The West Texas Wing of the Commemorative Air Force proudly maintains the world’s only flying example of the Curtiss-Wright SB2C Helldiver, the last true Dive Bomber produced for the US Navy. The SB2C’s were responsible for more ship tonnage sunk during WWII than any other aircraft.

With the successful engine rebuild last year, the next major step in our continuing Helldiver restoration is to give the aircraft a fresh paint job.  New paint will not only make the aircraft look better, it will also help protect it for years to come. It’s been many years since the last painting and we have been repairing and repainting small areas where the paint is peeling. A recently discovered area is the underside of the horizontal stabilizer. While this patchwork repair & repaint is acceptable for a short time, a full repainting is needed.

Our current paint scheme was designed in 1984 to represent aircraft carrier U.S.S. Franklin (CV-13) from which our then wing leader Col J.E. (Jake) Miller had flown Helldivers. Our plan is to continue with that scheme.

The story of the U.S.S. Franklin is truly amazing and well worth researching. The U.S.S. Franklin received four battle stars for World War II service.  It will be forever remembered as Big Ben - the ship that wouldn’t die.  

We would love to provide you more of the story of the U.S.S. Franklin here, but we have limited space. The West Texas Wing, as caretaker of the SB2C-5 Helldiver, is honored to represent that legacy.

Your support is very much appreciated!  We would enjoy hearing about your connection with Helldivers and always appreciate any photos you may have.  

Follow us on our Facebook page Commemorative Air Force SB2C Helldiver.  Share your stories and photos there and keep up with us throughout the year on what’s going on with the aircraft and where we are planning to be. We hope to have more details about our 2022 travel plans ready