TB-25N Mitchell “Yankee Doodle”

Restored to flying condition

Designed by North American Aviation of Inglewood, CA as a medium bomber intended for level bombing from medium altitudes the B-25 Mitchell also saw extensive service in the Pacific Theater performing low level strafing and skip bombing missions on enemy airfields and shipping. B-25s served in every theater of operation and were flown successfully by the United States, British, Dutch, Russian, Chinese, and Australian Air Forces. The B-25J represents the final production version of the B-25 and first flew on 14 December 1943. A total of 9,889 B-25s had been built by the time production was halted in late 1945.

Military History

The TB-25N on display was built at the North American Aviation facility in Kansas City, KS and was ready for delivery in August 1945; but because the U.S. Army Air Force (USAAF) contract for B-25s had been cancelled, the aircraft was placed in storage at Altus, OK. Removed from storage in 1948 and assigned to Bolling Field, D.C. this Mitchell was converted to a pilot trainer and redesignated as TB-25N. After assignments at Bolling, Kelly, Offutt, and Wright-Patterson Air Force Bases 45-8898 was released for disposal in 1959 and stricken from USAF inventory.

Civil History

After being sold for $2,202 in 1959 to Mr. H.H. Coffield of Rockdale, TX 45-8898 sat derelict in Texas until 1983 when it was purchased by Mr. Vern Rayburn and trucked disassembled for a complete restoration by Mr. Tom Reilly of Kissimmee, FL. In the process, its center section was replaced with one from another B-25. After the restoration was completed in 1986, this Mitchell was based in Avra Valley, AZ until 1997 when it was sold to Mr. Don George of Springfield, IL. In 2004, 45-8898 was purchased by the Tri-State Warbird Museum.