B-25H-NA
History
Although not as successful in combat as expected, the cannon carrying B-25 concept was held with hope. Another 1,000 improved bombers were ordered. The B-25-H-NA would be an improved, if not controversial, aircraft. The M-4 cannon, was replaced by a lighter T13E1 75mm cannon. The aft top turret was moved forward and the fuselage slightly lowered to make room for twin .50 caliber tail guns. This makes the B-25H easy to identify. The B-25H also had 4 rather than 2 forward .50 caliber guns, but these were sometimes removed in the field. The first 300 B-25Hs also had 2 .50 caliber side blister guns on the right side of the aircraft only. The remaining 700 aircraft had the blister guns installed on both sides. Although the appearance was slightly different, there was an available field modification to add side blister guns to just about any B-25 model that was not manufactured with them. The revisions to the fuselage allowed for the addition of 2 .50 caliber waist guns as well. This made the B-25H the most formidable B-25 in the air at the time.
The first B-25H was again, a modified B-25C-10-NA SN 42-32372. As the new cannon was not ready at the time of the testing, the B-25C-10-NA was fitted with a B-25G 2 gun nose with the M-4 cannon. A revised tail section was added was well as the relocation of the top turret. Now known as "Mortimer II", the test aircraft was also fitted with a modified Wright R-2600-20 engine. The modified engine, for whatever reason, did not make it into the production blocks. The last B-25G-10-NA was delivered in August as was the first B-25H-1-NA.
The last B-25H-10-NA manufactured at the Inglewood, California plant was also the last B-25 produced there. "Bones" SN 43-5104 was completed in July of 1944. As the plane neared completion, the North American employees covered the aircraft with dollar bills. This money was collected and donated to the Army-Navy relief fund. North American President "Dutch" Kindelberger arranged for brushes and paint that employees used to sign the historic bomber. She was assigned to the 10th Air Force, 12th Bomb Group, and arrived in India on November 30. There are many pictures of "Bones" flying in service still wearing the signatures of the employees.
Today, there are only four surviving B-25H-NA bombers. Currently, just one of those, "Barbie III" SN 43-4106 is airworthy. Only one of the remaining 3, "Dog Daize" SN 43-4999, still has the B-25H nose. SN 43-4432 is currently in restoration, but has a B-25J nose. SN 43-4899 is currently a static display with a B-25J eight gun nose.
B-25H-NA Specs |
- Model: B-25H-NA
- Total Produced: 1000
- Manufacturing Plant: Inglewood, California
- First Test Flight: May 15, 1943
- First Flight Crew: Edward Virgin
- Engines: Wright R-2600-13
- Carburetors: Holley 1685HA
- Fuel Capacity:
- 2 forward wing cells, total 368 gallons
- 2 rear wing cells, total 302 gallons
- 2 wing auxiliary cells, total 304 gallons
- 2 side waist ferry tanks, total 125 gallons
- Droppable bomb bay tank 335 gallons
- 1 fixed ferry tank 585 gallons
- Armament:
- 75mm cannon with 21 rounds
- 4 .50 caliber fixed guns in nose with 1600 rounds
- 2 .50 caliber blister guns on the right fuselage with 800 rounds
- 2 .50 caliber guns in top turret with 800 rounds
- 2 .50 caliber guns at waist station with 400 rounds
- 2 .50 caliber guns in tail turret with 1200 rounds
- Armor Protection:
- 3/8 inch behind pilots
- Forward of instrument panel
- Forward of cannoneer's station
- Bulkhead aft of turret
- Around ammunition rack
- Plate below windshield
- External flak plate on left side
- 3/8 inch plate aft of tail gunner
- Weights:
- Empty: 19,600 lbs.
- Max: 35,000 lbs.
- Speed (Max): 275 mph at 13,000 feet
- Service Ceiling: 23,800 ft
- Range: 1,350 miles with 3,000 lbs. bombs
- Crew:
- Pilot, navigator/cannoneer, engineer/gunner, radio operator/gunner, tail gunner
- Production by year:
- 1943: 335
- 1944: 665
- First Airplane Accepted: August 11, 1943
- Last Airplane Accepted: July 1944
Photos
| Model | NAA Contract | SN | NAA # | # Produced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-25H-1-NA | NA-98 | 43-4105/43-4404 | 98-21106/98-21405 | 300 |
- NAA Contract:
- NA-98 signed July 31, 1943
- Major Visual Production Block Changes:
- Eliminated co-pilot
- Increased nose guns to 4
- Lighter weight T13E1 cannon
- Top turret moved forward
- Installation of Bell electro-hydraulic tail turret
- Aft fuselage deepened to allow access for tail gunner
- Blister guns on the right forward fuselage
- Notable Aircraft:
- 43-4106 was the second B-25H-1 off the assembly line and the only B-25H still airworthy.
| Model | NAA Contract | SN | NAA # | # Produced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-25H-5-NA | NA-98 | 43-4405/43-4704 | 98-21406/98-21705 | 300 |
- NAA Contract:
- NA-96 signed July 31, 1943
- Major Visual Production Block Changes:
- Addition of 2 .50 caliber blister guns on left forward fuselage
- Notable Aircraft:
- 43-4432 is currently under restoration. Hopefully, this B-25H-5 will become the second B-25H in the air.
| Model | NAA Contract | SN | NAA # | # Produced |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B-25H-10-NA | NA-98 | 43-4705/43-5104 | 98-21706/98-22105 | 400 |
- NAA Contract:
- NA-96 signed July 31, 1943
- Major Visual Production Block Changes:
- None
- Notable Aircraft: