B-25 Mitchell “Panchito”

About B-25s

The B-25 is considered one of the best medium sized bombers of WWII. It played a crucial role in all theaters of the war. B-25s are probably most well-known for their role in the Dolittle Raid. There were about 9,815 B-25s built and today very few survive, and even fewer are considered airworthy.

About the Delaware Aviation Museum Foundation’s B-25 “Panchito”

This B-25J was highly modified to be a tanker to fight forest fires in the 1960s. In late 1968, it was sold and used an orange grove sprayer and mosquito bomber in Florida. However, eventually the chemicals caused corrosion, so it was donated to a museum. Shortly after arriving, the museum closed and this B-25 was acquired by Tom Reilly, who began a total rebuilt back the original “J” model. It was then moved to Texas with its new owners. They gave it nose art and markings of “Panchito,” a B-25 that flew during WWII with the 41st Bombardment Group in the Central Pacific Theater. It was later sold to Rick Korf in the early 90s and moved to Geneseo, NY and then to Florida.

Today, the Delaware Aviation Museum Foundation owns and operates this B-25. It is based out of Delaware Coastal Airport in Georgetown, Delaware. It can be found traveling the country each summer at air shows to honor all those who flew B-25s during WWII.

Learn More: https://www.delawareaviationmuseum.org/b-25j-mitchell