B-25J-20-NC SN 44-29812
History
Assigned to LaJunta AAF, Colorado in late 1944, she spent 5 months assigned to twin engine transition training. In the spring of 1945 she was transferred to Orange City Field, Colorado where she was used for type rating and administrative duties. She would remain at this base until the end of WW II. After a short stay at Meacham Field, Texas she was sent to Barksdale AAF, Louisiana on April 30, 1946 for twin engine pilot training. A year and a half later in October 1947 she was transferred to Scott AFB, Illinois where she spent nearly eight years attached to the 3310th Technical Training Wing. In February 1956, she was flown to her last active duty station at Vance AFB, Oklahoma. For the next two years she was attached to the pilot training program at Vance and was in one of the last classes at Vance to use the B-25 for flight training. Ordered to retirement, she was flown to storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in January 1958. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:
Base Assignments
| Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 11/03/1944 | La Junta AAF, CO | 3030 Base Unit, Storage |
| 04/07/1945 | Orange City, CO | 3000 Base Unit |
| 10/08/1945 | Meacham Field, TX | 2003 Base Unit |
| 04/30/1946 | Barksdale AAF, LA | 2000 Base Unit |
| 10/19/1947 | Scott AAF, IL | 3310 Training Wing |
| 10/07/1953 | Birmingham, AL | Modification to TB-25N |
| 01/22/1954 | Scott AFB, IL | 3310 Training Wing |
| 02/21/1956 | Vance AFB, OK | 3575 Primary Training Wing |
| 01/1958 | Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ | Storage |
| 04/1958 | Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ | Surplus |
In October of l958, she was sold into the civilian market and was assigned ferry registration N2854G. She was flown to Minnesota in early 1959 but purchase information was lost when her FAA files were destroyed in a fire. She ended up in Brainerd, Minnesota for display at an amusement park. The ferry flight from Arizona was the only civil flight of the aircraft before it was put on display at the Paul Bunyan Amusement Center where it remained until 2000. In June 2000 she was removed from her home of over 40 years and was obtained for a possible restoration. She was moved to long term storage at the Aero Trader desert facility in 2001. She remained here until 2009 when she was restored for display and shipped to the World War II museum in New Orleans, Louisiana. The original glass nose was replaced with a solid 8 gun nose for display purposes. She was painted by members of the Commemorative Air Force Minnesota wing and some of her armament and extra parts were used in the restoration of B-25J-20-NC SN 44-29869 "Miss Mitchell". She is currently on permanent display at the US Freedom Pavilion.
- Model: B-25J-20-NC
- Serial Number: 44-29812
- NAA Mfg. Number: 108-33087
- FAA Registration: N2854G
- Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
- Completion Date: October 31, 1944
- Delivery Date: November 1, 1944
- Status: Static
- Owner: National WWII Museum
- Location: New Orleans, LA
- Website: https://www.nationalww2museum.org/visit/museum-campus/us-freedom-pavilion/warbirds/north-american-b-25-mitchell
- Notable info:
Photos
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.