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VMB-433 Squadron Insignia

Marine Bombing Squadron Four Thirty-Three

 

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 1943blue-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-1D

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 1944sea 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).

PBJ-1J

PBJ-1J

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