The sign accompanying the B-25 display. It reads
Doolittle Raid: North American B-25B Mitchell
The B-25 medium bomber was one of America's most famous airplanes of World Ware
II, and more than 9,8000 were built. It saw duty in every combat area being
flown by the Dutch, British, Chinese, Russians, and Australians in addition to
our own US forces. Although the B-25 was originally intended for level bombing
from medium altitudes, Pacific Theater aircrews often used it at low level to
attack Japanese airfields and strafe and skip bomb enemy shipping.
The US Army Air Forces chose the B-25 for the Doolittle Raid because it was the
only aircraft available with the required range, bomb capacity, and short
takeoff distance. The B-25Bs and 24 trained volunteer crews came from the 17th
Bombardment Group, Pendleton Field, Oregon.
The airplane on display is a B-25D rebuilt by North American to the
configuration of a B-25B used on the Tokyo Raid. It was flown to the US Air
Force Museum in April 1958.
Technical Notes |
Crew: |
5 |
Maximum speed: |
275 mph |
Armament: |
Five .50-cal machine
guns and 5,000 lbs of bombs |
Range: |
1,200 miles |
Ceiling: |
25,000 ft |