See main article: B-25 Mitchell.
See also List of United States Army Air Forces reconnaissance units for F-10 Mitchell reconnaissance groupsThis is a list of United States Army Air Forces B-25 Mitchell medium bomber units. It does not include non-combat units assigned within the United States for operational training or replacement training.
The B-25 medium bomber was one the most famous airplanes of World War II. It was the type used by Gen. Jimmy Doolittle for the famous Doolittle Raid over Japan on 18 April 1942.
The first B-25 test aircraft flew on 19 August 1940, and the first production Mitchell was delivered to the 17th Bombardment Group in February 1941. A total of 9,816 Mitchells were built, greater than any other American twin-engined bomber. The majority of B-25s in American service were used in the Pacific Theater of Operations (PTO) and the Aleutian Campaign. In the China-Burma-India Theater (CBI), the B-25 attacked Japanese communication links, especially bridges in central Burma. It also helped to supply the besieged troops at Imphal in 1944.
In 1942, the first B-25Bs arrived in Egypt just in time to take part in the Battle of El Alamein. From there the aircraft took part in the rest of the Western Desert Campaign, the invasion of Sicily and the advance up Italy. The five bombardment groups that used the B-25 in the North African desert and the Mediterranean Theater of Operations (MTO) were the only US units to use the B-25 in Europe. In addition to the bombardment groups, the F-10 photographic reconnaissance variant of the Mitchell was widely used.
After the war, the B-25 was taken out of front-line service and redesignated the TB-25, reflecting that it was no longer considered a combat aircraft. It flew training roles with the United States Air Force for many years, the last example, TB-25J 44-30210 not being retired until 31 January 1959.
Fifth Air Force (SW Pacific), 1942-1944
Australia, New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies, Philippines
Transitioned to A-20 Havoc, late 1944
Ninth Air Force (Middle East), 1942-1943
Twelfth Air Force (MTO), 1943-1944
Tenth Air Force (CBI), 1944-1945
Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Sicily, Italy, India
Inactivated in India, 1945
Second Air Force (ZI/CONUS), 1941-1942
Doolittle Raider volunteers chosen from all 4 squadrons.
Transitioned to B-26 Marauder, June 1942
Fifth Air Force (SW Pacific), 1942-1944
Australia, New Guinea, Philippines
Transitioned to B-24 Liberator, Jan 1944
Eleventh Air Force (Aleutian Campaign), 1941-1945
Inactivated Oct 1945
Fifth Air Force (SW Pacific), 1942-1945
Australia, New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies, Philippines
Transitioned to A-26 Invader, Sep 1945
Seventh Air Force (Central Pacific), 1943-1946
Tarawa, Gilbert Islands, Okinawa
Inactivated Jan 1946
Thirteenth Air Force (South Pacific), 1943-1946
Solomon Islands, Netherlands East Indies, Philippines
Inactivated May 1946
Twelfth Air Force (North Africa), 1942-1943
Fifteenth Air Force (MTO), 1943-1945
Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Corsica, Italy
Inactivated Sep 1945
Twelfth Air Force (North Africa) (MTO), 1944-1945
Replaced by A-26 Invader
Twelfth Air Force (North Africa) (MTO), 1943-1945
Inactivated Sep 1945
Ninth Air Force (Middle East), 1942-1943
Twelfth Air Force (MTO). 1943-1945
Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Sicily, Italy
Inactivated Nov 1945
Tenth Air Force (CBI), 1942-43
Fourteenth Air Force (CBI), 1944-1945
India, China
Inactivated Nov 1945
Fifth Air Force (SW Pacific), 1942-1945
New Guinea, Netherlands East Indies, Philippines
Inactivated Dec 1945