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Stearman M-2 "Bull" Speedmail NC9055 on display at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Muesum, Hood River, Oregon. (Randy Malmstrom)
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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 Stearman M-2 “Bull” Speedmail, s/n 1005, NC9055, which is maintained in airworthy condition at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Museum in Hood River, Oregon.
Head-on view of the Stearman M-2 “Bull” Speedmail NC9055 on display at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Muesum, Hood River, Oregon. (Randy Malmstrom)
The nickname “Bull” came about as a result of its imposing size for the time. This particular aircraft was one only seven of its type built by the Stearman Aircraft Company in 1929 and is the sole survivor. It was one of six M-2 aircraft delivered to Varney Air Lines for use on its Contract Air Mail Route 32 between Portland, Oregon and Seattle and Spokane, Washington. Varney lost three of its M-2 aircraft within months of their delivery to the company. Future orders went to the Boeing Model 40 (of which I have a separate album) and there were no more orders for the M-2 from anyone. Through a series of acquisitions, Varney became part of United Air Lines.
Mail parcels were carried in the forward compartment of the aircraft between the engine and the cockpit on the Stearman M-2 “Bull” Speedmail. (Randy Malmstrom)
While on an extended route to Alaska in October 1939, this particular M-2 landed upside down in Telsin Lake in the Yukon Territory. All three men aboard survived, but the aircraft lay unmoved until 1989 when it was rediscovered (by others besides the locals who were aware of it) and recovered by an aviation historian. In 1999, Alan Lopez of Princeton, New Jersey took ownership of the aircraft and had it restored over a 10-year period. In 2014, Mr. Lopez transferred ownership to Western Antique Aeroplane & Automobile Museum (WAAAM) in Hood River, Oregon. It is painted in the colors of Varney Air Lines, including the half-orange upper wing surface.
3/4 view of the Pratt and Whitney R-1690 Hornet engine on the Stearman M-2 “Bull” Speedmail NC9055 on display at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Muesum, Hood River, Oregon. (Randy Malmstrom)
Tail of the Stearman M-2 “Bull” Speedmail NC9055 on display at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Muesum, Hood River, Oregon. (Randy Malmstrom)
3/4 rear view of the tail of Stearman M-2 “Bull” Speedmail NC9055 on display at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Muesum, Hood River, Oregon. (Randy Malmstrom)
Exhaust system for the Pratt and Whitney R-1690 Hornet engine on Stearman M-2 “Bull” Speedmail NC9055 on display at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Muesum, Hood River, Oregon. (Randy Malmstrom)
The Stearman M-2 was originally fitted with a Wright R-1750 Cyclone engine, whose unreliability contributed to the downfall of the aircraft type. The seventh and last M-2 was built with a Pratt & Whitney R-1690 Hornet engine and is the engine in this particular aircraft. It was capable of carrying a pilot and 1,000 lbs. of cargo/mail. My photos of this airworthy aircraft at WAAAM. The McNary-Watres Act of 1930 (The Airmail Act of 1930) awarded airmail contracts to three major airlines: Boeing Air Transport (which later became United Airlines), Transcontinental Air Transport (which later became TWA upon its merger with Western Air), and Robertson Aircraft Corporation (which later became American Airlines).
Detail of the tail of Stearman M-2 “Bull” Speedmail NC9055, including the aircraft’s registration number, Stearman emblems, and Varney Air Lines Fleet number (this was aircraft 18 in Verney’s fleet). (Randy Malmstrom)Stearman M-2 “Bull” Speedmail NC9055 on display at the Western Antique Aeroplane and Automobile Muesum, Hood River, Oregon. Note the navigation light housing on the Speedmail’s upper right wing. (Randy Malmstrom)*Editor’s note: The Western Aeroplane and Automobile Museum sells copies of a book with a detailed history of this aircraft, Bull Stearman, The Story of the Stearman M-2 Speedmail, by Alan Lopez.
About the authorRandy 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.
Raised in Fullerton, California, Adam has earned a Bachelor's degree in History and is now pursuing a Master's in the same field. Fascinated by aviation history from a young age, he has visited numerous air museums across the United States, including the National Air and Space Museum and the San Diego Air and Space Museum. He volunteers at the Planes of Fame Air Museum in Chino as a docent and researcher, gaining hands-on experience with aircraft maintenance. Known for his encyclopedic knowledge of aviation history, he is particularly interested in the stories of individual aircraft and their postwar journeys. Active in online aviation communities, he shares his work widely and seeks further opportunities in the field.
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.
