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.