PTO - Pacific Theater Operations - 345th Bombardment Group B-25 Mitchell photo gallery

 41-12971 B-25C Mitchell 5AF 345BG499BS Air Apaches Dirty Dora over Cape Gloucester 25th Dec 1943 01

North American B-25 Mitchell bombers of the U.S. Army 5th AF cover the boats of the landing forces as they approach Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island, for an attack on Jap positions.

Photo source NARA: 342-FH-3A31492-C26974AC

 41-30340 B-25D Mitchell 345BG499BS El Diablo IV over Cape Gloucester 25th Dec 1943 01

North American B-25 Mitchell bombers of the U.S. Army 5th AF cover the boats of the landing forces as they approach Cape Gloucester, New Britain Island, for an attack on Jap positions.

Photo source NARA: 342-FH-3A31492-C26974AC

 B-25's 5AF 345BG hit Japanese Navy Frigate Coastal Defense Vessels off Swatow China 29th Mar 1945 NA424

Photo description: Attack on Japanese Ships in the China Sea By The U.S. 5Th Air Force. (U.S. Air Force Number 58996AC)

Photo Source: National Archives Identifier NAID 204834250 Local ID: 342-FH-3A02723-58996AC

 B-25J Mitchell 5AF 345BG500BS Air Apaches being rearmed at Clark Phililppines 1st Jun 1945 NA1143

Photo description: Maintenance crew loading bombs on a North American B-25 "Mitchell." The bombs were brought by truck and trailer from the supply dump-Clark Field, Phililppine Islands. 1 June 1945. (U.S. Air Force Number B60781AC)

Photo Source: National Archives Identifier NAID: 204949471 Local ID: 342-FH-3A30234-B60781AC

 B-25 Mitchell 5AF 345BG being rearmed Luzon Philippines Aug 1945 NA1143

Photo description: This North American B-25 'Mitchell', One Of The Work Horses Of The Air Force, Has Been Employed For Low Level Bombing And Strafing Attacks Against The Enemy Shipping And Also In Support Of Our Ground Troops. Luzon, Philippine Islands, August 1945. (U.S. Air Force Number A61244AC)

Photo Source: National Archives Identifier NAID: 204951864 Local ID: 342-FH-3A30677-A61244AC

 B-25 Mitchell 5AF 345BG 780 tail fin New Guinea 1944 NA1363

Photo description: "Air Apache" Insignia of the 3A5th Bomb Group of the Fifth Air Force Bomber Command. (U.S. Air Force Number 57701AC)

Photo Source: National Archives Identifier NAID: 204989436 Local ID: 342-FH-3A44983-57701AC

345th Bombardment Group

Constituted as 345th Bombardment Group (Medium) on 3 Sep 1942 and activated on 8 Sep. Trained for overseas duty with B-25's. Moved to New Guinea, via Australia, Apr-Jun 1943, and assigned to Fifth AF. Entered combat on 30 Jun 1943. Operations until Jul 1944 included bombing and strafing Japanese airfields and installations in New Guinea and the Bismarck Archipelago; attacking shipping in the McCluer Gulf, Ceram Sea, and Bismarck Sea; supporting ground forces in the Admiralties; dropping supplies to ground troops; and flying courier and reconnaissance missions in the area. Received a DUC for a series of attacks against flak positions, shore installations, and barracks at Rabaul, New Britain, on 2 Nov 1943. Operated from Biak, Jul-Nov 1944, striking airfields and shipping in the southern Philippines and the Celebes. In Nov 1944 moved to the Philippines where targets included Japanese airfields and communications on Luzon, industries and communications on Formosa, and shipping along the China coast. After moving to Ie Shima in Jul 1945, flew some missions over Kyushu and the Sea of Japan. Returned to the US in Dec 1945. Inactivated on 29 Dec 1945.

Redesignated 345th Bombardment Group (Tactical). Activated on 19 Jul 1954. Assigned to Tactical Air Command. Equipped with B-26's and later with B-57's.

