Thunderbolts gather around the North American B-25
Summary
Thunderbolts gather around the North American B-25 Mitchell March 17, 2018, during Luke Days at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. Luke Days provides an opportunity for Phoenix-area residents and visitors from around the world to see how Luke builds the future of airpower at an installation that has been a proud part of Arizona history and a neighbor in the West Valley since 1941. The show included more than two dozen live air and ground demonstrations, static aircraft exhibits, and concessions.(U.S. Air Force Photo by Senior Airman Pedro Mota)
The North American B-25 Mitchell is an American medium bomber that was introduced in 1941 and named in honor of Major General William "Billy" Mitchell, a pioneer of U.S. military aviation. The majority of B-25s in American service were used in the war against Japan in Asia and the Pacific. Used by Allied air forces, the B-25 served in every theater of World War II, and after the war ended, many remained in service, operating for four decades. The RAF received nearly 900 Mitchells, using them to replace Douglas Bostons, Lockheed Venturas, and Vickers Wellington bombers. The USSR received a total of 862 B-25s. Produced in numerous variants, nearly 10,000 B-25s were built.