Warbird Profiles: COMMANDO BARBIE Edited By: Stephen Chapis Designed in 1939 by the North American Aviation Company (NAA) and baptized in honor of Major Gen. William “Billy” Mitchell (1879-1936), one of the first and most prominent supporters of American air power, the B-25 production run ran from 1940 and 1945. The two facilities, that produced the B-25, Inglewood, California and Kansas City, Kansas, turned out over 10,000 aircraft. Amongst the many versions produced, without doubt the most significant were the G and H-models. The G-model featured a 75mm M4 cannon from the Sherman tank and four 50-caliber machine guns, which made this variant effective against small vessels, particularly barges carrying troops and cargo. The cannon was effective against ships as large as a destroyer.