B-25 question

[george]

Apparently, when the old Greater Southwest Airport was being dismantled, an abandoned, derelict B-25 Mitchell was discovered there. The story I heard was that bids were accepted with the stipulation that the buyer would have a very short time to remove the bomber. The B-25 was purchased and put in flying condition, yet belly-landed shortly after departing GSW airport. Assuming this is all true, would anyone know if the aircraft still survives? Thanks for any information.

[B25PBYGUY]

You may wish to visit <aerovintage.com> and ask Scott. He may know, and it may be referenced in his excellent book - B-25 Mitchells in Civil Service.
Good Luck.

[george]

Thanks, B25GUY. I've been told that the pilot was Junior Burchinal, and he was attempting to ferry the Mitchell to his place in Paris, Texas. I just haven't been able to find out anything about this incident. Must have occured in the early to mid '70s.

[B25PBYGUY]

Yes, I remember that name. He had many airplanes and a P-38 as I recall. I also recall Kermit and a fellow I worked for in the mid-eighties, ferried a B-17 out of Paris. I dont know which 17 this is that Kermit has at his place.
I should have asked him when we had Liberty Belle there last winter, but I had forgotton all about that airplane being flown out of Paris, TX, 20 odd years ago.

[aerovin]

The B-17 ferried out of Paris, Texas, was 44-83525 and is now stored by Kermit Weeks. Weeks purchased it from Burchinal.

As for the Burchinal B-25 in question, it may have been TB-25N s/n 44-29127 (N9899C). Burchinal obtained it in 1976 and there was some big disputes over the airplane. No indication in the FAA registration record that it was involved in a belly landing. This airplane is now reported stored in Anoka, Minnesota. Registration records indicate Burchinal at one time or another had seven B-25s registered in his name: N3680G, N3698G, N543VT, N9115Z, N9446C, N96GC, and N9899C.

Also, no NTSB reports seem to match with any B-25 in a belly landing in Texas in the 1970s.

[george]

I appreciate the information, Aerovin. After seeing its history on your site, I would think the B-25 in question would be N9899C. About all I can add is that it had a civilian paint scheme, no turrets, and was tucked up to the northern side of the north concourse (GSW had two concourses, both running east from the terminal). It may have had a wheels-down emergency landing in a farmers field, as opposed to bellying in. Would such an emergency landing have had an NTSB report back then? I think there was an engine fire that brought it down. Apparently, this made the local news in the DFW area. I would hope someone who lived in the area when this happened, and was involved in aviatoin, might shed some light on this mystery.