North American B-25J Mitchell attacks escort ship

North American B-25J Mitchell attacks escort ship

Here we see a North American B-25J attacking a Japanese escort vessel, using the 'skip bombing' method.

The aircraft is a B-25J with the eight gun solid nose, and what looks to be a 'shark mouth' paint scheme. Note the foreward mounted turret of later Mitchels

The ship is variously identified, but is probably the Type D escort vessel No.134 which was hit by 'Ruthless Ruth' of the 499th Bomb Squadron (so probably a bat mouth paint scheme) in April 1945 (given as 4th or 6th). This is pull out from skip bombing attack, later pictures in sequence show the explosion and her sinking. Does appear to be missing the normal funnel of this type and it could also be the Type C escort vessel No.1 also sunk on the same day (6 April), but is missing the funnel of that type as well...

Some sources identify this as the destroyer Amatsukaze, which was in the same convoy, but the ship is wrong

How to cite this article: Rickard, J (18 April 2020), North American B-25J Mitchell attacks escort ship , http://www.historyofwar.org/Pictures/pictures_B-25_attacks_type_D.html

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