One Ugly Looking PBJ (Navy B-25)

[CWOJackson]

I thought I was familiar with the PBJ series but I'd never seen this model before. Apparently some of the PBJ-1C and D's carried this APS-3 search radar sticking out of the upper part of their nose.

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[strykerpsg]

Kinda cool pics, different. I thought the Doolittle Mitchells were the only carrier launched Mitchells. Your first pic is on a carrier if I'm not mistaken. So, to anyone's knowledge, were there more launches off of carriers by the bomber.

Matt

 

[Willy]

Sometimes carriers were just used to transport aircraft from one area or another. Manila Bay was a small escort carrier so it was most likely to just transport the PBJs.

 

[CWOJackson]

Sometimes carriers were just used to transport aircraft from one area or another. Manila Bay was a small escort carrier so it was most likely to just transport the PBJs.

Yes, the original location said they were being transported to a base in the Pacific, but when I first saw the photo I had the same thought strykerpsg, particularly with the running engines. I guess the crews were just running/maintaining them.

Here's a photo album (some interesting photos) for Marine Squadron Six-Twelve that flew a solid nosed version: http://www.vmb612.com/photographs.htm

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[strykerpsg]

Yeah, thought about the smaller ferrying carriers too. Just wanted to make sure I didn't miss something from the past regarding what I consider one of the best medium bombers of the war. Thanks for sharing some lost history.

Matt

 

[SSI01]

On the right side of the picture there is what appears to be a B-26 with a tarp over its right engine.

 

[TARPSBird]

Looks like they kept the nose glass in place when they mounted the radome. Just painted over the glass or left it clear.

 

[AndyG43]

You are not wrong, that is one ugly looking aircraft; I thought we had some doozies on this side of the Atlantic (the Turbinlite Bostons, the Short Sturgeon) but that PBJ has to be the winner!

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[ThinkingManNeil]

I'll see your ugly PBJ and raise you one criminal abomination of a Mosquito

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Images via RAF Museum and "Mosquito Portfolio" by Stuart Howe, (Ian Allan Ltd., Shepperton, Surrey, UK, 1984)

N.

 

[p3aewguy]

You are not wrong, that is one ugly looking aircraft; I thought we had some doozies on this side of the Atlantic (the Turbinlite Bostons, the Short Sturgeon) but that PBJ has to be the winner!

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I always liked the Turbinlite Bostons! I have a question about them, Why did they change the windscreens? The conversion kit I got (for a 1/48th scale model) had a different windscreen that was a little less sloped than the original. I looked in all the references I culd find and there was no reference to it.

Dave

 

[AndyG43]

I always liked the Turbinlite Bostons! I have a question about them, Why did they change the windscreens? The conversion kit I got (for a 1/48th scale model) had a different windscreen that was a little less sloped than the original. I looked in all the references I culd find and there was no reference to it.

Dave

Dave,

Don't know for sure, but this answer makes sense to me ......

As well as the Bostons ordered direct for the RAF, a substantial number of Havocs from French contracts were diverted to Britain. I suspect that your conversion kit was for a Havoc Turbinlite, rather than a Boston; I do know that 23 Squadron had some Havocs on strength, for night intruder work, so it kinda makes sense.