Article 11035 of rec.aviation.military:
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From: jfb@usgp1.ih.att.com (Joe Baugher)
Subject: Bomber Series--North American B-25 Mitchell (9 of 32)
Message-ID: <D2oK9v.4K7@ssbunews.ih.att.com>
Summary: Mediterranean modifications of B-25C/D
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Organization: AT&T
Date: Fri, 20 Jan 1995 01:32:18 GMT
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The strafer modifications of the B-25C/D that were widely used in the 
Pacific never did become popular in the European and Mediterranean 
theatres of operations.  However, a different sort of B-25C/D 
modification became popular in the Mediterranean theatre.  

The B-25C/D had always been deficient in defensive armament, and the 
planes of the 321st Bombardment Group had 57 of their B-25Cs and Ds 
fitted with additional guns before being despatched to Africa.  This 
work was done at the Warner Robins Air Logistics Center in Georgia.  
The virtually useless retractable ventral turret was removed and the 
hole in the floor left by the vacant turret was structured over.  
Larger windows were cut into the aft fuselage and a single 0.50-inch 
waist gun was mounted behind each window.  A single flexible machine 
gun was installed in the extreme tail operated by a gunner sitting 
underneath a raised canopy that was somewhat similar to that later 
installed on the B-25H and J versions.  

Additional airplanes were modified at the Sidi Ahmed Air Base at 
Bizerte.  In addition to the extra defensive guns, more armor 
production was provided, with plates being added underneath the 
pilot's seats, forward of the instrument panel, on the waist gun 
floor, and on the floor and sides of the tail gun position.  

More than 300 B-25Cs and Ds from the 12th, 310th, 321st, and 340th 
Bombardment Groups were processed.  These planes served throughout the 
Mediterranean campaign from Tunisia to the final German surrender in 
northern Italy.  Many of these modifications were later introduced on 
the production line with the B-25H and J versions.  

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.

   Boston, Mitchell, and Liberator in Australian Service, Stewart
   Wilson, Aerospace Publications, 1992.

   Famous Bombers of the Second World War, William Green, Doubleday,
   1959.

   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.

   United States Navy Aircraft Since 1911, Gordon Swanborough and
   Peter M. Bowers, Naval Institute Press, 1990.

   North American B-25A-G Mitchell, Aircraft in Profile, Doubleday, 
   1966.

   Jane's American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Century, Michael J.
   H. Taylor.


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