B-25J-25-NC SN 44-29943

History

The B-25J-25 SN 44-29943 was delivered on November 22, 1944 and assigned to Randolph Field, Texas for training and administrative duties. After four months service at Randolph she was transferred to Barksdale Field, Louisiana for temporary duty before being returned to Randolph in 1946. During the time at Randolph she was used for proficiency flying and administrative flights as well as reportedly refreshing some prisoners of war with twin engine time to qualify for back flight pay. In November 1946 she was sent to Pyote AAF, Texas for storage. After only three months there she was recalled and assigned to Maxwell AFB, Alabama. Here she was again used for administrative duties in support of the Air University located at Maxwell. She served at Maxwell AFB for the remainder of her active duty time putting in over 11 years at the base. She was placed into storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in December 1958. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:

Base Assignments

Originally sold to National Metals incorporated as surplus she was spared the torch and sold to buyers in Tucson, Arizona. In 1961 she was resold at an auction to Colco Aviation. After answering questions raised by the FAA regarding ownership she was flown north to Alaska for fire fighting duties. For the next 9 years she was used during the fire seasons in Alaska under contract with the Bureau of Land Management. By 1970 however, the airworthy certificate was revoked and she became a source of parts for the other flying B-25 tankers in Alaska. At one time at least 9 B-25s were operated in Alaska as part of the fire-fighting contingent. She was assigned tail number 2 at one time for recognition purposes while in use as a tanker. By 1972 at the end of the B-25 tanker days in Alaska she and another ex-Alaskan tanker 44-30756 were both grounded and relegated to the fire dump at Fairbanks International Airport. They were still residing at the dump when obtained by the Alaskan Historical Aircraft Society (AHAS) in 1981. The AHAS was able to save these B-25s from destruction, but nothing was done as far as restoration. She was loaned to the Air Force for display at Clear Air Force Station in Alaska. She was airlifted by Skycrane helicopter to this site and received some maintenance and cleaning and had several parts replaced. After a short stay however, she was sold to Dick Benner of Wasilla, Alaska who moved the aircraft to Wasilla airport. After further restoration work she was sold along with the other B-25 (44-30756) to Hal Keating of New Mexico. The original plans were to have her restored to flying condition and returned to New Mexico. Additional restoration work was done on the aircraft but eventually it was decided to disassemble the aircraft and ship both B-25s to Southern California. They were moved in the fall of 1990. Both of these B-25 airframes were in excellent condition considering their history. Currently she remains in storage with Aero Trader in Southern California.

• Model: B-25J-25-NC
• Serial Number: 44-29943
• NAA Mfg. Number: 108-33218
• FAA Registration: N943
• Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
• Completion Date: November 20, 1944
• Delivery Date: November 22, 1944
• Status: Storage
• Owner: Aero Trader
• Location: Borrego Springs, CA
• Website:
• Notable info:

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.