[21twelve]

Seeing the rear flaps burnt away sent me to google:

“From the outset of the war, the North American B-25 Mitchell medium ... Flight control surfaces, exclusive of wing flaps, are heavily doped-fabric covered members. .”

[GreyFriar]

Vesuvius wiped out an entire B-25 bomber group, the eruption and fallout destroyed all 80 aircraft.

Many additional photos of the B-25s and the eruption and the diary of a USAAF witness:

http://www.warwingsart.com/12thAirForce/Vesuvius.html

Newsreel of the eruption: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/435934438903070869/

[central_va]

I don’t know why the control surfaces were fabric. Does anyone know why? Most WWII planes were like that for some reason.