North American Mitchell B-25 B-25D B-25J
The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. Used by many Allied air forces, the B-25 served in every theater of World War II, and after the war ended, many remained in service, operating across four decades. Produced in numerous variants, nearly 10,000 B-25s were built.
The North American B-25 Mitchell was flown by the RCAF during and after the Second World War. The RCAF flew the B-25 Mitchell for training during the war and continued flying operations after the war, in Canada with most of 162 Mitchells received. The first B-25s had originally been diverted to Canada from RAF orders. These included one Mitchell Mk. I, 42 Mitchell Mk. IIs, and 19 Mitchell Mk. IIIs. No 13 (P) Squadron was formed unofficially at RCAF Station Rockcliffe in May 1944 and flew Mitchell Mk. IIs on high-altitude aerial photography sorties. No. 5 OTU (Operational Training Unit) at Boundary Bay, British Columbia and Abbotsford, British Columbia, operated the B-25D Mitchell in a training role together with B-24 Liberators for Heavy Conversion as part of the BCATP. The RCAF retained the Mitchell until October 1963.
No. 418 (Auxiliary) Squadron received its first Mitchell Mk. IIs in January 1947. It was followed by No. 406 (Auxiliary), which flew Mitchell Mk. IIs and Mk. IIIs from April 1947 to June 1958. No. 418 Operated a mix of Mk. IIs and Mk. IIIs until March 1958. No. 12 Squadron of Air Transport Command also flew Mitchell Mk. IIIs along with other types from September 1956 to November 1960. In 1951, the RCAF received an additional 75 B-25Js from USAF stocks to make up for attrition and to equip various second-line units.. Wikipedia and Harold Skaarup web page
last update: 2021-09-23 15:53:49Mitchell Mitchell II series ii FW259
Ex USAAF B-25D-35-NA serial number 43-3694. Ex RAF Mitchell Mk. II, identified as B-25D when first taken on RCAF books. Taken on strength at No. 5 Operational Training Unit at Boundary Bay, BC. To No. 2 Air Command on 31 July 1945. To storage on 14 September 1945. Stored at No. 10 Repair Depot detachment at RCAF Station Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan by 4 June 1946. To Avro Canada at Malton, Ontario for overhaul and modification to Light Bomber configuration, 23 June 1948 to 1 April 1950. To North West Air Command when completed. To North West Industries in Edmonton, Alberta for winterization, 5 to 23 January 1953. To Tactical Air Group when completed, for use by No. 418 Squadron (Auxiliary) at RCAF Station Namao. To MacDonald Brothers Aircraft in Winnipeg, Manitoba for overhaul, 10 December 1954. Still with No. 418 Squadron when it crashed on 22 January 1955. Struck a cable strung across the North Saskatchewan River. 3 fatalities. Wreckage to Canadian Pacific Airlines for scrapping on 4 February 1955.1944-03-22 Taken on Strength new aircraft by Western Air Command 2019-08-20
1955-02-04 Struck off Strength Struck off at RCAF Station Lincoln Park, Alberta 2019-08-20