CraigB Posted April 24, 2018 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Hi All, I'm trying to find some info on the 5 ex-NEIAF Mitchells that ended up at 3 PRU, 681/684 Sqn in India. I've managed to find a couple of b/w images of a Royal Blue one and a later PR Blue example but would like to know the camera and fuel tank fit on them... were they mounted in the bomb bay or fuselage, did the aircraft have a fuel tank in the bomb bay too, was the belly turret deleted and faired over? I hope you can help a bit Cheers Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted April 24, 2018 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Hello @CraigB ... It just so happens that one of these B-25’s is being built. Its down in the B-25 Mitchell Group build down page. @tonyot is the gentleman building it and might know your answers. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigB Posted April 24, 2018 Author Share Posted April 24, 2018 Thanks!!! I've just found the topic and commented 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigB Posted April 24, 2018 Author Share Posted April 24, 2018 https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:B-25_bomb_bay_gas_tanks.jpg I found this image on wiki which appears to be the B-25 long range ferry tanks ready for fit in the factory - are these likely to be the ones fitted as the PR overload tanks? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corsairfoxfouruncle Posted April 24, 2018 Share Posted April 24, 2018 Hello @CraigB ... Most likely yes. Why have two different designs for the same purpose ? There are references to other aircraft using ferry tanks for long range patrol as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tonyot Posted April 25, 2018 Share Posted April 25, 2018 (edited) Hiya Craig,...... from what I can gather from research I have made, here are some pointers re these aircraft; -Operated by T (Twin) Flight of 5 PRU(India),.....later 3 PRU(India),....then 681/684 Sqn`s. - there were five ex Dutch aircraft, B-25C`s,...serialled; N5-139,.... coded E N5-143,......coded C N5-144,......coded B N5-145,......coded C N5-148,......coded A,..... later M, There were later 2 x B-25`s received via the US 10th AF,..serialled; MA956,.....coded E MA957,.....coded K, then X or Z (conflicting reports on the latter codes) - They had a 2,000gal of extra fuel in an overload tank/tanks in the bomb bay,...giving a 1,000 mile radius of operations flying at heights between 26,000-30,000 feet. -Camera fit; 3 x F8 or F24 cameras fitted in a fan across the plated over lower gun position, one vertical and one on each side to give an overlapping coverage. 1 x smaller camera fitted towards the tail. -Modifications/Modelling points; ex Dutch aircraft had the mid upper and lower gun positions plated over, the clear tail position often had a mock up gun fitted. ex 10th AF aircraft had a clear bubble fitted in the mid upper gun position and the lower position was plated over. -Early forward nose glazing. -Early engine cowlings with single exhausts. -Bulges over the outlets above the right hand wing. I have found this info out from various sources as I`m currently modelling a couple of these aircraft, Cheers Tony - Edited April 25, 2018 by tonyot 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CraigB Posted April 25, 2018 Author Share Posted April 25, 2018 Great Info!!! - thanks a lot!!! I'll reply to your build thread to stop a lot of duplication Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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