B-25J-25-NC SN 44-30069
History
The B-25J-25 SN 44-30069 was delivered on December 17, 1944, was flown to Italy and assigned to the 3rd Army Air Force Service Command. On February 20, 1945 she was transferred to the 321st Bomb Group. Assigned to the 446th Squadron she was given the squadron tail number 38. Although produced for war, few of the surviving B-25s ever served in actual combat during WW II. 44-30069 is one of the rare combat veterans still in existence. She flew at least 18 combat missions between February and April 1945 attached to the 446th Bomb Squadron, 321st Bomb Group. This unit was attached to the 57th Bomb Wing which operated out of Italy. Lt. Gail Berge flew at least 12 of these missions and the aircraft was given the name Verla with the noseart of women reclining over the globe. She was modified for electronic bombing with the addition of radar and special electronics by the Emerson Corporation. At this stage of the war the B-25 squadrons had a lead aircraft with electronic bombing equipment for group bomb drops. Lines of communication and enemy supply locations were the main targets for the bombers of the 57th Bomb Group during the war. She returned to the United States on July 6, 1945 and was placed into storage at Laurel Field, Mississippi. She remained in storage until recalled for use under the Military Assistance Program (MAP) and was sent to Brazil for use with the Brazilian Air Force (FAB) in l948. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:
Base Assignments
| Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 12/17/1944 | Hunter Field, GA | Departed USA |
| 01/05/1945 | 3 Air Facility Replacement Pool | |
| 02/20/1945 | Corsica | 321 BG/466BS #38 |
| 07/06/1945 | Laurel, MS | Return to USA |
| 07/07/1945 | Laurel, MS | 413 Base Unit - storage |
| 04/01/1946 | South Plains, TX | 4168 Base Unit - storage |
| 04/29/1947 | Hensley Field, TX | AVMAD |
| 08/03/1947 | Kelly Field, TX | Ferry Command |
| 10/07/1947 | Kelly Field, TX | Foreign Liquidation Corp. |
Combat History
| Mission | Date | Target | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Unk | 2/21/1945 | Crem RR Bridge, Italy | |
| Unk | 2/23/1945 | Campos RR Bridge, Italy | |
| Unk | 2/24/1945 | Ala RR Bridge, Italy | Anti-flack incendiary ship |
| Unk | 3/15/1945 | Brenner Pass | |
| 791 | 03/18/1945 | Fidenza RR Bridge, Italy | P-G. Berge |
| 802 | 3/20/1945 | Spilimberge | |
| 807 | 03/22/1945 | Palmonova/Muduzza | |
| 810 | 03/23/1945 | Congarone RR Bridge | Ech. Leader |
| 814 | 03/25/1945 | Volarge RR Bridge | Group Leader |
| 820 | 03/31/1945 | Legnago | Group Leader |
| 829 | 04/04/1945 | Madena | |
| 842 | 04/09/1945 | Fadnza | |
| 845 | 04/10/1945 | Massa Lombares | |
| 847 | 04/11/1945 | Argenta Area | |
| 853 | 04/14/1945 | Argenta Area | Spare for 488 BS |
| 862 | 04/16/1945 | Bologna | Group Leader |
| Unk | 04/17/1945 | Steinale RR Bridge | |
| 878 | 04/21/1945 | Corto RR Bridge | Spare, not used |
With the FAB she was assigned serial 5127. The FAB had operated B-25s during the war for coastal patrol and training duties. She was part of a new allotment of B-25s for the FAB to supplement the B-25s that were received during the war. In FAB service she was originally assigned to the 5th Air Group, one of the several medium bomber units then active in the FAB. She was later used as a crew trainer for several years before being assigned to administrative duties. She was placed in storage in Brazil in 1956 and by l958 the FAB began phasing out the remaining B-25s in its inventory. In September l958 she became an instructional airframe attached to the FAB maintenance training programs. She served in this capacity for several years until she was refurbished and used for administrative duties once again. She was the last active flying B-25 in service with the FAB and was formally grounded in 1976. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:
FAB Base Assignments
| Date | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 03/24/1948 | FAB Brazil, SA | TOS FAB 5127 |
| 05/03/1948 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | Mixed Instructional Squadron |
| 12/15/1948 | Sao Paulo, Brazil | Base Inventory - Storage |
| 07/18/1949 | Natal AFB, Brazil | 5th Aviation Group |
| 03/03/1953 | Fortaleza AFB, Brazil | 4th Aviation Group |
| 08/31/1954 | Sao Paulo AFB, Brazil | Material and Support Center |
| 01/27/1955 | Fortaleza AFB, Brazil | 4th Aviation Group |
| 08/17/1956 | Sao Paulo AFB, Brazil | Material and Support Center |
| 07/09/1958 | Sao Paulo AFB, Brazil | Ground Instructional Aircraft |
| 05/61/1961 | Sao Paulo AFB, Brazil | FAB Specialist School |
| 06/04/1974 | Rio De Janiero, Brazil | Donated to Museu Aeroespacial |
She was eventually placed on display in Brazil's main aviation museum, the Museo Aerospacial in Rio de Janeiro. Originally restored with a low profile top turret, she was later fitted with the proper glass turret housing. She is kept in excellent condition and is available on display inside the museum hangers in Rio de Janeiro.
- Model: B-25J-25-NC
- Serial Number: 44-30069
- NAA Mfg. Number: 108-33344
- FAA Registration: N/A
- Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
- Completion Date: December 15, 1944
- Delivery Date: December 17, 1944
- Status: Static
- Owner: Museu Aeroespacial
- Location: Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
- Website: https://www2.fab.mil.br/musal/
- Notable info: One of just a few confirmed combat veteran survivors.
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.