B-25J-20-NC SN 44-29145

History

After factory modification into an 8 gun B-25J, 44-29145 was accepted by the military on September 12, 1944. Prior to her being sent to the 57th Bomb Wing for trial in the MTO, she was photographed in Kansas City. She arrived in North Africa on September 31, 1944. Initially assigned to the Third Army Air Service Command Replacement Pool where she was prepared for combat assignment. On November 15, 1944, she was assigned to the 340th Bomb Group, 489th Bomb Squadron. She was not flown on any combat missions but was used for unit evaluations of the gun nose modification. After a short stay with the 489th, she was forwarded to other units for similar evaluation. Additional solid nose B-25s were assigned to other B-25 units then in service in the MTO for testing. When she was returned to the Wing command she was stripped of the upper turret and other armament and used by the wing in a utility role. On July 2, 1945 57th Bomb Wing Commander, Brigadier General Robert D. Knapp flew her back to the United States. The orders noted that the aircraft had not seen combat. Upon return in July 1945 she was flown to Hamilton Field, California as General Knapps' personal aircraft. The General gave her up when he was reassigned to Hawaii in late 1945. Thereafter she was used in utility and administrative roles at several bases before being retired. While attached to Bolling Field, Washington, D.C. she left the country for a five month period from October 12, 1945 to March 17, l946 reportedly on inspection of overseas bases including Hawaii. She was declared surplus and stored at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in 1957. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:

Base Assignments

Although sold to an aviation operator in 1958, she did little if any flying until acquired by Crowl Dusters of Phoenix, Arizona in 1961. She flew as a borate tanker carrying tanker code C39 until the B-25 type was withdrawn from borate duty in l962. She remained idle in Mesa, Arizona for several years until sold through ICAO Organization in Montreal, Canada and exported to Mexico. She flew directly from Arizona to the Civil Aviation Training Center in Mexico City where she was used as a training platform for aviation students for several years. In the early l970s she was donated to the city parks and monuments commission and placed on display with B-25J-25-NC 44-30692 in San Juan de Argon Park located in Northeast Mexico City. Both B-25s sat outside for years suffering from the exposure to the elements. At some point, her tail section either fell off due to corrosion or was sawn off. By 2014, the two airframes were combined into one complete display to honor the Fuerza Aerea Mexicana at the Santa Lucia Air Base in Mexico City, Mexico

• Model: B-25J-20-NC
• Serial Number: 44-29145
• NAA Mfg. Number: 108-32420
• FAA Registration: N9877C
• Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
• Completion Date: September 11, 1944
• Delivery Date: September 14, 1944
• Status: Static
• Owner:
• Location: Mexico City, Mexico
• Website:
• Notable info:

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.