B-25 Mitchell aircraft in Catch-22 (film)
Encyclopedia
When Catch-22
began preliminary production, Paramount made a decision to hire the Tallmantz Aviation
organization to obtain sufficient B-25 Mitchell
bomber aircraft to recreate a Mediterranean wartime base as depicted in the Joseph Heller novel of the same name. Tallmantz president, Frank G. Tallman
ended up finding war-surplus aircraft, and eventually gathered not only pilots to fly the aircraft but also a ground support crew to maintain the fleet.
, Sonora
, Mexico
filming location, only to be burned and destroyed in the landing crash scene. The wreck was then buried in the ground next to the runway, where it remains to this day.
Paramount planned to film the Catch-22 aerial sequences for six weeks, but the production required three months to shoot and the bombers flew a total of about 1,500 hours. They would appear on screen for 12 minutes.
Fifteen of the 18 bombers used in the film still remain intact, including one on display at the Smithsonian Institution
's National Air and Space Museum
.
All the B-25s had the tip of the vertical stabilizer painted blue.
For the film, mock upper turrets were installed. To represent different models several aircraft had the turrets installed behind the wings representing early (B-25C/D type) aircraft. Initially, the camera ships also had the mock turrets installed, but problems with buffeting required their removal.
Catch-22 (film)
Catch-22 is a 1970 satirical war film adapted from the book of the same name by Joseph Heller. Considered a black comedy revolving around the "lunatic characters" of Heller's satirical anti-war novel, it was the work of a talented production team which included director Mike Nichols and...
began preliminary production, Paramount made a decision to hire the Tallmantz Aviation
Frank Tallman
Frank Gifford Tallman was a stunt pilot who worked in Hollywood during the 1960s and 1970s.-Early life:...
organization to obtain sufficient B-25 Mitchell
B-25 Mitchell
The North American B-25 Mitchell was an American twin-engined medium bomber manufactured by North American Aviation. It was used by many Allied air forces, in every theater of World War II, as well as many other air forces after the war ended, and saw service across four decades.The B-25 was named...
bomber aircraft to recreate a Mediterranean wartime base as depicted in the Joseph Heller novel of the same name. Tallmantz president, Frank G. Tallman
Frank Tallman
Frank Gifford Tallman was a stunt pilot who worked in Hollywood during the 1960s and 1970s.-Early life:...
ended up finding war-surplus aircraft, and eventually gathered not only pilots to fly the aircraft but also a ground support crew to maintain the fleet.
Aircraft
The Catch-22s budget could only accommodate 17 flyable B-25 Mitchells, and an additional non-flyable hulk was acquired in Mexico, made barely ferry-able and flown with landing gear down to the GuaymasGuaymas
Guaymas is a city and municipality located in the southwest part of the state of Sonora in northwestern Mexico. The city is located 117 km south of the state capital of Hermosillo, and 242 miles from the U.S. border, and is the principal port for the state. The municipality is located in the...
, Sonora
Sonora
Sonora officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Sonora is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided into 72 municipalities; the capital city is Hermosillo....
, Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
filming location, only to be burned and destroyed in the landing crash scene. The wreck was then buried in the ground next to the runway, where it remains to this day.
Paramount planned to film the Catch-22 aerial sequences for six weeks, but the production required three months to shoot and the bombers flew a total of about 1,500 hours. They would appear on screen for 12 minutes.
Fifteen of the 18 bombers used in the film still remain intact, including one on display at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
's National Air and Space Museum
National Air and Space Museum
The National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution holds the largest collection of historic aircraft and spacecraft in the world. It was established in 1976. Located in Washington, D.C., United States, it is a center for research into the history and science of aviation and...
.
- 6A B-25H-1NA 43-4513 (N1203), Olive Drab B-25C, Unknown - Camera ship
- 6B B-25J-30NC 44-86843 (N3507G), " Passionette Paulette 03507G ", Olive Drab B-25J, Grissom AFB, Indiana (D)
- 6C B-25J-25NC 44-29939 (N9456Z), (girl on bomb) 09456Z ", Camouflage B-25J Mid-Atlantic Air Museum, Reading, PA (A)
- 6D B-25J-30NC 44-31032 (N3174G), " Free, Fast and Ready 13174G ", Olive Drab B-25J March AFB, CA (D)
- 6F B-25J-15NC 43-28925 (N7687G), " Superman ", Cavanaugh Flight Museum, Addison, TX (A)
- 6G B-25J-5NC 43-28204 (N9856C), " Booby Trap 39856C ", Olive Drab B-25J, Aero Traders, Chino, CA (A)
- 6H B-25J-25NC 44-30748 (N8195H), " ' 38195H ", Camouflage B-25J,, Milan S. Pupich, Van Nuy, CA (A)
- 6I B-25J-30NC 44-30925 (N9494Z), " Laden Maiden ", Desert Tan B-25J, Brussels Air Museum Foundation, Belgium (R)
- 6J B-25J-30NC 44-86701 (N7681C), " Annzas " - 25 missions, Camouflage B-25J, Musee de l'Air, Paris - Destroyed Hangar Fire
- 6K B-25J-25NC 44-30801 (N3699G), " Vestal Virgin 13699G ", Olive Drab B-25J, American Aeronautical Foundation, Camarillo, CA (A)
- 6M B-25J-20NC 44-29366 (N9115Z), " aBominable Snowman ", Olive Drab B-25J, RAF Bomber Command Museum, London (D)
- 6N B-25H-1NA 43-4432 (N10V), " Berlin Express 410V ", Camouflage B-25J, EAA museum, Oshkosh, WI (D)
- 6Q B-25J-25NC 44-30077 (N2849G), " The Denver Dumper ", Olive Drab B-25J, Pacific Aviation MuseumPacific Aviation MuseumThe Pacific Aviation Museum Pearl Harbor is located on Ford Island, located in the middle of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. The museum site occupies of the island...
, Honolulu, HI (D)
- 6S B-25J-35NC 44-8843 (XB-HEY), Camouflage B-25C Destroyed
- 6V B-25J-25NC 44-30493 (N9451Z), " Dumbo 39451Z ", Olive Drab B-25C, Malmstrom AFB CA (D)
- 6W B-25J-25NC 44-30649 (N9452Z), " Hot Pants 32452Z ", B-25C, Maxwell AFB (D)
- 6Y B-25J-20NC 44-29887 (N10564), " 6Y Luscious Lulu, Olive Drab, NASM, Steven F. Udvar-Hazy Center, Chantilly, VA (D)
- 6? B-25J-25NC 44-30823 (N1042B), (nude on bomb) Olive Drab - Camera ship Jim Terry, Fort Worth, TX (A)
- B-25J Dumbo, nose section Tennessee Air Museum, Sevierville, TN (D)
All the B-25s had the tip of the vertical stabilizer painted blue.
For the film, mock upper turrets were installed. To represent different models several aircraft had the turrets installed behind the wings representing early (B-25C/D type) aircraft. Initially, the camera ships also had the mock turrets installed, but problems with buffeting required their removal.