B-25J-15-NC SN 44-28866 "Champaign Gal"
History
The B-25J-15-NC SN 44-28866 now flying as "Champaign Gal" was accepted on July 27, 1944. Her first flight after modifications was on August 10, 1944, flown by test pilot James Malone and lasted approximately 30 minutes. First assigned to Moody Field, Georgia, she was used for advanced twin-engine pilot training. After several months of use, she was transferred to Turner Field, Georgia for use as a twin-engine trainer. She continued in use as a twin engine-trainer through the end of the war. In 1947, she was flying at Kessler AFB, Mississippi as a proficiency aircraft as well as administrative duties. By 1948, she was transferred to Hamilton AFB, California as a utility transport. She would be assigned to pilot training at Mather AFB, California in 1950, but later sent to the Military Airlift Command. She was briefly stationed at the Canal Zone in Panama during 1953. Her last four years of active duty were spent with the 1708th Ferry Squadron based out of Kelly AFB, Texas where she was used to transfer Air Force personnel to base assignments. She was placed into storage in 1957 and declared surplus in by October of that year. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:
Base Assignments
| Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 08/13/1944 | Moody Field, GA | 2144 Base Unit |
| 03/09/1945 | Turner Field, GA | 2109 Base Unit |
| 06/09/1945 | Perrin Field, TX | 2537 Base Unit |
| 10/13/1946 | Barksdale AFB, LA | 2621 Base Unit |
| 03/23/1947 | Kessler Field, MS | 3704 Base Unit |
| 11/26/1947 | Hamilton Field, CA | 401 Base Unit |
| 08/30/1948 | Hamilton Field, CA | 325 Base Unit |
| 11/22/1948 | Hamilton Field, CA | 78 Base Unit 2Fighter Wing3 |
| 06/13/1949 | McChord Field, WA | 62 MSU |
| 11/15/1949 | Hamilton Field, CA | 78 Base Unit 2Fighter Wing3 |
| 02/27/1950 | Mather Field, CA | 3537 Training Wing |
| 03/07/1951 | Kelly Field, TX | 1275 Air Training SQ |
| 08/07/1951 | Kelly Field, TX | 1700 Maintenance SQ |
| 03/03/1952 | Brookley AFB, AL | Maintenance MOBAR |
| 05/09/1952 | Dover AFB, DE | 1737 Ferry SQ |
| 11/28/1952 | Kelly Field, TX | 1708 Ferry SQ |
| 06/18/1953 | Albrook AFB, Panama | 5700 Airbase Group |
| 08/04/1953 | Kelly Field, TX | 1708 Ferry SQ |
| 06/06/1955 | Birmingham, AL | Maintenance to TB-25N |
| 07/07/1955 | Kelly Field, TX | 1708 Ferry SQ |
| 07/15/1957 | Davis Monthan AFB, AZ | Storage |
| 10/10/1957 | Davis Monthan AFB, AZ | Surplus |
Boing bought the plane on January 16, 1958 and the civil registration was assigned as N5277V. In July of 1960 she was sold to Wenatchee Air Service in Wenatchee, Washington. The next month, she was sold to Wenairco Limited. A new civil registration was assigned of CF-OND. She was later sold to North Western Air Lease in St. Albert, Alberta and operated as tanker #90. By October 1993, she was sold to BHA leasing of Carmel, Main. Her registration was changed to N225AJ. From 1999 to 2002, she was owned by Peddycord Foundation for Aircraft Restoration, Asheboro, North Carolina. In 2002 she was sold to the North Carolina Aviation Museum in Asheboro, North Carolina and restored to flying condition. Again, her registration was changed. This time to her current registration N744CG. She flew there as "Carolina Girl" until 2004. In 2006 she was purchased by the B-25 group LLC in Douglas, Georgia. She is now owned by the Champaign Aviation Museum.
- Model: B-25J-15-NC
- Serial Number: 44-28866
- NAA Mfg. Number: 108-32141
- FAA Registration: N744CG
- Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
- Completion Date: July 25, 1944
- Delivery Date: July 27, 1944
- Status: Flying
- Owner: Champaign Aviation Museum
- Location: Urbana, Ohio
- Website: http://www.champaignaviationmuseum.org/
- Notable info:
Photos
This page represents the most current information we have on this aircraft. The information above was last updated 07/2017 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.