Squadrons. 498th: 1942-1945; 1954-. 499th: 1942-1945; 1954-. 500th: 1942-1945; 1954-. 501st: 1942-1945.

Stations. Columbia AAB, SC, 8 Sep 1942; Walterboro AAFld, SC, 6 Mar-16 Apr 1943; Port Moresby, New Guinea, 5 Jun 1943; Dobodura, New Guinea, 18 Jan 1944; Nadzab, New Guinea, c. 16 Feb 1944; Biak, Jul 1944; Leyte, 12 Nov 1944; Dulag, Leyte, Dec 1944; Tacloban, Leyte, c. 1 Jan 1945; San Marcelino, Luzon, 1 Feb 1945; Clark Field, Luzon, 12 May 1945; Ie Shima, 25 Jul-10 Dec 1945; Camp Stoneman, Calif, 27-29 Dec 1945. Langley AFB, Va, 19 Jul 1954-.

Commanders. Col Jarred V Crabb, 11 Nov 1942; Col Clinton U True, 19 Sep 1943; Col Chester A Coltharp, 24 Jun 1944; Col Glenn A Doolittle, 28 Jun 1945-unkn. Col John G Napier, 19 Jul 1954-.

Campaigns. Air Offensive, Japan; China Defensive; New Guinea; Bismarck Archipelago; Western Pacific; Leyte; Luzon; Southern Philippines; China Offensive.

Decorations. Distinguished Unit Citation: Rabaul, New Britain, 2 Nov 1943. Philippine Presidential Unit Citation.

Insigne. On a disc azure, an orle argent, surmounting all the head, in profile, of an Apache, proper, wearing a feathered headdress of the second, with markings gules, and a string of animal's teeth of the second. Motto: Air Apaches. (Approved 1 May 1954.)

 

Fifth Air Force

3d Bombardment Group

Fifth Air Force (SW Pacific), 1942-1944 - Australia, New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies, Philippines

8th Bombardment Squadron

13th Bombardment Squadron

90th Bombardment Squadron

  • Transitioned to A-20 Havoc, late 1944

    • 22d Bombardment Group

    Fifth Air Force (SW Pacific), 1942-1944 - Australia, New Guinea, Philippines

    2d Bombardment Squadron

    18th Bombardment Squadron

    19th Bombardment Squadron

    33d Bombardment Squadron

  • Transitioned to B-24 Liberator, Jan 1944

    • 38th Bombardment Group

    Fifth Air Force (SW Pacific), 1942-1945 - Australia, New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies, Philippines

    71st Bombardment Squadron

    405th Bombardment Squadron

    822d Bombardment Squadron

    823d Bombardment Squadron

  • Transitioned to A-26 Invader, Sep 1945

    • 345th Bombardment Group

    Fifth Air Force (SW Pacific), 1942-1945 - New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies, Philippines

    498th Bombardment Squadron

    499th Bombardment Squadron

    500th Bombardment Squadron

    501st Bombardment Squadron

  • Inactivated Dec 1945



    • North American B-25H Mitchell

    Specifications (B-25H)

    Data from United States Military Aircraft since 1909[51] Jane's Fighting aircraft of World War II[52]

    General characteristics

    Crew: 5 (one pilot, navigator/bombardier, turret gunner/engineer, radio operator/waist gunner, tail gunner)
    Length: 52 ft 11 in (16.13 m)
    Wingspan: 67 ft 7 in (20.60 m)
    Height: 16 ft 4 in (4.98 m)
    Wing area: 618 sq ft (57.4 m2)
    Airfoil: root: NACA 23017; tip: NACA 4409R[52]
    Empty weight: 19,480 lb (8,836 kg)
    Max takeoff weight: 35,000 lb (15,876 kg)
    Powerplant: 2 × Wright R-2600-92 Twin Cyclone 14-cylinder two-row air-cooled radial piston engines, 1,700 hp (1,300 kW) each

