North American B-25J Mitchell

The B-25 is perhaps the most successful American medium bomber of World War II. It served in every theater of the war, with all branches of the U.S. military and with several allied air forces. It is most famous as the type of aircraft flown by the Doolittle Raiders from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet in early 1942. B-25s served as both traditional bombers and as gunships with large numbers of machine guns, and in one version a 75mm cannon in the nose. The B-25J returned to the standard "glass" nose for use as a bomber. However, many were converted to a "solid" gunship nose and used for very low level attacks. The Mitchell continued to serve in the U.S. Air Force until as late as 1960 as staff transports and trainers.