The last flight of Penticton-bound RCAF Mitchell 894 I iNFOnews I ...
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Penticton, British Columbia
North American Mitchell B-25 B-25D B-25J
Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum
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
Mitchell Bomber
Wikipedia Mitchell BomberCASPIR Aircraft Groups:
RCAF Owned (164) RCAF 400 Squadrons (3) Canadian Crewed (71) Canadian Museum (2)Mitchell Mk. III 894
Built for USAAF as B-25D-1, serial number 41-29877.1942-11-01 Accepted at Kansas City by USAAF. 2024-09-12
1942-11-20 To Kansas City Modifications for reconfiguration to Photo Mapping. 2024-09-12
1943-02-28 To 1st Photo Mapping Squadron USAAF at Bolling Field Army Air Force Base, Washington, DC. 2024-09-12
1943-04-01 Noted in Winnipeg, Manitoba. 2024-09-12
1943-08-18 Redesignated to B-25 F10. 2024-09-12
1943-09-01 To Telara, Peru with 1st Photographic Charting Group USAAF. 2024-09-12
1943-12-21 Returned to US. 2024-09-12
1944-06-04 To Pounds Army Air Force Base at Tyler, TX. 2024-09-12
1944-06-12 To Lafayette, LA AAF Base 2024-09-12
1945-04-10 Allocated to Canada 2024-09-12
1945-04-14 Ferried via Stuttgart, Arkansas AFB to No. 6 Repair Depot, Trenton, Ontario. 2024-09-12
1945-04-23 Taken on Strength of Workshop Reserve at No. 6 Repair Depot RCAF at Trenton, Ontario. 2024-09-12
1945-06-14 To No. 1Air Command (No. 7 Photo Wing) RCAF. 2024-09-12
1946-07-16 To No. 413 Photo Squadron RCAF at Rockcliffe, Ontario. 2024-09-12
1946-09-27 Passed through Winnipeg, MB enroute to No.11 Detachment RCAF at Penticton, BC for mappings operations. 2024-09-12
1947-10-17 Flight to Calgary with 7 unauthorized civilians aboard. Landed Calgary at 1137. Took off for return to Penticton at 1601, forced to return to Calgary due to weather. 2024-09-13
1947-10-18 Left Calgary at 1032 for return to Penticton. Crashed near Rossland, BC with loss of entire crew and 2 civilians. 2024-09-12
1948-05-14 Struck off Strength 2019-08-20
1952-10-07 Crash site was discovered. Partial remains and effects of crew and passengers were buried at crash site. Memorial cairn erected. 2024-09-12
1952-10-20 Accident Investigation declared cause of crash to be heavy rime icing that developed in cloud (894 did not have de-icer boots) resulting in loss of control. 2024-09-12
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