Doolittle Raid B-25B Questions?

[Ken]

Another source says only the first 9 B-25s had a straight wing, the remainder of the 24 produced (with no letter suffix) had the gull, therefore all B-25A's and subsequent models would have had a gull wing as well.

Ken

[Mark Allen M]

Another source says only the first 9 B-25s had a straight wing, the remainder of the 24 produced (with no letter suffix) had the gull, therefore all B-25A's and subsequent models would have had a gull wing as well.

Ken

Here's four of those nine Ken

[Maty12]

Before we get back to the Raiders, I just wanna say that I just find that A tail gunner position so funny. Has gotta be a lot more comfortable than the Js, since he got to lie down rather than kneel. Also, would anyone mind telling me what the 4X- prefix on serial numbers means? Does it stand for the year? If yes, then how would a serial from 1939 look like? Also, does anyone have a list of B-25A serial numbers? I know that B-25B serials go from 40-2229 to 40-2348.

Last edited by Maty12 on Tue Apr 28, 2015 6:13 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Maty12]

And just to help get back on topic, do you guys think that light colored area on the engines is the demarcation line or exhaust?
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b ... 2-side.jpg

[RyanShort1]

And just to help get back on topic, do you guys think that light colored area on the engines is the demarcation line or exhaust?
http://www.pacificwrecks.com/aircraft/b ... 2-side.jpg

It's exhaust. You don't see that on the pictures on board the carrier.

[RyanShort1]

Here's a link that clearly shows that the Ruptured Duck was likely an aircraft used during the War Maneuvers and had those markings painted over on the right wing.

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023188/

Possibly the same with what is likely either Doolittle's ship, or the next one.

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023408/

Ross Greening's ship - No wavy lines at the bottom and no venturis visible.

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023441/

In contrast to other pictures, this aircraft clearly DOES appear to have a gray overspray on the underside of the nacelle.

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023202/

Overpainted nose markings, full cowl ring paint on the right aircraft

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023163/

Another Ruptured Duck shot - note the difference in the cowl ring paint, left wingtip, and general weathering on the rest of the aircraft

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023170/

No "wavy" demarcation on the tail of either #15 or #16

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023401/

And clearly none here, either...

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023384/

Note differences between this shot, and the "deck" photo shown earlier on this thread with the different cowls.

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023231/

Likely painted over War Maneuvers markings midship

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023225/

I personally like this shot

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023336/

You can see the outline of the War Maneuvers cross painted over on the aircraft bottom left here.

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023274/

Ryan

Last edited by RyanShort1 on Tue Apr 28, 2015 6:55 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Maty12]

What were the war games markings again?

[RyanShort1]

What were the war games markings again?

I have some photos here: http://www.doolittleraid.com/Research02.htm
Some other pictures of aircraft here: http://www.doolittleraid.com/Research01.htm

[RyanShort1]

NO wavy demarcation lines on plane #16

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023293/

More good details

http://www.fold3.com/image/29023287/

That's it for me for now. I've got other stuff to work on.

Ryan

[Maty12]

Ryan, man, I said Hari Keri-Er might've possibly had a higher demarcation line which could be wavy, I never said anything about the other aircraft. Most have great pictures showing the demarcation line. Either way, the more pictures the better. And some did answer the question I had before on whether the cowl rings had a demarcation line or not. I have a different question though (Gee, another one?): What color was the number 3 on York's ship: Insignia yellow or white?

[RyanShort1]

Ryan, man, I said Hari Keri-Er might've possibly had a higher demarcation line which could be wavy, I never said anything about the other aircraft. Most have great pictures showing the demarcation line. Either way, the more pictures the better. And some did answer the question I had before on whether the cowl rings had a demarcation line or not. I have a different question though (Gee, another one?): What color was the number 3 on York's ship: Insignia yellow or white?

It's not about you. I just get annoyed that so many paintings, etc... have the wavy lines in spite of the good photographic evidence otherwise.

My current thinking on the "3" is that it's yellow, but at one point in time I was convinced it was white - maybe a dirty white since it had been there a while. Just looking back at the photos now I think I'd make it yellow on a model.





One of the Raiders' aircraft had a nose gear incident at Ellington Field in Texas on the way - some interesting close-ups here: http://www.doolittleraider.com/forum/vi ... f=82&t=580

[mustangdriver]

For sure not wavy. I do find it interesting how feathered the lines are. Not straight lines for sure.

[Maty12]

I still find it funny how 22 aircraft flew to Alameda but only 16 got on the Hornet. And many of those 16 had mechanical issues (Turret jams on at least 2 of them, radio problems on Lawson's and engine trouble on both his and York's aircraft. We'd probably have only around half the crews if all mechanical issues were reported.

[Maty12]

Were War Maneuver markings also painted on the bottom of the wings?

[RyanShort1]

Were War Maneuver markings also painted on the bottom of the wings?

Edit - Yes...

http://www.doolittleraid.com/Original%2 ... rMvrs1.png