    Performance

    Maximum speed: 272 mph (438 km/h, 236 kn) at 13,000 ft (4,000 m)
    Cruise speed: 230 mph (370 km/h, 200 kn)
    Range: 1,350 mi (2,170 km, 1,170 nmi)
    Service ceiling: 24,200 ft (7,400 m)

    Armament

    Guns: 12–18 × .50 in (12.7 mm) machine guns and 75 mm (2.95 in) T13E1 cannon
    Hardpoints: 2,000 lb (900 kg) ventral shackles to hold one external Mark 13 torpedo[53]
    Rockets: racks for eight 5 in (127 mm) high velocity aircraft rockets (HVAR)
    Bombs: 3,000 lb (1,360 kg) bombs

    Avionics

    not known

     B-25 Mitchell
     

       IL-2 Sturmovik 'Cliff's of Dover' Blitz - has no 3D model

       IL-2 Sturmovik Battle of Normandy

       DCS World - has no 3D model

     

     

     Pandaveswar India Map

     Karachi South Karachi City, Sindh Pakistan Map

     

        Pacific Ocean theater of World War II Citations

    1. Cressman 2000, p. 84.
    2. Potter & Nimitz 1960, p. 717.
    3. Potter & Nimitz 1960, pp. 759–60.
    4. Silverstone 1968, pp. 9–11.
    5. Potter & Nimitz 1960, pp. 651–62.
    6. Kafka & Pepperburg 1946, p. 185.
    7. Potter & Nimitz 1960, p. 751.
    8. Ofstie 1946, p. 194.
    9. Potter & Nimitz 1960, p. 761.
    10. Potter & Nimitz 1960, p. 765.
    11. Potter & Nimitz 1960, p. 770.
    12. Ofstie 1946, p. 275..

        Pacific Ocean theater of World War II Bibliography:

    • Cressman, Robert J. (2000), The Official Chronology of the U.S. Navy in World War II, Annapolis, MD: Naval Institute Press, ISBN 1-55750-149-1.
    • Drea, Edward J. (1998), In the Service of the Emperor: Essays on the Imperial Japanese Army, NB: University of Nebraska Press, ISBN 0-8032-1708-0.
    • Hakim, Joy (1995), A History of Us: War, Peace and All That Jazz, New York: Oxford University Press, ISBN 0-19-509514-6.
    • Kafka, Roger; Pepperburg, Roy L. (1946), Warships of the World, New York: Cornell Maritime Press.
    • Miller, Edward S. (2007), War Plan Orange: The U.S. Strategy to Defeat Japan, 1897–1945, US Naval Institute Press, ISBN 978-1-59114-500-4.
    • Ofstie, Ralph A. (1946). The Campaigns of the Pacific War. Washington, DC: United States Government Printing Office..
    • Potter, E. B.; Nimitz, Chester W. (1960), Sea Power, Prentice-Hal.
    • Silverstone, Paul H. (1968), U.S. Warships of World War II, Doubleday & Co.
    • Toll, Ian W. (2011). Pacific Crucible: War at Sea in the Pacific, 1941–1942. New York: W. W. Norton.
    • The Conquering Tide: War in the Pacific Islands, 1942–1944. New York: W. W. Norton.
    • Twilight of the Gods: War in the Western Pacific, 1944–1945. New York: W. W. Norton.

        Fifth Air Force Bibliography:

    • Bartsch, William H. Doomed at the Start: American Pursuit Pilots in the Philippines, 1941–1942. Reveille Books, 1995. ISBN 0-89096-679-6.
    • Birdsall, Steve. Flying Buccaneers: The Illustrated History of Kenney's Fifth Air Force. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1977. ISBN 0-385-03218-8.
    • Craven, Wesley F. and James L. Cate. The Army Air Forces in World War II. Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 1948–58.
    • Holmes, Tony. "Twelve to One": V Fighter Command Aces of the Pacific. Botley, Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2004. ISBN 1-84176-784-0.
    • Rust, Kenn C. Fifth Air Force Story...in World War II. Temple City, California: Historical Aviation Album, 1973. ISBN 0-911852-75-1.

