B-25H Mitchell "Barbie III" Comes To APA Through September

The sound of history will soon be heard echoing through the Rocky Mountains as an authentic World War II vintage North American B-25H Mitchell arrives in Denver, CO on Friday, July 18 for a two-month visit offering local citizens to see living aviation history up-close and personal.

Operated by the non-profit Warbirds Unlimited Foundation of Mesa, AZ, the B-25H named "Barbie III" will be based at Denver Jet Center at Centennial Airport in Denver.  The famous medium bomber is fully-restored to 1943 standards, and will be available for free viewing on the ground on Saturdays and Sundays through the second week of September and will be offering rides as well.

The B-25 Mitchell is best known for its role in the famous Doolittle raid on Japan in 1942. The well-known mission where 16 B-25s flew from the aircraft carrier USS Hornet to make the first attack on Japan following the Pearl Harbor attack has been seen in countless movies, books, and articles and was one of the key events of the early days of the war. Throughout WWII, the B-25 played a major role as a medium bomber and ground attack aircraft in both the Pacific and European Theater of operations.

Over 9,800 B-25's were built from 1940 to 1945, but only around 30 remain in flying condition today, flown by private operators and museums.  Out of those remaining, our B-25, the "Barbie III", is the last flying H-model of the B-25, noted for the installation of a 75mm cannon in the nose and its configuration as a ground attack aircraft.

Warbirds Unlimited tells ANN the B-25 is available for 30-minute flights around Denver, allowing passengers to fly aboard the aircraft in the same positions WWII veterans flew in more than 60 years ago. Flights are a $375 donation per person, per flight and up to six people may fly aboard for each flight. 100% of the donation goes into defraying the expense of operating the B-25 and helps pay for maintenance and upkeep of the rare bomber.

(Photos used with permission.)

FMI: www.warbirdsunlimited.org