B-25D-NC SN 41-29648 "Miss Greater Kansas City"
The story of B-25D-NC SN 41-29648 "Miss Greater Kansas City" is definitely an interesting one. Being the first B-25D-NC bomber in history completed by a newly built plant is definitely an accomplishment. But she went through some struggles to get there. The first 100 B-25D-NC bombers were assembled from parts that were shipped from Inglewood, California. Basically, they were not manufactured but assembled from B-25-C-NA parts. When most people think of the bomber plant, they think of a large assembly line with hundreds of people wrenching on dozens of aircraft. This was not yet the case.
The formal groundbreaking for the plant was March 8, 1941. I have been unable to determine the exact day the first bomber was started, but it was likely in November of 1941. I do know that some of the first assembly workers were hired on December 8, 1941, the day after the Pearl Harbor attack. The plant was not complete when they started assembling her. The large north doors that enclosed the assembly area were not yet completed. The men and women worked in the cold as it would be almost a year before the plant was heated. There was no assembly line. The area was so empty, that during lunch hours, employees like Harold Tillman would roll washers on the floor to see who could get the greatest distance. At night, the plant was mostly dark and desolate.
Since the major components were shipped from California, an inspection was first on the task list. Some parts were missing rivets, some parts were just plain missing. All of these parts needed to be fixed or manufactured prior to installation. Workers like Richard Schaffer spent time reworking the parts to tight specifications. The other major task was building the assembly line. If a jig was needed, it had to be built. The entire assembly process had to be constructed. Every dolly needed to transport a part had to be designed and built. Racks needed to store completed parts ready for use had to be manufactured. They weren't just building planes, they were manufacturing a process.
There was a steep learning curve, and mistakes were made. The bracket that attaches the hydraulic cylinder on the nose wheel on "Miss Greater Kansas City" was misaligned. During the first test, the bracket was pushed right through the bulkhead. There were assembly tricks that needed to be taught as well. An assembly worker was flown from California to demonstrate the proper technique of installing a rubber self-sealing oil tank in the wheel well. To the workers at the plant, the access hole seemed too small. The simple solution was rolling the tank up like a newspaper and securing it with three straps. Once the tank was through the access hole, the straps could be released. All of this was part of the process of learning how to assemble a bomber.
Thomas L. Bender, the first North American Kansas assembly line employee worked on "Miss Greater Kansas City". She was assembled right out in the center of what would become the assembly line area. Larry Cantrall painted her in the middle of the night in anticipation of a visit from then senator Harry S Truman. She didn't move down an assembly line, the line moved around her. Indeed, the line was created while learning lessons from her.
In the first 12 months of production, the Kansas plant would only assemble 435 B-25s. "Miss Greater Kansas City" would be the only one completed in 1941. She was officially completed on December 23, 1941. Although scaled back due to the United States entering the war, a grand celebration would be in store. Her new name, "Miss Greater Kansas City", was painted on her nose. This would be redacted on published pictures to hide the location of the plant. The nose and engine nacelles of "Miss Greater Kansas City" were wrapped in clear cellophane. A big red bow was placed above the nose gun. She was wrapped up and ready to go! Here is the schedule for that event:
December 23, 1941
16:30 to 16:45 - Mr. Allan F. Blackman: Ad-libs from speaker's stand to hold attention until all are assembled.- Photo of the dedication program.
- Mr. Blackman was the Supervisor of Personnel Records for North American Aviation, Kansas.
- Photo of North American, Kansas employees waiting for the program to start.
- Photo of North American, Kansas employees waiting for the program to start. "Miss Greater Kansas City" can be seen in the distance.
- Photo of North American, Kansas employees waiting for the program to start. Photographer shooting from beside the stage, out into the audience.
- Mr. White was the Assistant to the Factory Manager for North American Aviation, Kansas.
- Photo of Mr. Bob White giving his speech. Note Mr. Schwalenberg and Mrs. Bender seated to the left of the photo.
- Colonel Besson was a Division Engineer for the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army.
- Lieutenant Colonel Neilson was a Division Engineer for the Corps of Engineers, U.S. Army.
- I do not have good information on Mr. Arrowsmith, Mr. McDonald, or Mr. McCoskey, but assume they work for the Corps of Engineers.
- Photo of Colonel Besson giving his speech.
- Mr. White was the Assistant to the Factory Manager for North American Aviation, Kansas.
- Major Schlegel was the U.S. Army Air Corps Representative for North American Aviation, Kansas.
- Mr. White was the Assistant to the Factory Manager for North American Aviation, Kansas.
- Mr Kelley was a Superintendent for North American Aviation, Kansas.
- Mr. White was the Assistant to the Factory Manager for North American Aviation, Kansas.
- Jack Warner and George Blackinton were employees at the plant. They were honored for their exemplary performance.
- Mr. Kindelberger was the President of North American Aviation, Kansas.
