B-25J-35-NC SN 45-8884 "Lady Luck"

History

The B-25J-35-NC SN 45-8884 now flying as "Lady Luck" was delivered when the North American Aviation B-25 contract was terminated. She was delivered to the RFC from the factory. She would not be sold, but transferred to Pyote, Texas for storage. In 1947 she was withdrawn from storage at Pyote AAF and after maintenance was assigned to the First Air Composite Wing at Langley AFB, Virginia where she was used for staff and transport duties. She also served at Langley AFB before being transferred to Bolling AFB in Washington, D.C. Assigned to the base transport wing, she was again used for transportation duties as well as for twin-engine proficiency flying. In December 1957 she was flown to Davis-Monthan AFB, Arizona for retirement and storage. The following summary of assignments are listed on her record card:

Base Assignments

In October of 1958, she was sold to Jack Lysdale and flown to Fleming Field, South St. Paul, Minnesota. Her first civil registration was assigned as N3156G. Although not flown much, she became a steady resident of the area being stored there for nearly 8 years. Early in 1966 she was sold to new owners but was seized by U.S. Customs while preparing for a flight to Venezuela. The seizure was due to improper paperwork and export clarifications. She was never registered to these owners as it was intended for a quick resell in Venezuela. The pilot and owner at the time said the aircraft was to be used for photography and mapping work for his business and it was being flown to Venezuela for contract work with the Venezuelan Government. Customs refused to allow the aircraft to leave and she remained in U.S. Customs custody. As property of the U.S. Government she was sold to Johan Larsen on November 27, 1967 at auction. Mr. Larsen acquired the aircraft and operated it for over ten years basing it at St. Cloud Airport in Minnesota. In May of 1978, she was sold to Jerry Janes of Vancouver, British Columbia. The Canadian Ministry of Transport ordered Mr. Janes to sell the aircraft due to improper registration. The paper sale took place with Mr. Janes reacquiring her under an agreement with the Canadian Warplane Heritage. Mr. Janes used her in conjunction with the Canadian Warplane Heritage programs and the aircraft was painted in a RCAF color scheme. The aircraft had earlier been painted in a colorful scheme and named "Whistling Death". By October of 1979, she was sold to Custom Welding and Fabricating of Mooringsport, Louisiana. She was sold in June of 1980 to the Canadian Warplane Heritage Museum and her registration was changed to C-GCWJ. She was used in a Disney Circle-Vision project during 1984 in Tahiti. She was sold in August of 1985 to Courtesy Aircraft of Rockford, Illinois. Her civil registration was assigned to the current N5833B. She was immediately sold to Randal Porter and David Brady of Cartersville Georgia. She was flown as "Georgia Girl". They sold her to C & P Aviation Services in August of 1993.

• Model: B-25J-35-NC
• Serial Number: 45-8884
• NAA Mfg. Number: 108-47735
• FAA Registration: N5833B
• Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
• Completion Date: October 14, 1945
• Delivery Date: Contract completion
• Status: Flying
• Owner: C & P Aviation Services
• Location: Blaine, Minnesota
• Website:
• Notable info: She was used in a Disney Circle-Vision project during 1984 in Tahiti.

This page represents the most current information we have on this aircraft. The information above was last updated 05/2018 with informaiton 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.