Interesting weekend!!

[rockrat]

In that we had the CAF B-25 "Maid in the Shade" here at our airport. Had a bunch of stuff to do and didn't make it out to the airport until about 2pm. Was walking towards the B-25 and lo and behold I hear the sweetest sound. I look up and there on its takeoff roll is a P-51. Love the sound of the V-12. The P-51 then made a few low passes and headed home towards Durango. Found out later that the fellow was headed home and someone saw him pass over and got on the radio to talk him into landing here. He did and parked and let people get close to his aircraft and ask questions and take pics. Durn errands, I missed it!!!!!

However, did get to climb thru the B-25 (Father flew these, among others), but missed out on taking a ride. Went back yesterday, but not enough people by then to warrant taking the B-25 up:-(

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d149/Bigdog337/B25001_zps503c32b8.jpg (http://s34.photobucket.com/user/Bigdog337/media/B25001_zps503c32b8.jpg.html)

http://i34.photobucket.com/albums/d149/Bigdog337/B25006_zpsecc12691.jpg (http://s34.photobucket.com/user/Bigdog337/media/B25006_zpsecc12691.jpg.html)

[HarryT]

I visited a B-25 in Lake Murray (South Carolina) while it was on the bottom. It was quite an experience. Those were some very brave men in their flying machines!
http://www.sclakes.com/b25.html

[Bad Water Bill]

I visited a B-25 in Lake Murray (South Carolina) while it was on the bottom. It was quite an experience. Those were some very brave men in their flying machines!
http://www.sclakes.com/b25.html

Nothing wrong with that plane that LOTS AND LOTS of money could not fix.

Any idea what it cost from discovery to flying again?

[HarryT]

I don't know if the plane ever flew again but it was restored. I think its in Birmingham, AL. There are lots of rumors about aircraft and a PT boat being in Lake Murray so we were always on the look out for wrecks. When the B-25 was discovered it was a loosely kept secret. The people with recovery rights spent around $70,000 (I've heard) on the recovery but couldn't get backers to fund the restoration. So the plane sat in a dilapidated hanger (Owen's Field) rotting away for a while and was then sold to a museum. It would have been nice to have it in South Carolina due to our short association with the Doolittle's Raiders.
PS: Lake Murray is around 165 feet at the deepest spot with about six feet of silt on the bottom.