How 'Boot That
B-25J-15-NC SN 44-28925 "How 'Boot That!?"
photo Scott Slocum

B-25J-15-NC SN 44-28925 "How 'Boot That!?"

History

The B-25J-15-NC SN 44-28925 now known as "How 'Boot That!?" was delivered on August 11, 1944. She departed the United states on August 27, 1944 and flew the southern route to Europe over the Atlantic ocean through Brazil and the Azores. The following assignments are listed on her record card as well as her extensive combat history:

Base Assignments

Date Location Notes
08/18/1944 Hunter Field, GA Modifications
08/27/1944 Departed USA Code DUKO Italy 57BW
09/07/1944 Assigned to 310BG/380BS Corsica

Combat History

Mission Date Target
621 09/22/1944 Rubiem RR Bridge, Italy
623 09/23/1944 Lonate Pozzolo RR Bridge, Italy
626 09/26/1944 Lonate Pozzolo RR Bridge, Italy
631 09/30/1944 Lonate Pozzolo RR Bridge, Italy
635 10/01/1944 Lonate Pozzolo RR Bridge, Italy
637 10/3/1944 Lonate Pozzolo RR Bridge, Italy
639 10/04/1944 Lonate Pozzolo RR Bridge, Italy
640 10/11/1944 Mantua East RR Bridge, Italy
642 10/12/1944 Bologna Storage, Italy
643 10/17/1944 Bologna Storage, Italy
648 10/18/1944 Lonate Pozzolo RR Bridge, Italy
650 10/19/1944 Lonate Pozzolo RR Bridge, Italy
652 10/20/1944 Ponte San Peitro RR Bridge, Italy
654 11/04/1944 Cameri RR Bridge, Italy
658 11/05/1944 Cameri RR Bridge, Italy
671 11/09/1944 Padua North RR Bridge, Italy
676 11/10/1944 Piazzolo RR Bridge, Italy
680 11/11/1944 Casale Monferriato Bridge, Italy
681 11/13/1944 Cittadella RR Bridge, Italy
686 11/16/1944 Cittadella RR Bridge, Italy
689 11/17/1944 Novska Bridge, Yugoslavia
691 11/18/1944 Casarsa Bridge, Italy
694 11/20/1944 Visegrad, Yugoslavia
696 11/21/1944 Faenza Defense Area, Italy
697 11/22/1944 Faenza Defense Area, Italy
707 12/01/1944 Chivasso RR, Italy
711 12/04/1944 Faenza Defense Area, Italy
717 12/10/1944 San Ambrogio Tunnel, Italy
723 12/14/1944 Bologna Supply Depot, Italy
729 12/15/1944 Bologna Supply Depot, Italy
738 12/27/1944 Piazsola RR Bridge, Italy
744 12/29/1944 Muritini RR Bridge, Italy
746 12/30/1944 Dolce RR Bridge, Italy
751 01/01/1945 Lavis RR Bridge, Italy
755 01/08/1945 Chivasso RR Bridge, Italy
757 01/09/1945 Chivasso RR Bridge, Italy
760 01/15/1945 Lavis RR Bridge, Italy
766 01/17/1945 Sacile RR Bridge, Italy
769 01/18/1945 Comachio RR Bridge, Italy
777 01/22/1945 Chiusaforte West RR Bridge, Italy
785 01/29/1945 Chiusaforte West RR Bridge, Italy
788 01/30/1945 Trento N. Marshing yard, Italy
793 02/02/1945 Dogna RR, Italy
795 02/04/1945 Dogna RR, Italy
800 02/06/1945 Ala RR Bridge, Italy
808 02/08/1945 Chiusaforte RR Bridge, Italy
812 02/13/1945 Bogna RR Bridge, Italy
813 02/14/1945 Ponte Ali RR Bridge, Italy
817 02/17/1945 Chiusaforte RR Bridge, Italy
820 02/18/1945 Lavis RR Bridge, Italy
824 02/21/1945 Udine East Marshling Yard, Italy
830 02/24/1945 Lavis RR Bridge, Italy
832 02/25/1945 Dogna RR, Italy
839 02/27/1945 Bressanore RR Bridge, Italy
850 03/03/1945 Campo South RR Bridge, Italy
851 03/04/1945 Campo South RR Bridge, Italy
858 03/07/1945 Staz Di Cerrino Bridge, Italy
859 03/08/1945 Longalone RR Bridge, Italy
864 03/10/1945 Ora RR Bridge, Italy
866 03/11/1945 Drauburg RR Bridge, Yogoslavia
871 03/13/1945 Salurno RR Embankment, Italy
873 03/14/1945 San Margherita South RR Bridge, Italy
881 03/18/1945 Vo Sinistro Bridge, Italy
886 03/20/1945 Casarsa RR Bridge, Italy
896 03/22/1945 Steinach Bridge
898 03/24/1945 Steinach Bridge
901 03/25/1945 Steinach Bridge
908 04/01/1945 Calcinato RR Bridge, Italy
915 04/04/1945 Drauburg RR Bridge, Yogoslavia
919 04/06/1945 San Margherita RR Bridge, Italy
924 04/09/1945 Lavezzola Area, Italy
926 04/10/1945 Conselice Troop Concentration
927 04/11/1945 Argenta Reserve Area, Italy
932 04/12/1945 Vo Sinistro RR Bridge, Italy
937 04/15/1945 Praduro Reserve Area, Italy
941 04/16/1945 Bologna Area RR Bridge, Italy
951 04/19/1945 Rovereto RR Bridge, Italy
956 04/20/1945 Centro RR Bridge, Italy
961 04/22/1945 Borgoforte South Ferry Staging Area
967 04/23/1945 Borgoforte South Ferry Staging Area
972 04/23/1945 Staz Michele RR Bridge, Italy
973 04/24/1945 Ossenigo RR Bridge, Italy

