Marine Corps PBJ Devil Dog | EAA Warbirds QR Code Website

History:
Not many people know that the US Marine Corps flew bombers in WWII. One of the missions of the Devil Dog Squadron is to keep that piece of history alive.

PBJs came about by chance. In 1943, North American, the B-25’s manufacturer, produced more B-25s than the Army Air Corp could use. Approximately 800 of the airplanes were offered to the US Navy. Although the famous Doolittle Raid was a successful carrier launched formation of B-25s, the Navy had little use for the extra airplanes. They were too large for regular carrier duty.

The US Marine Corps, however, was looking for a medium bomber. They agreed to take the B-25s and use them for “night heckling”, anti-shipping missions or close air support of beachheads and landings. Taking the unwanted equipment was nothing new for the Marines, they often received obsolete or surplus equipment from the Army or Navy.

The Marines designated the B-25s “PBJ”. PB indicates Patrol Bomber and the J is an alpha-code designating the manufacturer, North American Aviation (PBJ does not mean Peanut Butter and Jelly).

The Marines were innovative in customizing the PBJs for the jobs they faced. As most of the missions were performed at low altitude, there was not much need for the glass nose/bombardier position. It was replaced with a solid nose and armed with up to 8 – .50 caliber machine guns, or in some versions, a 75mm cannon.

9 PBJ squadrons made it overseas before the war ended in the Pacific. 26 PBJs were lost in combat and 19 were lost in operational accidents while in a combat zone.

The Devil Dog represents a PBJ-1J (the second J designates the model) of the VMB 612 squadron.

For more information please email:

info@devildogsquadron.com

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Specifications

Registration Number	Date of Manufacture
N9643C	1944
Aircraft Role	Nickname
Medium Bomber	Mitchell
Aircraft Type:	Wingspan:
North American PBJ	67′ 7″
Overall length:	Empty weight:
52′ 11″	19,480 Lbs
Gross weight:	Fuel capacity:
35,000 Lbs	670 Gal
Oil capacity	Engine type:
64 Gallons	Wright R-2600-92
Propeller type:	Max Speed
3-Blade Hamilton Standard	272 MPH
Rate of Climb	Cruise Speed
1110 ft/min	230 MPH
Service Ceiling	Number of Crew
24,200	6
Armament	Bomb Load
16 .50 MG	3,000 Lb
Number Built	Number Surviving
~10,000	> 100, 45 airworthy