Period Correct Instument Panel

Dedicated to Mary Lou White

While researching the history of the B-25, we cannot help but notice the changes to them over the years. One of the biggest changes is the instrument panel. As technology changes, the need for newer or different instruments in a position more consistent with current panels has certainly changed the look of the B-25 instrument panel. The panels were significantly changed in the mid-fifties with the Hughes and Hayes modifications. Some of the trainer configurations caused other changes. As a result, there are very few panels that accurately reflect the period instruments and locations.

In addition to our desire to educate the general public on what the instrument panel would have looked like during the war, we also wanted to honor one of our surviving Rosies, Mary Lou White. She soldered these instrument panels back at the Kansas City plant from 1944 through early 1945. This project is in keeping with our mission to utilize world class restorations with stories from the men and women tied to the B-25 to build STEM programs to educate and inspire the next generation. The instrument panel is just the first phase of a much larger project.

Although we are not currently planning on recreating an entire cockpit, we are working to build an educational display that starts with an accurate representation of what the pilot and copilot would see in a mid to late model B-25J with an 8 gun nose. Our goal is to demonstrate the changes that occurred when the B-25 was modified with the 8 gun nose. Eventually, the display will be powered and some parts will be functional. This will allow us to demonstrate the basic IFF or Identify Friend or Foe system utilized in some theaters. We will also be able to demonstrate how the gunsight system worked and even how the guns were aimed both on the ground and in the air!

February 20, 2022 Update

This project was approved in November of 2021. Work began to identify what parts were needed as well as the feasibility of putting the project together. Brainstorming also started on what STEM programs we were going to create as well as the long term goals of this restoration. One of our first calls was to our friends at the Warbirds of Glory museum. We knew they might have some surplus parts that we could use to start our project. As it turns out, they had almost everything we needed to make it happen. In the interests of getting it completed faster, we decided to partner with them to fabricate the instrument panel and we would focus on the next pieces to the puzzle. We anticipate delivery of the panel in early March.

Since the panel was sorted out, we started locating parts for phase 2. As it turns out, there was a very rare gunsight/sight head combination used on the 8 gun B-25s. We were able to locate and acquire a working gunsight as well as the correct sight head for this project. The gunsight sits in a bracket that is not actually attached to the panel, but has braces that continue through the instrument panel and forward to the station 70 frame. Although these are extremely rare parts (less than 10 in existence), we were able to acquire an original bracket and braces. We are currently working to digitize these parts so they may be replicated in the future. We have also had a set of custom bushings created that allow the gunsight to be adjusted in the bracket. For this project, we have also acquired a replica yoke and gun trigger button. We have also acquired the console "box" and will begin it's restoration soon. In the short term, we will display these as individual displays as we design, fundraise, and build the final display.

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If you would like to donate to the restoration fund for this project, please use the link below.