B-25J-35-NC SN 45-8899
History
The B-25J-35-NC SN 45-8899 was completed on October 15, 1945. Her final acceptance inspection was done by Air Force Inspector C. O. Laurie, Jimmie Doolittle's former crew chief. What is important about this B-25 is not her future, but the two months preceding her completion. The North American Kansas plant continued to make B-25J-NC bombers until August 15, 1945 when they received official notification to cease production from Captain William M. Howell, contracting officer. At that time, there were many B-25J-35s still on the production line. B-25J-35-NC SN 45-8899 was one of those B-25s.
On August 15, 1945, an unknown high-ranking Colonel was seen on the final assembly line. He basically drew a line in the sand. Any aircraft that had engines already mounted would be completed. Everything behind that line would be scrapped. At that moment, there were 38 B-25J-35-NCs in final assembly from the engine mounting station forward. There were 12 in the armament hangar, and an additional 22 completed aircraft that were waiting to be fitted with their guns outside the armament hanger. This is the final 72. The last aircraft, that had just been fitted with her engines was SN 45-8899.
All but 2,337 of the workers were laid-off on August 20, 1945. The remaining employees would start the scrapping process as well as complete the last 38. Incomplete for the other 34 just meant they didn't have their guns yet. As the war was over, they were flown to storage without their guns. The remaining B-25s were completed over the next 60 days by the small group that remained. The last B-25J-35-NC SN 45-8899 was photographed the day she was completed on October 15, 1945 at the Fairfax plant. She was flown along with the remaining B-25J-35-NC bombers to storage on October 31, 1945. Jack Fichtner, security guard, turned off the lights to the Fairfax B-25 bomber plant for the last time.
- Model: B-25J-35-NC
- Serial Number: 45-8899
- NAA Mfg. Number: 108-47750
- FAA Registration: Never registered
- Mfg. Plant: Fairfax - Kansas City, Kansas
- Completion Date: October 15, 1945
- Delivery Date: n/a
- Status: presumed scrapped
- Owner: n/a
- Location: presumed scrapped
- Website: n/a
- Notable info: The last B-25 produced.
Photos
This page represents the most current information we have on this aircraft. The information above was last updated 12/2016. 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.