B-25 Mitchell

The B-25 Mitchell is an American bomber plane. It was used against Germany and Japan with devastating results throughout World War II. This plane was named after General Billy Mitchell who was an early air pioneer, making this plane the only one in the United States Air Force named after a specific person. The B-25 was an improved version of the XB-21 created in the 1930's. This plane was originally created to be exported to the United Kingdom and France since both places has a requirement for this kind of an Aircraft ever since the early stages of Word War II. Both countries however decided that they didn't want the B-25 and instead went with the A-20 Havoc.

The B-25 first gained its fame in April of 1942 in the Doolittle Raid. 16 B-25's successfully bombed Tokyo and four other Japanese cities without any loss the themselves. 15 of the planes however did crash land in China on the way home because of fuel exhaustion and stormy conditions. The one plane that did not crash land, landed in the Soviet Union where the lane was confiscated and the 5-man crew was interned. 71 out of the 80 crewman survived and made it back to American lines.

Another famous incident involving a B-25 Mitchell was on the date of July 28, 1945. At 9:45 in the morning a B-25 was flying through thick fog, and crashed in the North side of the Empire State Building. 14 people were killed in the crash including 11 people in the building and the pilot and two other occupants in the plane.