Catch-22's budget could only accommodate 17 flyable B-25s, and an additional non-flyable hulk was acquired in Mexico, made barely ferry-able and flown with landing gear down to the Guaymas, 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.
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Aircraft Identity: |
Description/Comment: |
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B-25H-1NA/43-4643/N1203 |
Flew in movie as The Bug Smasher. Used as camera ship. Fitted with Cinerama camera nose. |
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B-25J-30NC/44-86843/N3507G Passionette Paulette |
Flew in olive drab scheme. |
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B-25J-25NC/44-29939/N9456Z Briefing Time |
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B-25J-30NC/44-31032/N3174G Problem Child |
Flew in movie as Blonde Bomber. |
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B-25J/44-28925/N7687C How `Boot That! |
Flew in movie as Tokyo Express. |
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B-25J-5NC/43-28204/N9856C Pacific Princess |
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B-25J-25NC/44-30748/N8195H Heavenly Body |
Flew in movie as as M&M and Miss Renee |
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B-25J-30NC/44-30925/N9494Z |
Flew in movie as as Laden Maiden |
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B-25J-30NC/44-86701/N7681C |
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B-25J-25NC/44-30801/N3699G Executive Sweet |
Flew in movie as as Vestal Virgin |
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B-25J-20NC/44-29366/N9115Z |
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B-25H-1NA/43-4432/N10V City Of Burlington |
Flew in movie as as Berlin Express |
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B-25J-25NC/44-30077/N2849G Mouthy Mitchell |
Flew in movie as as Mouthy Mitchell |
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B-25J-35NC/45-8843/XB-HEY |
Destroyed in crash scene, remains buried. |
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B-25J-25NC/44-30493/N9451Z |
Flew in movie as as Dumbo |
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B-25J-25NC/44-30649/N9452Z Poopsie |
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B-25J-20NC/44-29887/N10564 Carol Jean |
Flew in movie as as Luscious Lulu |
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B-25J-25NC/44-30823/N1042B Pacific Prowler |
Used in movie as a camera ship. |
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.
