WIX Archives

Buried Mexican B-25

Posted by Dan K on Wed Dec 12, 2001 01:44:49 PM

Hi all, Last evening's insomnia led me to drag out some old issues of magazines. I "rediscovered" information concerning one of the Tallmantz Mitchells; the one used to simulate a crash landing at the base. Check out the following excerpt (from 1980):

...the suspended B-25 was not slated to actually burn for the scene, but director Nichols had the shot done five times and after the fifth time the B-25 was pretty well gutted. Frank Pine recalled that no pilot would fly the bomber back to the United States after the filming, even if it had been made airworthy,"so we just buried the B-25 at Guaymas. We called in all the proper Mexican aviation authorities to show them what we were doing with the airplane, dug a large hole, and buried it." That particular B-25, XB-HEY, had been obtained in Mexico prior to the filming, and that was where the Catch-22 film crew left it.

Just curious if anyone knows more details. Has anyone ever attempted an excavation? (Anyone up for a family vacation at Guaymas?)
Best wishes,
Dan

Follow Ups:

Re: Buried Mexican B-25 - bdk Wed Dec 12, 2001 03:02:59 PM
- Re: Buried Mexican B-25 - Jim Harley Wed Dec 12, 2001 03:13:24 PM
  - Re: Buried Mexican B-25 - Joe Scheil Thu Dec 13, 2001 12:37:24 AM
- Aha ! - MGM Thu Dec 13, 2001 09:12:15 AM
  - Re: Aha ! - bdk Thu Dec 13, 2001 03:56:33 PM
    - Which Tony ????????? - MGM Thu Dec 13, 2001 08:08:23 PM
      - That's half the secret! (ntx) - bdk Mon Dec 17, 2001 12:00:08 PM