Base Assignments

Date Location Notes
07/04/1945 Oakland, CA 4114 BU Storage
03/27/1946 Hamilton AFB, CA 460 BU
05/16/1946 Hamilton AFB, CA 401 BU
05/19/1946 Peterson Field, CO 200 BU
07/22/1946 Spokane, WA 4000 BU
07/22/1947 Peterson Field, CO 2750 Air Base Wing
04/15/1951 Brookley AFB, AL Maintenance TB-25N
08/21/1951 Wright Patt. AFB, OH 2750 Air Base Wing
11/07/1954 Birmingham, AL Maintenance
02/21/1955 Wright Patt. AFB, OH 2750 Air Base Wing
12/15/1957 Davis Monthan AFB, AZ Storage
01/02/1958 Davis Monthan AFB, AZ Surplus

Declared surplus in January of 1958, Parsons Airpark of Carpenteria, California purchased her in April of 1958. Her registration was assigned as N7687C in July of 1958 after conversion into an agricultural spayer. In July and December of 1960, extensive modifications were made with the installation of electronic test equipment for Raytheon Corp. By August of 1964, she was sold to Aerial Applicators of Salt Lake City, Utah. In May of 1968, she was purchased by Tallmantz Aviation of Santa Ana, California for use in the filming of "Catch 22". The movie reenacts a part of WWII that this B-25 actually took part in. During filming, she was filmed in two color schemes. The first was the basic olive drab and tail code of 6F. She was also painted in the white colors of M & M Air Force. In May of 1971, she was sold to Mr. John Neel of Washington, Pennsylvania to be displayed at Forest Lawn Gardens in McMurray, Pennsylvania, a Veterans Cemetery. She was airlifted to the site in October of 1972. This journey was made into a documentary film tilted "On Final Forever". While there, she was on display in generic 57th Bomb Wing colors. In August of 1984, she was sold to Doan Helicopter of Daytona Beach, Florida and her registration was reinstated. She was sold in November of 1992 to the Cavanaugh Flight Museum who restored her with the help of Aero Traders in 1995. Her nose art was restored by the original artist Ray Kowalik during that restoration. Although maintained airworthy, she is currently considered "too valuable to fly".

  • Model: B-25J-15-NC
  • Serial Number: 44-28925
  • NAA Mfg. Number: 108-32200
  • FAA Registration: N7687C
  • Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
  • Completion Date: Early August 1944
  • Delivery Date: August 11, 1944
  • Status: Static
  • Owner: Cavanaugh Flight Museum
  • Location: Addison, Texas
  • Website: http://www.cavanaughflightmuseum.com/
  • Nose Art Artist: Ray Kowalik
  • Artist's Website:
  • Notable info: Most extensive confirmed combat history of all surviving airframes. Her nose art was restored by the original artist during that restoration. Although maintained airworthy, she is currently considered "too valuable to fly".

Photos


This page represents the most current information we have on this aircraft. The information above was last updated 7/2017 with information provided by Bob Haney and the Cavanaugh Flight Museum. 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.