 88935
43-4769 USN PBJ-1H 88936
43-4770 USN PBJ-1H 88937
43-4771 USN PBJ-1H 88938
43-4772 USN PBJ-1H 88939
43-4773 USN PBJ-1H 88940
43-4774 USN PBJ-1H 88941
43-4775 USN PBJ-1H 88942
43-4776 USN PBJ-1H 88943
43-4777 USN PBJ-1H 88944
43-4778 USN PBJ-1H 88945
43-4779 USN PBJ-1H 88946
43-4780 USN PBJ-1H 88947
43-4781 USN PBJ-1H 88948
43-4782 USN PBJ-1H 88949
43-4783 USN PBJ-1H 88950
43-4784 USN PBJ-1H 88951
43-4785 USN PBJ-1H 88952
43-4786 USN PBJ-1H 88953
43-4787 USN PBJ-1H 88954
43-4788 USN PBJ-1H 88955
43-4789 USN PBJ-1H 88956
43-4790 USN PBJ-1H 88957
43-4791 USN PBJ-1H 88958
43-4792 USN PBJ-1H 88959
43-4793 USN PBJ-1H 88960
43-4794 USN PBJ-1H 88961
43-4795 USN PBJ-1H 88962
43-4796 USN PBJ-1H 88963
43-4797 USN PBJ-1H 88964
43-4798 USN PBJ-1H 88965
43-4799 USN PBJ-1H 88966
43-4800 USN PBJ-1H 88967
43-4800 USN PBJ-1H 88974
43-4801 USN PBJ-1H 88968
43-4802 USN PBJ-1H 88969
43-4803 USN PBJ-1H 88970
43-4804 USN PBJ-1H 88971
43-4805 USN PBJ-1H 88972
43-4806 USN PBJ-1H 88973
43-4808 USN PBJ-1H 88975
43-4809 USN PBJ-1H 88976
43-4810 USN PBJ-1H 88977
43-4811 USN PBJ-1H 88978
43-4812 USN PBJ-1H 88979
43-4813 USN PBJ-1H 88980
43-4814 USN PBJ-1H 88981
43-4815 USN PBJ-1H 88982
43-4816 USN PBJ-1H 88983
43-4817 USN PBJ-1H 88984
43-4818 USN PBJ-1H 88985
43-4819 USN PBJ-1H 88986
43-4820 USN PBJ-1H 88987
43-4821 USN PBJ-1H 88988
43-4822 USN PBJ-1H 88989
43-4823 USN PBJ-1H 88990
43-4824 USN PBJ-1H 88991
43-4825 USN PBJ-1H 88992
43-4826 USN PBJ-1H 88993
43-4827 USN PBJ-1H 88994
43-4828 USN PBJ-1H 88995
43-4829 USN PBJ-1H 88996
43-4830 USN PBJ-1H 88997
43-4831 USN PBJ-1H 88998
43-4832 USN PBJ-1H 88999
43-4833 USN PBJ-1H 89000
43-4834 USN PBJ-1H 89001
43-4835 USN PBJ-1H 89002
43-4836 USN PBJ-1H 89003
43-4837 USN PBJ-1H 89004
43-4838 USN PBJ-1H 89005
43-4839 USN PBJ-1H 89006
43-4840 USN PBJ-1H 89007
43-4841 USN PBJ-1H 89008
43-4842 USN PBJ-1H 89009
43-4843 USN PBJ-1H 89010
43-4844 USN PBJ-1H 89011
43-4845 USN PBJ-1H 89012
43-4846 USN PBJ-1H 89013
43-4847 USN PBJ-1H 89014
43-4848 USN PBJ-1H 89015
43-4849 USN PBJ-1H 89016
43-4850 USN PBJ-1H 89017
43-4851 USN PBJ-1H 89018
43-4852 USN PBJ-1H 89019
43-4853 USN PBJ-1H 89020
43-4854 USN PBJ-1H 89021
43-4855 USN PBJ-1H 89022
43-4856 USN PBJ-1H 89023
43-4857 USN PBJ-1H 89024
43-4858 USN PBJ-1H 89025
43-4859 USN PBJ-1H 89026
43-4860 USN PBJ-1H 89027
43-4861 USN PBJ-1H 89028
43-4862 USN PBJ-1H 89029
43-4863 USN PBJ-1H 89030
43-4864 USN PBJ-1H 89031
43-4865 USN PBJ-1H 89032
43-4866 USN PBJ-1H 89033
43-4867 USN PBJ-1H 89034
43-4868 USN PBJ-1H 89035
43-4869 USN PBJ-1H 89036
43-4870 USN PBJ-1H 89037
43-4871 USN PBJ-1H 89038
43-4872 USN PBJ-1H 89039
43-4873 USN PBJ-1H 89040
43-4874 USN PBJ-1H 89041
43-4875 USN PBJ-1H 89042
43-4876 USN PBJ-1H 89043
43-4877 USN PBJ-1H 89044
43-4878 USN PBJ-1H 89045
43-4879 USN PBJ-1H 89046
43-4880 USN PBJ-1H 89047
43-4881 USN PBJ-1H 89048
43-4882 USN PBJ-1H 89049
43-4883 USN PBJ-1H 89050
43-4899 "Sold on civilian market, 1946"
43-4902 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4915 "MIA 8 September 1945 on edge of cliff near Timkua, West Irian, Indonesia"
43-4924 341BG 11BS 22BS APG-13A Gunsight Radar
43-4927 341BG 491BS
43-4971 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-4989 341BG 11BS 22BS APG-13A Gunsight Radar
43-4990 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-5022 "Sold on civilian market, 1946"
43-5028 USN PBJ-1H 89052
43-5029 USN PBJ-1H 89053
43-5030 USN PBJ-1H 89054
43-5031 USN PBJ-1H 89055
43-5032 USN PBJ-1H 89056
43-5033 USN PBJ-1H 89057
43-5034 USN PBJ-1H 89058
43-5035 USN PBJ-1H 89059
43-5036 USN PBJ-1H 89060
43-5037 USN PBJ-1H 89061
43-5038 USN PBJ-1H 89062
43-5039 USN PBJ-1H 89063
43-5040 USN PBJ-1H 89064
43-5041 USN PBJ-1H 89065
43-5042 USN PBJ-1H 89066
43-5043 USN PBJ-1H 89067
43-5044 USN PBJ-1H 89068
43-5045 USN PBJ-1H 89069
43-5046 USN PBJ-1H 89070
43-5047 USN PBJ-1H 89071
43-5065 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-5068 "Lost 7 August 1944, British West Indies"
43-5072 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-5076 341BG 11BS 22BS
43-5103 "On diplay at USAF History and Traditions Museum, Lackland AFB, Texas"
43-5104 12BG 82BS "Last H model built, signed by NAA Inglewood employees; ""Bones"""

