National Museum of World War II Aviation’S Curtiss SB2C-1A Helldiver Flies After 45 Years

The aviation world has welcomed a third Curtiss SB2C-1A Helldiver to the skies. On August 8th, after 45 years, BuNo 75552 (originally ordered for the USAAF as A-25A Shrike 42-80387) took flight from Colorado Springs Airport, piloted by Charles “Tuna” Hainline. This aircraft was meticulously restored by WestPac Restorations is owned by Jim Slattery, and operated by the National Museum of World War II Aviation. The first engine runs of Jim Slattery’s Helldiver occurred on July 23 outside the WestPac facility at the Museum’s Colorado Springs Airport campus. The FAA officials, as is standard procedure, were present to witness these initial runs. On the same day, the aircraft underwent successful taxi tests, turret installation, and weight-and-balance checks, paving the way for its first flight certification. Today, this stunning aircraft completed its first post-restoration flight, making it the third Helldiver to soar again, following the restorations by the Commemorative Air Force’s and Fagen Fighters’.

The Helldiver at the National Museum of World War II Aviation is painted in the tri-color scheme used by U.S. Navy aircraft starting in 1943, with paint provided by Consolidated Aircraft Coatings. BuNo  75552 was brought into service in 1944 as part of the U.S. Navy’s fleet of dive bombers. After being commissioned into service, this particular Helldiver was initially assigned to Naval Air Station (NAS) Alameda in California from June to October 1944. Shortly thereafter, it was transferred to NAS Seattle. However, the aircraft’s operational life was brief. On January 31, 1945, just months after its assignment to NAS Seattle, Bu. 75552 was officially stricken from the Navy’s active roster and subsequently dumped into Lake Washington, Seattle. The exact date and circumstances of its sinking remain somewhat unclear, but this was not an uncommon fate for aircraft no longer deemed necessary for the war effort.

For decades, BuNo 75552 lay undisturbed in the depths of Lake Washington. It wasn’t until the 1980s that Recovery Services Ltd, based in Bellevue, WA, undertook the challenging task of retrieving the aircraft.  After its recovery, Bu. 75552 changed hands a few times. Mike Rawson of Minneapolis, MN, acquired the aircraft in the 1990s, where it became the subject of a static restoration project in Anoka County, MN. For over a decade, efforts were made to preserve the aircraft, though it remained grounded. In 2010, Helldiver LLC took ownership of BuNo 75552 with a renewed vision—not just to restore the aircraft to a static condition, but to return it to the skies. This ambitious goal led to the involvement of Vultures Row Aviation in Cameron Park, CA, a group known for its expertise in restoring vintage NAVY aircraft to airworthy condition. The aircraft was eventually moved to WestPac Restorations and completed in Colorado.

Moreno Aguiari

Born in Milan, Italy, Moreno moved to the U.S. in 1999 to pursue a career as a commercial pilot. His aviation passion began early, inspired by his uncle, an F-104 Starfighter Crew Chief, and his father, a military traffic controller. Childhood adventures included camping outside military bases and watching planes at Aeroporto Linate. In 1999, he relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, to obtain his commercial pilot license, a move that became permanent. With 24 years in the U.S., he now flies full-time for a Part 91 business aviation company in Atlanta. He is actively involved with the Commemorative Air Force, the D-Day Squadron, and other aviation organizations. He enjoys life with his supportive wife and three wonderful children.

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