B-25/F-10-NC SN 43-3374
History
The B-25D/F-10-NC SN 43-3374 was delivered to the military on October 31, 1943. Originally built as a B-25D, she was selected for conversion to the F-10 photo reconnaissance version of the B-25. Conversion work was done at the North American modification center at Kansas City, Kansas. The F-10s served from the arctic to the South Pacific, India and China, Europe and throughout South America and the Caribbean during the war. She was assigned to the 91st Photo Mapping Squadron which was sent to South America in early 1944. It was first stationed at Talara, Peru and later Santiago, Chile. The primary assignment for the 91st Photo Mapping Squadron was to map the coastline of South America. Later other uncharted areas of South American were included. Three flights of four aircraft each were assigned from the 91st to different locations of South America for the necessary mapping coverage. 44-3374 was assigned to the echelon mapping the West Coast of South America. During this time, she was named "Myhapias" by its regular pilot 1st Lt. Ole Griffith. In late 1944 the 91st was ordered back to the US to convert to the F-9 the photo versions of the B-17s, and the B-25s/F-10s of the 91st were returned to training at Lowry Field, Colorado. At Lowry in October 1944 she was assigned as a training aircraft for photo mapping crews. The local Base Unit also used her for administrative flights as well as utility duties. She provided these services until the end of the war. With the inception of the USAF in 1947 the old Army Air Force base units changed their numerical designations. 44-3374 had been assigned to the 3705th Base Unit at Lowry and this unit was changed to the 3415th Technical Training Wing. She was attached to the Technical Training Wing for most of its post WW II duty years except for a short tour at McCoy AFB, Florida just prior to deactivation. She was retired and put into storage at Davis-Monthan AFB at Tucson, Arizona in December 1957. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:
Base Assignments
| Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 11/01/1943 | Kansas City, KS | Modification to F10 |
| 12/01/1943 | Patterson Field, OH | 91 Photo Mapping Sqdn |
| 04/19/1944 | Departed USA | Code "CLUS" |
| 10/26/1944 | Returned USA | |
| 11/27/1944 | Lowry AFB, CO | 3705 Base Unit |
| 07/18/1947 | Lowry AFB, CO | 3415 Training Wing |
| 09/07/1954 | Birmingham, AL | Maintenance |
| 11/17/1954 | Lowry AFB, CO | 3415 Training Wing |
| 12/17/1956 | Birmingham, AL | Maintenance |
| 01/22/1957 | Lowry AFB, CO | 3415 Training Wing |
| 05/05/1957 | McCoy AFB, FL | 1360 Air Base Group |
| 12/15/1957 | Davis Monthan AFB, AZ | Storage |
| 02/01/1958 | NAA Inglewood, CA | Modification to B-25B |
| 04/18/1958 | Wright-Patterson AFB, OH | Museum Display |
On November 7, 1957, Colonel Jack A. Simms had the idea to modify one of the many B-25s sitting in storage to resemble Jimmy Doolittle's B-25B-NA. At the time, all of the known B-25B-NA bombers had been scrapped. On December 30, 1957, a memorandum was issued by Colonel Bickell, United States Air Force Chief of Operations Programs Division, requesting the B-25D/F-10-NC SN 43-3374 for this purpose. The aircraft was prepared for a flight to the North American Aviation Inglewood, California plant. The B-25D/F-10-NC was reconfigured by North American and flown to Los Vegas for the April 18, 1958 Doolittle Reunion.
She was flown by several of the Raiders on her trip from Los Vegas to her current resting place near Dayton, Ohio. You will notice the engine covers in the picture at the museum. These were added for a reason. The late model B-25D-30-NC used for this conversion had Clayton "S" type exhaust. This was not present on the B-25B-NA. Modification of the engine exhaust could not be done until the plane was at her final destination. North American included information on how to modify the engine cowling but this modification was never done. Although she hasn't flown since 1958, she is a complete aircraft that wouldn't be that difficult to get back into the air.
- Model: B-25D/F-10-NC
- Serial Number: 43-3374
- NAA Mfg. Number: 100-23700
- FAA Registration: Never registered
- Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
- Completion Date: October 29, 1943
- Delivery Date: October 31, 1943
- Status: Static Display
- Owner: National Museum of the Air Force
- Location: Dayton, Ohio
- Website: http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/
- Notable info: Reconfigured by North American Aviation to resemble Jimmy Doolittle's B-25B-NA.
Photos
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.