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HomeB-25 Information

North American B-25 Mitchell

The North American B-25 Mitchell bomber is one of the iconic airplanes of World War II. Most famous because it was selected by Doolittle for the "Tokyo Raid" where 80 men led by then then Col. Jimmy Doolittle took off in 16 B-25s from an aircraft carrier, the USS Hornet, to retaliate for the attack on Pearl Harbor. It was the first strike on the Japanese mainland, and it was a pivotal moment in the war.

The B-25 went on to serve numerous roles in all the theaters of World War II. It served with the Air Corps, Navy, Marines, and several Allied counties. It was used for medium range bombing, air to ground, air to sea attack roles and photo reconnaissance. One version was fitted with a 75mm cannon that resulted in what was essentially a flying tank.

After the end of hostilities in WWII the B-25 became the US Air Force's multi-engine trainer and taught thousands of bomber and transport pilots to fly. It also flew as executive transport and other roles until 1960 when the last active duty B-25 was retired.

The B-25 was rugged, easy to fly, and yet maneuverable. It had an excellent record of dependability and safety in service, and was widely loved by her crews. Of the nearly 10,000 that were built, over 35 are still flying today.

Operating and maintenance documents available here (members only)