Article 15728 of rec.aviation.military:
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From: jfb@usgp1.ih.att.com (Joe Baugher)
Subject: Bomber Series--North American B-25 Mitchell (30 of 32)
Message-ID: <D53spw.LpE@ssbunews.ih.att.com>
Summary: Postwar service of B-25 with USAF 
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Date: Wed, 8 Mar 1995 04:05:56 GMT
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By late 1945, the B-25 Mitchell outnumbered all other medium bombers 
in service with the USAAF.  Most examples of its Martin B-26 Marauder 
stablemate had been scrapped immediately after the war was over.  
During the immediate post war years, substantial numbers of B-25s were 
stripped of their combat equipment and used as advanced pilot 
trainers.  They remained in service with the Air Force for many years 
thereafter, the last example not being struck off the USAF rolls until 
January of 1959.  

TB-25K was the designation given to 117 B-25Js converted as trainers 
for the operators of the E-1 fire control system.  The initial 
contract was awarded to the Hughes Tool Company of Culver City, 
California late in 1950 for 12 conversions.  Later contracts increased 
the total to 117 aircraft.  All military equipment was removed, and a 
radome was fitted in the front of the transparent nose.  The 
instrumentation for the radar equipment was housed inside a modified 
bomb bay, and Monitoring equipment for one instructor and the students 
were installed in the aft fuselage.  An astrodome was installed above 
the navigator's compartment.  

Under contract with the Hayes Aircraft Company of Birmingham, Alabama, 
75 B-25Js were modified for specialized advanced pilot training under 
the designation TB-25L.  All armament and armor was removed, and the 
pilot's three-piece windshield was replaced by a one-piece windshield 
that was equipped with wiper blades and an anti-icing system.  The 
front engine hatch was enlarged.  Two passenger seats were added 
forward of the bomb bay, and five seats were installed in the aft 
fuselage.  On some airplanes, exhaust semi-collector rings replaced 
the "S" stacks on the top seven cylinders of each engine.  Deliveries 
began in April of 1952, and continued through December.  

As the TB-25K contract was coming to an end, Hughes was awarded a 
further contract for the modification of 25 more B-25Js under the 
designation TB-25M.  These were modified from TB-25L aircraft, and 
were essentially the same as the K model except for the installation 
of the more advanced E-5 fire control system.  Deliveries began in 
1952.  

From November 1953 through December 1954, Hayes modified an additional 
380 B-25Js as TB-25N.  They were similar to the preceding TB-25Ls, but 
were fitted with R-2600-29A engines.  Some of these were later 
modified as VIP transports under the designation VB-25N 

Between 1952 and 1954, 979 B-25Js went through the Hayes Aircraft 
Company for IRAN (Inspect and Repair As Needed).  These aircraft were 
equipped with such features as an automatic pilot, bomb bay fuel 
tanks, AN/ARN-14 radio gear, dual UHF/VHF, and demand oxygen systems.  
Sixty planes were fitted with the solid eight-gun nose shell in place 
of the original transparent nose.  All were initially powered by 
R-2600-29 engines and Holley carburetors, although many were later 
fitted with Bendix Stromberg Carburetors and the engines redesignated 
-35.  

In the immediate post-war years, substantial numbers of B-25s found 
their way into units of the Air National Guard.  Some TB-25Ks were 
assigned to certain fighter interceptor squadrons in support of F-89 
and F-94 fighters.  A few TB-25Ns served with ANG squadrons as weather 
reconnaissance and personnel transports.  

Sources:

   B-25 Mitchell: The Magnificent Medium, N. L. Avery, Phalanx, 1992.

   Medium with the Mostest--The B-25 Mitchell, Jerry Scutts,
   Air International, Vol. 44, Nos 2 and 3, 1993.

   North American's Flying Gun--The Story of the B-25 From Paper
   Airplane to Legendary Bomber, Jack Dean, Wings, Vol 23 No 4, 1993.

   United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough
   and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

Joe Baugher			  **************************************
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