|
OUR AIRCRAFT: THE PBJ-1
MITCHELL
Marine Bombing Squadron Four Thirty-Three
operated North American PBJ-1s; the navalized equivalent of the Army's
famous B-25 twin-engine Mitchell bomber.
Our squadron primarily flew the older-model PBJ-1Ds,
which were easily recognizable by the upper turret's location aft of the
wing. These aircraft were equipped with APS-3 search radar which was
housed in a ventral radome located to the rear of the bomb-bay. Later, the squadron received and flew a number of the newer
J-model aircraft. These J-model aircraft were primarily configured
with the standard transparent nose for the navigator-bombardier.
However, one or two of these J-models that had their noses damaged were modified
in the repair process to a non-transparent nose which held eight machine
guns.
The configurations of these aircraft and our squadron's typical markings is
illustrated below.
PBJ-1D
General Characteristics: The North
American PBJ-1D medium bomber airplane was a mid-wing land-based monoplane
powered by two Wright Cyclone engines. Characteristic features included a
tricycle landing gear, and a double fin and rudder empennage. In addition
to carrying up to twelve .50 caliber machine guns, the PBJ-1D was also
equipped to carry bombs, depth charges, or an aerial torpedo.
VMB-433's aircraft were
finished in the standard color scheme adopted by the U.S. Navy in February
1943—blue-gray
on the aircraft’s upper surfaces and white on the lower surfaces.
Basic Model: North American B-25D-25,
and B-25D-30.
Wingspan: 67 feet 6 inches.
Wing Area: 610 square feet.
Length: 53 feet 0 inches.
Height: 15 feet 9 inches.
Weight (Empty): 20,300 pounds.
Weight (Maximum Loaded): 34,000
pounds.
Engines:
Two Wright R-2600-13 Double Cyclones.
Propellers:
Two three-bladed, full-feathering, Hamilton Standard Hydromatic propellers.
Maximum Speed: 247 knots (284 mph) at
15,000 feet.
Cruising Speed:
203 knots (233 mph).
Stall Speed:
79 knots (90 mph).
Service Ceiling: 21,200 feet.
Range: 1,303 nautical miles (1,500
statute miles) with 3,000 pounds of bombs.
Crew: Six (Pilot, Copilot,
Navigator-Bombardier, Radio-Gunner, Mechanic-Turret Gunner, and
Ordnance-Gunner).
PBJ-1J
General Characteristics: The North
American PBJ-1J medium bomber airplane was a mid-wing land-based monoplane
powered by two Wright Cyclone engines. Characteristic features included a
tricycle landing gear, and a double fin and rudder empennage. In addition
to carrying up to eighteen .50 caliber machine guns, the PBJ-1J was also equipped to carry
bombs, depth charges, 5-inch rockets, or an aerial torpedo. VMB-433's
aircraft
were finished in
the three-tone color scheme adopted by the U.S. Navy in March of 1944—sea
blue, intermediate sea blue, and white.
Basic Model: North American
B-25J-1, B-25J-5, B-25J-10/11, B-25J-15/17, and B-25J-20/22.
Wingspan:
67 feet 7 inches.
Wing Area:
610 square feet.
Length:
53 feet 6 inches.
Height:
16 feet 4 inches.
Weight (Empty):
21,100 pounds.
Weight (Maximum Loaded):
35,000 pounds.
Engines:
Two Wright R-2600-29 Double Cyclones.
Propellers:
Two three-bladed, full-feathering, Hamilton Standard Hydromatic
propellers.
Maximum Speed: 239 knots (275 mph) at
15,000 feet.
Cruising Speed:
200 knots (230 mph).
Stall Speed:
79 knots (90 mph).
Service Ceiling: 24,000 feet.
Range: 1,108 nautical miles (1,275
statute miles) with 3,000 pounds of bombs.
Crew: Seven (Pilot, Copilot,
Navigator-Bombardier, 2 Radio-Gunners, Mechanic-Turret Gunner, and Armorer-Turret
Gunner).
PREVIOUS PAGE
TOP OF PAGE |
