Which B-25 is this?

[Chris Brame]

I've been digging through the Flickr album that had the Johnson Air Base photos, and found a ton of great shots from many different places and eras. (Thanks Mark!)
I also found this little puzzler:

No info on the photo other than it's a B-25J. It looks like an outdoor display in Tokyo Raiders markings that's going to seed. Anyone know which/where/when?

[SaxMan]

Wasn't the first B-25 sent to the USAFM a J model done up in the Doolittle Raid scheme? I could be wrong, but somewhere in the back of my mind that tidbit came to the fore.

[Elwyn]

Looks like something set up for some sort of training exercise although it would probably be anchored a little better if that were the case.

[The Inspector]

It's been through HAYES Inc. big scoops, three piece windshield, turret ring removed, maybe a movie prop? Can anyone read what's under the pilots clearview window?

[JohnB]

Wasn't the first B-25 sent to the USAFM a J model done up in the Doolittle Raid scheme? I could be wrong, but somewhere in the back of my mind that tidbit came to the fore.

The current B-25 (a photo recon D backdated to a B) at the NMUSAF has been there 50 years....did they have one before that?

The photo location doesn't look like the old outdoor airpark of the museum...but it's before my time.

With as famous as the Doolittle raid is, I'd expect a few late model Mitchells were painted in 1942 markings.

[gary1954]

I too would like some resolve on this... definitely went through the Hayes Modification, and other than the 40 on the vertical stabilizer and the early star and meatball, it looks like someone has stolen the wheels and tires....and abandoned the beast. Sure would love to have that airframe in my front yard.

[51fixer]

Wonder if someone is taking it apart? Or preserving steel fasteners?
It looks as though many of the fasteners and hardware has been sprayed with some form of oil or liquid. The bottom cap of the vertical stab and the cowl dzuses show drip stains.

[The Inspector]

I too would like some resolve on this... definitely went through the Hayes Modification, and other than the 40 on the vertical stabilizer and the early star and meatball, it looks like someone has stolen the wheels and tires....and abandoned the beast. Sure would love to have that airframe in my front yard.

Told ya no one pays attention to car alarms any more bet they got the stereo too

[k5083]

The unusual/incorrect presentation of the serial, with the leading "4", could be a recognition feature if another photo whose location is known can be found.

August

[gary1954]

The unusual/incorrect presentation of the serial, with the leading "4", could be a recognition feature if another photo whose location is known can be found.

August

Truss me , I have been surfin' the net for another shot of this airframe so far, I got zip, notta, nutin'

[Mark Allen M]

I have a few additional photos of this B-25 I'll post as soon as I start a new photo sharing process other than photobucket. I think I'm through with the hassle.

[CoastieJohn]

The unusual/incorrect presentation of the serial, with the leading "4", could be a recognition feature if another photo whose location is known can be found.

August

Truss me , I have been surfin' the net for another shot of this airframe so far, I got zip, notta, nutin'

I did a little snooping around too. I went to a Japanese site but don't speak the lingo so I couldn't get far.

[Jack Frost]

IMHO, it appears that the three landing gear axles are sitting on and well secured by metal structures which are embedded to three concrete piers or submerged boxes sunk into the ground so this contraption won't go anywhere. The airplane or what's left of it has a UHF antenna on the underside of the nose (Hayes Mod), the square carb air inlets which came with Stromberg carburetors (the wider, thinner inlets were for the Holly carbs.), the rignt vertical stabilizer and rudder are missing, no left aileron, etc. The cowling on the left engine looks like recent oil leaking activity probably from recent engine operation because if those R-2600s aren't leaking oil they're out of oil. Maybe it's a movie set prop or a wind generator although in the latter role, the actors would be oil speckled pretty quickly. One learned not to stand behind a B-25 (nor a Connie for that matter), even at idle power, when the engines are running.
My speculation is based on flying the B-25J and a few N models as an Aviation Cadet in 1954 for 240 hours and again about 25 years later as one of the Sponsors on the CAF's Devil Dog. None of the J models I flew as a cadet had a top turret which had been removed prior to any Hayes modification program. But it's been 20+ years since I've been near or in a B-25 so that and old age are my disclaimers.

Jack Frost.

Last edited by Jack Frost on Fri May 10, 2013 9:06 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[SaxMan]

The current B-25 (a photo recon D backdated to a B) at the NMUSAF has been there 50 years....did they have one before that?

The photo location doesn't look like the old outdoor airpark of the museum...but it's before my time.

With as famous as the Doolittle raid is, I'd expect a few late model Mitchells were painted in 1942 markings.

I think that is the one I was thinking of. I knew it was a B-25 masquerading as a B model, but didn't realize it was a bit closer in the alphabet.

[Craig59]

It's been through HAYES Inc. big scoops, three piece windshield, turret ring removed, maybe a movie prop? Can anyone read what's under the pilots clearview window?

Looking at the largest available image of this on Flickr, it's clear that the first name stenciled under the cockpit window is, Lt Col James H. Doolittle. That would point to this being a static display...somewhere.