Corgi Aviation Archive Series Diecast Model

North American B-25J Mitchell - “Heavenly Body”, 390th BS, 42nd BG, 13th Air Force, USAAF, Sansapor, New Guinea, 1944

1:72 Scale.  Length: 8.75”.  Wingspan: 11.25”

On February 20, 1945, B-25J-25-NC, BuNo 44-30748, was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Force However, at that stage during World War II, the aircraft was not immediately needed and it was flown to South Plains, Texas for initial storage (around 1,000 B-25 Mitchells were stored or still active with the USAAF after WWII). In July 1947, 44-30748 was brought back to flying condition and ferried to Pyote, Texas for further storage. This B-25 remained in service as a TB-25J multi engine advanced trainer for military pilots until 1958. Following removal from military inventory it was acquired in 1959 by Avery Aviation based at Greybull, Wyoming. In 1968 it was purchased by Filmways Inc. and flown by pilots from Tallmantz Aviation in the 1970 film "Catch-22". It was one of 18 B-25s used in that film.

In 1972, it was purchased by the present owner and underwent extensive restoration with sheer blood, sweat and tears and did not fly again until 1974. Heavenly Body is still flying today on a regular basis and is flown and maintained by a volunteer flight and ground crew. Heavenly Body has been participating in air shows throughout the USA from the mid-1970s to the present day. In April of 1992, Heavenly Body was the first B-25 in 50 years to fly from the deck of an aircraft carrier, the USS Ranger in San Diego Bay. That event commemorated the 50th anniversary of Colonel James Doolittle's flight of 16 B-25 Mitchells from the USS Hornet (CV-8), on April 18th 1942, to bomb Japan for that country's attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941.

Heavenly Body is presently painted in olive and gray, with markings and nose art of the original "Heavenly Body" of the 390th Bomb Squadron, 42nd Bomb Group "Crusaders", 13th Air Force in the South Pacific theater during World War II.


The Corgi Aviation Archive features a wide selection of high quality, ready-made, diecast model airplanes. Each model is crafted with meticulous attention to detail, using specifications of the original aircraft. Corgi models are built with diecast metal and some plastic components.

This model of a B-25 Mitchell by Corgi features: