B-25J-25-NC SN 44-30090

History

The B-25J-25 SN 44-30090 was delivered on December 17, 1944 and flown to Hunter Field, Georgia for modifications prior to an overseas flight. She left West Palm Beach, Florida for Italy via the southern ferry route through Brazil, Azores and West Africa. When she arrived in Italy she was placed into the 3rd AAFSC (Army Air Force Service Command) where it remained in the replacement pool until the end of the war. There was apparently no system of aircraft rotation within this replacement pool Aircraft were withdrawn randomly for assignment when requests were made. Newer B-25 arrivals were often sent to combat units ahead of older residents. She was rotated back to the United States arriving here in June l945. Upon return she was stored for several months until recalled and assigned to administrative duties at Andrews Field, Maryland in March 1946. In August 1948 she was sent to Puerto Rico for a short tour of duty with the 48th Search and Rescue Group. When returned she was assigned to administrative duties with the 52nd Fighter Wing stationed at Mitchell Field, New York. Assigned to Vance AFB Oklahoma in 1950 she was used for multi-engine pilot training. She served at Vance for a little over a year until selected for conversion to the TB-25K model. The TB-25Ks incorporated the E-1 fire control system for training radar intercept crews. Conversion to the TB-25K was done at Culver, California in l951 and after conversion she was assigned to the radar training base at James Connally AFB Waco, Texas. The last six years of active duty were spent at Connally training radar intercept crews. She was retired to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona in December 1957. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:

Base Assignments

She was sold surplus in 1958 to Mr. H. H. Coffield of Rockdale, Texas who intended to convert her for cargo operations. She made only the initial ferry flight to Rockdale from Arizona under the civil registration of N9633C. She was never flown again and became a source of parts for the other airworthy B-25s owned by Mr. Coffield. The aircraft lost many parts after 25 years sitting in Texas including the engines and outer wing panels as well as numerous smaller items. She sat in open storage at Rockdale until Aero Trader of Chino, California acquired her when the estate of Mr. Coffield was auctioned off in 1983. She continued to serve as a source of parts as the rear section was used on the rebuild of 43-28059, N1943J at Aero Trader. During the filming of the movie "Forever Young" starring Mel Gibson she was the basis for one of the prop B-25s used for ground scenes. She was damaged during the filming and was returned to Aero Trader for storage. In 2003 the remaining parts of 44-30090 namely the forward and center sections were sent to Eagle Field Museum near Dos Palos, California along with the rear section of 44-28765 and the outer wing panels of 44-28925 for rebuild as a static display for the museum.

• Model: B-25J-25-NC
• Serial Number: 44-30090
• NAA Mfg. Number: 108-33365
• FAA Registration: N9633C
• Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
• Completion Date: December 16, 1944
• Delivery Date: December 17, 1944
• Status: Storage
• Owner: Carl Scholl
• 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.