Turretless B-25 Mitchells??

[Holedigger]

That would be a navalized, PBJ, tail. Here is a link to an interior shot showing the liferaft compartment from the inside. Item #2
pic down toward the bottom RADIO-GUNNER'S STATION—LOOKING FORWARD: Pic
lots of nice interior pics with labels there.
http://www.pbjmitchell.com/pbj1h_interior.htm

[Ken]

A smattering of thoughts:

--Nice shots on the PBJ link. I believe that the photos are from a PBJ1H but (devil's advocate) is there anything in the photos that is distinctive to the PBJ ... how can one tell it's not a stock B-25H?

--How does the life raft location compare to Lynn Hunt's project recently seen on WIX?

--Regarding the color tail section photo, I'm guessing that's one of the 2 B-25C's pulled from lakes in SC, not a PBJ.

--The H-model was the first to have the top turret moved forward - unlike the A/B/C models discussed in this thread. Referencing the PBJ1H manual, for that one point alone, may disqualify the reference.

Ken

[gary1954]

I do not recall any North American B-25 of any model, having a life raft hatch aft of the center section, and I've been looking at B-25s since 1975

Then what could it be?


From B-25C's PB account

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

Ah Ha! Well I'll be dipped in dog crap! Learn sumpin new ever day! Touchet...nicely done ole man, nicely done
Regardless, the original photo on the first page of this thread fails to reveal a life raft stow in/on the empannage.

[Ken]

huh?

[Dan Newcomb]

I might be wrong but as far as I know ALL B-25J’s had a life raft hatch aft of the center section.

Dan

[Shay]

Regardless, the original photo on the first page of this thread fails to reveal a life raft stow in/on the empannage.

Look closer at the most immediate B-25 (bare metal) in the original picture,.....it's there, right above the handwritten "754".


Back to the original question. This seems like a pretty permant patch if they are waiting at the factory for turrets. Wouldn't a simple cover suffice?

Perhaps they are to fly and receive their turrets at another facility? Any record of this?

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

[Dan Newcomb]

Above 754 is the life raft hatch....

[Shay]

OK here's a monkey wrench....

I was out Christmas shopping today and I swung by the NMUSAF's gift shop. While there I decided to take a look at the B-25 there. A "D" model converted to a "B" iirc dressed as a Doolittle Raider. It does NOT have the Life raft cavity or hatch forward of the Turret.

So what gives?

Shay
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Semper Fortis

Last edited by Shay on Sat Dec 19, 2009 11:15 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[rwdfresno]

B-25 C-J were equipt with life raft compartments aft of the bomb bay on the port side (not sure about B model). During H model production the size of the life raft compartment was increased. You can see the differet sized compartments illustrated in the below photos. Most aircraft today have the compartment deleted. I think these aircraft have life raft compartment intact: B-25J 44-30302, B-25C 41-13285, B-25C 41-12634, B-25C 42-32354, and B-25J 44-29939. I have not heard/read anything to lead me to believe that any B-25s were produced minus the dorsal turret with the exception of the B-25Js that were modified to TB-25N.

Ryan


B-25C 41-13285 life raft compartment


B-25J 44-30302 Life raft compartment (picture by Taigh Ramey)

B-25J 44-29939 http://www.maam.org/airshow/images/b25_waist_7.jpg

[gary1954]

I have a factory photo of B models in production minus outer wing panels that show the aft turret installed in the assembly area.

photo are from my collection acquired from Earl Blount NAA/Rockwell

After obtaining my glasses, I looked at the photo obove, and right there as big as Stuttgart above the numbers of number 142, is a hatch which by now I can clearly see that this is the life raft hatch. I never noticed it before....thanks for pointing out yet another shortcoming in myself.

[RyanShort1]

Now that is an awesome picture! Any more like it of the B models?

Ryan

[Holedigger]

Indeed, that is a very nice factory shot! Just a bit of conjecture, I would imagine that a lot of the post-military use 25's lost their life raft/compartments when they were stripped out for civilian use. Seen as a waste of space and a head knocker. Any existing birds out there that show evidence of less than factory quality patch job in that area? Just thinking

[B-25 C]

I do not recall any North American B-25 of any model, having a life raft hatch aft of the center section, and I've been looking at B-25s since 1975

Then what could it be?


From B-25C's PB account

Shay

Semper Fortis

Ah Ha! Well I'll be dipped in dog crap! Learn sumpin new ever day! Touchet...nicely done ole man, nicely done
Regardless, the original photo on the first page of this thread fails to reveal a life raft stow in/on the empannage.

This is the rear section of B-25C 41-12634 Southern Museum of Flight . It had the life raft hatch from factory witch they used when it crashed into Lake Murray.

[B-25 C]

I do not recall any North American B-25 of any model, having a life raft hatch aft of the center section, and I've been looking at B-25s since 1975

Then what could it be?


From B-25C's PB account

Shay
____________
Semper Fortis

B-25C 41-12634 from lake Murray SC.

[Shay]

Indeed, that is a very nice factory shot! Just a bit of conjecture, I would imagine that a lot of the post-military use 25's lost their life raft/compartments when they were stripped out for civilian use. Seen as a waste of space and a head knocker. Any existing birds out there that show evidence of less than factory quality patch job in that area? Just thinking

I thought the same thing but according to the Registry the NMUSAF's B-25 never had a post-military career. It sat at DMAFB until 1950, so no civilian conversion took place. Although I did see it noted on JB's website that this Mitchell was converted to a RB-25D while in service.

Any guesses as to what a RB-25D is, and what all is involved in this conversion?

Shay
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Semper Fortis