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A new design has been added to the Warbird Shirt shop. It is dedicated to the 345th Bombardment Group “Air Apaches” whose  B-25 Michell bombers were easily recognizable with their decorated fins.

The 345th Bombardment Group distinguished itself in combat in the Pacific from 1943 to 1945.

The Warbird Shirts allow us to pay for the website’s expenses without resorting to intrusive ads. Thank you for your continued support !

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The B-25 Mitchell “Old Glory” in 2012 (Photo Bill Larkins (CC BY-SA 2.0))

The B-25 Mitchell “Old Glory” was seriously damaged when it struck an irrigation ditch during an off-airport landing attempt near Stockton, California. The three crewmembers on board were injured and two were taken to the hospital but fortunately their injuries are not life-threatening.

“Old Glory” is North American B-25J Mitchell built in 1944 (serial number 44-28938, registered N7946C).  Authorities have already indicated that the cause of the accident was a mechanical failure, and photos show extensive damage to the aircraft.

We wish a speedy recovery to all three crew.

https://www.facebook.com/SheriffSanJoaquin/posts/1560265894175772

Sources :

• Aviation24.be | Three injured after North American B-25 Mitchell vintage WWII bomber crashes in California, United States
• www.B-25History.org.com | B-25J-15-NC SN 44-28938 “Old Glory”

Continue reading]]> The Belgian Aviation Preservation Association was recently able to acquire a Bendix upper turret as part of its B-25J Mitchell restoration project :

For several years we have been looking for parts to restore the B-25J to stock configuration. One of the most difficult parts to find has been the very rare Bendix upper turret.

In recent months we were able to find and purchase a core Bendix N-type turret in Australia, which has just been delivered at the workshop. It is an extremely rare (and expensive) collector’s item, as it is a genuine turret that was aboard a B-25J during the Second World War.

It needs extensive restoration after several decades spent outside. The aluminium components are still in fairly good condition, but the iron components are heavily corroded and many will have to be replaced. Many accessories are missing and will have to be found. One of them has already been located and purchased.

In the packaging there is also an extremely rare ammunition container; the second one has yet to be sourced. We also have a few duplicates that could be used for exchange and as spare parts.

There is a lot of work to return this turret in good condition but, with this rare item now acquired, we are on the right track for a complete restoration of the B-25J.

We sincerely thank all the generous donors who made this extremely important acquisition possible.

More information about the news on
http://www.bapa.aero/News.htm

Source : www.bapa.aero

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A message from the Belgian Aviation Preservation Association

The restoration of the Belgian Aviation Preservation Association’s (www.bapa.aero) B-25 Mitchell is an ongoing project, as is the search for parts and equipment to re-equip what initially was an empty B-25 shell.

After obtaining the plexiglass canopy of the dorsal turret during the shooting of the “Catch 22” series, all that was needed was what came beneath it, i.e. a Bendix turret.

This is a rare and difficult to acquire part, but we were able to locate and reserve one in Australia, for $5400. It is incomplete but can serve as the basis for a full restoration.

We are therefore calling on all B-25 Mitchell enthusiasts and those who support our goal of honoring the Belgian crews that flew on the Mitchell with the Royal Air Force.

You can help us by donating to the Fondation Roi Baudouin :

BE10 0000 0000 0404 (BIC : BPOT BEB1) with the compulsory mention: « 128/2714/00065 »

If you are a Belgian fiscal resident, any donation over 40€ will make you eligible to a tax refund.

For our foreign supporters, a donation on the bank account of our association is also possible:

BAPA bank account: BE81 3631 1427 4124 (BIC : BBRU BEBB).

Thank you to all, and a Merry Christmas !

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Silence on set, the BAPA makes its cinema, first, action, rolling!

BAPA will be holding its open house on Saturday, August 31 to celebrate the fifth participation in a shooting of its B25J Mitchell with its almost fully equipped interior and its superb current Pinup “Yankee Doodle” from the mini-series “Catch-22”.

The whole event will revolve around him with the evocation of the shoots in which he participated.

The association’s volunteers will welcome you to visit the restoration workshop and admire our collection of restored aircraft, in progress or awaiting restoration, and will present various activities.

(Photo © BAPA)

Various magazine stands and aeronautical books, postcards, photos, aeronautical accessories, model aircraft and small catering will be available.

Several military vehicles and extras in period clothing will be present throughout the day.

Depending on the weather, the workshop will be flown over several times by several old aircraft.

Address:

Chaussée de Tirlemont, 75, A6 (behind LOCK’O)
B-5030 Gembloux
Belgium

Free entry and easy parking.

(Photo © BAPA)

Filmography of the B-25J Mitchell 44-30925 (N9494Z G-BWGR):

•  “Catch-22″ by Mike Nichols in 1970 with Alan Arkin. He flew under the name of Laden Maiden” and then”The Abominable Snow Man”.
• Peter Hyams”’Hanover Street” movie in 1978 with Harrison Ford (who drove this B25). He flew under the name of Gorgeous George-Ann.
• Richard Marquand’s “Eye Of the Needle” film in 1981 with Donald Sutherland. Static filmed with the name Thar She Blows.
• “AIRMEN”” short film by Olivier Merckx in 2016 with Russel Cummings. Static filmed for indoor scenes.
• “Catch-22″” George Clooney’s mini-series in 2018 with Georges Clooney and Christopher Abbott with the name”Yankee Doodle”. Static filmed for indoor scenes.
• Once restored, it should in principle be called “Pat’s Victorie” coded”NO-V” of No 320 Squadron of No 139 Wing.

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Lt. Col. Richard E. Cole (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Vernon Young Jr.)

Lieutenant Colonel Richard “Dick” E. Cole, Jimmy Doolittle’s copilot and last surviving member of the Doolittle raid on Tokyo on 18 April 1942, passed away on 9 April 2019.

Born in 1915, he enlisted as aviation cadet in 1940. He was one of the 80 crew members selected to take part in the famous raid against Tokyo and mainland Japan, led by the famous James “Jimmy” Doolittle. Taking off from the USS Hornet in their B-25 Mitchells, a medium bomber designed to operate from land, the raiders bombed Tokyo and other targets in the Japanese mainland. Running out of fuel after their mission, they parachuted or crash-landed in China. Five raiders were captured and executed by the Japanese, with another three becoming prisoners of war (one of whom died of malnutrition during his captivity).

Richard Cole remained in the China-Burma-India theater of operations after the raid. He served in the US Air Force until 1966, retiring with over 5,000 flying hours.

Our thoughts and prayers go to Lt Col Cole’s family and friends.

Read more about Richard Cole’s life and career on the US Air Force’s website.

Continue reading]]> Edward J. Saylor, the engineer of the 15th aircrew that participated in the famous 18 April 1942 Doolittle Raid on Japan, passed away at his home on January 28, 2015. His crew bombed targets in Kobe and had to ditch its aircraft near the Chinese coast after the raid. Saylor stayed with the Air Force after the war, retiring in 1967 with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.

More details on his career are available from Veteran Tributes.