B-25 Medium Bomber

North American, B-25 Mitchell

Research is by; Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette

Aviation Artist/Historian

This is my painting of the B-25, the "Ruptured Duck." This bomber was part of the famous raid on Japan in the months after the attack on Pearl Harbor. This bomber was piloted by Ted Lawson.

This is the print I made from my painting of the "Ruptured Duck."

Signed and numbered by the artist.

There are 600 Limited Edition Prints in the series. Print Size 12x18"

Limited Edition Signed and numbered by the artist only; $45.00

$6.00 Shipping anywhere in the world.

Limited Edition Signed and numbered by the artist and signed by B-25 Pilot, C.C. Sprinkle;

Sprinkle flew in the 319th Bomber Group during the Italian Campaign.

Price $60.00

Poster prints are autographed by the artist only.

Poster Print $12.95

Only 1000 Poster Prints were published.

This photo is from the movie set, "Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo!" The actual artwork had only been sketched on the fuselage with a piece of white chalk. They ran out of time the day they were painting the artwork on the other bombers. They were under the impression that they had another 24hours before the bomber had to be launched. Then suddenly they were forced to launch the next day before the artwork was finished. Davenport who was the co-pilot of the "Ruptured Duck" said that it was hair raising. They knew that this was it. He told me that they were trained and were ready but being forced into launching right away made for an uneasy feeling. There was a little panic. After all the American Fleet was at risk trying to sneak up on the Home Island of Japan.

The Hornet would eventually pay for this attack on the Island of Japan. The carrier lost it's entire Torpedo Squadron 8 at the Battle of Midway along with many other pilots and some of the ships crew. Then at the Battle of Santa Cruz luck had run out for the Hornet where she was lost at sea with many of its officers and crewmen.

This very carrier would be sunk by the Japanese within the next year or so. Torpedo-Bomber Pilot, Maruyama whom I worked with was one of the attacking Japanese pilots on the Hornet at the Battle of Santa Cruz. It was his Kate that put one of the fatal torpedoes into the American Aircraft Carrier sending it to the bottom of the Pacific.

The many movies and film-clips of the Victory of the United States over Japan has been made out to where we were giants who swatted the fly that bothered them. The Japanese gave as much as they received. With the exception of losing four carriers in one battle the gives and takes were almost even but the American could produce five times the number of ships and twenty times the number of aircraft. Eventually Japan would have never won.

North American B-25 Mitchell

By Ernie Hamilton Boyette

Aircraft Development

The United States Army Air Corp in 1938 issued a request for a new twin-engine medium attack bomber. North American Aviation, Inc. entered the competition and won with their first prototype the NA-40. The bomber was a success and met the Air Corps requirements. Further development continued until the outbreak of war rushed the B-25 (NA-62) into production.

The B-25B above was one of the first to see combat in the Pacific. The new medium bomber was named the "Mitchell" in honor of General Billy Mitchell who is considered the father of modern military aviation.

Manned with a crew of five the B-25 was equipped with armor plating for the crew's protection and self-sealing fuel tanks. The Mitchell was powered by twin Wright Cyclone engines thundering 1,600-horse power at take off. The three bladed Hamilton Standard propellers could pull the 28,000 pound Mitchell 330 mph.

The powered gun turret was incorporated into the design for the most effective defense. Different combinations of forward firing guns were operated by the bombardier or pilot. Several variations of side and tail guns were tried on other models as combat experience and need developed.

The B-25 Mitchell was one of the most effective medium bombers used by the Army Air Force and the Navy in the Pacific and in Europe. The Mitchell served after the war with many reserve units and with many nations worldwide. The B-25 Mitchell is now a favorite at air shows and aviation museums.

Doolittle Raider

By: Ernie Hamilton Boyette

Raid on Japan

The Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor was a terrific blow to our Navy and to the moral of the American people. The Pacific and Asia was being consumed by the Japanese Empire. The expansion of the Germans and Italians in Europe and Africa painted a bleak picture for the world's future.

