B-25 Mitchell

B-25 Mitchell was a twin-engined, medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation in the United States and used during World War II. By the time production of the plane ended, roughly 10,000 had been built, including PBJ-1 Navy Patrol Bomber and an F-10 reconnaissance version. It served in every combat theatre and was used by a number of countries other than the United States, including Australia, Britain (which received more than 900), China, The Netherlands, and Russia. Its nickname 'Mitchell' was in honour of General Billy Mitchell, an early proponent of airpower.

Related Topics:
Medium bomber - North American Aviation - United States - World War II - Navy - Reconnaissance - Australia - Britain - China - The Netherlands - Russia - Billy Mitchell

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While the B-25 was meant originally to bomb from medium altitudes in level flight, it was used frequently in the Pacific Theater in treetop-level missions against Japanese airfields and for operations such as strafing and skip-bombing against enemy Japanese shipping.

Related Topics:
Pacific Theater - Strafing

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The B-25 is most famous as the bomber used in the 1942 Doolittle Raid, where the raiders took off from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet, bombed Tokyo, and crashed in China; a B-25 also collided with the Empire State Building in 1945.

Related Topics:
1942 - Doolittle Raid - Aircraft - USS ''Hornet'' - Tokyo - China - Empire State Building - 1945

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The B-25 is the aircraft featured in the popular and influential novel Catch-22 and subsequent film.

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