Historic Helldiver Reunion to Bring World’s Three Airworthy Curtiss SB2C Helldivers Together Over Colorado Springs

A gathering that many warbird enthusiasts believed they would never witness is set to take place on August 20, 2026, when the world’s only three airworthy Curtiss SB2C Helldivers reunite for a historic formation flight over Colorado Springs, Colorado, with Pikes Peak providing a spectacular backdrop. Presented jointly by the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum, the Commemorative Air Force (CAF) Helldiver Squadron, and the National Museum of World War II Aviation, the event marks the first time in decades that three flying Helldivers will take to the skies together. The reunion has been years in the making, requiring extensive coordination among the three organizations and their aircraft operators.

According to staff at the National Museum of World War II Aviation, aviation enthusiasts have been asking the same question ever since the museum’s SB2C and the Fagen Fighters example returned to the air: “When will all three Helldivers fly together?” Making that dream a reality required overcoming numerous logistical challenges. Ron Fagen, owner of the Fagen Fighters WWII Museum, played a leading role in coordinating the reunion, while the CAF worked around its busy airshow schedule to make its aircraft available. The participating aircraft represent the complete evolution of the SB2C’s operational career. The National Museum of World War II Aviation’s SB2C-1C represents the first production model to see combat, while both the CAF and Fagen Fighters aircraft are later SB2C-5 variants featuring aerodynamic refinements, four-bladed propellers, and the U.S. Navy’s late-war overall Gloss Sea Blue finish.

The Commemorative Air Force’s SB2C-5, Bureau Number 83589, was accepted by the U.S. Navy in June 1945 and served with several combat support and operational units in the Pacific before joining the Naval Air Reserve and being retired in 1949. After spending years as a civilian aircraft, it was donated to the Confederate Air Force (now the Commemorative Air Force) in 1971 and restored to flying condition. Following an engine-failure accident in 1982, the Helldiver underwent a five-year restoration by Ezell Aviation before returning to the skies in 1988 wearing the markings of a Helldiver from USS Franklin (CV-13) in honor of veteran Jake Miller. Today, operated by the American Airpower Heritage Flying Museum, it remains the world’s longest-flying restored Helldiver and one of only three airworthy examples of the type.

The Fagen Fighters WWII Museum‘s SB2C-5, Bureau Number 83393, was accepted by the U.S. Navy on May 3, 1945, and assigned to the Naval Air Facility at Dahlgren, Virginia, for training duties. Less than three months later, during a training flight, the aircraft suffered an engine power loss shortly after takeoff, forcing the pilot to execute a controlled emergency landing in nearby woods. The Helldiver was subsequently deemed beyond repair and scrapped by the Navy on July 31, 1945. More than six decades later, Ron and Diane Fagen acquired the surviving wreckage and launched an ambitious restoration that began in 2006. Over the following years, the aircraft was rebuilt by Wichita Air Service, Tri-State Aviation, and the Fagen Fighters Restoration team, which completed the majority of the work in-house. The Helldiver returned to the skies in July 2024, just days before EAA AirVenture Oshkosh, with veteran warbird pilot Ed Vesely at the controls.

(Image credit: Kevin Parks)

The National Museum of World War II Aviation‘s SB2C-1C also has one of the most remarkable restoration stories in the warbird community. Salvaged from the bottom of Lake Washington by Matt McCauley and fellow divers decades ago, the aircraft was recovered as little more than a burned center section after being stripped by the U.S. Navy and used as a firefighting training aid following World War II. More than four decades later, through the efforts of numerous restorers—including Mike Rosson, Jim Slattery, WestPac Restorations, and the National Museum of World War II Aviation—the aircraft returned to flight in 2025, making it the third airworthy Helldiver in the world. 

(Image credit: National Museum of WWII Aviation)

The formation flight will be led by renowned warbird pilot Ray Fowler, flying the Fagen Fighters Helldiver owned by Ron and Diane Fagen. Ed Vesely will pilot the CAF’s SB2C-5, while Charlie Hainline will fly the National Museum of World War II Aviation’s aircraft, owned by Jim Slattery. To support the air-to-air photography mission, the National Museum of World War II Aviation plans to use one of its North American B-25 Mitchell bombers as the photo ship. Museum staff hopes to conduct formation photography during the early morning or evening hours when lighting conditions are ideal, although schedules will remain subject to weather and operational considerations.

For museum staff, seeing the three Helldivers together is about far more than assembling rare airplanes. “For the longest time there was only one flying Helldiver in the world,” one of the museum’s restoration team members explained. “Most people had never seen one fly. Now we’re going to see all three together for the first time.” The event will be open to museum visitors during normal operating hours. While the exact flying schedule cannot be guaranteed due to weather and operational requirements, attendees will have the opportunity to see all three aircraft together on the ground and, conditions permitting, witness one of the rarest formation flights ever assembled in the warbird world.

Considering that only three airworthy SB2Cs exist anywhere in the world, organizers acknowledge that this may be the only opportunity for many years to see all three aircraft gathered in one location. As museum staff noted, coordinating the reunion required “moving heaven and earth” to find a window when all three aircraft, their pilots, and supporting organizations could come together. Visitors are encouraged to monitor the National Museum of World War II Aviation’s website and social media channels for schedule updates, as weather and operational considerations may affect flying times. While patience may be required, the opportunity to witness the world’s only three flying Curtiss SB2C Helldivers together promises to be one of the most significant warbird events of the year. For more information, visit the respective museums’ Facebook pages.