B-25J-25-NC SN 44-30606 "Tootsie"

History

The B-25J-25-NC SN 44-30606 now known as "Tootsie" was delivered on February 14, 1945. She was flown test flown extensively on February 2, 1945. North American test pilot Wink Cantrell flew her to Topeka, Kansas and back for a total flight time of 160 minutes. Test pilot Eddie Fisher also flew her on a simulated bomb drop for a total of 160 minutes. As was the case with many other B-25s built in l945 she spent its early military years stationed at various storage depots until the end of WW II. It wasn't until April 14, 1953 eight years after rolling off the production line at Kansas City that she received an active duty assignment. If the records are correct she only flew four times in all those years. She was assigned to Peterson Field, Colorado where she was attached to the Air Defense Command Headquarters. In mid-1954 she passed through the Hayes Corporation modification and was converted to a TB-25N. After the modifications she was returned to Petersen AFB for duty. For the Hayes modifications the remainder of the military hardware was removed and new wiring and electronics were installed. At Petersen she was used for transport and utility duties until retired in October 1957 as a relatively low time aircraft with 2700 hours. She was deemed surplus in l957. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:

Base Assignments

In January of 1958, she was sold to C. M. Jasper & Oil Tool Corp. of Long Beach California. Her initial registration of N5249V was assigned. Her civil registration was changed to N201L in May of 1958. In August 1958 she was modified into an executive aircraft by the addition of seats and carpeting. An airstair door was installed to replace the rear hatch and extra soundproofing was added. She was used in a corporate configuration for sixteen years until obtained by members of the Confederate Air Force attached to the New Mexico Wing in l975. She was then painted in an olive drab scheme and operated in support of the CAF activities until sold in l989. Prior to this sale she was kept at Aero Traders hanger in Chino, California where she received maintenance and updating while waiting for a buyer. As she sat on the ramp at Aero Trader she was stripped of the old paint and adorned with a bat nose scheme representing the 345th Bomb Group, 499th Bomb Squadron that flew in the South Pacific during WW II. The new owners repainted the aircraft in a USMC scheme with guns and turret added. A new glass nose was installed along with other maintenance being performed to update the aircraft restoration. Although appearing as a standard B-25/PBJ the aircraft still retains the airstair door in the rear and much of the rear executive fittings. In October of 1995, she was the first of three B-25 bombers to launch from the CVN-70 U.S.S. Carl Vinson to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II. She was part of the gathering of B-25s at the 2001 Reunion of the Doolittle Raiders in Fresno, California. As of December 2012, she is privately owned by a real estate company called TSM Enterprises of Carson City, Nevada.

• Model: B-25J-25-NC
• Serial Number: 44-30606
• NAA Mfg. Number: 108-33881
• FAA Registration: N201L
• Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
• Completion Date: February 12, 1945
• Delivery Date: February 14, 1945
• Status: Complete
• Owner: TSM Enterprises
• Location: Carson City, Nevada
• Website: N/A
• Notable info: In October of 1995, she was the first of three B-25 bombers to launch from the CVN-70 U.S.S. Carl Vinson to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II.

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.