This one’s a fersher on the build list…
Me? Build?
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Fantastic pic. That would mke an eye catching model, for sure.
Regards, Rick
Now that is cool!
Great pic. One scheme we don’t see very often. 'guess I have to get another B-25 to model this one.
Blackwolf -
I’m looking at an Accurate Miniatures B-25 in the box right now - sitting in my storage shelves - and I think you’ve just posted a pic of the color scheme…
I’ll email you to see if I can pick your brains about this particular aircraft…
Thanks mate!
Back when I was in junior high, I checked a book out of the public library that had quite a few pictures of Russian Mitchell’s. I wish I could remember the name of the book. [%-)]
Didn’t the B-25 also go by the designation TU-2 in Russia? Kinda like the TU-4 that was the same as the Boeing B-29. The only difference was they copied/stole the B-29 and we flat out gave them a bunch of B-25’s.
Darwin, O.F. [alien]
Lee Tree, I’ll have to disappoint you… for now anyway. I really don’t know much about the who what where why when and how of this scheme, unfortunately. It had to have been applied for a reason. I imagine the scheme was compliant with some sort of spec, or I should say that it was probably the result of a spec issued by the Russkies. I’ll try and find out more about it. Until then, here’s another shot of the same aircraft…
As to the designation of the B-25 in VVS service, I don’t know if they applied their own designations to foreign-built aircraft or not. I imagine that they did, but that is only speculation.
‘Tu-2’ was a designation of an indigenous design by Tupelov…
I do not believe they would have assigned anything like ‘Tu-2’ to any of the foreign-built aircraft they received. It’s my belief that they designated their copy of the B-29 as ‘Tu-4’ only because it was actually built from the ground up in Russia. But this is all speculation on my part. My interest in Wartime soviet military aviation is great; my corresponding knowledge is meager…
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That B-25 looks pretty factory fresh. Is it a J model?
Yes, it seems to be a factory fresh airplane from what little info I have. And it’s the special B-25W built to specs for the Russkies…
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My Dad was based at Malmstrom AFB in Great Falls, MT. Most of these planes staged out of there on their way to Russia.
At the base Museum, there is a diorama of the ramp loaded with US planes with Russian Stars. I love the color of the camo on the Mitchell.
On the USAF serial number site, this airplane, 44-31162 is listed as a North American B-25J-30/32-NC. Out of that production batch, 44-30911 through 44-31510, it is the only one listed as “to Soviet Union”. I don’t know when the B-25W designation was put on it, but that’s info I was able to find.
Oh c’mon, Wayne. You shoulda known this one!
B-25W… the Wodka Bomber… [;)]
Each crew position had a vodka dispenser…
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I must be slipping [:)]