05/31/2007. Remarks by Bill Ewing: "The RCAF Central Navigation School at RCAF Station Winnipeg, operated three different Mitchells.

The "solid nose" (8-gun nose) was a pilot trainer and was used to convert pilots from the Beech Expeditor. There were two types of "glass nose", one had a black glass fiber nose cone and had Hughes APG-33 Interception radar installed for training CF-100 navigators (G.I.B.s (Guy In Back)). The other wore red glass fiber nose cone and had APG-40 radar installed to train navigators for the transport (long-range) roll. We operated 32 Mitchells here, others were operated by 412 (VIP) Squadron (Ottawa) in a high-speed transport roll, while one Auxiliary Squadron in Saskatoon flew them in the bomber roll.

The pictured aircraft was built as a B-25J-27-NC for the USAAF, s/n 44-30475. In the early fifties it was transferred to the RCAF. This Mitchell belonged to the Navigation School, the base codes had been removed from the fuselage in preparation for storage. It went to the Venezualan AF in 1963, its fate is unknown.

Note the background: Two "Alberts" (Grumman Albatross) and an Avro Lancaster of 111 KU (Search & Rescue). When the Mitchells left Winnipeg, I ended up over in 111 KU (that stands for "Composite Unit" - although how they got "KU" I've never been able to figure out)."