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![]() THE MAKING OF North American PBJ-1J "SEMPER FI"
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A model of PBJ-1J in the colors of Marine Corps Squadron MB-11. This is what the CAF, SoCAWing's PBJ Restoration Team wants their plane to look like when the restoration is complete.
Thomas Van Stein, our resident aviation artist, and a member of the PBJ Restoration Team, with the model he ordered.
Thanks to Thomas Van Stein for help with the above text.
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Visit Dan Newcomb's PBJ Site on Warbird Information Exchange's website
Solo Flight for History Last remaining aviation relic gets full restoration, national adoration
By James Glover II, jglover@VenturaCountyStar.com
At the Commemorative Air Force's repair hangar at Camarillo Airport, the clanking of tools fills the air. All around are antique military aircraft in various stages of repair. At the far end of this hangar, there's a plane bigger than the others — a 1944 B-25/PBJ Mitchell bomber. There are many B-25 Mitchells in museums and flying in air shows around the world, but the PBJ model, a B-25 Mitchell owned by the Navy and flown by Marines, is a whole different story. "This is the only one that's left," said Dan Newcomb, a crew member working on the plane. He researched and found that only eight were released to civilian owners. "The rest of them are crashed, destroyed or unaccounted for," he said of the other seven. The repair crew — about 12 men who share a passion for aviation history and mechanical things — realized how rare the plane was and scrapped their original plans to model it after an Army B-25. Instead, they decided to restore it to its original condition as a PBJ. The History Channel is doing a documentary on its restoration and history as a part of the "Save Our History" series. (The tentative date for the show is August 5, 2006). "It would've been a sin to not restore this to a PBJ; you just never see them," Newcomb said. He noted that there are some B-25s painted to look like a PBJ, but none that are original, restored PBJs. During their research, the team came across David Fish of Camarillo, whose father, 1st Lt. Doit L. Fish USMC, was listed as missing in action in 1945 while flying a PBJ aircraft named MB-11. In 1956, his father's remains were found aboard the plane, which had been shot down in the Philippines. David Fish was asked to be a member of the team as the unofficial historian. He jumped at the chance. "I didn't even know any PBJs still existed, and then to find one right in my backyard, I was very excited about it," Fish said. The team decided to restore the aircraft after Fish's father's plane, naming it MB-11. "I was very hesitant at first," Fish said. "In my mind, MB-11 was strewn across the jungle in the Philippines. The plane was gone, and my dad was gone with it." The more Fish thought about it though, the more sense it made. "I started thinking what a wonderful tribute this would be to my father and the other pilots of MBV-611 (his squadron)."
Copyright © 2006, Ventura County Star. All Rights Reserved. Displayed with permission.
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B-25/ PBJ-1J #N5865V Restoration History
by Marc Russell, Team Leader,
N5865V, a Navy version (PBJ-1J) of the B-25, is the most ambitious project that the Southern California Wing has ever undertaken. Our wing took over this restoration project in 1993 after many years of neglect and sitting. To exacerbate the situation, this aircraft received many modifications during the years it was in private ownership, modifications that often left this aircraft's structural integrity in doubt.. Our intention is divided into two phases. The first is to rebuild this aircraft into a safe, reliable and interesting aircraft that can fly to, and be displayed at air shows, operate as a camera platform for aerial filming, training for the military test pilot program and various other opportunities. Once flying, we expect that the revenue she creates will not only pay for the maintenance, but also allow us to outfit her with the type of internal and external equipment she had when in active service. The B-25/ PBJ family of aircraft is one of the most recognized bomber aircraft from the WWII era. The twin engine, twin tailed aircraft is most famous from the Doolittle Raid that took place on April 18, 1942, where 16 B-25 aircraft launched from the aircraft carrier Hornet and bombed Japan, proving that we could take the war to the enemy. Production of the Mitchell ran from 1940 through 1945, with more than 11,000 produced. Model designations went from B25A through B-25J, and included basic bomber, gun ship, and a version that mounted a 75mm M4 cannon in the nose. Other armament included up to 14 machine guns, not to mention a payload of over 3000 pounds of bombs. Unfortunately, there are only about 35 flying examples of this aircraft remaining, and ours is the only true PBJ still in existence. Years have already been spent on this restoration, and we still have a few years more work prior to the first post restoration flight. Between corrosion and the modifications this aircraft received while in private ownership, we have had to do a great deal of reworking, planning and parts fabrication. There has not been a single area that has not required attention.
