B-25J-5-NC SN 43-28059 "Apache Princess"
History
The B-25J-5-NC SN 43-28059 now known as "Apache Princess" was delivered on May 17, 1944. Her first assignment was at Pounds Field, Texas where she was used training reconnaissance flight crews and artillery spotters. She was also used for proficiency flying and multi-engine training while attached to the 74th. She was transferred to an administrative unit while at Stuttgart Air Base and eventually ended up in pilot training when WW II ended. She served in the pilot training role until well after the war until placed in storage in September 1947 at Pyote Field, Texas. After being stored for four years, she was recalled in 1951 refurbished and reclassified a TB-25J. At this time the remaining military hardware was removed in preparation for her training role. She was sent to Stewart AFB, New York in 1952 where she was assigned to administrative duties. In service throughout the l950s, she operated from Stewart AFB in support of the Air Defense Command attached to the local base unit at Stewart and later with the 329th ANG Fighter Group. During this time she was used for proficiency flying and transport duties. When the B-25s were phased out of Air Force service in the late 1950s, she was still serving at Stewart and was retired to Davis-Monthan AFB in late 1957. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:
Base Assignments
| Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 05/31/1944 | Pounds Field, TX | 74 Tactical Recon Group |
| 07/23/1944 | Stuttgart, LA | 383 Base Unit |
| 03/10/1945 | Stuttgart, LA | 74 Tactical Recon Squadron |
| 08/21/1945 | Stuttgart, LA | 383 Base Unit |
| 10/04/1945 | Barksdale, Field, LA | 213 Base Unit |
| 12/02/1945 | Barksdale, Field, LA | 2621 Base Unit |
| 01/05/1946 | Brooks Field, TX | 306 Base Unit |
| 03/10/1946 | Biggs Field, TX | 19 Tactical Squadron |
| 03/31/1946 | Biggs Field, TX | 309 Base Unit |
| 05/14/1946 | Biggs Field, TX | 305 Base Unit |
| 04/07/1947 | Greenville AFB, SC | 309 Base Unit |
| 08/18/1947 | Greenville AFB, SC | 316 Base Unit |
| 09/24/1947 | Pyote Field AAB, TX | 4141 Base Unit, Storage |
| 12/12/1949 | Pyote Field AAB, TX | 2753 Air Storage Squadron |
| 09/18/1952 | Stewart AFB, NY | 4700 Airbase Group ADC |
| 12/20/1956 | Birmingham, AL | Maintenance to TB-25N |
| 04/30/1957 | Stewart AFB, NY | 329 Fighter Group ADC |
| 12/1957 | Davis Monthan AFB, AZ | Storage |
| 04/1958 | Davis Monthan AFB, AZ | Surplus |
On September 10, 1958 she was sold to Blue Mountain Air Service from La Grande, Oregon. She was fitted with a 1000 gallon tank in April of 1959. In December of 1959, she was sold to Earl Dodge of Anchorage, Alaska and operated as Tanker #8. He sold her in July of 1970 to Edgar L. Thorsrud of Missoula, Montana. Max Power, Inc. of Carlsbad California purchased her in December of 1979. They sold her in September of 1980 to Holden Aviation Services, Ltd. of Lamont, Alberta. In May of 1981, she was purchased by Aero Trader, in Borrego Springs, California. While in storage, her rear section was damaged by a storm. She underwent an extensive restoration and was sold to Kermit Weeks in May of 1983. During that restoration, her rear section was replaced with the rear section from B-25J-25-NC 44-30090. Her current registration of N1943J was assigned in July of 1984. She now resides at the Fantasy of Flight Museum in Florida.
- Model: B-25J-5-NC
- Serial Number: 43-28059
- NAA Mfg. Number: 108-35072
- FAA Registration: N1943J
- Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
- Completion Date: May 17, 1944
- Delivery Date: May 19, 1944
- Status: Static
- Owner: Fantasy of Flight Museum
- Location: Polk City, Florida
- Website: http://www.fantasyofflight.com/
- Notable info:
Photos
This page represents the most current information we have on this aircraft. The information above was last updated 09/2019 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.