PBJ Walkaround
This is the last actual PBJ-1J (delivered as such from the North American factory) still in existence, now operated in flying condition by the CAF SOCAL Wing out at Camarillo Airport here in S.Calif. after a 23 year restoration.
35 additional images. Click to enlarge.
Tom Cleaver said on August 18, 2017
Do note that the Emerson upper turret DID NOT have any framing (and neither did the Martin turret on the earlier models, or the A-20s, or the B-24a, or the B-26s). I have a photo one of my 57th BW guys, a top turret gunner, posed next to his turret. No framing! What people thought was framing was crazing of the plastic when it was glued together with MEK back then.
Mike Still said on August 19, 2017
Thanks for the handy dandy pics while I beat on the Monogram J!
Jeff Bailey said on August 18, 2017
BEAUTIFUL aircraft & photos, Tom. Thanks for sharing!
23 years! WoW!
Craig Abrahamson said on August 18, 2017
Wonderful set of photos, TC…who’s the old man in the left seat, though? lol – đ
Ferry Dierckxsens said on August 18, 2017
Fantastic Tom, thank you for sharing your photos. Wonderful aircraft and what an effort for all involved, 23 years! Great job!!
Marvin Reyes said on August 18, 2017
Excellent pix of one of North American’s best. The Mitchell and its variants are truly magnificent, and this PBJ-1J proves that. The Camarillo boys should be proud of their wonderful accomplishment. Thanks for posting these great pix.
Bernard E. Hackett, Jr. said on August 18, 2017
Tom, thanks for posting this PBJ. Look at them panel lines!
Greg Kittinger said on August 18, 2017
Thanks Tom! Got one of these in the stash, so some nice research work you did for me!!
Robert Royes said on August 18, 2017
Thanks for sharing this.
Phil Steele said on August 18, 2017
Looks great Tom !!
Tom Rodgers said on August 18, 2017
Great photos Tom. Just one “rivet counter” type question. Why does the placard behind the cockpit say it is a “B-25J-30-XC” if it let the factory as a PBJ-1J. Did the “Stencil Fairy” go nuts during the restoration?
Tom Cleaver said on August 18, 2017
Officially, it was a B-25J-25-NA. But it came out of the factory in the tri-color scheme, so it was a PBJ-1J in Navy nomenclature.
Tom Cleaver said on August 18, 2017
Actually, the “XC” is the designation that it became a PBJ on the assembly line.
Morne Meyer said on August 18, 2017
Thanks Tom for the awesome photos. Great reference material!!
David A. Thomas said on August 18, 2017
Fabulous. Simply fabulous stuff. Inspiring.
Josh Patterson said on August 18, 2017
Was really hoping to see this one at EAA this year. (There were a bunch in the air on Wednesday night!) Alas, it was not to be. The Mitchell does look cracking in the tri-color scheme though! (It’s my favorite WWII USN scheme followed by the glossy sea blue.)
Rob Anderson said on August 18, 2017
Just beautiful!
Louis Gardner said on August 18, 2017
Great photos. Thanks for sharing these with us.
Bartek KarpiĆski said on October 12, 2017
Wow! That should be fantastic experience. Well, in my country we have great aviation traditions but not warbirds. That would be a dream to work in a place like this. I saw once B-25 from Red Bull at airshow. When he was not flying he stood too far from the fence.