Identify this B-25 Mitchell, a request for help

Scott Rose · **Posted:** Sun Nov 06, 2016 7:47 pm

Hello WIXers,

I have received the following request.

Quote:

My father was a WWII pilot and he had a plane named "Dependable Nettie," which was named after my mother. I have attached a picture of the plane, but have no information as to the type of aircraft, ( although some people think it's a bomber,) it's history, or service record. Can you give me any information on this aircraft?

Now it's pretty obvious that it is a B-25 Mitchell. But beyond that I got nothing. The only identifier is the name and I haven't been able to find anything on that. So I call upon the WIX hive mind for help. Any further information would be appreciated.

jdvoss · **Posted:** Sun Nov 06, 2016 8:26 pm

As the aircraft carries a fuselage letter code of "J" I have to deduce that the photo was taken at either Morris Field, NC or La Junta AAF, CO.

That's all I can add...

JDV
www.fuselagecodes.com

JohnB · **Posted:** Sun Nov 06, 2016 8:44 pm

Anything in the photo...or the plane in the background..that helps ID the model?

I think with the paint we can eliminate the "J".

caroljackson3 · **Joined:** Sun Nov 06, 2016 11:17 pm **Posts:** 2

This is my father in his plane. I know he was stationed in Colorado, so it's likely that La Junta AAF, CO, mentioned by jdvoss was the location where it was taken. Thanks everyone, for the information!

Ken · **Posted:** Mon Nov 07, 2016 8:23 am

B-25 C or D model due to the convex navigator window. Also has horizontal windshield frame seen when armor mod was added. I did find a photo of a G-model (which would look the same) at La Junta online, however you can just make out a pane of a glass nose in this image. Late-style star-n-bar insignia on adjacent planes puts the date at Sep'43 or later, although the inline history of the 38th Flying Training Wing brackets La Junta B-25 operations to Sep '44 - Jun '45.

Ken

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7826

It's very well your father's airplane in the photo could have looked like this B-25D.

B-25D s/n 41-29868 #J-401

caroljackson3 · **Joined:** Sun Nov 06, 2016 11:17 pm **Posts:** 2

That's a good looking plane! Does anyone know in what theater these planes were primarily used? Or, were they used all over the world?

Mark Allen M · **Joined:** Fri Feb 03, 2012 1:48 pm **Posts:** 7826

caroljackson3 wrote:

That's a good looking plane! Does anyone know in what theater these planes were primarily used? Or, were they used all over the world?

Good morning Carol, B-25's had extensive use in every theater during WW2. Do you have more you can share on your father's service? I would love to do a bit of research for you to see what we can find. Feel free to post what ever you may know.

All the best

Mark

jdvoss · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2016 3:57 pm

Carol,

I've attached a Wikipedia file on the B-25 Bomber that would help in giving you an overview of the aircraft. Nearly 10,000 were built and were used in nearly every front through out WWII. We gave hundreds of them to our allies including Great Britain, Russia, Australia, Canada, et.al. Interestingly many are now in the hands of private owners and can be seen at airshows and of course are on display at many aviation museums.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_Ame ... 5_Mitchell

Near the end of the Wikipedia file there is a list of the locations for over 100 B-25's that are on display. Perhaps you will find a location near your home where you may see one in person.

John
www.fuselagecodes.com

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2016 7:35 pm

Mark Allen M wrote:

It's very well your father's airplane in the photo could have looked like this B-25D.

B-25D s/n 41-29868 #J-401

caroljackson3 wrote:

That's a good looking plane! Does anyone know in what theater these planes were primarily used? Or, were they used all over the world?

Background and the lack of armament make that specific picture over the United States. :wink:

I thought only the B/C had the mid-ship turret?

Randy Wilson · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2016 8:41 pm

Lon, sources in my library show the dorsal turret was continued into the B-25D version. Some used for pilot training in the states did have them removed, as probably pictured above. If you need a reference, let me know. My 2 cents.

Randy

Lon Moer · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2016 10:05 pm

Randy Wilson wrote:

Lon, sources in my library show the dorsal turret was continued into the B-25D version. Some used for pilot training in the states did have them removed, as probably pictured above. If you need a reference, let me know. My 2 cents.

Randy

Thanks. (I have aerovin's book in my bookcase, I was just lazy. :wink:

)

Chris Brame · **Posted:** Wed Nov 09, 2016 11:04 pm

Carol, I'd suggest keeping an eBay search going for "B-25" under "Original WWII Photographs". Some trainees kept photo albums and scrapbooks that their descendants are selling off now; I've found a lot of B-17 photos that way for the Hobbs AAF project I'm helping on. It's amazing what turns up there that you won't find in a Google search. You'll have to wade through a lot of stuff, but just keep looking for the J- code on the nose. Good luck!

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Identify this B-25 Mitchell, a request for help

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