Aero Vintage Books

Books and Information for the Aviation Enthusiast

B-25 “El Jarocho” NL75831

B-25 “El Jarocho” NL75831

[siteorigin_widget class=”shuttle_builder_imagetheme”][/siteorigin_widget]

Going through some photos I came across this one of an early civil B-25 and early production B-25. This is actually the third B-25 built by North American at its Inglewood plant, this being B-25-NA 40-2168. It was delivered to the Army Air Corps on February 25, 1941, and assigned to the 17th BG at McChord Field in Washington state. It never went overseas but instead eventually was used as a transport for AAF chief Gen. Hap Arnold. After the war, it was sold as surplus equipment and first went on the CAA civil registry as NL75831 in 1947. This is an early view probably in the late 1940s when marked with the name El Jarocho. According to the registry file, this airplane was slated to be exported to Mexico in April 1947 and even had a Mexican registration, XB-GOG, assigned. Instead, it remained with a U.S. owner but perhaps the Spanish name was from this period. From the trusty Google, El Jarocho means someone from Veracruz or, more broadly, an irreverent individual. Lots of history out there on this airplane as it is still around, flying as N2825B with the name Mis Hap and based in New York.