B-25J-20-NC 44-29121

History

B-25J-20-NC 44-29121 was delivered on September 1, 1944. She was initially assigned to Muroc Field, California in September 1944 where she was assigned utility duties. In May she was transferred to March Field for a short stay before being sent to Portersville Field, California where she spend the remainder of WW II performing administrative duties. Shortly after the end of WW II, she was flown to Hammer Field, California for a brief storage period before reassigned to administrative duties at Hamilton AAF, California. In the late 1940s she was used as an administrative and proficiency aircraft by the 4th Air Force Headquarters and the 78th Fighter Interceptor Wing based at Hamilton Field. From 1948 to 1958 she served with the various base units stationed at Hamilton Field. Hamilton would be home to her for most of her military career. In early 1954 she was converted at Birmingham, Alabama to a TB-25N and sent back to the 4th Air Force Headquarters at Hamilton AFB. In the last few years of active duty the aircraft was involved in several Air Force research and testing Projects at Hamilton and later during a short stay at Selfridge AFB, Michigan. She ended her active Air Force days at Selfridge AFB attached to the local base unit. She was flown to Davis-Monthan in December 1958 for retirement. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:

Base Assignments

In January of 1959 she was sold to National Metals Company of Phoenix, Arizona. She was not scrapped but remained idle for most of the next 14 years. Bill of Sale records indicate that the aircraft was reregistered several times during this period but the actual owner remained the same. Little flying time was accumulated on the aircraft but she was not totally neglected as periodic work was performed. Visionair International acquired her in 1978 for use in the movie "Hanover Street" which was being filmed in England. The aircraft was modified for an Atlantic crossing with extra fuel tanks and arrived in England in May 1978. While in England she was based at the old military field at Bovingdon. During the movie she was given the fake military serial number 151724. She was painted in an olive drab and gray scheme and given the name of "Brendas Boys". After the filming she remained in England. She was then used in a film that took place in Spain called "Yanks" where she was shown as "Miami Clipper". The second and final movie was the film "Cuba" starring Sean Connery. For the film she was given a bright yellow paint scheme. Late in the filming of "Cuba", which was being shot in southern Spain, she was performing low-level passes when her right wing tip struck a tree. The pilot was able to make a safe emergency landing at Malaga, Spain. With the end of filming and no further need for the B-25, she was abandoned at Malaga and was later seized by Spanish customs for various charges and fees. Through negotiations with the American owners, she eventually became the property of the Spanish Air Museum in Madrid, Spain. She was trucked out to a repair shop in Seville and restored for display. She has been painted to represent the single B-25 that saw service in the neutral Spanish Air Force during WW II. The real B-25 that founds its way to Spain during WW II was serial number 41-30338 and was a RAF B-25 that landed in Spanish Morocco due to a fuel or engine problem. Neutral Spain impounded the aircraft and the Spanish Air Force used it for several years before it was scrapped.

• Model: B-25J-20-NC
• Serial Number: 44-29121
• NAA Mfg. Number: 108-32396
• FAA Registration: N86427
• Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
• Completion Date: August 28, 1944
• Delivery Date: September 1, 1944
• Status: Static
• Owner: Madrid Air Museum
• Location: Madrid, Spain
• Website: https://www.esmadrid.com/en/tourist-information/museo-del-aire

This page represents the most current information we have on this aircraft. The information above was last updated 09/2019 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.