USAAF
5th AF
345th BG
499th BS

Former Assignments:
3rd BG
13th BS
90th BS

via PNG Museum 1974

Robert Parer 2002


Justin Taylan 2003

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History | Photos

Aircraft History
This bomber was the ninth B-25C produced by North American Aircraft. It was originally intended for the Netherlands East Indies Air Force (NEIAF) but was appropriated by the USAAF and assigned to the 3rd BG, 13th BS in Melbourne in early April, 1942 and nicknamed "Feather Merchant".

This aircraft participated in the Royce Mission to the Philippines in April, 1942 and was also flown by Criswell.

Gus Breymann adds:
"My uncle, Lt. Gustave M. Heiss, and his co-pilot, Lt. Ed Townsend, flew B-25 41-12442 on the Royce Mission to the Philippines in April, 1942."

In the 13th BS it was nicknamed "Irene". On May 25, 1942 with Talley piloting it flew on a bombing mission against Lae. Attacked by Zeros 5 of 8 shot down. On the return flight, it force landed in kunai grass field near Port Moresby from damaged suffered over the target. Afterwards, it was transferred to the 90th BS.

Next, it was transferred to the 345th BG, 499th BS on November 30, 1943. Regular crew chief was Ridgeway. Nicknamed "Miss Priority" painted below the cockpit on the right side, and flew combat as a strafer until October 20, 1944.

Taken out of combat service and turned into a "Fat Cat", supply and transport plane around February 1944 with its armament removed, but still in olive drab paint. Later, it was stripped to natural aluminum finish by July 1944. Then was declared war weary, and transferred to a service squadron around October 1944. At the end of the war, it was abandoned at Tadji Airfield, with its tail removed.

Recovery & Display
It remain in a American aircraft boneyard at Tadji with only its tail missing. Recovered by Charles Darby from Tadji in 1974, and as part of the Yesterday's Air Force export agreement, it was set up as a memorial at Aitape High School in 1974. Charles Darby moved the aircraft, with assistance from Robert Parer who provided the trailer to move the plane to its new location.

Tail Section From Another Aircraft
As the tail section was missing from "Feather Merchant", the tail from another aircraft B-25D "Tin Liz" 41-30074, shot down off Dagua, was recovered and attached to the aircraft for display purposes.

Charles Darby Adds:
"Strange that I went to all the trouble of getting fin and rudder assemblies from a shot-down B-25D "Tin Liz" 41-30074 at Dagua, then found the original assemblies buried in sand on the last day of the work, long after we had taken the bomber down to the school."

References
Warpath Across The Pacific page 203, 387, 404
Pacific Aircraft Wrecks cover, page 41, 57 (upper), 76
Pacific Ghost CD-ROM covers this history of this aircraft and photos
Thanks to Gus Breymann and Larry Hickey for additional info

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