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Photo from the Liberty Foundation Facebook pageThe Liberty Foundation announced on Wednesday that it had acquired the B-25 "Executive Sweet" from the American Aeronautical Foundation. The news was largely kept under wraps while the foundation has worked to prepare the B-25 for 2024, undergoing a complete inspection of the aircraft, recovering the flight control surfaces, refurbishing the fuel tanks and repainting the aircraft.
The B-25 Executive Sweet (S/N 44-30801) was manufactured by North American Aviation in Kansas City, Kansas and was delivered to the U.S. Army Air Forces on Feb. 27, 1945. After serving in the military, the B-25 entered into civil service in September 1959. Executive Sweet spent a few years as a crop sprayer before it was bought up by Hollywood and used as the lead aircraft in Catch 22, painted with the nose art and markings "Vestal Virgin" for the film. After its time as a movie star, the B-25 was purchased and restored to the wartime J-Model appearance with the now well-known name, Executive Sweet.
In 1982 the plane was donated to the American Aeronautical Foundation Museum in Camarillo, California and the aircraft was operated through 2020. Throughout the years, the warbird was flown at numerous aviation events, in over a dozen films, TV shows and commercials. With the unfortunate economic downturn amidst the global pandemic in 2020, the AAF was forced to rehome the aircraft. Upon its arrival with the foundation, the Executive Sweet underwent rigorous inspections and restoration. The Liberty Foundation was offered a sponsorship by Delta Air Lines and Landlocked Aviation and the painting was completed by October. The aircraft now sports pinup nose art and livery and represents the 321st Bomb Group and 445th Bomb Squadron of the Mediterranean Theater of Operation. The 13 tail number shows a B-25 which flew 137 combat missions with the 445th BS.
The AAF is still going to be involved with the B-25 even in its new home, pledging to continue to support the flying activities for the restored warbird. The foundation hopes to be back touring next year and expects the restored Executive Sweet to help with educational outreach and the continued restoration of the foundation's B-17 Liberty Belle. At its current rate, the foundation expects the B-17 to be up and flying in under three years, but with a little more time and money to achieve this goal.