10/20/2023
https://www.facebook.com/100064782158199/posts/723725679796831/?mibextid=WiMSqg
The Liberty Foundation adds B-25 “Executive Sweet” to its collection!
The Liberty Foundation is happy to finally announce the acquisition of the famous B-25 “Executive Sweet” from the American Aeronautical Foundation (AAF). We were honored to be selected as the aircraft’s new home and entrusted with keeping this amazing aircraft flying for the public. It has been quite a journey…
B-25 S/N 44-30801 was manufactured by North American Aviation in Kansas City, KS and delivered to USAAF on February 27, 1945. Following her military duty, she entered civil service in September 1959. After a few short years as a crop sprayer, she was acquired by a company named Filmways, Inc. in Hollywood, CA and used as a lead aircraft in the film “Catch-22” painted with the nose art and markings “Vestal Virgin”. Following her film career, she was purchased in 1972 by a gentleman named Mr. Ed Schnepf who ran the now well-known Challenge Publications. It was Mr. Schnepf’s mission to restore her back to a wartime "J-Model” appearance and he gave her the now famous and well-known name, “Executive Sweet”.
In 1982, Schnepf's Challenge Publications donated the B-25 to the American Aeronautical Foundation Museum (AAF) at Camarillo, California which operated the aircraft through 2020. Over many years, the AAF has flown Executive Sweet at aviation events, in over a dozen major films, numerous TV shows and commercials. It is only due to the unfortunate economic downturn of 2020 that forced the AAF’s decision to park the aircraft and consider a new home.
This news has been kept fairly under wraps, as we have worked to get the aircraft ready to tour for 2024. Upon her arrival at the Liberty Foundation, it was decided to completely go through the entire aircraft and inspect all systems and components. This led to the recovering of all flight control surfaces, refurbishment of fuel tanks and aircraft repainting. For the paint, we were offered a gracious sponsorship by Delta Air Lines, Inc. and Landlocked Aviation to repaint the aircraft, which is just being completed this month. Now sporting new “pinup” nose art and livery, she now represents the 321st Bomb Group & 445th Bomb Squadron of the Mediterranean Theater of Operation. Her “13” tail number depicts a B-25 which flew 137 combat missions with the 445th BS, but she continues her legacy as “Executive Sweet”.
While the AAF may have re-homed the B-25 to the Liberty Foundation, its members have all pledged to continue supporting her flying activities and we welcome them as family! And the aircraft’s donation couldn’t have come at a better time. Now that the world is finally starting to move forward, we hope Liberty will be back on tour next year. “Executive Sweet” will help us continue our educational outreach and to help us in the restoration of our B-17 “Liberty Belle”. At our current rate of progress, we may have the B-17 flying again in less than 3 years. We just need a little more time and a lot more money to make this happen.
Lastly, we want to thank Chad Hill with Django Studios for his hard work in creating and hand painting the new nose art. Chad has been a huge supporter of multiple museums and we appreciate his brilliant talent and attention to detail. I also want to recognize John Throw with John Throw Art . John is the crazy talented artist that painted the previous Executive Sweet’s nose art and continues to help us by maintaining the Liberty Foundation website. Kudos to you both!
The Liberty Foundation’s founder, Mr. Don Brooks has kept an unwavering commitment to continuing our important mission, even with the tough years behind us. Through the almost complete loss of our B-17 “Liberty Belle”, Don has funded all of our shortfalls (and there are many), including the B-17’s rebuild. As we spin back up for next year’s tour, we hope those who have flown with us or supported us in the past financially will do so again. It would really help!
In the meantime, we hope to land the B-25 in your city soon. We are dedicated to sharing this extraordinary machine with the public for years to come.
Thank you for your support!
Ray Fowler
Executive Director, The Liberty Foundation Inc.
