North American B-25 Mitchell

The North American B-25 Mitchell is a twin-engined medium bomber designed and produced by the American aircraft manufacturer North American Aviation. It was named in honor of Brigadier GeneralWilliam "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of US military aviation.

The B-25's design can be traced back to the late 1930s, having been designed as the NA-62 (based on the preceding NA-40B) to fulfil a requirement issued by the United States Army Air Corps (USAAC). While not the winning submission, nevertheless, the USAAC issued a production order on 20 September 1939 for the type. The prototype performed its maiden flight on 19 August 1940; shortly thereafter, a redesigned gull wing was adopted to correct a tendency to Dutch roll. The B-25 was a relatively forgiving aircraft to fly and durable under fire. The B-25 entered service with the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) in early 1941. Produced throughout World War II, numerous variants of the type were used operationally, contributing to nearly 10,000 B-25s being built. It was the most-produced American medium bomber and the third-most-produced American bomber overall. These included several limited models such as the F-10 reconnaissance aircraft, the AT-24 crew trainer, and the United States Marine Corps' PBJ-1 patrol bomber.

The B-25 was active in every theater of the conflict, including the Pacific War, the Second Sino-Japanese War, the North Africa Campaign, and the Italian Campaign. In addition to the USAAF, the B-25 was operated by many Allied air forces, including the Royal Air Force and the Soviet Air Force, often being supplied under Lend-Lease. Following World War II, many B-25s continued in service into the 1950s, albeit typically relegated to training, reconnaissance, and support roles; the United States Air Force performed its final flight of the type in 1960. Overseas, the B-25 would also be used by various operators in further wars, including the Nigerian Civil War and the Indonesian National Revolution.