Porfirio Rubirosa and B-25s

[T J Johansen]

A quick look at Wikipedia claims that diplomat/ playboy/ race driver Porfirio Rubirosa got two B-25s in settlement from a couple of ex- wives. One called "La Ganza" after his divorce from Doris Duke in 1948, and the second from Barbara Hutton after a two month marriage in 1954. The second is as I understand N10V, but which is the other?

T J

[05564]

I don't know, but what a lucky sonofagun!! I wonder what I could get for my wife? LOL.

[dutchb25]

On N10V: 43-4432 Gary Lewis reports at WIX (31Oct2013): “N10V was in fact an Executive transport. It was purchased and reconfigured as an exec by American socialite, and debutante, Barbara Hutton heiress to the Worthworth empire. She bought it for her boyfriend, a Dominican diplomat / International Playboy Porfirio Rubirosa called Rubi by his friends and lovers. He became Hutton's fifth husband. While Rubirosa was married to Hutton, he was chasing Hungarian-born American socialite and actress, Zsa Zsa Gabor. Rubirosa flew the ship transoceanic in August 1954 to Cannes and again to Nice in 1955, on both trips Gabor was his "passenger". When Rubirosa wouldn't break off his desire for Gabor she had the B-25 sold. and so it was. The tables near the blister windows were of rich wood, inlaid with gold. Wonder where those got off to...... She had a colorful history”.

[aerovin2]

The civil B-25 histories in B-25 Mitchell in Civil Service shows the following for B-25J 45-8824:

Built as B-25J-35-NC and ready for delivery in Aug. 1945. USAAF contract terminated prior to acceptance and airframe delivered directly to the RFC at Altus, OK in Dec. 1945. Sold on May 31, 1946 by WAA to Frederick Weicker, New York, NY for $8250. Registration assigned as N75150. Experimental AC issued in July 1946 for high altitude weather flying over the U.S., Canada, and Mexico for a 2-6 month project for American Airlines. A.B. Fiztgerald, Fort Worth, TX pilot and project manager. Mod work performed in Mar. 1947 including baggage compartment, APU, additional seats added. Limited AC issued in March 1947. Sold in Jan. 1948 to Doris Duke Rubinosa, New York, NY. 320 gallon aux bomb bay fuel tank added in Mar. 1948 in preparation for a proposed South American flight to take place in Apr. 1948. Crashed and written off on Sept. 9, 1948.

[aerovin2]

And, as long as I am posting histories, this is the one for B-25H 43-4432 (N10V). This record is taken mostly from the FAA registration file. The Wikipedia file would suggest he got the B-25 in early 1954, but neither Hutton nor Rubirosa''s name, nor any apparent link, shows up in the record for the time period, highlighted below.:

Built as B-25H-5-NA and delivered on Feb. 4, 1944. Initial assignment to Lowry Field, CO, arriving in late Mar. 1944. Assigned in Oct. 1944 to Mar. Field, CA and, later, Paine Field, WA. Deemed excess to needs and transferred to the RFC at Altus, OK in Nov. 1945. Sold on June 25, 1947 to Joe Zeppa, Delta
Drilling Company, Dallas, TX for $758.33. Registration of NL90399 assigned by CAA. Transferred in Aug. 1947 to Texas Aircraft Trading Company, Tyler, TX, also for $758.33. Sold in Mar. 1948 to Jaques Power Saw Company, Dennison, TX. Limited AC issued in Apr. 1948. Sold in Sept. 1949 to A.B. Wharton, Vernon, TX. Sold in Feb. 1952 to Mechanical Products Inc., Jackson, MS. Registration changed to N10V in Feb. 1952. In Sept. 1952, the "cannon" nose was replaced by an "eight-gun" nose piece. In Nov. 1952 low-drag wing tips, evidently from a late B-25 version, were added. Sold in Mar. 1954 to Alfred E. Merhige, Hollywood, FL. Sold in Dec. 1954 to J.O. Willet, Monroe, LA. Sold in Oct. 1955 to Husky Oil Company, Cody, WY. Extensive modifications completed in Dec. 1955 with the addition of an air-stair door and additional fuselage windows in the waist area, a DC-3 type emergency exit in the cockpit, and the addition of a 500 gallon fuel tank in the bomb-bay. Sold in Jan. 1956 to Canam Company, Cody, WY. S. in Mar. 1960 to Frank G. Ringswanger, Inc., & Victor Metal Products Corp., dba Cherokee Flying Service, location unknown. Flown as Cherokee II. S. (or donated?) in May 1962 to the Valley Forge Military Academy Foundation, Wayne, PA. Sold in June 1962 to the Tropical Export Trading Corp., Fort Lauderdale, FL for $5500. Sold in June 1962 to Long Island Airways, Ronkonkoma, NY. Sold in Sept. 1968 to Tallmantz Aviation, Santa Ana, CA for use in filming Catch-22. Sold to Filmways, Inc., Hollywood, CA. Appeared in one scene in the movie as the extremely pristine VIP transport, including white sidewall tires. Sold in May 1971 to Dr. William S. Cooper, Merced, CA. Donated in May 1972 to the EAA Air Museum Foundation, Franklin (later Oshkosh), WI. Restored beginning in 1975 and displayed in the EAA Eagle Museum as The City of Burlington with standard B-25J style nose glass.

[aerovin2]

See this photo, too, with Zsa Zsa, so this is presumably N10V:

http://www.edwardquinn.com/page255/file ... B_011.html

[dutchb25]

and this one as well:
http://www.edwardquinn.com/page255/file ... 009Cr.html