North American B.25A/J Mitchell in U.S.A.A.F., U.M.B.C., R.A.F., Free French, N.E.I.F.F., K.O.N. Marine and Foreign Service

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North American B.25A/J Mitchell in U.S.A.A.F., U.M.B.C., R.A.F., Free French, N.E.I.F.F., K.O.N. Marine and Foreign Service (Aircam Aviation 22)

By Ernest R. McDowell

Publisher: Osprey 1971 52 Pages

ISBN: 0850450276

PDF 15 MB

North American Aviation's Model NA-40 was con­ceived as a result of a 1938 Army Air Corps requirement for a twin-engined attack bomber. The design proved to be an unsuccessful one in the competition, but when another Army proposal was issued in 1939 for a twin-engined medium bomber, North American brought out the NA-62. This was simply a redesign of the NA-40 to meet certain new specifications called for by the Army.

The NA-40 had been an all metal high-wing monoplane with a low-slung tricycle landing gear which gave it a squat appearance on the ground. The co-pilot was seated behind the pilot in a greenhouse that was reminiscent of the old Martin B-10. A large glassed-in nose section provided the bombardier-navigator with ample room to operate his bombsight and the single .30 calibre Browning machine gun provided for defence against frontal attacks. Additional guns were proposed, with four fixed .30's in the wing plus a mid-upper position in the fuselage, as well as a gun mounted in the floor to the rear of the ship. Five hundred rounds per gun were provided for and provision for 1,200 pounds of bombs in several combina­tions of weights and sizes completed the armament. Fowered by two Pratt & Whitney R.1830-S6C3-G Twin Wasps rated at 1,100 horse-power each, the plane had a top speed of 265 miles per hour and grossed out at 19,500 pounds. Fuel capacity was 476 gallons.