What became of the World War II 'Pride of Conecuh' B-25 Mitchell Bomber?

'Pride of Conecuh' B-25 Mitchell Bomber

Whatever happened to the “Pride of Conecuh”?

That’s a question I couldn’t help but ask last week when I saw a photo that was published in the paper 70 years ago this week. In the Aug. 26, 1943 edition of The Courant, the front page featured a large photo of a North American B-25 Mitchell Bomber that had been named the “Pride of Conecuh.” The War Department’s Bureau of Public Relations sent the photo to The Courant because the plane had been bought with funds raised during a war bond sale in Conecuh County in 1942.

“It was bombers of this type which blasted Tokyo, Rommel and is dreaded by the enemy on all fronts,” the caption beneath the photo said. “A Mitchell was the first U.S. bomber to sink a U-Boat. Conecuh citizens will follow with more than ordinary interest, the exploits of ‘Pride of Conecuh’ as it takes its place at battle front.”

According to Boeing Company’s Web site, the North America B-25 Mitchell was a twin-engine bomber that was widely used by Allied Air Forces during World War II. Nearly 10,000 of these extremely versatile planes were produced between 1939 and 1945. They were used as fighter planes, for high- and low-level bombing runs, photoreconnaissance, strafing and submarine patrols. A typical crew consisted of a pilot, bombardier, radio operator and gunner.

These planes became the most heavily armed planes in the world during World War II. Some of them were armed with 75-mm cannons and machine guns as well as over a dozen .50-caliber guns in the bombardier’s compartment. Some of these planes were also equipped with eight .50-caliber guns in the nose of the plane. Its normal bomb capacity was 5,000 pounds.

B-25 Mitchells were 53-feet long and were powered by two 1,700-horse power Wright Cyclone engines. They were also fast, capable of flying over 300 miles per hour with a range of 3,000 miles. They had a wingspan of just over 67-1/2 feet.

After seeing the photo of the “Pride of Conecuh” bomber last week, I’ve looked high and low for more information about this plane, but have yet to find a single mention of it elsewhere. It’s very possible that the plane was scrapped after the war, but it’s also possible that it’s sitting in a museum, on a military base or at a military monument or display somewhere today. Of course, it’s also possible that it’s sitting at the bottom of the Pacific Ocean or nothing but a pile of wreckage in a European forest somewhere today. In any event, I think the people of Conecuh County would be interested to learn what became of the plane that bore the county’s name during World War II.

In the end, if anyone out there has any information about the “Pride of Conecuh,” please let me know. You can reach me by phone at The Courant by calling 251-578-1492 or you can write me at The Evergreen Courant, ATTN: Lee Peacock, P.O. Box 440, Evergreen, AL 36401. If you’d rather contact me by e-mail, my e-mail address is courantsports@earthlink.net.