- Mr. Spalding was an employee in the Engineering Department for North American Aviation, Kansas
- Photo of Mr. Spalding (on left) presenting the watch to Colonel Besson (on right) Mr. Bob White can be seen between and behind them seated. Major Leo Schlegel is seated to the right.
- Mr. Blackman was the Supervisor of Personnel Records for North American Aviation, Kansas.
- Mrs. Bender was the wife of Thomas Bender, the first assembly line employee hired at North American Aviation, Kansas.
- She christened the B-25 by declaring "I christen thee Miss Greater Kansas City".
- After her declaration, she struck the .50 caliber nose gun of "Miss Greater Kansas City" with a bottle of champagne that had been previously scored to allow for easy breaking. In the pictures you can just see the .50 caliber nose gun is most likely a tube steel replica. At the base of the gun you can see a round steel baseplate that was the target for Mrs. Bender.
- Photo of Mrs. Bender christening the ship just after she struck the plate at the base of the nose gun.
- Analysis of multiple original pictures of this moment shows she swung from below, up into the bottom of the steel plate at the base of the replica .50 caliber nose gun.
- Photo of Mrs. Bender christening the ship well after she struck the plate. Note the champagne foam at the point of contact at the base of the nose gun. Mr. Bob White is at her left.
- Mr. Blackman was the Supervisor of Personnel Records for North American Aviation, Kansas.
- Mr. Conderman was a Mail Clerk for North American Aviation, Kansas.
- He presented the ship with the following poem:
It was two days before Christmas, and all thought the plant,
The din was terrific, to hear you just can't;
The B-25 on her cushion wheels rested,
And her insides and workings were being avidly tested.
Kelly shifted the bags under his weary eyes,
"Two bits says she takes off and actually flies."
While the boys tried in vain to cover the bet,
Up pops an Army inspector, and says "Is she set?"
Before Kelly could answer in an affirmative vain,
Out came his flashlight and he began work with might and main.
The three of them pried, looked, peeked, checked, squinted, twisted, till the batteries quit-
And then with a sign, an O.K. they writ.
So, Boss, you can see she's raring to go-
High up in the sky, to give the Japs a real show.
We present her to you with a wee card as a token,
The contents of which your lips will soon have spoken.
So step up Schwally, and break the seal,
And see what the contents will reveal. - Photo of Mr. Conderman reading the above poem. You can just see Mrs. Bender seated to his right with Mr. Schwalenberg and Major Schlegel listening.
- Mr. Schwalenberg was the Factory Manager for North American Aviation, Kansas.
- Photo of Mr. Schwalenberg accepting the ship. You can see Mrs. Bender seated to his right.
- The "wee card" referred to in the previous poem was read by Mr. Schwalenberg:
A few parts here and a few parts there,
Till we were ready to tear our hair!
But now it's assembled and ready for a test,
Which we know will be North American's Best!
We give to you this Queen of the Skies,
To use for defense where her duty lies,
And we pledge our loyalty for all to come,
So you will feel they are jobs well done! - Photo of Mr. Schwalenberg reading the above poem.
- Mrs. Brady was the wife of Edward Brady from the Production Control Department at North American Aviation, Kansas.
- Photo of Mrs. Brady (to the right of the poem - in front of the microphone) singing the National Anthem.
There were two individuals on the list of Speakers and Distinguished guests that do not appear on the official agenda. Mr. John N. McLucas, who was the director of North American Aviation, Kansas apparently did not speak at the event, but was in attendance. Mr. J. Gordon Turnbull, a consulting Engineer from Cleveland, Ohio was also listed as a distinguished guest, but did not appear on the list of speakers.
First Flight January 3, 1942
A week and a half later, on January 3, 1942, she was ready for her first flight. Every employee of the plant gathered next to the plant to watch her fly for the first time. It was a cold wintery day with a touch of snow on the ground and frost in the air. Chief test pilot from the North American Aviation Inglewood plant, Paul Balfour was at the controls. The Co-pilot was Jim Bradley, general foreman from department 62, Flight and Test Service. As anticipated, to the test pilot her first flight was uneventful. To the spectators on the ground, it was the event of the year. At the conclusion of the flight, pilot Balfor declared, "She's a sweetheart!".
"Miss Greater Kansas City" left the Fairfax airport for her first assignment at Wright Patterson in Dayton, Ohio arriving on February 2, 1942. She was officially accepted by the military on February 17, 1942, presumably after extended testing. She spent some time at Wright Patterson as a trainer until June 4, 1943 when she was transferred to La Junta, Colorado. At La Junta, she was assigned to the 3020 Base Unit as a trainer. She spent the rest of the war there until she was scrapped on July 21, 1945.
The level of detail presented in this article is possible due to several factors. First and foremost is my relationship with the bomber builders and other historians. I have been honored to have known several men and women that worked on "Miss Greater Kansas City". Without the insight provided by all of the bomber builders that have donated artifacts, this information would have been lost forever.
Photos:
