F-10 photo reconnaissance version of B-25

Last revised March 10, 2000


F-10 was the designation given to 45 B-25Ds that were modified for photographic reconnaissance work. The F-10 designation refers to the F-for-Foto photographic reconnaissance series, which the USAAC/USAAF used from 1930 to 1947, and should not be confused with the F-for-Fighter series which was not introduced until 1947.

All of the F-10s were new B-25Ds taken directly from the assembly line at North American's Kansas City plant. All armament, armor, and bombing equipment was removed, taking about 1000 pounds off the empty weight. Three synchronized cameras were installed in the lower part of the nose, which was fitted with a special "bug-eyed" chin fairing. Often, a standard downward-pointing reconnaissance camera was fitted in the aft fuselage. The crew of the F-10 was five--two pilots, a navigator, a radio operator, and a photographer.

The first units to operate the F-10 were the 311th Photo Wing and the 1st Photo Charting Group. The job assigned to the F-10 was the mapping of territories which had been poorly explored so that more accurate charts could be made. A total of nine squadrons are known to have operated the F-10. Mapping sorties were made over Alaska, the Canadian Northwest Territories, Brazil, the Himilayas, and the South Pacific.

Several F-10s were turned over to the Royal Canadian Air Force.

Serials of B-25Ds modified as F-10s:

41-29848/29947		North American B-25D-1 Mitchell
				c/n 87-8013/8112
				29875 modified as F-10
				29876 modified as F-10
				29877 modified as F-10.  Delivered to RCAF
					as 894
				29878 modified as F-10
				29879 modified as F-10
				29880 modified as F-10
				29881 modified as F-10
				29882 modified as F-10
				29883 modified as F-10
				29884 modified as F-10
				29885 modified as F-10
				29886 modified as F-10 - Delivered to RCAF
					as 891
				29887 modified as F-10
				29888 modified as F-10
				29924 modified as F-10 - Delivered to RCAF
					as 892.
				29926 modified as F-10
				29927 modified as F-10
				29929 modified as F-10
				29930 modified as F-10
				29932 modified as F-10
41-29948/30172		North American B-25D-5 Mitchell
				c/n 87-8113/8337
				29970 modified as F-10
				29984 modified as F-10
				29987 modified as F-10
				29988 modified as F-10
				29989 modified as F-10
				29990 modified as F-10
				29991 modified as F-10
				30132 modified as F-10
41-30173/30352		North American B-25D-10 Mitchell
				c/n 87-8338/8517
				30181 modified as F-10
				30195 modified as F-10 - delivered to RCAF as
					893.
41-30353/30532		North American B-25D-15 Mitchell
				c/n 87-8518/8698
				30426 modified as F-10
				30427 modified as F-10
41-30533/30847		North American B-25D-20 Mitchell
				c/n 87-8699/9012
				30554 modified as F-10
				30580 modified as F-10
43-3280/3619		North American B-25D-30 Mitchell
				c/n 100-23606/100-23945  
				3371 converted to F-10
				3372 converted to F-10
				3416 converted to F-10 
				3419 converted to F-10 
				3433 converted to F-10 
				3434 converted to F-10 
				3434 converted to F-10 
				3437 converted to F-10 
				3438 converted to F-10 
				3439 converted to F-10 
				3440 converted to F-10 
				3444 converted to F-10 
				3446 converted to F-10 

Sources:


  1. B-25 Mitchell: The Magnificent Medium, N. L. Avery, Phalanx, 1992.

  2. Medium with the Mostest--The B-25 Mitchell, Jerry Scutts, Air International, Vol. 44, Nos 2 and 3, 1993.

  3. Boston, Mitchell, and Liberator in Australian Service, Stewart Wilson, Aerospace Publications, 1992.

  4. Famous Bombers of the Second World War, William Green, Doubleday, 1959.

  5. North American's Flying Gun--The Story of the B-25 From Paper Airplane to Legendary Bomber, Jack Dean, Wings, Vol 23 No 4, 1993.

  6. United States Military Aircraft Since 1909, Gordon Swanborough and Peter M. Bowers, Smithsonian, 1989.

  7. North American B-25A-G Mitchell, Aircraft in Profile, Doubleday, 1966.

  8. Jane's American Fighting Aircraft of the 20th Century, Michael J. H. Taylor.