North American TB-25 Mitchell —

Spot on. So easily confused as a B-25

Nice shot, John. One small correction, though. This is a PBJ-1J, as indicated on the vertical tail fin. From Wikipedia:

"PBJ-1J
U.S. Navy designation for the B-25J (Blocks −1 through −35), it had improvements in radio and other equipment. Beside the standard armament package, the Marines often fitted it with 5-inch underwing rockets and search radar for the antishipping/antisubmarine role. The large Tiny Tim rocket-powered warhead was used in 1945.'

So, strictly speaking it is still a B-25. The FAA registration number is: N5865V, and it's original serial number is: 44-30988. There is more information here:

https://b-25history.org/aircraft/4430988.htm

And one of my pics of this aircraft is here:

https://flightaware.com/photos/view/729112-e78fffed1e33c070d554e8d1203ce91a22541252/user/byingtongh/sort/date/page/1

N5865V (1945 NORTH AMERICAN PBJ-1J/B-25J 'Semper Fi'
P-Patrol, B-Bomber, J-Designator for North American
Some history at: http://www.aerialvisuals.ca/AirframeDossier.php?Serial=8093
Over 74 yrs and lookin’ good!! SUPER THANK YOU! to everyone who helps keep these Ol historical birds flying

per your citation on https://b-25history.org/aircraft/4430988.htm, the history says

03/21/1945 Elizabeth City, NJ Modification to PBJ-J

she was converted DURING THE WAR, so imo, it's hard to say she's/was a B-25

I can go along with what the owners of this aircraft state... "On May 15, 2016, after a 23 year restoration, she became the only known flying PBJ-1J".

https://b-25history.org/aircraft/4430988.htm

It is, after all, their airplane!!!

That said, Joe Baugher's research and documentation regarding U.S. military aircraft is often cited for reference...

From its beginning as a North American B-25J-30/32-NC Mitchell constructed for the USAAF as USAAF s/n 44-30988...

"30980/30991 to USN as PBJ-1J 35849/35860".
"30988 delivered to USAAF Mar 20, 1945, transferred directly to US Navy as BuNo 35857".

Once handed over to the USN it was assigned the USN BuNo. 35857...

"35798/35920, North American PBJ-1J Mitchell, Navy equivalent of B-25J. Were USAAF
44-30509/30531,44-30353/30356,
44-30693/30697,44-30703/30710,
44-30716/30718,44-30961/30964,
44-20972/30975,44-30980/30991,
44-31089/31104,44-30849/30851,
44-30856,44-31277/31296,44-31444/31463
BuNos reassigned from cancelled PBN-1 batch."


"35857 was ex B-25J 44-30988. Mar 20, 1945: Delivered to the USAAF, transferred directly to the Navy Mar 21, 1945: Sent to NAS Elizabeth City, NC for conversion to PBJ-1. May 24, 1945: Assigned to USMC Service Squadron 81 at Elizabeth City. Nov 15, 1945: Transferred to NAS Johnstown, PA, for the rest of its short career, first serving with the Naval Special Weapons Division, then one month later transferring to the Naval Air Maintenance Unit. Jan 28, 1947: Assigned to the Pool Service Squadron Feb 28, 1948: War Assets Administration for disposal Mar 8, 1948: Stricken off strength. Jul 1, 1947: To St. Louis Flying Service, registered N5865V. Converted it for corporate use, including installing a floor over the bomb bay, soundproofing, additional seats, windows and new engines as well as other alterations. Jan 1948: Continental Airlines of Houston, TX; used it as a crew trainer. Apr 1950: Oilfield Aviation Corp. of Houston(,) More modifications, including the installation of an airstair door. Apr 1969: Atlantic Aviation Corp. of Wilmington, DE Four more owners Jul 1963: Air Services Inc. of Addison, TX Added avionics and radar for use in testing for Texas Instruments Company. 1966: Aero Industries of Addison, TX Jan 1971: Robert A. Matthews of Jacksonville, NC. 1972 to 1979: withdrawn from use and sat in open storage at Ft. Lauderdale, FL, where it suffered some damage to its tail. 1978: Tom Reilly of Orlando, FL, 1981: Craig Tims of Conifer, CO. 1981 to 1982: Restored to flying condition, marked as a B-25, at Kissimmee, FL. Dec 1985: Confederate Air Force (later changed to Commemorative Air Force) of Harlingen, TX, (who later moved to Midland). 1994 to May 2016 the plane underwent a complete tear-down restoration to PBJ-1, requiring a replacement wing and replacement of the waist window section (with airstair door) with one from B-25J 44-28765. It is now painted as PBJ-1J 35243 with Marine Bombing Squadron 611 (VMB-611) in the Pacific Theater, which was lost on a mission on May 30, 1945."

http://www.joebaugher.com/usaf_serials/1944_2.html

http://www.joebaugher.com/navy_serials/thirdseries4.html

good read @ https://www.devildogsquadron.com/pages/PBJs

PBJs came about by chance. In 1943, North American, the B-25's manufacturer, produced more B-25s than the Army Air Corp could use. The US Marine Corps, however, was looking for a medium bomber. They agreed to take the B-25s and use them for "night heckling", anti-shipping missions or close air support of beachheads and landings.

The Marines were innovative in customizing the PBJs for the jobs they faced. As most of the missions were performed at low altitude, there was not much need for the glass nose/bombardier position. It was replaced with a solid nose and armed with up to 8 - .50 caliber machine guns, or in some versions, a 75mm cannon.

9 PBJ squadrons made it overseas before the war ended in the Pacific. 26 PBJs were lost in combat and 19 were lost in operational accidents while in a combat zone.

The Devil Dog represents a PBJ-1J (the second J designates the model) of the VMB 612 squadron.