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Post by transporthistorian on Jan 17, 2019 10:44:31 GMT
Hi everyone
As a child I remember the famous Mitchell Bomber parked at Shoreham as I trundled past on the train in an ancient slam-door Southern Region Electric Multiple Unit.
Apparently, during wartime the pilot landed it there and ran off (so the story goes).
Does anyone have any idea what the serial number of this aircraft was?
Thanks
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Post by mickywest on Jan 17, 2019 12:43:13 GMT
I f the Mitchell was there in the 1970s it seems a longtime since WWII? There were Mitchell camera ships around in the 1950s/1970s and the 1979 released film Hanover Street brought a gaggle of B-25s to the UK. As for the pilot running off, that reminds me of the C-46 N68852 abandoned at Heathrow mid-1950s
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Post by transporthistorian on Jan 17, 2019 16:00:06 GMT
Hi Micky
Yes I seem to recall it had been there for over twenty years - it may have been the late Sixties. I moved to Worthing at the age of 3 in 1967!
I think the story went that the pilot scarpered and the local council refused to scrap it in case they could recover some of the accumulated parking fees.
Perhaps it did have something to do with the film you mentioned and hadn't actually been there as long as the rumours indicated?
I must admit, the story I heard many years ago does sound a bit far fetched. Maybe that was the result of Chinese Whispers?
All I can say is that it was definitely there for quite a while and must have been broken up eventually before I started spotting in 1976.
If anyone out there knows the real story perhaps they could contribute to the thread?
Cheers
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Post by tonydoyle on Jan 18, 2019 10:08:36 GMT
N7614C was parked up at Shoreham in a rather sad state in May 1974. A camera ship I believe. I tried to add a poor photo to this but failed miserably.
Tony Doyle
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bernm
Full Member
Posts: 57
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Post by bernm on Jan 18, 2019 11:54:40 GMT
Ignoring some of the fanciful claims, I am sure that the airframe in question is the former N7614C.
It currently is suspended from ceiling in the American Museum at Duxford. The history that I have is as follows: Built at North American Kansas factory for USAAF with serial 44-31171 (c/n 108-37246) as a B-25J-30-NC and taken on charge 18.04.45 and initially stored at Laurel Field, Mississippi. Assigned 10.45 to Lake Charles, Louisiana. Modified for pilot training as a TB-25J 09.46. Re-assigned 01.47 to Patterson Field, Ohio. Modified to EB-25J 01.49 & further redesignated 04.49 as ETB-25J for various airborne electronics development programmes. Finally reconfigured as a JTB-25J in mid-1957 for special airborne trials. Moved to Davis-Monthan AFB for storage by 10.57.
CofR Application 19.02.58 and Regd as N7614C to Radio Corporation of America, New York. Nose reconfigured as part of flying laboratory use. By 01.07.64 Regd to PA State University. By 01.01.65 Regd to H W Harbican, Houston, Texas. Re-Regd .66 to Flying W Productions, Medford, New Jersey (still Regd as at 01.01.68) By 01.07.70 Regd to Euramericare Inc (aka John Jeffe Hawk), Fort Lauderdale. Flown to UK and first noted operating from Luton 04.70. Operated from Shannon 14.06.70 for air-to-air filming of BOAC Boeing 747 G-AWNB for publicity shots for introduction of their new Jumbojet. By 08.12.73 it was at Dublin and then parked at Prestwick early in 1974. On 14.03.74 it was noted stored with Miles-Dufon at Shoreham, but later moved into external storage and gradually condition deteriorated. Still officially Regd to Euramericare as at 01.07.75. US CofR revoked 08.10.76 . Roaded to IWM Duxford 10.76. US CofR Cld 03.06.77 as Exported. Fitted with B-25J nose during early 1990. Displayed as USMC PBJ-1 from 1996, the structure having been considerably strengthened for display hanging from AAM ceiling. After rebuild of AAM in recent years, the B-25 was also repainted to represent USAAC 34064/8U.
Hope that helps a little Attachments:
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Post by mickywest on Jan 18, 2019 13:05:35 GMT
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Post by transporthistorian on Jan 18, 2019 15:01:26 GMT
Many thanks Bernard for the time and effort you put in to that thoroughly in-depth investigation........thanks Tony for trying and cheers Micky for adding the photo! Another one for the historical log-book!
Cheers all!
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