Single pilot cockpit layout


Site detail


Gunpackage detail

[Rajay]

Those all seem to be what, C models? The third photo is the only one with a clear angle on it, but the dorsal turrets are mounted back above the middle of the fuselages instead of up by the cockpit as on later variants.

And what's up with the patches or doublers (or are they armor plates) in front of and behind the faired-over dorsal turret location on the B-25 in the very front / foreground of the third photo? (The one where only the back half of the fuselage is visible.)

[Cherrybomber13]

Did they ever install 4 20mm in a B25 nose?

[The Inspector]

The G and H models were essentrially D's hastily modified to meet the rapid need of a cannon armed airplane (and not greatly loved by those who flew them) the aft turret helped offset the extra weight of the cannon setup in the nose, and since the complete nose of a B-25 could be swapped out by removing several screws, it was an easy fix for the engineers @ the factory to design.
8 gun noses were shipped directly from the factories to the theatre with the guns already more or less bore sighted and ground crews installed them as a matter of course. I have no idea how easy or difficult it may have been to convert a single seater into a two seat cockpit.
The doublers were discussed in another thread using those photos here a couple of years ago and it was pretty much decided that they were concussion doublers to keep the turret guns from 'canning' the upper skins due to muzzle blast, the life raft was located further forward on the fuselage.
I don't think the airframe would have withstood the forces involved with 4 20's, the 75 put serious structure strain issues on the airframe even being fired one shot @ a time.

[Chappie]

the330thbg,

Where did you find those photos? They are simply mouth watering. The original photo in this thread is as well!!


Chappie

[rwdfresno]

Good afternoon,

Not to be contrary but I would like to respectfully offer a different perspective on a couple of comments.

A bit of a nitpick but the B-25G was actually developed from C models (developed and built Inglewood) Of course at the start of C/D production they were the same design.I'm not sure I would classify the H as a hastily modified c/D model (in relative to many other wartime designs).The H had considerable redesign.

I hadn't heard that the tail turret was ballast for the cannon. I believe that the the dorsal turret was moved forward of the center of gravity in order to compensate for the weight of the tail turret in the H model.

Ryan

The G and H models were essentrially D's hastily modified to meet the rapid need of a cannon armed airplane (and not greatly loved by those who flew them) the aft turret helped offset the extra weight of the cannon setup in the nose, and since the complete nose of a B-25 could be swapped out by removing several screws, it was an easy fix for the engineers @ the factory to design.
8 gun noses were shipped directly from the factories to the theatre with the guns already more or less bore sighted and ground crews installed them as a matter of course. I have no idea how easy or difficult it may have been to convert a single seater into a two seat cockpit.
The doublers were discussed in another thread using those photos here a couple of years ago and it was pretty much decided that they were concussion doublers to keep the turret guns from 'canning' the upper skins due to muzzle blast, the life raft was located further forward on the fuselage.
I don't think the airframe would have withstood the forces involved with 4 20's, the 75 put serious structure strain issues on the airframe even being fired one shot @ a time.