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Enjoy my artwork and
writings. Please consider purchasing one of my Limited Edition prints of the
"Ruptured Duck”.
Along with my artwork I have dozens of stories of the many aviators I have personally interviewed over the years.
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B-25 Mitchell
The Ruptured Duck
Print Size 12x18
Limited Edition $50.00
Open Edition $20.00
This print is signed by the artist only.
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 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
Below are images of the B-25 that I have scanner from other books by other artist. Enjoy.
I will scan and add every B-25 profile I can find. I encourage plastic modelers to use my web page for color scheme references.
The above profile was from a model kit. All the profiles below are by other people.
I can not remember where I got them from but they are not my artwork.
Olive green and light gray bottom. Star and bar outlined in red. 7A is in white.
Tail numbers were painted over mid rudder in tan. Red-white and blue on rudder.
I love parrot head B-25's. I would love to paint one for someone.
Is there anyone out there that would love to have a 2x4 foot painting of the B-25 above?
What a great story. What a great guy Major Cheli must have been. The ultimate sacrifice.
I would love to paint this up for somebody. Remember you can make payments.
All research, writings and artwork are by Sir Ernie Hamilton Boyette.
No one is permitted to republish any part of this story with out my personal permission.
Please call or e-mail me for any use of this story.
I do not mind sharing, I do not mind people or groups linking to this page, I just need to register them on my "LINKS" page. Thanks!
Sir. Ernie Hamilton Boyette
904-282-4198
Started 2-10-07