B-25 Assignments, 1954 to 1958

[noizeedave]

Hi there all. Who knows which bases had 25s during these years, or rumors will do. I know Offut, Griffiss, Hamilton, and one other on the West Coast, to include Hill AFB. Anyone have any others, or rumors?

And how about the assignment duties? I know 4 were assigned to Radar Evaulation Flights, curious to know what the rest did during those years?

[Chief]

We had B-25's at Chanute when I was there in 1957-1958.

My wife's sister was an aircraft dispatcher at James Conley AFB, Waco, TX 1956-1959, where they had B-25's also.

[jdvoss]

Dave:

Here is what my brain recalls:

1. In the mid 50's the Calif ANG base at Van Nuys had a single B-25 assigned. My buddies and I would ride our bicycles over there nearly every summer weekend to watch the F-51's, AT-6's and the sole B-25.
Great days! BTW, that particular B-25 is still flying around(!) at air shows and has the nose art "In the Mood". S/N ?

2. In 1955 my Air Explorer group made a one week encampment at Norton AFB in San Bernardino and I recall that they had two B-25's.
One had the buzz number of BD-876. (How do I remember such stuff as I do not recall what I had for dinner tonite...or did I have dinner?).
BTW, the USAF gave us kids an orientation flight in a Curtiss C-46.

[noizeedave]

Sweet!

So so far I got

Offutt
Norton
Griffiss
Hamilton
Van Nuys
Chanute

Lets keep the list going!

Im actually doing some research and getting together tail numbers and their assigned units during these times. I have access to numerous B-25 microfilm reels with regarding tail numbers and their assignments. I needed some more info pertaining to the bases to cross reference with the years.

Thanks again guys!

[jdvoss]

Here's a photo of "In the Mood" that I took at Marina Airfield (near Monterey) in 2006. I was amazed when I read the placard stating that it was the former Van Nuys ANG Base aircraft.
[img]
http://s487.photobucket.com/albums/rr24 ... =B2501.jpg [/img]

[Chief]

Dave,
The B-25's at Chanute were used for "Administrative" flights, i.e, aircrew members there for various schools used them to get their required hours to keep getting their flight pay while away from their home bases.

The same was the case at Waco. I recall them being used to take USAF people home on leave. Also, going to old Friendship airport in Baltimore to get loads of Chesapeake Bay hard shell crabs. What a stinking mess they made inside the aircraft. But, it was worth it. The crabs were great!

[jdvoss]

Dave:

I think that you will find that in your specified time period that all ANG bases were fighter groups (F-51's in the west and F-47's in the east) and most had a token twin engine bomber assigned...either a B-25 Mitchell or a B-26 Invader.

Also, did the RCAF phase their B-25's out at about the same time?? I believe that they were using their Mitchells in similar ancillary roles as the USAF.

[Ken]

Multi-engine training at Reese AFB. Seems like the former gate guard is the bird now representing a Doolittle airplane at the Nimitz museum in Fredricksburg, TX.

Wasn't there another photo floating around of a B-25 in Air Force Instrument Flight Center markings? Not sure which base.

Ken

[Chris Brame]

Here's a couple screen captures of an ANG B-25, 44-30125:





These were from the 1957 monster movie The Giant Claw. I wonder if this was shot in Van Nuys? Note what may have been a buzz number painted over aft of the national insignia (The plane didn't fly in the film; they used a miniature for the scenes with the flying monster - "a bird as big as a battleship" - and stock flying footage from Thirty Seconds Over Tokyo).

Anyone have a history on 44-30125? It doesn't seem to have been civilianized.

[Old SAR pilot]

Goodfellow AFB, San Angelo, TX had B-25 training up until the early 60's, when the base was transferred to the old USAFSS. The link below is of Class 55-1 in front of a B-25. Note the "Goodfellow" ATC symbol below the copilot's window.
http://pilotclass55india.org/pix/pix_files/image009.jpg

Also, if you scroll down on this site, there's a pic of the flight line with B-25s, including a flyover
http://www.airfields-freeman.com/TX/Air ... lene_W.htm

[Jack Cook]

The OR ANJ has a B-25J (N) based in PDX for many years. I'll
dig out a photo and post for you tonight.

[Jack Frost]

Don't forget the B- 25s at Vance AFB, Enid OK. I put about 125 hours in them in early 1954. The only A/C number I remember from then was 005 which was naturally called 'Balls Five'. Then made a few trips hauling VIPs on junkets out of Randolph while waiting around between B-29 school and C-97 school.

[jdvoss]

The Van Nuys ANG B-25 Mitchell was USAF S/N 44-29199. It is now N9117Z and on the airshow circuit.

[jdvoss]

The Van Nuys ANG B-25 Mitchell was USAF S/N 44-29199. It is now N9117Z and on the airshow circuit.

[Jack Cook]

B-25N s/n 44-30480 Oregon ANG at the PDX ANG Base flown by Col Staryl Austin