I've been doing a little historical research. My dad was a ww2 b25 pilot with Chennault.

I found this shoot down report. They were on a strike mission.

"After completing the run, the left engine began throwing oil and had apparently been hit by small calibre A/A. The right engine began to sputter but this was remedied by increasing the fuel mixture. The left engine was vibrating in it's mounts and smoking, however it maintained some oil pressure base. At that time the gas gauges on the right wing ceased to operate so I decided to head inland China and find a crash-landing strip.

I was trying to get West of Canton-Hang chow railroad but bad weather forced us to go East.

Our gas was getting very low so I started searching for a place crash land. I spotted a sand bar in a river bend and made one pass at it Then I came in wheels up - flaps down. The landing was very smooth and the only sensation was that of rapid deceleration. No one was hurt in the landing. The location of the carash landing was 2728N-11547E.

After several days in China, in which time we were taken very good care of by the Chinese people, we were taken to the AGAS."

Pretty cool stuff. It includes the aircraft loss report with a detailed listing of armaments lost and serial numbers, a full missing aircrew report, lots of detail including a hand drawn map to the crash site.

One I liked the best was this communique.
"Six men of crew B-25-0880 down near Voan coordinates 11550 by 2720 are alright-Chennault"

Anyway it's a 25 page report from 1944 telling me stuff about my dad I never knew.

fltsfshr

 

Thanks for sharing that it's a great read about some of the greatest generation.

 

Who was Chennault?

 

Lt Gen Claire Chennault

fltsfshr

 

Nothing like Pratt & Whitney engines. They take a beating and keep on ticking.

 

Yes, P&W were the best, however the B-25 mitchell was equipped with Wright R-2600. The B-26 and A-26 had the P&W R-2800.

 

Neat find.

 

Thanks for that! I thought the B-25 had R2800's. I researched and found a 1940 article from Time Magazine. I think you will find it interesting. The original test B-25 had P&W R-1830's, but they were replaced by the R-2600 Wrights.

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/...?iid=digg_share

Another interesting article:

http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/factsheet...eet.asp?id=2509

 

I don't know what engines they had. I do know they were armed for bear. The weapons list from the missing aircrew report even included each weapons serial number.

They had 12 Browning fixed 50 caliber machine guns and 4 Browning 50 caliber flexible sp( flexiable) machine guns.

I assume the fixed guns were wing mounts and the flex guns were in turrets.

the actual model number of the b25 is an B-25J-B according to the paperwork.

fltsfshr

Here's his wingman's report

"After leaving the target, 088 had left engine trouble due to enemy action. The engine was throwing out puffs of smoke and oil was flowing over the wing. I flew along with him for 20 minutes during which time he climbed to 5000 feet and thew out ammunition and other articles of weight. At 1340hrs he called again and said the could not make the flight to home base and would return to China and crashland. I left 088 at 1350I at 23 degrees 35'minutes N and 118degrees 05 minutes E at 5000 feet. His left engine was still running but also losing oil and throwing out puffs of smoke."

That puts him far offshore over the S China Sea when he turned around on one smoking motor and made for the mainland...

 

Good find. I love to read about WWII as My Dad and his 2 brothers served.