F-AZZU was built in 1945 in the North American Aviation’s plant in Kansas City as B-25J c/n 108-47662. She was delivered in August 1945 with serial 45-8811. But as the War was over she was sent to Atlus, Oklahoma to be stored at the Reconstruction Finance Corporation (RFC). In late 1945 she was delivered to the USAAF and converted to TB-25N Trainer.  

In 1958 she was struck of charge and stored at Davis Monthan AFB, Arizona. She was bought on June 13 the same year by Maricopa Dust & Spray, Arizona and registered as N9621C. After just a year in Arizona she moved to Dallas Aero Service in Texas where her bomb bay was fitted with testing avionics and an infra-red scanner to fly for Texas Instruments whit

After her time with Dallas Aero Service she was with V.C. Arnspleger in  Dallas, from September 1961 until January 1962 when she was sold to Air Traders Inc, in Miami, Florida. Air Traders used her as an air freighter in South America. She was originally equipped with cargo-doors on the sides of her fuselage, but these were removed and the windows on the nose were replaced by steel.

She was sold again in 1966 and had various owners until March 1978, when she was acquired by Harry S. Doan of Doan Helicopter Inc, Daytona Beach, Florida. She was restored to her military configuration and flew again for the first time in February 1982. She was also painted in her current colours of a B-25 Mitchell serving in Italy during World War II. She had a nose arted applied and was named "Russell's Raiders" after actress Jane Russell, who was discovered by Aviator, Aircraft Designer, Airline President and Movie Producer, Howard Hughes.

In 1991 she was sold to World Jet Inc, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and the same year, via Flying Eagles Inc., she was ferried to France. She would be registered F-AZID with Apache Aviation, but operated by Flying Legends at Dijon-Longvic. In 1992 she was bought by Franklin Devaux of Lafayette Aviation and stayed at Dijon-Longvic until she was acquired by Aiject Ltd, Switzerland in 2004, where she would join "Jet Alpine Fighter" at Sion registered HB-RDE. During the following 2 years she was operated from Switzerland until 2008 when she was aqcuired by the French "Societé de Developpement et de Promotion de l'Aviation" based at La Ferté-Alais where she was registered F-AZZU.

She continues to fly as "Russell's Raider" in the USAAF markings of a 1944 Mitchell in the Mediteranian.Rumours go that Mrs Doan liked this colours when she was restored in the early 1980s. If she represents a unit or if the colours are authentic is not known.

North American B-25J Mitchell
F-AZZU - 45-8811/SB