Restoration Complete: B-25 Flies Again

ON OCTOBER 30, 2004, AFTER A SIX-AND-a-half-year restoration by dedicated volunteers and professional maintenance staff, the B-25 S/N 44-28866 Carolina Girl flew again.

The aircraft arrived at the North Carolina Aviation Museum (NCAM) in Asheboro in June 1998 and was immediately dismantled to begin restoration. This is the first restoration project undertaken by NCAM, and all involved agree that the outcome was well worth the work. From 1962 to the mid-1990s, having been converted by Aero Boeing in 1958, the aircraft was flown as the fire tanker CF-OND in Canada. Prior to its use as a tanker, the aircraft served with the USAAF/USAF from 1944 to 1957. It was assigned to various training command units as well as the MATS program.

Carolina Girl will make its airshow-circuit debut during the 2005 season. For more information, contact NCAM Manager Mark VunCannon at (336) 625-0170.

-Text and photo by Scott Lindley

Copyright Air Age Publishing Feb 2005
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