B-25 Yellowrose

About the B25 Yellowrose (***Click here Take a Virtual Tour***)

The "Yellow Rose", the christened name of the vintage B-25J Mitchell WWII bomber, is once

again touring the American skies. The bomber is completely restored to its wartime capabilities

and is operated by the Yellow Rose Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force (CAF). It is one of

the flying museum pieces belonging to the organization's "Ghost Squadron" aircraft collection.

After four years, the aircraft was lovingly restored to WWII condition by members of the

Yellow Rose Squadron and donated to the CAF in 1981. Literally thousands of man hours were

donated over the four year period by the members of the Yellow Rose Squadron in order to bring

the Rose back into full operational readiness. The restoration project met numerous problems

including the lack of parts and, of course, lack of funds. With the help of dedicated aviation

enthusiasts throughout the state of Texas and the skill of volunteer craftsmen, the plane was

again ready to fly.

The airplane now visits an average of 25 cities and towns across the United States each year

as a patriotic and education exhibit dedicated to those who gave their all for world freedom

during WWII. The Rose is a flying museum.

You can go through the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C. and see an awe

inspiring display of aircraft. However, the majority of people never get the opportunity to do

that. The Yellow Rose Squadron flies its museum piece to the people, and that's quite a feat

considering the airplane is over 60 years old. If seeing this warbird isn't enough, people can lay

their hand on the rivets that keep her together. You can crawl through the Rose, touch it, smell

the hydraulic fluid, and get greasy from those big radial engines. Since the two 1,700

horsepower engines burn approximately $350 worth of fuel per hour, costs run high for the

Yellow Rose Squadron.

Staffed entirely by volunteers, financing is accomplished mainly through donations, tours of the

aircraft, and the sale of memorabilia. These monies help to offset the high operational cost. As

a non-profit, tax exempt organization, the CAF must rely on the communities that the Rose

visits as the legacy of this historic aircraft endures.

"We are very careful with every penny," said Jack Hart, a Yellow Rose member. "Everyone on the

crew is a volunteer, and each member pays his or her own expenses. However, we never turn

down outside donations."

The North American B-25J Mitchell "Yellow Rose" is one of the over 11,000 B-25s built during

WWII. There are only twenty-seven restored and flying in the United States at this time. Colonel

Jack Reeves, the Executive Officer of the Yellow Rose Squadron estimates that there may be 35

B-25s in any condition, worldwide

The History of the CAF's B-25 Yellowrose

1943:
The Commemorative Air Force B-25 Yellow Rose was built in 1943 as B-25J-5-NC, serial number

43-27868

April 26, 1944:
The Yellow Rose was delivered, over one year before the end of World War II.

May 1944:
The aircraft was assigned to the 334th Bombardment (Medium) Group (Third Air Force) and later,

to the 331st AAF Base Unit (Combat Crew Replacement Training), 3rd AF, Greenville Army Air

Field (AAF), South Carolina. There were deployments to Myrtle Beach AAF, SC and Columbia

AAF, SC during this period.

February 1945:
The Rose was assigned to the 128th AAF Base Unit (Continental Air Force), Greenville AAF, SC.

December 1945:
The Rose was assigned to the 112th AAF Base Unit (ConAF), Hartford AAF, CT.

January 1946:
The aircraft was assigned to the 112th AAF Base Unit (ConAF), Westover AFB, Massachusetts.

February 1946: The Rose was placed in storage at the 4168th AAF Base Unit (Air Technical

Service Command) at South Plains AAF, Texas.

July 1947:
The aircraft was transferred to another storage location at the 4141st AAF Base Unit (Air

Material Command) at Pyote AAF, Texas.

July 1949:
The bomber was removed from storage and assigned to the 3750th Technical Training Wing (Air

Training Command) as a ground instructional airframe at Shepard AFB, Texas. It remained there

for almost seven years without flying, which explains the low airframe time.

April 1956:
The aircraft was flown to the Birmingham Modification Center where Hayes Aircraft Company

converted it to a TB-25N and returned it to flying status.

June 1956:
The plane was assigned to the 3640th Pilot Training Wing (ATC) at Laredo AFB, Texas and that

assignment included a deployment to Offutt AFB, Nebraska. (note: one of the people who flew

the aircraft there has been located—we will try to get some stories).