Dates

Event

Circa May 1945

Constructed as a B-25J-30-NC by North American at Kansas City, Kansas, USA.

June 1945

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 44-31508.

From June 1945 to August 1958

Transferred to West Chester AFB, NY.

18 September 1947

Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Air Force with s/n 44-31508.

Circa 1954

Converted to a TB-25K.

August 1958

Transferred to Olmsted Air Force Base, PA.

January 1960

Struck off Strength/Charge from the United States Air Force.

January 1960

To Stinson Field Aircraft/Nathanial A. Kalt, San Antonio, TX with new c/r N6578D.

From January 1960 to By 1961

To William P. Strube, Marietta, GA keeping c/r N6578D.

From September 1961 to By 1965

To Trans Calypso Inc, Miami, FL keeping c/r N6578D.

22 September 1961

Certificate of airworthiness for NL6578D (B-25J, 44-31508N) issued.

From April 1965 to By 1967

To Leon H. Patin, Miami, FL keeping c/r N6578D.

To Euramericair Inc/John (Jeff) Hawke keeping c/r N6578D.

From September 1967 to By 1975

To Airspeed International Inc, Fort Lauderdale, FL keeping c/r N6578D.

November 1967

Modified for use as a movie camera platform.

15 December 1967

Ferry flight.
Arrived at Bovington, UK, for use as a camera ship in the filming of Battle of Britain.

From By 1967 to By 1968

Used as the camera ship in the filming of the movie Battle of Britain in Spain and the UK.

10 January 1969

Ferry flight.
Departed from Luton on a delivery flight to the USA.

10 January 1969

Photographer: Charles M. Daniels Collection

From By 1969 to By 1971

To Fairfield Aviation, Caldwell, NJ keeping c/r N6578D.

From By 1969 to By 1977

Withdrawn from use at Caldwell-Wright Field, NJ, then being placed in open storage. Eventuall declined into derelict condition.

From May 1974 to By 1975

To Atlas Aircraft, Caldwell, NJ keeping c/r N6578D.

From March 1975 to By 1977

To Ten Plus One Inc keeping c/r N6578D.

From April 1977 to By 1979

To Tom Reilly, Kissimmee, FL keeping c/r N6578D.

By 1977

Restoration started.
Work underway at Caldwell.

3 February 1979

Ferry flight.
Flown to Kissimmee.

From By 1979 to By 1981

Restored.
Markings Applied: Chapter XI, 431508

January 1979

Photographer: Phillip Dawe
Notes: N6578D - North American B-25J Mitchell - Caldwell-Wright Field, New Jersey - 1979Famous for its use as the cameraship for the 1968 film Battle of Britain, the aircraft fell into a state of disrepair back in the US. A rebuild was started in 1979 at it is New Jersey home and completed at Kissimmee, Florida,

From February 1979 to By 1994

To B-25th Bomber Group Inc, Ocala, FL.

10 August 1987

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At DuPage Airport, West Chicago, IL 35mm slide

10 August 1987

Photographer: Glenn Chatfield
Notes: At DuPage Airport, West Chicago, IL 35mm slide

From August 1994 to By 1999

To Dan Powell, Fair Oaks Ranch, Boerne, TX.

Markings Applied: Lucky Lady, 431508
A data plate is attached to the tail skip and is marked as: North American B-25J, S.

By 1998

Based at Franklin Municipal-John Beverly Rose Airport, Franklin, VA.
Withdrawn form use and placed in open storage at Franklin, VA. Eventually degraded to derelict condition. It is not in a flying status as it is missing the port engine, and general condition is fair to poor. Aside from this, seems to be fully equipped, especially nose section.
View the Location Dossier

16 June 1999

To Rio Grande Aviation Inc, Fredericksburg, TX keeping c/r N6578D.

Robert N. Abbott Jr. reports: The plane is in an poor state. Rusted severly throughout, missing port engine. Plane does however have a full set of Browning.50 cal machine guns with ammo belts. Plane was a camera ship for the filming of the movie Battle for Britain in 1968.

Markings Applied: Lucky Lady

31 August 1999

To Rio Grande Aviation Inc, McAllen, TX keeping c/r N6578D.

8 September 2010

Photographer: Robert Abbott

8 September 2010

Photographer: Robert Abbott

8 September 2010

Photographer: Robert Abbott

8 September 2010

Photographer: Robert Abbott

8 September 2010

Photographer: Robert Abbott

8 September 2010

Photographer: Robert Abbott

12 February 2014

To unknown owner with c/r N6578D.
Sale reported to a new owner in Coconut Creek, FL.

2015

Aircraft dismantled at Franklin, Virginia - prior to export to Australia - following sale to.Peter Smythe of Reevers.

By 2016

To Reevers Warbirds, Adelai, Australia.

Aircraft is undergoing restoration in Australia.

15 February 2018

Civil registration, N6578D, cancelled.
Sale reported to a new owner in Adelaide.