Three injured in B-25 “Old Glory” warbird crash landing in California

Investigators said the cause of the B-25 “Old Glory” crash landing was a mechanical failure.

Three people were injured after B-25 “Old Glory” privately owned warbird crash-landed in Stockton, Ca., on Sep. 19, 2020.

As reported by Good Day Sacramento, authorities said the plane crashed at around 7:30 p.m. into an irrigation ditch in an open field in the area of Roberts Road and Muller Road.

Two of the three people were taken to the hospital for non-life-threatening injuries while the other person did not need hospital treatment, the deputies said.

Investigators said the cause of the crash was a mechanical failure.

The North American B-25 was named after Billy Mitchell, the American General who advocated greater airpower in the armed forces.

The B-25 medium bomber was one of America’s most famous airplanes of World War II. It was the type used by Gen. Jimmy Doolittle for the Tokyo Raid on Apr. 18, 1942. 

Subsequently, B-25s saw duty in every combat area being flown by the Dutch, British, Chinese, Russians and Australians in addition to U.S. forces.

Although the airplane was originally intended for level bombing from medium altitudes, it was used extensively in the Pacific Theater for bombing Japanese airfields and beach emplacements from treetop level, and for strafing and skip bombing enemy shipping.

The B-25 saw many modifications during its operational service. The series ran from the B-25A to the B-25J, each type seeing variations to increase its firepower.

Old Glory (registered N7946C) was originally built in 1944 as a B-25J and was redesignated as a TB-25N in 1956.

Photo by Stanislaus County Sheriff’s Office