Maid in the Shade
B-25J-10-NC SN 43-35972 "Maid in the Shade"
photo Bill Word

B-25J-10-NC SN 43-35972 "Maid in the Shade"

History

The B-25J-10-NC SN 43-35972 now flying as "Maid in the Shade" was delivered on June 9, 1944. On June 6, 1944, she was test flown by North American test pilot Eddie Fisher. Total flight time was 150 minutes. She was ferried to Hunter AFB by the 4th Ferry Group on June 24, 1944. She departed from Morrison Field, Florida for her first assignment on July 7, 1944. The B-25 would follow the southern route through Brazil and on to the 3rd Air Facility Depot in Africa. In October of that year she was picked up by the 319th Bomb Group, 437th Squadron at Serraggia Airbase, Corsica. She flew 15 combat missions with tail number 18 over Italy between November 4th and December 31st 1944. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card as well as her combat history:

Base Assignments

Date Location Notes
06/09/1944 Hunter Field, GA 4th Ferry Group
07/08/1944 Departed USA Code DUKO Italy 57BW
10/22/1944 Assigned to 319BG/437BS Corsica

Combat History

Mission Date Target
418 11/4/1944 Piazzola RR Bridge, Italy
434 11/10/1944 Casale Monferrato RR Bridge, Italy
443 11/14/1944 San Michele RR Bridge, Italy
445 11/17/1944 Tomba RR Bridge, Italy
450 11/19/1944 Obedisca RR Bridge, Yugoslavia
451 11/27/1944 Faenza Defense Area #1, Italy
461 11/28/1944 Casale Monferrato RR Bridge, Italy
465 12/2/1944 Nervesa RR Bridge, Italy
467 12/3/1944 Obedisca RR Bridge, Yugoslavia
469 12/19/1944 San Ambrogio Rail Block, Brenner
476 12/22/1944 Potetidone RR Bridge, Italy
478 12/26/1944 San Ambrogio Rail Block, Brenner
480 12/27/1944 Chiusaforte RR Bridge, Italy
484 12/28/1944 Chiusaforte RR Bridge, Italy
492 12/31/1944 Chiusaforte RR Bridge, Italy

She returned to the U.S. in July of 1945. Unlike the majority of the returned combat veteran B-25s, she would be recalled from storage and returned to service duty with administrative base units. Her first assignment was at Gravely Point, but she would eventually be assigned to McChord Field in Washington. In 1950, she was assigned to the Inspector General's Office at Norton AFB, California. She would remain here on staff duties for most of the next seven years. In October of 1954, she would be converted to a TB-25N. Later, she was assigned to Bolling AFB, Washington for proficiency flying and general administrative work. Eventually being retired to storage in April of 1958.

Base Assignments

Date Location Notes
07/03/1945 Hunter Field, GA Return to U.S., ATC
07/07/1945 Morrison AFB, FL 1103 Base Unit Storage
02/02/1946 Gravely Point, DC 503 Base Unit
04/30/1946 Lunken Field, OH 586 Base Unit
05/26/1946 Philips Field, MD 613 Base Unit
07/16/1946 Gravely Point, DC 33 Base Unit
12/05/1946 McChord AFB, WA 314 Base Unit
07/28/1948 McChord AFB, WA MATS Flight Service
05/18/1950 Andrews AFB, MD 1050 Air Base Wing HQ
10/01/1950 Norton AFB, CA 1002 Base Unit
04/24/1951 Brookley AFB, AL Maintenance
07/19/1951 Norton AFB, CA 2nd Inspector General SQ
09/31/1951 Norton AFB, CA 1005 Inspector General Grp
02/21/1952 Norton AFB, CA 1002 Inspector General Grp
10/23/1954 Birmingham, AL Maintenance to TB-25N
01/05/1955 Norton AFB, CA 1002 Inspector General Grp
08/21/1956 Biggs AFB, TX 810 Air Base Group
02/21/1957 Norton AFB, CA 1002 Inspector General Grp
05/1957 Bolling AFB, DC 1100 Operations Grp
06/1957 Birmingham, AL Maintenance
08/21/1957 Bolling AFB, DC 1100 Maintenance Supply Grp
04/1958 Davis Monthan AFB, AZ Storage
02/1959 Davis Monthan AFB, AZ Surplus

In January of 1960, she was sold to National Metals out of Phoenix, Arizona. The civil registration of N9552Z was reserved. In September of that year, she was sold to Dothan Aviation in Dothan, Alabama. Tank and spray bars were added in December of 1960. She was used as an agricultural insecticide sprayer until sometime in the mid-1960s when she was put into storage. In 1975, she was sold to Cen-Tex Aviation from San Marcos, Texas. She was sold again in August of 1979 to Henry W. Fisher, Donald W. Ericson, and Robert E. Thompson. In October of 1981 the plane was donated to the Commemorative Air Force (known as the Confederate Air Force at the time).

  • Model: B-25J-10-NC
  • Serial Number: 43-35972
  • NAA Mfg. Number: 108-32262
  • FAA Registration: N125AZ
  • Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
  • Completion Date: June 8, 1944
  • Delivery Date: June 9, 1944
  • Status: Flying
  • Owner: Commemorative Air Force, Arizona Wing
  • Location: Mesa, Arizona
  • Website: http://www.azcaf.org/
  • Notable info: Flew 15 combat missions between November 4th and December 31st 1944.

Photos


This page represents the most current information we have on this aircraft. The information above was last updated 09/2020 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.