B-25H-5-NA SN 43-4450

History

The B-25H-5-NA SN 43-4450 was delivered on January 10, 1944. After delivery, she was flown from Inglewood to Eglin Field, Florida where testing was done on the 75mm canon. After two months at Eglin, she was flown to Hunter Field, Georgia on April 10, 1944. Modifications were made there and it departed for the Pacific under shipping code "LEFT". She left Hunter Field on April 14, 1944 piloted by Lt. W. Garrison in company with three other B-25Hs bound for the 345TH Bomb Group in New Guinea. She arrived at Dobodura, New Guinea on May 2, 1944 but was never received by the 345th as she suffered a nose gear failure on landing which heavily damaged the canon and nose section. Initially deemed too seriously damaged to be used she was condemned for salvage on June 6, l944. However, at some time after this accident, she was fitted with a glass nose from of B-25D-15 41-30593. Although no records have been found to verify details or tell any continuing story of the aircraft, it is possible it was pressed into service as an administrative aircraft or for use in some training capacity. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:

Base Assignments

From 1945 until the late 1980s she sat in the weeds of the old Dobodura airbase complex among various other aircraft parts. She was the most complete airframe to still exist from this once large allied base. Over the years numerous parts were removed that have left just a shell of the aircraft. The tail, top portion of the rear section, side panels and the right outer wing panel have all been removed and like so many other old aircraft parts in New Guinea turned into anything from housing parts to fencing for livestock. She was recovered from the weeds at Dobodura in 1987 and put on display at the old Horanda number 7 airbase at what is now Girua Airport in Popondetta. The left landing gear is from a B-24, and the two visible engines are from a P-47.

• Model: B-25H-5-NA
• Serial Number: 43-4450
• NAA Mfg. Number: 98-21451
• FAA Registration: Never registered
• Mfg. Plant: Inglewood, California
• Completion Date: January 3, 1944
• Delivery Date: January 10, 1944
• Status: Static
• Owner: Papua New Guinea National War Museum
• Location: Girua Airfield, Papua New Guinea
• Website: http://www.museumpng.gov.pg/
• Notable info:

This page represents the most current information we have on this aircraft. The information above was last updated 07/2018 with information provided by Bob Haney. Our goal is to have the most current and correct information possible. If you have any information about this aircraft not listed here or see anything posted in error, please contact the B-25 History Project so we may update our records.