August 19,1940: first flight of the North American B-25 Mitchell

Three aircraft from the Santa Monica Museum of Flying in California, which held a major auction of aircraft and memorabilia during May 1990. In the foreground is the North American T-28B, flown by Chuck Smith; accompanying it are Bruce Lockwood in the P-51D Mustang and Alan Preston in Lockheed P-38 Lightning N5596V, which sold at the auction for $1.5 million (£909,090)