English Electric Canberra
Newcastle Williamtown Air Show November 2023
Historical Aircraft Restoration Society
Temora Aviation Museum
RAAF Museum Point Cook
Avalon Airshow 2017
South Australian Aviation Museum
English Electric Canberra
North American B-25 Mitchell Nose Art Page 1
North American B-25 Mitchell Nose Art
Early Briefing
Eatin’ Kitty
North American B 25H Mitchell s/n 43 4909 Eatin’ Kitty of the 12th Air Force 12th Bomb Group 82nd Bomb Squadron 44 Eatin’ Kitty Oct 1943
Mexican Spitfire
North American B-25D-20 Mitchell “Mexican Spitfire” Serial Number 41-30592 of the 5th Air Force, 345th BG, 500th BS. All 5 crewmen were lost when she was hit by AA fire during a mission to bomb Langoon Airfield, September 2, 1944.
Rose’s Beau
North American B-25 s/n 43-3296 Mitchell Rose’s Beau of the 48th Bomb Squadron, 41st Bomb Group 7th Air Force
Sherry
North American B-25 Mitchell Sherry
Incendiary Blonde
North American B-25D-30 s/n 43-3403 Incendiary Blonde of 447 BS, 321 BG, Italy 1944. Hit by flak on 20 October 1944 and crashed. Of the five crew, two were killed, two captured and one evaded and returned to USA.
The Big Swing
North American B-25J Mitchell s/n 43-4067 of the 321st Bomb Group 448th Bomb Squadron coded 76, The Big Swing was hit by flak which damaged a wing. It crashed in Switzerland 7th Feb 1945.
The Ink Squirts
North American B-25 Mitchell s/n 43-28149 “The Ink Squirts” from the 41st Bombardment Group. The “Ink Squirts” was a cartoon in the base newspaper of the Sea Bees of the 94th Battalion, on Tarawa, 1944
The Vigorous Virgin
Junkers Ju 86 in German Service
Junkers Ju 86 in German Service
Designed as both a bomber for the Luftwaffe and transport for Luft Hansa, the Junkers Ju 86 first flew on 4 November 1934. Four Ju 86D bombers were sent to Spain during the Civil War, where it was found that the diesel engines could not withstand rough treatment during combat. Although production switched to the E version with radial engines, it was inferior to the Heinkel He 111 and production was cut back.
By the start of the Second World War, the Ju 86 had been relegated to training units, apart from III./KG 1 “Hindenburg” which used them in Poland. During the attempt to supply surrounded German troops at Stalingrad in 1942, many Ju 86 were reallocated to transport units.
In 1940, the Luftwaffe had 40 early model Ju 86s converted to Ju 86P-1 high-altitude bombers and Ju 86P-2 photo-reconnaissance aircraft. During early 1941 the reconnaissance version flew sorties over Britain, but these stopped when Hitler invaded Russia (Operation Barbarossa). By mid-1942 the pressurized bomber version was available, and flew about a dozen nuisance raids over southern England. After the RAF mounted a special interception squadron using modified Spitfire Mk IXs, and one bomber attempting a raid on Portsmouth was intercepted on 12 September 1942, no further flights over England were attempted.
In August 1942, a modified Supermarine Spitfire Mark V shot one down over Egypt at an altitude of some 14,500 m (49,000 ft); when two more were lost, Ju 86Ps were withdrawn from service in 1943.
Prototypes
Junkers Ju 86A
The Junkers Ju 86A was the initial bomber version. It was replaced in production by the improved Ju 86D.
Junkers Ju 86B
Junkers Ju 86B consisted of seven pre-production transport aircraft.
Junkers Ju 86C
Six Junkers Ju 86C transport aircraft were built for Deutsche Luft Hansa, powered by two Junkers Jumo 205C diesel engines. These were taken over by the Luftwaffe during the war.
Junkers Ju 86D
The Junkers Ju 86D replaced the A model in production, incorporating a modified tail cone to improve stability.
Junkers Ju 86E
The Ju 86E replaced the D in production by switching to the BMW 132 engine, production continued until 1938.
Junkers Ju 86G
The Junkers Ju 86G was a development of the Ju 86E fitted with a round glass nose.
Junkers Ju 86P
The Ju 86P-1 was a high-altitude bomber version, fitted with two Jumo 207 diesel engines and with turbochargers. The P-2 was fitted for high-altitude photo reconnaissance, but was still equipped for bombing.
Junkers Ju 86R
The Junkers Ju 86R was a high-altitude bomber/photo reconnaissance development of the P version. Initially it retained the Jumo 207 engines, but these were later replace by the Jumo 208. Only prototypes of this variant were built.
Junkers Ju 86Z
The Junkers Ju 86Z was the designation for civil export models. Several were impressed into Luftwaffe service.