        Notes on the North American B-25 Mitchell

    1. This number does not include aircraft built after World War II.
    2. The maximum on RAF strength was 517 in December 1944

        Citations on the North American B-25 Mitchell

    1. 'North American B-25B Mitchell.' U.S. Air Force.
    2. United Press, 'Bomber Named For Mitchell', The San Bernardino Daily Sun, San Bernardino, California, Friday 23 January 1942, Volume 48, page 21.
    3. Baugher, Joe. 'North American B-25 Mitchell.' American Military Aircraft: US Bomber Aircraft, 6 March 2000.
    4. Chorlton Aeroplane May 2013, p. 74.
    5. 'T-6/SNJ/HVD Information (Ray) - NATA'. flynata.org.
    6. Parker 2013, pp. 77–79, 83, 88, 92.
    7. Borth 1945, pp. 70, 92, 244.
    8. Herman 2012, pp. 11, 88, 115, 140–143, 263, 297.
    9. Johnson, E. R. (2015). American Military Training Aircraft: Fixed and Rotary-Wing Trainers Since 1916. McFarland. p. 162. ISBN 9780786470945.
    10. Norton 2012, p. 68.
    11. Pace, 2002 p23
    12. Pace 2002, p. 6.
    13. '340th Bomb Group History'. 57thbombwing.com.
    14. Merriam, Ray, ed. 'U. S. Warplanes of World War II.' World War II Journal, No. 15, 1 July 2000, p. 8.
    15. Kinzey 1999, pp. 51, 53.
    16. Yenne 1989, p. 40.
    17. Kinzey 1999, pp. 52–53.
    18. Baugher, Joe. North American B-25H Mitchell.' American Military Aircraft: US Bomber Aircraft, 11 March 2000.
    19. Tallman 1973, pp. 216, 228.
    20. Higham 1975, 8; Higham 1978, 59.
    21. 'A Brief history of the B-25.' Archived 3 March 2015 at the Wayback Machine USAF.com. Accessed: 25 May 2015.
    22. 'Doolittle Park Will Have AF B-25 Bomber'. Playground News (Fort Walton Beach, Florida), Volume 15, Number 7, 10 March 1960, p. 10.
    23. 'B-25 Makes Last Flight During Ceremony at Eglin'. Playground News (Fort Walton Beach, Florida), Volume 15, Number '17' (actually No. 18: Special), 26 May 1960, p. 2.
    24. 'B-25 44-330854.' warbirdregistry.org. Retrieved: 30 December 2009.
    25. 'Closing In: Marines in the Seizure of Iwo Jima (Assault Preparations)'. www.nps.gov.
    26. 'Smash Hits.' Popular Mechanics, March 1947, p. 113.
    27. Skaarup 2009, pp. 333–334.
    28. Walker, R.W.R. 'RCAF 5200 to 5249, Detailed List.' Canadian Military Aircraft Serial Numbers, 25 May 2013.
    29. Hardesty, Von (1982). Red Phoenix: The Rise of Soviet Air Power 1941-1945. Washington, D. C.: Smithsonian Institution Press. p. 253. ISBN 0874745101.
    30. Glantz, David (2005). Companion to Colossus Reborn: Key Documents and Statistics. United States of America: University Press of Kansas. p. 148. ISBN 0700613595.
    31. Jowett, Philip (2016). Modern African Wars (5): The Nigerian-Biafran War 1967-70. Oxford: Osprey Publishing Press. p. 18. ISBN 978-1472816092.
    32. Dorr Wings of Fame Volume 3, p. 124.
    33. 'Factsheets: North American B-25.' National Museum of the United States Air Force, 26 June 2009.
    34. 'Factsheets: North American B-25A'. National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, 26 June 2009.
    35. Dorr Wings of Fame Volume 3, pp. 125–126.
    36. 'Factsheets: North American B-25B.' National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, 26 June 2009.
    37. Robison, Tom. 'B-29 in Weather Reconnaissance.' Aerial Weather Reconnaissance Association: Hurricane Hunters.
    38. Gibbins, Scott and Jeffrey Long. 'The History of the Hurricane Hunters.' Archived 12 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine Hurricane Hunters Association.
    39. Drucker, Graham.'North American B-25 Mitchell.' fleetairarmarchive.net.
    40. 'B-25J-30-NC SN 44-31173 'Huaira Bajo''. The B-25 History Project
    41. Chorlton Aeroplane May 2013, p. 85.
    42. Chorlton Aeroplane May 2013, p. 86.
    43. Hagedorn Air Enthusiast May/June 2003, pp. 53–54.
    44. Hagedorn Air Enthusiast May/June 2003, p. 55.
    45. Leeuw, Ruud. 'Cuatro Vientos – Madrid.' ruudleeuw.com.
    46. Hardesty 1991, p. 253.
    47. 'Mitchells: The North American Mitchell in Royal Air Force service.' Aeromilitaria (Air-Britain Historians), Issue 2, 1978, pp. 41–48.
    48. Roberts, William.'ESB News.' Elevator World, March 1996.
    49. Kingwell 2007, p. 12.
    50. Fonton, Mickaël (5 August 2010). 'Les morts mystérieuses : 4. Leclerc, l'énigme du 13e passager'. Valeurs actuelles (in French).
    51. Swanborough and Bowers 1963, p. 359.
    52. Lednicer, David. 'The Incomplete Guide to Airfoil Usage'. m-selig.ae.illinois.edu.
    53. Caiden 1957, p. 176.

