B-25J-25-NC SN 44-30535 "Iron Laiden Maiden"

History

The B-25J-25-NC SN 44-30535 now known as "Iron Laiden Maiden" was delivered on January 29, 1945. She was flown to Hunter Field in preparation for overseas flight, arriving on January 31, 1945. She departed the United States on February 12, 1945 assigned to the 3rd AAFSCMTO "Army Airforce Service Command" maintenance and storage pool. On April 18, 1945 the third anniversary of the Doolittle Raid on Japan, it was transferred to the 310th Bomb Group. With the war nearly over and a surplus of aircraft in the unit she was not assigned to a squadron before hostilities ended. No mission records have been located to indicate she flew any combat while attached to the 310th. New aircraft received by the B-25 units usually took some time for field preparation before flying any missions. She was most likely at this preparation stage when the war in Europe ended. Many of the European B-25s were ordered returned to the US. There was the possibility of transfer to the Pacific as that theater of the war was still going on. The newer B-25s from the 57th Bomb Wing units and those still in reserve were return to the United States. Most older models and some newer aircraft with battle damage were eventually scrapped overseas. After returning to the United States in July 1945 she was put in storage at Pyote Field, Texas where she remained until recalled for use in an administrative role at Maxwell AFB, Alabama in June l953. She was used at Maxwell as an administrative transportation and proficiency aircraft. After a relatively short career of five years in post war USAF duties she was retired to Davis-Monthan AFB in December 1958. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:

Base Assignments

She was sold on January 15, 1960 to National Metals of Phoenix, Arizona. Her registration of N9462Z was reserved. She was sold again in August of 1960 to Dothan Aviation Corp. When she was obtained by Dothan, she had 3,223 hours of flight time. In April of 1961, she was converted for use in agricultural spraying. By the early l970s the B-25s operated by Dothan were retired and in July of l975 she was sold Vicki Miller of Burbank, California. After leaving Dothan Aviation it was based at Darke County airport in Ohio in 1976 repainted in its post war scheme from the 1950s. She was sold to Ray Cunningham of Lawton, Oklahoma who did further restoration work on the aircraft and repainted her into the colors of the 345th Bomb Group, 498th Bomb Squadron. She was named "Iron Laiden Maiden". Mr. Cunningham sold the aircraft in 1984 after five years of ownership to the parent group that still owns the aircraft. After flying for several years she was retired to display status and is now on display in a museum in Liberal, Kansas being hangered with the museum collection. Although likely still an airworthy candidate she has not flown since 1988 and would need refurbishing to take to the air again. She does still sport its colorful paint scheme of the 345th Bomb Group.

• Model: B-25J-25-NC
• Serial Number: 44-30535
• NAA Mfg. Number: 108-33810
• FAA Registration: N9462Z
• Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
• Completion Date: January 23, 1945
• Delivery Date: January 29, 1945
• Status: Static
• Owner: Mid-America Air Museum
• Location: Liberal, Kansas
• Website: http://www.kansastravel.org/airmuseum.htm
• 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.