Watch the Restored SB2C‑5 Helldiver Soar Through the Skies After 79 Years

A Historic Revival

At Fagen Fighters WWII Museum in Granite Falls, Minnesota, the SB2C‑5 Navy Helldiver, nicknamed “the Beast,” returned to life with its first engine run in nearly 80 years. Led by restoration chief Brandon Deuel and piloted by museum chief pilot Evan Fagen, the aircraft was taxi tested on the ramp for the first time, marking a major milestone in its recovery.

Built in early 1945, this Helldiver (BuNo 83393) crashed near Naval Air Station Dahlgren, Virginia, in July 1945, then lay in the woods until recovery in 1993. After nearly three decades in pieces, Kevin Smith salvaged remaining parts, eventually selling the fuselage to Fagen Fighters in 2006.

From Ruin to Runway

The museum’s team carried out a detailed 17‑year restoration, rebuilding the dive bomber’s structure, systems, and rare parts. Early on October 7, 2023, they achieved the first engine start, an emotional moment after years of careful work.

Then on July 22, 2024, the aircraft made a successful test flight with Ed Vesely from the Commemorative Air Force at the controls. This flight returned the plane to the air for the first time since its 1945 crash.

A Living Piece of History

The SB2C‑5 is one of only two airworthy SB2C‑5s worldwide; the other belongs to the CAF in Texas. During WWII, the Helldiver served as the U.S. Navy’s last dive bomber, flying from carriers and carrying bombs and rockets. Though it earned nicknames like “the beast” for its handling quirks, it sank more enemy ships than any other Allied aircraft in the war.

Fagen Fighters now plans to feature the restored Helldiver at airshows, giving new generations a window into the era of aircraft carriers and dive-bombing missions. Each engine roar and gentle roar across a runway honors the mechanics, pilots, and war-era crews who flew and cared for these powerful machines.

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