        Bibliography on the North American B-25 Mitchell: +

    • Borth, Christy. Masters of Mass Production. Indianapolis, Indiana: Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1945.
    • Bridgman, Leonard, ed. 'The North American Mitchell.' Jane's Fighting Aircraft of World War II. London: Studio, 1946. ISBN 1-85170-493-0.
    • Caidin, Martin. Air Force. New York: Arno Press, 1957.
    • Chorlton, Martyn. 'Database: North American B-25 Mitchell'. Aeroplane, Vol. 41, No. 5, May 2013. pp. 69–86.
    • Dorr, Robert F. 'North American B-25 Variant Briefing'. Wings of Fame, Volume 3, 1996. London: Aerospace Publishing. ISBN 1-874023-70-0. ISSN 1361-2034. pp. 118–141.
    • Green, William. Famous Bombers of the Second World War. New York: Doubleday & Company, 1975. ISBN 0-385-12467-8.
    • Hagedorn, Dan. 'Latin Mitchells: North American B-25s in South America, Part One'. Air Enthusiast No. 105, May/June 2003. pp. 52–55. ISSN 0143-5450
    • Hagedorn, Dan. 'Latin Mitchells: North American B-25s in South America, Part Three'. Air Enthusiast Mo. 107, September/October 2003. pp. 36–41. ISSN 0143-5450
    • Hardesty, Von. Red Phoenix: The Rise of Soviet Air Power 1941–1945. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution, 1991, first edition 1982. ISBN 0-87474-510-1.
    • Heller, Joseph. Catch 22. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1961. ISBN 0-684-83339-5.
    • Herman, Arthur. Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II, New York: Random House, 2012. ISBN 978-1-4000-6964-4.
    • Higham, Roy and Carol Williams, eds. Flying Combat Aircraft of USAAF-USAF (Vol. 1). Andrews AFB, Maryland: Air Force Historical Foundation, 1975. ISBN 0-8138-0325-X.
    • Higham, Roy and Carol Williams, eds. Flying Combat Aircraft of USAAF-USAF (Vol. 2). Andrews AFB, Maryland: Air Force Historical Foundation, 1978. ISBN 0-8138-0375-6.
    • Johnsen, Frederick A. North American B-25 Mitchell. Stillwater, Minnesota: Voyageur Press, 1997. ISBN 0-933424-77-9.
    • Kingwell, Mark. Nearest Thing to Heaven: The Empire State Building and American Dreams. New Haven, Connecticut: Yale University Press, 2007. ISBN 978-0-300-12612-9.
    • Kinzey, Bert. B-25 Mitchell in Detail. Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., 1999. ISBN 1-888974-13-3.
    • Kit, Mister and Jean-Pierre De Cock. North American B-25 Mitchell (in French). Paris, France: Éditions Atlas, 1980.
    • McDowell, Ernest R. B-25 Mitchell in Action (Aircraft number 34). Carrollton, Texas: Squadron/Signal Publications Inc., 1978. ISBN 0-89747-033-8.