President Roosevelt wanted to strike back at the Japanese. With the help from Naval planners they decided to plan an attack using medium bombers launched from the flight deck of an aircraft carrier. Army Air Corp Lt. Col. James Doolittle was asked to help in the plan and the training of the crews for this incredible mission. The new carrier USS Hornet was chosen as the launch platform and the new B-25 Mitchell was selected as their aircraft.

Doolittle realized that he not only wanted to train the crews but obtained permission to lead the attack on Japan. With the operation classified as "Top Secret", Doolittle and 79 volunteers trained daily until the B-25's were loaded onto the flight deck of the USS Hornet as the ship and its men set out to change the events of the war.

On April 18, 1942, only 4 months after the attack on our fleet at Pearl Harbor 80 brave Americans flew 16 B-25 Mitchell bombers off the deck of the USS Hornet. With the carrier pitching in heavy seas and stormy weather these aviators were truly the tip of the sword. This one event had more emotional impact than any other in raising the moral of the American people and shattering the moral of the Japanese.

Text by Artist and Historian Ernie Hamilton Boyette

Above is the finished painting of the Ruptured Duck. I called the co-pilot after I took this photo only to find out that Davenport had just passed away. After talking to Davenport on and off the phone for over a month I was stunned because I really wanted to meet him. I got to hate this part of my experiences of working with our aviators. This happened too many times. But then again I was meeting these men at the end of their lives.

If anyone is interested, the original painting above is available for purchase. Painting size is two feet by four feet. It looks great on the wall. It would look good in your office as well.

All artworks below are by other artist.

This is the "lay-out" or the over all instruction sheet for a wood model kit. This profile is as correct.

This shows the medium-bomber from a different angle. It does look graceful but it is built very solid.

This is from the Revell kit of the B-25 Mitchell and USS Hornet model. Great artwork and great kit!

I must add that the artwork is incorrect in that the bombers to conserve fuel did not circle the fleet to group-up and flay as a formation. Each bomber had its own target and headed straight for their mission.

This artwork is also from the Revell kit.

You have to admit that this was a great plan. All plans are risky. The success of this raid proved that DooLittle did in fact plan it out with precision with the lives of the pilots and crewmembers in mind. Not all of our military leaders include those two last items on their "to do list."

This is the artwork of another Mitchell on the deck of the Hornet before the raid. There is no photograph that exists of the "Ruptured Duck" but the photo above shows how the artwork was drawn on with chalk.

I always wanted to build a model of the profile above. The pilot and crew were lost in combat but their memories should be honored even after we forget what they did. If any one builds this model please send me some good photos and I will post them here.

Please note that the Mitchell above is the same in the photo below. How cool is that. I was stunned when I learned in the 10th grade that the Mitchell's were used in very low level bombing against enemy shipping. I was even more stunned back in 2000 when I met a B-24 and a B-17 pilots that also flew low level attacks! Both bomber pilots had released a book and I bought both which the pilots autographed for me. I wanted to do a print of one of these low-level bombers but I could not fit one into my schedule. That is sad. These men deserve more than just a story. Artwork is more impressive. The artwork above was done by another artist and they did a fine job of rendering the bomber to be fearsome.

Many Japanese warships and merchant ships were sunk with this "Skip-Bombing" technique. This was one of the bravest acts ever pre-contemplated. To do an attack like this is equal to a group of four to five men physically and forcefully taking an enemy machine-gun position. With their M-1's and Colt-45's.

The above is a Free French Mitchell

Remember, If you are interested in purchasing a piece of my artwork please let us know by contacting the artist below.

I am seeking special commissions. If you have ever wanted to commission your own painting of a B-25 Mitchell, please let me know. If the artwork you want is something very special then I will use the funds to publish a print of the artwork. Give me the opportunity to paint one of the "Parrot Head" Mitchell's for your office. Make my artwork your tax deduction. I will do you a good job. Thank you.

I will add more here in the future.

Back To: Allied Aircraft

Back To: Axis Aircraft

Back To: U.S. Aircraft

Back To: Luftwaffe Aircraft

Back To: Main Directory

Back To: Print Directory

Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette

Aviation Artist/Historian

107 Arthur Moore Drive

Green Cove Springs, Florida 32043

Phone Number; 1-904-406-5791