North American B-25 Mitchell
Countries that flew the B-25 Mitchell
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North American B-25 Mitchell Countries that flew the B-25 Mitchell |
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In brief A total of 9884 B-25 Mitchells were built by North American
Aviation. This is a breakdown of numbers by variant: Additional information by Michael Robson:
During the last quarter of 1967, the Biafran Air Force took delivery
of further twin-engined bombers which have been continually mistaken by the press and observers of the conflict as additional
B-26's. They were, in fact, North American B-25 aircraft, known to the wartime
RAF as the Mitchell. One B-25 is mentioned by several authors as being flown by German
mercenary, Fred Herz. A telephone conversation between the author and Herz before
he died revealed that there were two of these aircraft although doubts continue to be expressed in some quarters by pilots
who served in Biafra that both actually arrived in theatre. Circumstantial evidence suggests that one of these might have
been a model TB-25-N, ex-44-29919 and registered N9868C. It was purchased in December 1964 by one John Frederick Osterholt of Homestead, Florida although it seems that Osterholt did not apply for an airworthiness certificate. On the 9th June 1967, the aircraft was sold to a company called Aerographic Inc. whose President turned
out to be the same John Osterholt. The aircraft’s history cannot be traced
beyond this point until, in April 1970, it seems that Osterholt applied to cancel
the registration from USCAR stating that the aircraft had been completely destroyed, although under what curcumstances is
not recorded. The possible link between Osterholt and Biafra was exposed as
a result of an interview in 1997 with Robert W. Cobaugh, an American who owned a company in Hialeah, Florida called Tripoints
Associates. Tripoints, and its sister company, RWC Associates, were manufacturers’
representatives dealing in reconditioned aero engines, aviation spares of all
types and, during the Biafran conflict, in leasing and operating cargo carrying aircraft.
Cobaugh was also to become heavily involved later in the conflict as the driving force behind a shadowy organisation
known as Phoenix Air Transport which flew arms and supplies into the beleagured Biafra.
Whether, in fact, Tripoints had any direct involvement in the B-25 deal is not known.
Cobaugh’s recollection of the affair is somewhat vague. The B-25's were by no means the only aircraft whose procurement
may have involved Cobaugh as the years passed. The identity of the other B-25 remains elusive. A possible contender is N8013, ex-44-31491, a TB-25J which, in February 1964 was registered to a Miami-based
company called Intercontinental Trading Co. Scott Thomspon’s book on civilian
B-25’s, comments that, when this company went out of business in 1967 the aircraft was “flown out of the country,
destination unknown.” The first aircraft arrived in Biafra in August 1967. The second, according to one report, arrived in Sao Tome around the same time loaded with a cargo of salt,
a valuable commodity in those days in Biafra! It remained in Sao Tome, still
loaded and with corrosion taking its toll until the second half of November when it was ferried into Biafra. Although an interesting story, subsequent research has failed to confirm it to be true. The delivery pilot of the first example was a pilot who is described
as having a "Mexican" moustache and possibly of Cuban nationality. He has been
referred to as "Captain Yas". He was accompanied by an American, ex-TWA pilot, George Robertson and a US engineer who stayed
to instal the SNEB rockets on the aircraft. The B-25's were delivered firstly to Enugu but, soon after their
arrival, they had to be moved to Biafra's main operating base at Port Harcourt. The problem was that Herz, who was in charge
of the operation, had never flown a B25 before. However, he and Godwin Ezeilo
managed to ferry both aircraft to Pt. Harcourt where they underwent modifications before going into service. They were flown by Herz, Yas and the American "Capt Mick" making attacks on shipping, river gun boats
and were instrumental in preventing the Nigerians from taking Port Harcourt although the town was to fall to federal forces
some months later. Portuguese pilot, Gil Pinto de Sousa also underwent some training
flights on this aircraft. The aircraft were used for sporadic bombing attacks together
with the remaining B-26 during the period August-December 1967. Maintenance of
these ancient aircraft, given Biafra's isolation in the world, was a nightmare and the aircraft eventually succumbed to a
shortage of spare parts. One B-25 crashed near Port Harcourt on the 2nd December with
Herz in command aided by a Biafran co-pilot, Captain Onuorah. Returning from
a bombing raid, Herz found himself unable to land at Port Harcourt due to the presence of one of the Biafran B-26 bombers
which had made a wheels up landing and was, as a result, blocking the runway. Running
desperately short of fuel he attempted a go-around but, while doing so, first the starboard and then the port engine cut out. The bomber ploughed through a stand of trees which ripped the engines from their mountings
and it ended up a total write off. Herz broke his leg and injured his hand, his co-pilot, Godwin Ezeilo was so severely injured
he never flew again and the bombardier/gunner, Sammy Ezunor, was killed. The
tail gunner, Peter Akachukwu, escaped with minor injuries. The aircraft was a
total write-off. BAF Squadron Leader August Okpe, who was detailed to investigate
the accident, confirms that it was pilot error compounded by Herz suffering from alcohol-induced vertigo. The second B-25 seems to have been abandoned when it became unserviceable
some time in December 1967. It was was discovered after the war on waste ground
near Port Harcourt airport having had its engines removed. Little information has been found regarding the markings carried
by these aircraft. The one remaining at Port Harcourt was simply described as being a "brownish colour" with a lighter underside.
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