Randy’s Warbird Profiles: Beechcraft RC-45J Navigator #585

By Randy Malmstrom

Since his childhood, Randy Malmstrom has had a passion for aviation history and historic military aircraft in particular. He has a particular penchant for documenting specific airframes with a highly detailed series of walk-around images and an in-depth exploration of their history, which have proved to be popular with many of those who have seen them, and we thought our readers would be equally fascinated too. This installment of Randy’s Warbird Profiles takes a look at the Beechcraft RC-45J (SNB-5P) Navigator #585, BuNo. 29585, N585PB.

Over the course of its service life and many variants it has been known by designations including Navigator, Expeditor and Kansan. Nicknamed by some as the “Bouncing Bitch” or “Bugsmasher” and in Brazil as “Mata Sete” (“Kill Seven”: over time, Brazil received AT-7, AT-11, UC-45 variants, and also over time, accidents increased, resulting in the deaths of all seven crew members).

This is the U.S. Navy version of the civilian Beechcraft Model 18 or Twin Beach which was introduced in the late 1930’s by Beechcraft Aircraft Corporation. As World War II broke out, many military versions and configurations were introduced and over 9,000 in all were built. Beechcraft’s Wichita, KS plant built these SNB models (in 1962, the U.S. Navy SNB-5P variants were redesignated RC-45J). The many military variants have seen service with the U.S. Army Air Forces, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Navy, U.S. Air Force, and many overseas militaries.

Powered by twin Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN Wasp Junior radial engines. The large round display on the right side of the instrument panel is for the A-19 viewfinder — an optical periscope for seeing what the camera was going to photograph. The A-19 had two modes: forward- or straight-down view, and had a built-in drift meter to adjust the cameras on the photo run. The radio altimeter antenna is visible on the underside of the fuselage.

Aside from the pilot and co-pilot, there were two seats in the passenger compartment aft of the camera and viewfinder windows in the fuselage floor for the two-man camera crew (these had removable hatches that could be opened and closed in flight (see photos); a third seat was for the instructor. One type camera was the Fairchild F-56 Aerial Camera that had a 6-in. lens.

This particular aircraft was built as a navigation trainer during World War II. It was overhauled and reconfigured as a photo-reconnaissance trainer during the 1950s and served at NATTU Pensacola, FL (Naval Air Technical Training Unit) until its retirement in 1972. After being in storage in the Arizona Desert for 24 years, Taigh Ramey of Vintage Aircraft in Stockton, CA restored it and made it airworthy. Its FAA number is listed as reserved, the last listed owner was John Sessions’ Historic Flight Foundation that was in Spokane, WA but is closed due to non-airplane legal battles.

About the author

Randy Malmstrom grew up in a family steeped in aviation culture. His father, Bob, was still a cadet in training with the USAAF at the end of WWII, but did serve in Germany during the U.S. occupation in the immediate post-war period, where he had the opportunity to fly in a wide variety of types which flew in WWII. After returning to the States, Bob became a multi-engine aircraft sales manager and as such flew a wide variety of aircraft; Randy frequently accompanied him on these flights. Furthermore, Randy’s cousin, Einar Axel Malmstrom flew P-47 Thunderbolts with the 356th FG from RAF Martlesham Heath. He was commanding this unit at the time he was shot down over France on April 24th, 1944, spending the rest of the war as a prisoner of war. Following his repatriation at war’s end, Einar continued his military service, attaining the rank of Colonel. He was serving as Deputy Wing Commander of the 407th Strategic Fighter Wing at Great Falls AFB, MT at the time of his death in a T-33 training accident on August 21, 1954. The base was renamed in his honor in October 1955 and continues to serve in the present USAF as home to the 341st Missile Wing. Randy’s innate interest in history in general, and aviation history in particular, plus his educational background and passion for WWII warbirds, led him down his current path of capturing detailed aircraft walk-around photos and in-depth airframe histories, recording a precise description of a particular aircraft in all aspects.