Warbird Information Exchange

DISCLAIMER: The views expressed on this site are the responsibility of the poster and do not reflect the views of the management.
It is currently Thu Mar 28, 2024 6:22 am

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Classic Wings Magazine WWII Naval Aviation Research Pacific Luftwaffe Resource Center
When Hollywood Ruled The Skies - Volumes 1 through 4 by Bruce Oriss


Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 
Author Message
 Post subject: Little Washington Pa B25
PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 1:23 am 
Offline

Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2015 12:36 pm
Posts: 336
Ok heres one you all can look up. Used to be this TV guy in Pgh. Pa. name was Don Riggs a pilot member EAA CAF and airshow anouncer all around airplane nut. I grew up watching a kid show he did on Saturday morn called Bwana Don they ran old Tarzan movies. He told me bout this story he covered for ch 11with video of this B25 landing at Washington Pa Co Airport to be towed to this nearby Vet grave yard. He interviewed the crew and swear the pilot on airplane looked just like the who used to fly the CAF Ju 52 out of Chicago. Then vid goes a number years later and the airplane is towed back to the airport and lifted out by a CH 54. So wonder if anyone knows what happen with the airplane. Vid might be on youtube somewhere not sure. Oh yea Don had allot to do with old mailplane Miss Pittsburgh that hangs in Pgh Inter Airport near Franco Harris's statue.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 8:08 am 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Fri Sep 15, 2006 9:17 pm
Posts: 692
Location: Deepinahearta, TX.
Referencing my handy, dandy copy of Scott Thompson's, B-25 Mitchell in Civil Service, it sounds like B-25J-15-NC, 44-28925. It is a 12th AF veteran which was used in Catch-22 and is currently restored to it's 12th AF status with the Cavanaugh Museum near Dallas.

_________________
Cheers,

Craig

Facebook Groups:

U.S. Marine Corps Sikorsky HRS / CH-19 Helicopter Database
U.S. Coast Guard Sikorsky HO4S / HH-19 Helicopter Database


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 3:25 pm 
Offline
3000+ Post Club
3000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Sun Nov 27, 2005 10:51 pm
Posts: 4663
Location: Cheshire, CT
I've seen the TV piece and have a bad VHS copy of it. It was the Catch-22 Mitchell and a WWII combat vet named "How Boot That"

_________________
"Always remember that, when you enter the ocean or the forest, you are no longer at the top of the food chain."


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 5:31 pm 
Offline
2000+ Post Club
2000+ Post Club

Joined: Wed May 05, 2004 3:45 pm
Posts: 2520
Growing up in the "burgh", I was about 10 years old when it flew into Washington County Airport. It also happens to be the very first warbird that I got to climb in. I remember my Mom telling me "don't go in there, you'll get all dirty". I currently live about 30 miles from where it's displayed (Life's full circle I guess.).

Here you go, https://cavanaughflightmuseum.com/index ... Itemid=119
Image


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:48 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2004 9:20 pm
Posts: 808
Location: Lincoln, California
The late Frank Pine, then chief pilot for Tallmantz Aviation, told me he made the delivery flight of this airplane to the airport near the cemetery. He recalled the wing corrosion at the angle attach points was pretty bad on the airplane on that supposed last flight so he flew it 'gently.'

_________________
Scott Thompson
Aero Vintage Books
http://www.aerovintage.com
WIX Subscriber Since July 2017


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 6:54 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sun Jun 20, 2004 9:20 pm
Posts: 808
Location: Lincoln, California
A photo...


Image

_________________
Scott Thompson
Aero Vintage Books
http://www.aerovintage.com
WIX Subscriber Since July 2017


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 9:49 pm 
Offline

Joined: Sat Apr 11, 2015 12:36 pm
Posts: 336
Sort of figured the Catch 22 movie thing. Be great to get that vid on youtube some how. Old stories and old airplanes will only die if we let them. Thanks all.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Thu Jan 11, 2018 10:35 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:23 am
Posts: 262
Location: Vermilion Ohio
In the Air Classics March 1975 Issue (Vol 21 No. 3), an article titled Graveyard Guardian shows the B-25 being airlifted to the cemetery plus a shot of it on a stand. In Air Classics May 1984 (Vol. 20 No.5), an article titled - Search For Phantom Bomber - Finding A B-25 For The NASM with photos of Mitchell's arrival at cemetery, and also an Air Classics Airlines Column in the April 1985 (Vol 21 No.4) indicates the aircraft's removal and subsequent move to a museum in Florida may fill in a couple of blank spots... 8)

_________________
Be happy to serve your fellowman


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 1:02 pm 
Offline
1000+ Posts!
1000+ Posts!

Joined: Sun Apr 08, 2007 1:38 am
Posts: 1425
Location: LONE JACK Mo.
Was this the -25 that was named "Final Approach"?


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 1:47 pm 
Offline
3000+ Post Club
3000+ Post Club

Joined: Fri Jun 24, 2005 7:26 pm
Posts: 4961
Location: PA
Born and raised Pa hick, never knew about this, thanks for the story. Very interesting! :)

_________________
Shop the Airplane Bunker At
www.warbirdbunker.com


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 2:06 pm 
Offline
Been here a long time
Been here a long time

Joined: Sun May 02, 2004 1:16 am
Posts: 11275
An award winner restored by Aero Trader. Probably the finest B-25 restoration performed at the time. Not sure how it stacks up to more current offerings.


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Fri Jan 12, 2018 6:06 pm 
Offline
User avatar

Joined: Mon Oct 26, 2009 7:23 am
Posts: 262
Location: Vermilion Ohio
Gary - First of all I must correct Air Classics I referred to as Vol. 21 No. 3 - It should have been Vol. 11 No. 3 (March 1975). In this volume it says name of Mitchell was "Daisy Jean"... :?

_________________
Be happy to serve your fellowman


Top
 Profile  
 
PostPosted: Sat Jan 13, 2018 7:36 pm 
Offline
3000+ Post Club
3000+ Post Club
User avatar

Joined: Sun Nov 07, 2004 2:02 am
Posts: 4606
Location: Yucca Valley, CA
GARY HILTON wrote:
Was this the -25 that was named "Final Approach"?

IIRC the cemetery display was called "On Final Forever". Luckily for the plane, "forever" wasn't. :wink:

_________________
Image
All right, Mister Dorfmann, start pullin'!
Pilot: "Flap switch works hard in down position."
Mechanic: "Flap switch checked OK. Pilot needs more P.T." - Flight report, TB-17G 42-102875 (Hobbs AAF)


Top
 Profile  
 
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 5 hours


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot], Vital Spark and 77 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot post attachments in this forum

Search for:
Jump to:  
Powered by phpBB® Forum Software © phpBB Group