North American B-25J Aircraft

In January of 1939, North American created the NA-40 prototype to meet the specifications of the United States Army's proposal for a new medium bomber. Without another prototype, a few modifications were made and the contract was awarded for 184 aircraft. The first North American B-25 Mitchell flew on August 19, 1940. These planes had two Wright Cyclone 1,350 hp engines. They could carry a bomb load of 2,400 lb, three 0.30-inch guns, and a crew of six. North American's B-25 Mitchell got is nickname from William 'Billy' Mitchell, a maverick Army aviator. At this time, North American was unaware that this plane would have the largest production quantity, 9,816, of any twin engine combat aircraft built in America.

B-25J Aircraft

Very minor changes were made as new variants were produced. The B-25A had extra armor and self-sealing fuel tanks. Two turrets, one above and one below the fuselage, were added to the B-25B. The "C" variant could carry more fuel and also had external bomb racks. North American opened a new factory in Kansas City, which designated their B-25's as "D" variants. These early models of the B-25 we not only used by the United States, but were also supplied to the Soviet Union, the Royal Air Force, the Netherlands, China, and Brazil.

Except for larger engines and more weapons space, no other obvious changes were made to future variants. The B-25G had a hand loaded 75mm gun as well as six 0.50-inch guns added for flack suppression. With 4,318 units, the B-25J was the most widely produced version of the Mitchell. Two 1,850 hp Wright Cyclone engines allowed the "J" variant to carry thirteen 0.50-inch guns, and 4,000 lb. of bombs. Many B-25's were later turned into photo reconnaissance and mapping planes with no armaments, while other were used as cargo transport planes. The North American B-25 served with every Allied air force in World War II, and were used well into the 1970's.

The Fighter Factory's B-25 was built in 1944. Originally the plane was equipped with a radome in the nose of the plane and surveillance equipment in the fuselage. Chino, California was home to this Mitchell for several years where it was designated as a TB-25N trainer. It is believed that this B-25 never saw combat, but did make a wheels-up landing in Cincinnati, Ohio, during its civilian duties. In 1951 a man from Louisiana was using this B-25, then named, "Wild Cargo," to fly exotic animals to the Cincinnati Zoo.

On one flight into Lumpkin Field in Cincinnati, the bomber had 1,500 snakes aboard when the landing gear failed to retract After landing on the belly of the plane, the airport needed three days to round up most of the snakes. The plane was dragged off the runway and lifted to again sit on its landing gear by Cincinnati Aircraft, Inc. The rightful owner never returned to claim the plane, so it was eventually auctioned off by the local sheriffs office.

Walter Soplato purchased the plane and took it to his house in Newbury, OH. After four decades of sitting on his property, Walter sold the plane to Vintage Aircraft, Inc. The Fighter Factory purchased the B-25 a few years later but the plane remains with Vintage Aircraft, Inc., in Woodstock Georgia for a complete restoration. The radar and surveillance equipment has been stripped and a clear nose has been added, which will make the Fighter Factory's aircraft a B-25J Mitchell.

Read the actual Cincinnati Field incident 1963
newspaper article!

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our North American B-25J Bomber.