 The North American B-25D
was identical to the B-25C; the only difference was the manufacturing plant.
The -D was built at North American Aviation's (NAA) Kansas City, Missouri plant and
the -C was built at the Inglewood, California plant. B-25D production was done in eight
blocks of two NAA models (NA-87 and NA-100). The aircraft remained in production until the
spring of 1944 when the last of 2,290 B-25Ds built was delivered.
The B-25Ds first flight was on 3 January
1942 and the first aircraft was accepted by the Army Air Force about a month later.
Improvements to the basic B-25C/D design were incorporated into the production line as
well as at depots and in the field.
Often, the only way to
positively identify an aircraft model was by its serial number.
For example, early B-25Ds were built
without ventral turrets and many aircraft didn't have the engine exhaust stacks common on
late model aircraft. The navigator's sighting dome was omitted on some -C and -D models
also.
Source: US Air Force Museum
The B-25 that the 2nd
Emergency Rescue Squadron had assigned was used for passenger transport and various other
missions. It was not used as a bomber or for any other offensive reason and seemed to be
excess on property on the TO & E.
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