Mitchell ready to return

North American B-25D Mitchell 43-3318 (c/n 100-20644) is almost ready to return to Europe. On 6 September 2023 Scramble already reported that the bomber had been purchased by Hugo Mathis in Switzerland. Mathis is widely known for his airshow appearances with his ‘Classic Formation’ of one DC-3 and three Beech 18s.

The history of this Mitchell can be found here. Serial 43-3318 is to most people best known as the former ‘Grumpy’, the name it carried in the period the plane was flown from Duxford by The Fighter Collection.

After a full restoration by The Warbird Shop in Madras (OR) North American B-25D made its first flight as N88972 on 19 September 2025. It was then flown to Santa Maria (CA) for a paintjob from which it emerged as a 'Doolittle Raider' Mitchell. (for the very few people unaware of this operation: in the early days of the war against Japan, a squadron of B-25s led by Jimmy Doolittle took off from the U.S. carrier Hornet for a raid on Tokyo). The nose art of 'Destination Tokyo' was applied by artist Ron Kaplan, the owner of warbirdaviationart.com.   

It not known yet when 'Destination Tokyo' will be ferried to Europe, but its arrival will be more than welcome as its means a doubling of the number of flying B-25s in Europe!

Photo: from Ron Kaplan's Facebook page.