N5965V was flown into Camarillo airport after a week of maintenance and testing. Once here, we started disassembly. Outboard wing sections were removed, as well as the engines and propellers. Hydraulic components, the 10 fuel tanks and two oil tanks, hydraulic, oil, and fuel plumbing also came out. Structures were built to hold the aircraft solidly in position, and then we started restoration activities. The inboard section of the left wing was the first area of the aircraft to be tackled. Large amounts of corrosion we apparent and required a near complete disassembly of this section. Each part removed was cleaned and inspected, and when able, was reused. Unfortunately, many parts, including the main rib and the upper angle that attaches the inboard and outboard wing sections, had to be replaced. Although we do manufacture many of the replacement parts, some are beyond our capability and are built under contract. This has been extremely expensive and has consumed much of our budget. The bomb bay received a great deal of time and energy as well. Many parts of the original aircraft had been removed for modifications to a corporate and test aircraft. Two kits, provided by AeroTrader of Chino, California were installed, and the bomb bay is now nearly complete. The first kit added strength to the area where the top of the wing attaches to the fuselage. The other kit replaced a barrier that sealed the bomb bay compartment from the crew area and allowed for a crawl space connecting the forward fuselage to the rear. This had been completely removed when the aircraft was in corporate ownership. The only remaining components to be added to this aircraft are the bomb bay racks that were used to release the bombs. These also are used to add structure to this area.
Currently, our efforts are focused on the area behind the bomb bay. This area also received many modifications for the corporate configuration. At some time in the past, much of the right side was removed and modified to accept a fold out stairway. Another hole was cut in the bottom left side of the fuselage and then patched. The original hatch for entry and exit was still installed, but moved aft about 20 inches and was now missing many parts. The floor had been removed and replaced with plywood. The ceiling structure had many patches and modifications due to the installation of the fold out stairway. Most of the control cables had been rerouted. We removed the entire belly section between the bomb bay and the start of the tail surface and built all new bulkheads, stringers and skins. The hatch area was completely rebuilt, including all cabling and pulleys to open and jettison the hatch door. We have built and installed all new floor panels. The air-stair has been removed along with all of the other modifications associated with it. A new section of longeron, a major component of the structure, had to be built under contract. After the belly was completed, we started reworking the right side structure. We found that the forward area was in satisfactory condition but the aft section required total replacement. Many of the original formers had received modifications and were rebuilt from scratch. Most of the stringers are new as are the skins. We also found that a major structural component on the upper aft area of this section had a three inch hole caused by corrosion that required special fabrication. The roof of this area was also in poor shape. Our original plan was to only replace what was really necessary, but as we started to remove the sections that were visibly damaged, we found more and more corrosion. The end result is that this entire area is also being rebuilt from scratch. While one team is completing this area, another team has been working on the tail's control surfaces. A thorough inspection of the horizontal tail has been completed and only minor irregularities were found and reworked. This is known as the achilles heal of the aircraft, so inspection and proper maintenance is extremely important. One of the vertical tail sections was found to have extensive damage and has been repaired. Both elevators and rudders have been inspected and covered with fabric covering just as was originally done.
Once all of this is complete, the tail section will be reinstalled as will all of the cables associated with its operation and locking. The final area of sheet metal work will be the right inboard wing. This will duplicate of the work already done on the left wing. We will first place the aircraft on jacks and remove the landing gear and all of its components. Then, we will remove the skin from the lower surface of the wing stub to determine the amount of damage. All parts will be inspected and replaced as necessary. This wing has had some restoration work done, but it was never completed. Both outboard wing sections need repair and are currently located at AeroTrader, awaiting funding. Both engines have been sitting for over 10 years and should be overhauled prior to flight. All fuel and oil tanks are original and need replacing.
Expected Costs:
Outboard Wing sections: $60,000 estimate for both wings from AeroTrader.
Maintenance Team:
Jeff Birdt -
Marc Russell -
Ken Barger -
Dan Newcomb -
Scott Drosos -
Thomas Van Stein -
Jack and Jo Brinkerhoff -
Roger D. Ostlund -
Dave Fish -
Gilbert Brice -
Joe Gross
Tim Kutzbach
Iran Ausley
Jerry Royce Phil Most
Ownership History:
Delivered to U.S. Navy as BuNo.35857 Mar. 20, 1945
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Sponsorship of the North American PBJ-1J Bomber "Semper Fi"
If you would like to become a sponsor of our PBJ-1J "Semper Fi," please contact: Col. Marc Russell, Team Leader, 'Phone: (805) 482-0064.
Your donation will be tax deductible, and will be greatly appreciated and recognized.
Thanks to you, we can "Keep 'Em Flying!"
p.s. If you would like to visit with the PBJ Restoration Crew in action, come on over to our Restoration Hangar at Camarillo Airport on a Tuesday, Thursday or Saturday, between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. You'll find them there on those days, and they will be delighted to answer your questions.
©CopyrightCommemorative Air Force, Inc., except as otherwise
marked. All rights reserved.
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