B-25 - Night Fighter

Hi all!
Does anybody have any information about the number, serials or exact type of the B-25H's used by the 48-th NFS/5.AF in the period between May and September 1944, before the squadron converted to P-61 "Black widow"? Were they assigned to any of the medium BG-s in the South-West Pacific before May 1944? What happened with them after Sept. 1944?
See some photos of the planes, even with the tail markings of the 418-th NFS here: 
http://www.arcforums.com/forums/air/index.php?showtopic=126134
If the the call number 158 on one of the photos shows the lats 3 digits of a s/n, there is only one B-25H-1, s/n 43-4158 with such combination.
See also the removed T13E1 cannon an the 2 additional guns mounted instead.

The 415th, 416th, 417th and 418th NFS started out flying combat missions in Bristol Beaufighters as part of reverse lend lease.  Other aircraft they trained with, but never to my knowledge flew actual combat missions with in Europe and in the Med, was the Douglas P-70 night fighter, (a special A-20 Havoc variant).  I don't recall them ever using B-25H's for the night fighter role in those theaters, but the squadrons in the Pacific may have used the Mitchells in that role until the introduction of the P-61 Black Widow.  Hope this helps!
 
Jim

ORIGINAL: Warbird Mechanic

The 415th, 416th, 417th and 418th NFS started out flying combat missions in Bristol Beaufighters as part of reverse lend lease.  Other aircraft they trained with, but never to my knowledge flew actual combat missions with in Europe and in the Med, was the Douglas P-70 night fighter, (a special A-20 Havoc variant).  I don't recall them ever using B-25H's for the night fighter role in those theaters, but the squadrons in the Pacific may have used the Mitchells in that role until the introduction of the P-61 Black Widow.  Hope this helps!

Jim

Jim, thanks for your replay. I'm (almost) sure that the 418-th NFS is the only USAAF unit using B-25 in the role of a heavy night fighter.
3 Air Forces used "Mitchells" in Europe: 12-th AF, RAF and VVS (Soviet Air Force). All of them used different versions of the B-25 for night bombing raids too, but they were not assigned to night fighter units. The soviet B-25 used for night bombings (partially with black camo) were part of the Long Range Bomber Command (AAD).
B-25H from the 12-th BG. in Burma (after leaving the MTO and becoming part of the 10-th AF.) were also used as bombers and strafers in night missions. B-25s from the 14-th AF and China attacked targets during day and night (famous is the "double raid" on Hong Kong).
Photos of the only all black "Mitchell" I could find show a B-25C-5 in the CBI (India) - s below.
The USMC used the PBJ-1 as a day or night bomber too. None of them was in a night (or fighter)squadron.
In fact the designation "heavy fighter" was given at some time to the first canon-Mitchells only: the B-25G (an their modification B-25G12).
From the photos of the 418-th B-25's (see the link I posted above) I'm assuming these were modified B-25H's (the canon is substituted by 2 machine guns). I'm really curious where did the a/c come from - from a bomber group in the Pacific or CBI or else? Did they return to the same group after the 418-th received the new P-61? How many were they etc. I guess the book Queen of the Midnight Skies gives some more information. I'll try to obtain it.

Best regards!
Yves

ORIGINAL: catch 22
(Extract)
3 Air Forces used "Mitchells" in Europe: 12-th AF, RAF and VVS (Soviet Air Force). All of them used different versions of the B-25 for night bombing raids too, but they were not assigned to night fighter units. The soviet B-25 used for night bombings (partially with black camo) were part of the Long Range Bomber Command (AAD).
B-25H from the 12-th BG. in Burma (after leaving the MTO and becoming part of the 10-th AF.) were also used as bombers and strafers in night missions. B-25s from the 14-th AF and China attacked targets during day and night (famous is the "double raid" on Hong Kong).
Photos of the only all black "Mitchell" I could find show a B-25C-5 in the CBI (India) - s below.
(end extract)

Yves,

Your reference to 10th and 14th AF B-25s, especially the all black on pictured, caught my interest because I am trying to identify all the aircraft flown by the 341st Bomb Group (M). Therefore, I checked Joe Bauer's serial number listing for 42-53357, as shown in the photos. For whatever it is worth here is the information listed...