    • McDowell, Ernest R. North American B-25A/J Mitchell (Aircam No.22). Canterbury, Kent, UK: Osprey Publications Ltd., 1971. ISBN 0-85045-027-6.
    • Mizrahi, J.V. North American B-25: The Full Story of World War II's Classic Medium. Hollywood, California: Challenge Publications Inc., 1965.
    • Norton, Bill. American Bomber Aircraft Development in World War 2. Hersham, Surrey, UK: Midland Publishing, 2012. ISBN 978-1-85780-330-3.
    • Pace, Steve. B-25 Mitchell Units in the MTO. Oxford, UK: Osprey Publishing, 2002. ISBN 978-1-84176-284-5.
    • Pace, Steve. Warbird History: B-25 Mitchell. St. Paul, Minnesota: Motorbooks International, 1994. ISBN 0-87938-939-7.
    • Parker, Dana T. Building Victory: Aircraft Manufacturing in the Los Angeles Area in World War II. Cypress, California: Dana Parker Enterprises, 2013. ISBN 978-0-9897906-0-4.
    • 'Pentagon Over the Islands: The Thirty-Year History of Indonesian Military Aviation'. Air Enthusiast Quarterly (2): 154–162. n.d. ISSN 0143-5450.
    • Powell, Albrecht. 'Mystery in the Mon'. Archived 31 December 2015 at the Wayback Machine 1994
    • Reinhard, Martin A. (January–February 2004). 'Talkback'. Air Enthusiast. No. 109. p. 74. ISSN 0143-5450.
    • Scutts, Jerry. B-25 Mitchell at War. London: Ian Allan, 1983. ISBN 0-7110-1219-9.
    • Scutts, Jerry. North American B-25 Mitchell. Ramsbury, Marlborough, Wiltshire, UK: Crowood Press, 2001. ISBN 1-86126-394-5.
    • Skaarup, Harold A. Canadian Warplanes. Bloomington, Indiana: IUniverse, 2009. ISBN 978-1-4401-6758-4.
    • Swanborough, F.G. and Peter M. Bowers. United States Military Aircraft since 1909. London: Putnam, 1963.
    • Swanborough, Gordon. North American, An Aircraft Album No. 6. New York: Arco Publishing Company Inc., 1973. ISBN 0-668-03318-5.
    • Tallman, Frank. Flying the Old Planes. New York: Doubleday and Company, 1973. ISBN 978-0-385-09157-2.
    • Vernon, Jerry (Winter 1993). 'Talkback'. Air Enthusiast. No. 52. pp. 78–79. ISSN 0143-5450.
    • Wolf, William. North American B-25 Mitchell, The Ultimate Look: from Drawing Board to Flying Arsenal. Atglen, Pennsylvania: Schiffer Publishing, 2008. ISBN 978-0-7643-2930-2.
    • Yenne, Bill. Rockwell: The Heritage of North American. New York: Crescent Books, 1989. ISBN 0-517-67252-9.

        Web References on the North American B-25 Mitchell: +

    • 13th Bombardment Squadron http://www.3rdattackgroup.org/13th.php
    • Wikipedia.org - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/North_American_B-25_Mitchell

     

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