Night Before Takeoff Let’s look under the wing of a B-25 into the night sky. Just think of how many WWII airmen had a similar view the night before their next mission. This B-25’s next mission will be a “milk run” to the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH to participate in the 75th Doolittle Raid Anniversary. But, they weren’t all milk runs.
Reenactor at 75th Doolittle Raid Anniversary Several WWII reenactors roamed around the B-25s at the U.S. Air Force Museum runway.
B-25 Georgie’s Gal at 75th Doolittle Raid Anniversary Yesterday morning Georgie’s Gal was among the 11 B-25’s taking off from Grimes Field in Urbana, OH to fly a “milk run” to the U.S. Air Force Museum in Dayton, OH to participate in today’s 75th Doolittle Raid Anniversary.
Left Nose Art
North American built over 10,000 B-25 Mitchell bombers between 1940 and 1945. B-25s flew in every theater of combat during World War II. Georgie’s Gal is a B-25J with a “bombardier’s nose” where a bombsight was mounted. After the end of World War II, many B-25s such as Georgie’s Gal, were kept by the U.S. Air Force and used to train pilots and crews until 1960.
Georgie’s Gal was purchased from the military and operated out of Phoenix, AZ in the 60’s. It flew as “The Devil Made Me Do It” in the 1970’s. Pseudo armament was added in 1992; flew as “Man Of War” then as “Martha Jean” in 1999. Finally, it was purchased by Liberty Aviation Museum in 2011 and refurbished as “Georgie’s Gal”.
So, what about the nose art? Perhaps, Georgie’s Gal was an angel to fly, yet hell to the enemy!
Right Nose Art
Nose art makes its B-25 unique and helped unify the crew. Nose art became a matter of great pride to the pilots and crew. It evoked memories of peacetime life at home and helped relieve the stress of war. Nose art also acted a morale booster for those in daily combat. Its appeal also came from nose art not being officially approved, even when the regulations against it were not enforced.
Today, nose art tends to be stenciled to the airframe. Back in the day however, it was painted onto the airframe by both professional civilian artists and talented amateur artists serving in the squadrons. Some were good; others not so much. Still some servicemen became famous by the quality of their nose art. At the height of the war, nose art artists were in such high demand, some were paid for their services.
B-25 Devil Dog at 75th Doolittle Raid Anniversary This morning Devil Dog took off with 10 more B-25s headed to the National Museum of the U. S. Air Force at Dayton, OH for tomorrow’s anniversary ceremony remembering the Doolittle Raid. On 18 Apr 1942, 16 brave flight crews took off from the USS Hornet aircraft carrier in B-25 bombers to strike the Japanese mainland in a daring mission early in WWII. Of the 80 men on the mission, only one still remains with us to celebrate 75th anniversary of their successful mission.
