"The Death Watch"

[Jack Cook]

Took this shot of Jerry Janes's B-25J around 1978 or so.

Last edited by Jack Cook on Mon Feb 12, 2007 11:31 am, edited 1 time in total.

[Ztex]

I've never seen that nose art.

Thanks
Z

[warbirdcrew]

Ztex-

The airplane only wore that nose art for a short time before it was repainted in the codes of "HO*262" "City of Edmonton" squadron, RCAF. It now flies at "Lady Luck" and I believe is based in Blaine, MN.

-WC

[John Kerr]

Here are two shots of TB-25J, N3156G, 45-8884 taken at Harlingen, TX in Oct 1979 in the "The Death Watch" markings. Enjoy.

[T J Johansen]

The first time I saw a photo of that color scheme was in Air Classics from around 1979. The a/c had just arrived at Chino for some work, and I just loved the nose art on it. You can also see a few short glimpses of it in the BBC documentary "Col. Culpepers Flying Circus".

And now for a general question. Will any of these photos be available for the registry? There are so many rare or unseen views of different warbirds shown in a lot of the posts here on WIX. If the photographers want to have them included in the registry why not add a note to that effect in your post. That way Scott don't have to ask in each and every case, and the registry will eventually be able to document most color schemes worn by the various a/c!

T J

[Jack Cook]

Scott is always welcome to ANYTHING I ever post

[John Kerr]

Scott is always free to use any photo I post, unless I specify otherwise.

[retroaviation]

Same here. Scott can always have anthing I post.

Gary

[HELLDIVERS]

Hi,

This is the first a/c that I was involved with, it had sat for over 18 years at a small museum at Flying Cloud Mn. It was sold with the rest of the collection at auction and reached an unbelievable $6000.00. Al Reddick was the lucky bidder who spent the next 3 plus months of hard work in order to ferry it to Chino California. I had just quit my airline job and had heard about the sale of the B-25 and that it was being worked on. I had to check it out, the next thing I knew I was changing the engine driven fuel pump. After 2 months of hard work and learning hands on the internal workings of a WW2 medium bomber we had ran the engines performed retract tests, overhauled the brakes, replaced several fuel. oil. and hydralic hoses, control surfaces ect.

After a few high speed taxi tests it was time to see if it was going to fly.After checking and double checking for leaks, fluid levels and systems checks it was now time too make it happen. It was at this point that Al made me a opportunity of a life time, would you like to go? This wasnt only for the test flight but all the way to Chino! Well I was off to pack a few cloths in record time I was back at Flying Cloud prepairing for a flight of a life time.

After my return the B-25 was readied for its first flight in over 18 years. The decision was made that if the test flight went well we would check everything one more time, top off the tanks and it was off to Chino. The engines were started and warmed up to operating temps. Contact with the tower , a short taxi to the run up area, a complete ground check of power settings we were ready to go. Lining up of the runway Al put the power to the two R-2600s and before I knew it we were airborn.

The flight went off with out a hitch ,everthing worked as if it had just left North American even the original radios and heaters worked. We returned to top off the fuel tanks and it was off to California. Before we left the nose art of a black cloud with 2 lightning bolts and the name Reddicks Raiders was applied to the fusalage.

The first day we had made it to Rapid City S.D. when we notice a broken exhast stack. An overnight delivery saw us back in the air over some of the most increadable sights of the flat prarie lands of the mid west to the scenic mountains of Wyoming and Utah. Our next fuel stop was Salt Lake City my home town. After landing in Salt Lake I called my grand parents and sister and told them we were there. With in moments they had arrived with hot coffee and fresh sandwiches excited to see the B-25.

We had a nice visit and after talking with my grand pa about the crash of the A-25s we were on our way. We top off the fuel and was soon in the air flying over my home town of Magna Utah. Flying west of Salt Lake Al made the decision to fly through Black Rock Canyon. With in minutes we were winging our way up the rocky slopes looking for the remains of the A-25s . As we reached the top of the mountain Al pointed to the broken wings of the long sought after A-25. This was the first time I had seen the wreckage that I had spent so many years dreaming about.

It seemed like a blink of an eye and we were soon to land at our final destination Chino California. We landed at about sun down, what an exciting place warbirds everywere. Work continued on the B-25 but my part of the adventure was over I had to return to Mn. The nose art in the photo was how the B-25 looked shortly after its ferry flight from Flying Cloud. This nose art was an original idea of Al Reddicks but applied by an unknown artist which was only displayed for a very short period of time. Thanks for posting some great memories of a much younger time and of a very good and very missed friend R.I.P. Mr. Al Reddick

Thanks Mike

[TAdan]

Mike, thanks for sharing your experience. It sounds like it was a great trip!

[T J Johansen]

I guess there you have it. You can google all day long for info about such and such a/c. But a quick post on a forum like this, and one member will cough up the photos, and another one will have the stories to tell. This ladies and gentlemen, is what makes WIX and similar forums so great.

Mike, thanks a lot for the story. It adds so much more than pictures alone!

T J

Last edited by T J Johansen on Mon Feb 12, 2007 4:38 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Jack Cook]

This is why I enjoy posting photos