The aircraft had recently made a post restoration flight from Kissimee, FL. It went on to be based with the Southern California Wing of the Confederate Air Force based at Camarillo, CA., where, after severe corrosion was detected it was decided that a complete tear-down restoration was required. This lasted over 20 years and it wasn't until 15th May 2016 that it made its first post-restoration flight. It now flies out of Camarillo painted as PBJ-1J BuNo. 35243 of Marine Bombing Squadron 611 which was lost on a mission in the Pacific in May 30 1945. (Credit: Warbirdregistry.org)

This B-25 was intended for the USAAF as 44-30988 but entered service in March 1945 with the USN as 35857. Its service life was short being retired in March 1947 but by July was flying for the Saint Louis Flying Service as N5865V. Then followed a long list of owners and operators before arriving at the Commemorative AF SoCal Wing to begin a decades-long, deep restoration. In May 2016 the first post-restoration flight took place with the plane painted to represent VMB-611 B-25 35243/MB 11, which was lost along with its seven man crew during a strike on the Kibawe Trail near Davao in May 1945.

ex 44-30988 Photographer: Unknown

20 Mar '45: Delivered to USAAF as B-25J 44-30988; transferred to the Navy. 21 Mar '45: NAS Elizabeth City, NC; converted to PBJ-1 35857. 2/47: War Assets Administration. 8 Mar '47: SOC. 7/1/47: Registered NR5865V. Several more owners with more modifications. 1972 to 1979: WFU; open storage at Ft. Lauderdale, FL. 1981 to 1982: Restored to flying condition, marked as a B-25. 12/85: Confederate Air Force. 1994 to May 2016: Restoration to PBJ-1, with parts from B-25J 44-28765.

Storm damaged, later rebuilt as a warbird.

Originally delivered to the USAF as a B-25J with serial 44-30988 and directly transferred to the US Navy and converted with serail 35857.