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catch 22
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Photo of an unknown B-25H

Browsing through ebay photos I found this one:

It looks like a B-25H minus armament. The visible call sign/designation is NOT a buzz-number - these were BD-xxx for all B-25 versions. If 704 are the last 3 digits of the s/n there is only one matching a/c: B-25H-5, s/n 43-4704 (c/n 98-21705). The a/c with this s/n was converted into a PBJ-1H, BuNo 88877 and served with the Marines - I didn't locate the exact squadron yet. I never knew of any PBJ returned to the USAAF/USAF after the WW II.
If this is not the case or if the designation of the above a/c has nothing to do with the s/n, does anybody know anything more about this plane? 
 

Yves Marino
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    Tom22
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    Re:Photo of an unknown B-25H (permalink) ☄ Helpful
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    Hi Yves
     
    This TB-25 is from the 3027th (Pilot School, Advanced, 2-engine) Pecos Army Air Field, Tex. It carries the P- field code assigned to Pecos by AAF Western Flying Training Command. The number 704 is its field number and it carries the field logo below the pilot's cockpit but the picture was not taken at Pecos, Texas!
     
    By late 1944 the AFF was standardizing on B-25s for both advanced & transition pilot training because they were easy to fly, unlike B-26s.
    Here is the orginal photo:

     
    Best regards
    Tom  
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    catch 22
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    Re:Photo of an unknown B-25H (permalink)
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    Tom,
    You literally made my day!
    Thank you for the prompt reply!
    Just one more thing: is this a WW II-time photo or is it a post-war one?
    A B-25H converted into a trainer is not a common case. The post-war TB's were usually modified B-25J. As far as I know Hayes and Hughes never modified anything else but J's. The only TB-25H I've seen so far is this one: http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/shared/media/photodb/photos/060605-F-1234S-045.jpg
    North American TB-25H (originally B-25H-5-NA, S/N 43-4460) assigned to the Air Weather Service. (U.S. Air Force photo)
    The old war-time designation for advanced trainers AT-24 was never used for a B-25H, again IMHO. Could this be a field modification or are there any more?
    In any case Tom, thanks again! 

    Yves Marino
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    Tom22
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    Re:Photo of an unknown B-25H (permalink)
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    Hi Yves
    Glad to be of help. The photo is probably taken in 1945 since the ship looks clean and service, ready for flight.
    The 75mm cannon carrying B-25Gs & Hs quickly became obsolete by rocket carrying B-25Js which pack more punch than a cruiser and you did not have to carry two tons of field artillery back with you! Thus the B-25Gs & Hs became available for use as pilot trainers. Who did the modification I don’t know but it looks straight forward and could have been done by some AAF depot. When the AAF change the designation of AT-23 (B-26) and AT-24(B-25) to TB-26 and TB-25 I also don’t know.
    Here is a strip down TB-25G from the 3014th (Pilot School, Advanced, 2-engine) Douglas Army Air Field, Ariz. also a unit of AAF Western Flying Training Command with its assigned field code A-.

    Here is an example of a base mascot logo which seems to be popular with the bases of Western Flying Training Command multiple engine planes, this one is from the 3036th (Flexible Gunnery School) Yuma Army Air Field, Ariz.

    Also looking close at P-704 it does carry the radio call number under the left wing, ordered by HQ AAF in March 1944 for U.S. base planes, but I can’t make out the numbers but you might have better eyes than me.
    Best regards,
    Tom
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    martyjhawk
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    Re:Photo of an unknown B-25H (permalink)
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    I have a yearbook for class 44A from La Junta, and it has a photo that shows one converted B-25G used as a trainer.  All the other B-25's appear to be B's, C's and D's.  The planes all have a J field code, followed by the last three digits of their serial number painted on both sides of their noses.  Most of the planes shown have had their top turrets removed, but not all.  All of the planes in this book are still fully painted, no shiny silver ones here yet.
     
    Marty
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    catch 22
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    Re:Photo of an unknown B-25H (permalink)
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    Hi Tom and Marty!
    Thank you for the additional photos and text.
    As far as I remember the AT-24 designation was changed in/after 1948, so the war time trainers were strictly AT, rather than TB-25. AT-24B were modified B-25G and it was not uncommon to have G's as trainers. But the B-25H was the only single pilot "Mitchell" version and probably a relatively larger modification had to be done to change it into a trainer. This was the reason to mention that I haven't seen many H's in the advanced trainer role.
    It's hard to read any numbers under the wing. I can say the first one is 3 (maybe because I know it must be 3), but the rest is unclear. By the way this particular a/c is missing the radio compass loop antenna (the "football") under the fuselage, which appears strange to me for a trainer!?
     

    Yves Marino
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