B-25J-20-NC SN 44-29199 "In the Mood"
History
The B-25J-20-NC SN 44-29199 now flying as "In the Mood" was delivered on September 1, 1944. She was test flown by North American test pilot Eddie Fisher on August 28, 1944. Total flight time was 15 minutes, so this was likely her final approval flight. Initially, she was used as a trainer on assignment to Turner Field, Georgia. About a month later, she was transferred to Moody Field, Georgia to be used for pilot training. By April of 1945, she would return to Turner Field as a trainer. In June of 1946, she was transferred to Turner Field and was briefly stored at Perrin Field before her assignment to Vance AFB in Oklahoma. In November of 1946, she was assigned to Barksdale AAF as a pilot trainer. The 2621st Base Unit she was attached to was moved to Lubbock, Texas where it became the 3500th Primary Pilot Training Wing in 1947. In late 1951, she would be transferred to James Connaly AFB, Texas where she was used in bombardier and navigator training. As of August, 1953, she was assigned to an Air National Guard unit at Van Nuys, California. With this unit, she was used to test radar equipment and crew training. In May of 1954, she went through a Hayes modification and was converted to a TB-25N. She stayed in Van Nuys until August 1958 when she was flown to storage with so many other B-25s at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:
Base Assignments
| Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 09/01/1944 | Turner Field, GA | 2109 Base Unit |
| 10/17/1944 | Moody Field, GA | 2144 Base Unit |
| 04/30/1945 | Turner Field, GA | 2109 Base Unit |
| 06/05/1946 | Perrin Field, TX | 2537 Base Unit |
| 08/04/1946 | Vance AFB, OK | 2158 Base Unit |
| 11/30/1946 | Barksdale AFB, LA | 2621 Base Unit |
| 10/03/1949 | Reese AFB, TX | 3500 Pilot Training Wing |
| 03/09/1950 | Brookley AFB, AL | Maintenance |
| 06/05/1950 | Reese AFB, TX | 3500 Pilot Training Wing |
| 12/12/1951 | James Connaly AFB, TX | 3565 Training Wing |
| 04/25/1953 | Mather AFB, CA | 3535 Basic Training Wing |
| 09/20/1953 | Van Nuys ANG, CA | ANG 1123 RDC |
| 5/1954 | Birmingham, AL | Maintenance to TB-25N |
| 05/21/1957 | Van Nuys, CA | 195 Fighter Inst. Sqd. ANG |
| 08/1958 | Davis Monthan AFB, AZ | Storage |
| 12/1958 | Davis Monthan AFB, AZ | Surplus |
She was sold to Abe Sellards of Safford, Arizona in January of 1960. Her civil registration was reserved as N9117Z. In April of that year, a spray tank was installed. She was operated by Abe's Flying Service as Tanker #35. She was sold in November 1965 to Aircraft Specialties in Mesa, Arizona. Again in 1975, she was sold to John Stokes, doing business as Cen-Tex Aviation in San Marcos, Texas. In April of 1977, she was sold to Robert Lumbard, and Dennis Kincaid. In December of 1980, she was sold to William Muszala and Mary Kincaid of Rialto, California. In February of 1984, she was sold back to Robert Lumbard and Dennis Kincaid. She was one of the first two B-25s to launch off an aircraft carrier since World War II launching off the USS Ranger on April 18, 1992. She also launched off the USS Carl Vinson twice in 1995. In 2012, she was sold to Bill Klaers, and now resides at the National Museum of World War II Aviation.
- Model: B-25J-20-NC
- Serial Number: 44-29199
- NAA Mfg. Number: 108-32474
- FAA Registration: N9117Z
- Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
- Completion Date: August 29, 1944
- Delivery Date: September 1, 1944
- Status: Flying
- Owner: Bill Klaers
- Location: Colorado Springs, Colorado
- Website: http://www.worldwariiaviation.org/
- Notable info: She was one of the first two B-25s to launch off an aircraft carrier since World War II launching off the USS Ranger on April 18, 1992. She also launched off the USS Carl Vinson twice in 1995.
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.