Wisconsin’s Own B-25 Story

Triple 4, the B-25 that Paul Poberezny was instrumental in finding a permanent home for at Milwaukee’s General Mitchell International Airport, will be 64 years old next month. North American Aviation in Kansas City manufactured Triple 4, and it was delivered to the US Army Air Force in Mobile, Alabama, on January 19, 1945. From Mobile, it went to South Plains AAF in February 1945. Over its lifetime, it served under the Dominion of Canada and in Air Training Command (ATC) in the mid 1950s.

The pictures of the mounting of Triple 4 in the previous article were taken in 1963 during the initial installation at “Mitchell Field”. The proud bird had been standing guard at the airport for a quarter century. Having weathered its watch period and with new construction going on as the airport expanded, Triple 4 was given a facelift. It began in 1989 when volunteers took it down and moved it to the Milwaukee Air National Guard (ANG) facilities for a thorough once over. Retired guardsmen volunteered many hours to bring Triple 4 back to A-1 status.

Volunteers of both the Milwaukee and Madison Guard Units participated in the makeover. The constant between both units was their dedication to service. Individuals from Madison drove to Milwaukee to work alongside their fellow guardsmen on Triple 4, getting it ready for its new post—guarding Milwaukee’s terminal entrance.

Two of Madison Air Guard’s aircraft maintenance staff who volunteered were the Karabis twins, Nick and Pete. Even to this day, if you don’t know them well, it is easy to confuse their identities. They showed up the day in 1989 that Triple 4 was removed from its initial display area and then transferred to the MKE Air National Guard hangar. Tony Wojnar, who was a flight engineer on Triple 4, was on hand not just to oversee the project, but also to pitch in. Throughout the morning, the volunteers were working furiously to get the move underway. Tony was quite impressed with the speed and efficiency of a particular guardsman from Madison. He was always there when needed and never seemed to stop moving. It wasn’t until the group finally took a lunch break and everyone sat down together did Tony realize there were “two of them.” He laughed and told everyone he was impressed by how hard these Madison guys worked, but instead they had been sent over in doubles.

A good number of folks who read the story in Forward in Flight said they saw Triple 4 in the Air Guard hangar and had the opportunity to go through it. Some would take their children or grandchildren to see the historic bird and share some of its history with them. Bill Kircher, who had ridden on Triple 4’s last flight in 1959 as a new 2nd Lieutenant, said that his older brother, an Air Force pilot, instructed in this aircraft while it was in ATC.

The restoration and refurbishing of Triple 4 was completed in 1991, and it was rededicated at its present position on the entrance road to the terminal. The MKE ANG unit’s leadership and the work of the many volunteers who did a beautiful job with Triple 4’s makeover are commendable. It is something that all Wisconsin and Milwaukee County residents can be proud of. We have Paul Poberezny to thank for his vision and leadership in securing Wisconsin’s own B-25 Mitchell Bomber as a lasting tribute to General Mitchell and to all who served our country in WWII.

To read Tom Thomas's original piece, click here.