North American B-25 Mitchell
| B-25 Mitchell | |
|---|---|
| A B-25J Mitchell over the Chino Airshow 2014 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Medium bomber |
| National origin | United States |
| Manufacturer | North American Aviation |
| Primary users | United States Army Air Forces |
| Number built | 9,816 |
| History | |
| Introduction date | 1941 |
| First flight | 19 August 1940 |
| Retired | 1979 (Indonesia) |
| Developed from | North American NA-40 |
| Developed into | North American XB-28 Dragon |
.jpg){kind=link}
The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Brigadier 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. 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 trainers, and the United States Marine Corps' PBJ-1 patrol bomber.