42-53357 arrived in UK from North Africa Mar 29 43 and used for communications work. Acquired by 7th PG Sep 1943 as "Miss Nashville" and used as hack until loaned to 25th Group Jul 1944 for night photo missions to V-weapons sites. Last sortie on this work was Aug 18, 1944. Thereafter used for courier work until strayed over front lines in France Oct 26, 1944 and damaged by AAA and crashed near Chalons-sur-Saone.

Tony Strotman, MSgt (ret.), USAF
Son of T/Sgt Francis E. Strotman, Engineer-Gunner,
491st Bm Sq / 341st Bm Gp (M), Yangkai, China
"USAAF in CBI Tribute" http://www.usaaf-in-cbi.com

Yves,

If I can find it... I have a veteran's story about at least one occurrance where 11th Bomb Sq flew a "night intercept" mission with a few B-25s, at a base in China sometime in 1943. The idea was to disrupt night bombing raid(s) by the Japanese with the B-25s which could stay airborne longer that the P-40s. Although it had some success, I believe it was not continued due to the higher fuel consumption of the B-25s and the severe shortage of aviation gasoline in China at the time.

Tony Strotman, MSgt (ret.), USAF
Son of T/Sgt Francis E. Strotman, Engineer-Gunner,
491st Bm Sq / 341st Bm Gp (M), Yangkai, China
"USAAF in CBI Tribute" http://www.usaaf-in-cbi.com

In the history of USAAF in WW2 lists 5th air force units in august 1944, and says that 418th NFS was equipped with B-25H, based at Wakde. I wish I have more info about that.

Max

Max -
The 418th NFS Began Ops 1/44
Operated P - 70s , P - 38s
5/44 - 8/44 Operated B - 25s
Converted to P - 61s 9/44
There are a few Pages on the 418th in Book:
The Flying Buccaneers by Steve Birdsall
Photo Of 418th Commander Major Caroll Smith 
Only B - 25 Night Intruder Missions mentioned were
attacks on Fields at Vogelkop. 
Mike 

Mike,
thanks for the info.
Does it mean that the B-25 were not properly "interceptors" but rather night bombers, depsite being assigned to a night "fighter" unit?
AFAIK the P-61 were able (and were used) to carry bombs. Do you know (or think) if the squadron remained a night attack unit after the P-61 was assigned?

Thanks in advance
Max

ORIGINAL: Warbird Mechanic

The 415th, 416th, 417th and 418th NFS started out flying combat missions in Bristol Beaufighters as part of reverse lend lease.  Other aircraft they trained with, but never to my knowledge flew actual combat missions with in Europe and in the Med, was the Douglas P-70 night fighter, (a special A-20 Havoc variant).  I don't recall them ever using B-25H's for the night fighter role in those theaters, but the squadrons in the Pacific may have used the Mitchells in that role until the introduction of the P-61 Black Widow.  Hope this helps!

Jim

The US Beau squadrons were the 414th, 415th, 416th, 417th flying in North Africa, Italy, southern France, and eventually Germany.

The 418th flew, as noted, in the SW Pacific.

I don't know definitively about the 418th's ground attack role once equipped with the P-61, but the other so-equipped units, both ETO and PTO, used the P-61 as in the night ground attack role since airborne 'trade' was pretty sparse.

see my "Beaufighters in the Night" as well as Mauer Mauer's Aircraft Combat Units of WWII

The B-25s used by the 418th NFS were OD/NG aircraft used for night intruder bombing missions. Alas they were not pained black nor used to intercept aircraft. The excellent Queen of the Midnight Skies, by Pape and Harrison has more information including pictures, some in color.
Grant Matsuoka

Here are those pictures.