General Eisenhower’s Modified B-25J Used During World War II
Lt. Col George A. Larsen, USAF (Ret)
Modified tail section of the B-25J also showing the added windows along the fuselage. (Lt. Col George A. Larson, USAF (Ret.) photo collection
General
Eisenhower’s Modified B-25J Used During World War II
When the North American B-25
Mitchell, twin-engine, medium bomber is mentioned in conjunction with
World War II events, the first American air raid on Japan, after Pearl
Harbor, first comes to the main conversation. On 18 April 1942, United
States Army Air Forces (USAAF) Lieutenant Colonel James H. Doolittle in a
B-25 took-off from the rolling and pitching deck of the aircraft USS Hornet,
leading fifteen other B-25s in a surprise bombing raid against the
Japanese home islands, Tokyo and surrounding cities. The B- 25 was a
versatile aircraft. One B-25J, during WW II, was converted to a Very
Important Person (VIP) transport and is currently on display at the South
Dakota Air and Space Museum, outside the main gate to Ellsworth Air Force
Base.
The B-25 airframe was selected for modification
into a VIP transport. North American Aircraft took out of military
service, aircraft serial number 40-2165 to determine what modifications
had to be made and the extent of those alterations. The B- 25 was flown to
North American’s production plant located at Kansas City, Kansas. North
American engineers designed and made the following changes to the Mitchell’s
structure and configuration:
1. All non-essential military equipment was removed from the
aircraft, including armor plate, guns, crew items and bombing related
items.
2. Five over-stuffed passenger chairs were installed in the aft, now
designated, passenger compartment.
3. A drop-leaf desk installed across the width of the passenger
compartment at the rear of the compartment.
4. An intercom was installed, allowing communications between the
passenger compartment and the pilots’ cockpit.
5. The nose was flared over.
6. Windows installed in the passenger compartment for natural light and
view out the . . . .