The B-25 was donated very early in the EAA's history, say late 1960's or early 70's. It was on outside display with the EAA's Ford Tri-motor and a couple other aircraft when a tornado came through and damaged the 25 and flipped the trimotor on it's back. They were in storage for years and the Tri-motor was restored using a donor tri-motor. Sometime in the 1980s interest increased in restoring the B-25 to flying condition. Mr. Paul Poberezny was a WW II veteran and also a genius at raising money, and donations. so in the past the EAA had a flyable Lockheed 12, DC-3, T-28, P-51D, B-25, P-64, A-26, Corsair , B-17G, and P-38. Plus countless donations of antiques, homebuilts and modern light aircraft, engines, and parts. They even had a flyable Bearcat donated for about 20 years before the donor "undonated " it and took it back. There was ferocious resistance between the EAA divisions on the cost to keep the warbirds annualled , flying, insured, and staffed. YOu can fly a 100 homebuilts for one B-17. The P-64 had already had a gear up landing, I think by EAA'r Vern Jobst, so it was parked because of it's rarity. The Cavalier P-51 had been continuously funded and Paul had to let others fly it to keep the program from being de-funded. About that time Vern Jobst, an airline pilot, totaled a Goose landing on the lake up there with the gear down. He also totaled the EAA's Lockheed 12 in the pattern as it ran out of fuel. The DC-3 were sold as was Pauil's T-28A. The B-25 was being restored with volunteer talent and money. THis is about the time tht Connie Edwards donated the A-26, F4U, P-38, and HA-1109. All but the HA-1109 were flown in. The EAA was beginning to look like the CAF! The B-17 ride program was initiated and actually broke even or made a little money. The B-25 was flying and training pilots to get it on the circuit also. Then there were gear problems with the B-25 and Paul had to land with one gear down and the other up. (same problem they had on P-64) SO they decided not to fly the B-25 as it was not considered a profitable operation. Also, when "Barbie III" was restored the H-model nose was thought to be the last one available. An authentic H nose would have to be scratch built.
|