B-25J-25-NC SN 44-30203

History

The B-25J-25 SN 44-30203 was delivered on January 3, 1945. On January 10, 1945, she was flown by North American test pilot Eddie Fisher on a simulated bomb drop at a test facility in central Kansas. She was assigned to the Army Air Force storage facility at Mobile, Alabama. After a stay here of three months she was sent to Laurel Field, Mississippi for storage again as excess inventory. By early 1945 US aircraft production was outpacing the war needs and many newly built aircraft such as this one were part of this surplus inventory. In January l946 she was assigned to the 4117th Base Unit at Robins Field, Georgia. At Robins AFB she was used for proficiency flying and as an administrative transport for base personnel. In August of l946 she was transferred to Kelly Field, Texas for maintenance prior to assignment to Venezuela under the Military Assistance Program. She was transferred to the Venezuelan Air Force (FAV) with two other B-25s under project 40039 on August 28, 1947. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:

Base Assignments

During the late l940s many surplus US warplanes were transferred to America':s allies in South America. On August 28, 1947 she was officially transferred to the FAV. Venezuela had signed the Rio Pact with the United States and was now eligible for military aid. Along with other South American countries which agreed to support the US stance against Communism under the Rio Pact, Venezuela was given aircraft and other aid to assist in this effort. She was in the first batch of three B-25s to be send to the FAV. The FAV received an initial 3 B-25s in l947 then a later group of 12 in 1948. These were originally assembled into Grupo Aereo Bombardero. Many countries in South American operated B-25s but none longer than Venezuela. The B-25s remained in active service with the FAV up into the late 1960s and were not fully retired from military use until 1973. Brazil also had B-25 on the books until the early 1970s but Venezuela had used the B-25 as a front line aircraft longer. The Venezuelan B-25s served in a variety of roles but were initially used in their intended purpose as bombers and close support aircraft. The B-25s operated within a composite group of aircraft until l952 when the survivors of the original allotments were combined into Number 40 Squadron. With this unit she was reportedly assigned FAV serial 4A40 later this was changed to 3898.

In 1952 the B-25s of the FAV were used to counter a Colombian Naval incursion against islands claimed by Venezuela. She took part in this action along with many of the other active FAV B-25s. Again in 1960 the surviving FAV B-25s including her were used against a force of rebels operating against the government. During this time they were based out of the airport at Maiquetia.

40 or more B-25s may have served with the FAV during their long service years. In the early 1960s survivors of the earlier allotments, some now in service with the FAV for over 12 years, were joined by 9 replacement B-25s obtained from a batch of surplus Canadian B-25s just retired from service. These B-25s served in administrative roles or as staff transports as well as initially filling out a combat role with the FAV. She was used as a bomber by the FAV throughout the l950s and into the l960s when the FAV began updating their bomber force. One of the last B-25s to be used by the FAV in a bomber role, after 25 years in FAV service, she was put into storage near Maracay, Venezuela in 1971. By this time much of the FAV B-25 fleet had been lost to accidents or used in ground training. The FAV officially replaced the B-25s of Number 40 Squadron with the acquisition of 16 Rockwell OV-10 Broncos in 1973. In addition to operational losses several of the retired FAV B-25s were transferred to the Bolivian Air Force (FAB) in 1974. The FAB took three of the B-25s from storage and stripped many of the other remaining Mitchells for parts. She and several other B-25s remained in storage at the FAV base at Palo Negro, near Maracay for many years.

There were only 4 remaining B-25s there when she was pushed off the ramp at Marakay into the weeds. Over the years they removed some parts as the weeds became the jungle and she was forgotten. In 1992, she was purchased and brought back to the United States in crates.

FAV Base Assignments

The remaining four B-25s were disassembled and shipped back to the United States arriving in August and September of l992. Many stock items such as armored seats, rear gun mechanisms, armored bulkheads and side gun packs were still on some of these aircraft. After returned to the US she was obtained by Lynn Hunt and shipped to Santa Rosa, California for restoration. There is some question to her actual serial number as 44-30203 was lost in a mid-air collision in New York in 1945 per accident records. 44-30302 however, was assigned through the MAP to Venezuela in 1947. This would seem to fit the story of this airframe, but the current owner has the data plate of 44-30203.

The majority of the B-25s known have been "civilianized". Not only were the weapons removed, but they were processed through either a "Hayes" modification or a "Hughes" modification. This modification stripped all of the armor plate, reconfigured the interior, and made numerous other changes to the structure of the B-25. This effectively modified the B-25 to a different model. Many existing B-25 owners have made attempts to restore their plane closer to factory original condition. This B-25 is about as close as it comes. She even appears to have original glass in her Bendix turret. There are only a few existing B-25s that even have a Bendix turret. As far as I know, this is the only B-25 that has her original turret.

• Model: B-25J-25-NC
• Serial Number: 44-30203
• NAA Mfg. Number: 108-33478
• FAA Registration: Never registered
• Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
• Completion Date: January 2, 1945
• Delivery Date: January 3, 1945
• Status: Restoration
• Owner: Lynn Hunt
• Location: Santa Rosa, California
• Website: n/a
• Notable info: One of the most completely original B-25 bombers known. Has not undergone either a Huges or Hayes modification.

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.