A B-25 returns home

[Chris Trott]

Thought this was interesting -

http://historicflight.org/grumpyreturns/

The airplane was a US owned and registered aircraft for many years, but for the last 22, it's been in the UK. Now, the airplane is "coming home" to the Historic Flight at Paine Field in Seattle, Washington. It will be quite a flight to follow.

[FlyTexas]

Neat! Have a safe (and dry) trip home, 'Grumpy'.

Brian

[Chris Trott]

Also, a short excerpt of the aircraft's history -

Delivered to the RAF at Vancouver, B.C. in January of 1944, “Grumpy” was one of 70 B-25Ds included in a lend-lease transaction. Post-war, this aircraft flew as part of Northwest Air Command responsible for the defense of Western Canada until it was “struck off charge” early in 1962 and sold by the Crown Assets Disposal Corporation to Joe Goldney of Vancouver, B.C. Subsequent private owners have included North Star Aviation of Fairbanks, Alaska (forest fire fighting service) and Noel Merrill Wien of Anchorage, AK.

IIRC Merrill Wien (of Wein Air and Commemorative Air Force fame) operated this aircraft as a corporate transport more than as a warbird during it's time with him. It was in military colors, but the bomb bay (having been stripped of its firefighting gear) was setup for transport of people instead of bombs or retardant.

[Paul K]

I saw her sitting at Duxford on Friday, and I'll be sorry to see her go. Be interesting to follow her trip home though.

On a similar topic, does anyone know whats happening to The Fighter Collection's P-39 Airacobra ? She looks likes she has been dismantled for transportation, but there was nobody around from TFC to ask...

[DaveB]

Yup though tbh.. Grumpy hasn't been around much over the last few years. Still.. sad to see her go. I have almost as many photo's of her as I do of Sally B!!

ATB

DaveB :tab: