Ex-US Army 45-1207, US Navy 51207 (SNB-2, converted as SNB-5 1954)

Ex 51-262. Parked at this small but interesting museum, this appears to be an airworthy aircraft with an airworthiness certificate expiring in 2027

This Beech 18 is one of the 31 aircraft on display all around the Lackland parade field. It is incorrectly painted as USAF 42-9637 (which was a P-39N), but it never served with the USAF. The serial is correct for this aircraft, but it's a US Navy bureau number, not a USAF tail number. This aircraft is in fact the USN BuNo 29637, first delivered as such as an SNB-2C in Oct 1944. Converted to SNB-3 in Jan 1949, then to SNB-5 in Dec 1951. Redesignated to TC-45J in Sep 1962 and to UC-45J in Oct 1964. In Feb 1967 it went to the US Army, where it served with that same serial 29637. At the time of the photo the Beech was receiving some TLC, hence the stepladder behind.

Del 08 Jul 1944 Former US Navy as Bu29553

Ca.1944: TOS USN as JRB-3. Ca.1954: Remanufactured as SNB-5. 1962: Redesignated as TC-45J, but soon thereafter was redesignated UC-45J. 4/70: Retired to storage at Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ. 7/74: Delivered to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Mission, TX. 11/75: Department of Agriculture, Hyattsville, MD as N40093. 9/81: Richard Saved, Sanrafael, CA. By 8/94: Displayed at Bonanzaville USA Museum, West Fargo, ND. 12/07: Arrived at the McChord Air Museum, McChord Field, Tacoma, WA.

Photographer: Unknown photographer.

Photographer: Unknown photographer.

Derelict at one side of Red Stewart. Originally built for the US Navy as SNB-2C BuNo 23815. Rebuilt twice, first as an SNB-3, then as an SNB-5, redesignated UC-45J in 1962. Was an instructional airframe at Southeastern Oklahoma State University in Durant, OK from 1969 to 1979 as N987SC, then went to Stewart's Aircraft Service in 1979 with the same reg. Stayed with them until transferred to Steve Stewart in Dec 1997, and stored at Red Stewart Airport. Since this photo was taken, has been moved to a private residence near the airport.

Operated by the US Department of Agriculture. Delivered to the US Navy as a SNB-1 with BuNo 39982 in 1943. Rebuilt as a SNB-5 around 1953. Redesignated to a UC-45J on 18 Sep 1962. Sold onto the US civil register as N9656 @ 1969. Operated by the US Department of Agriculture between 1977 and 1980. Deregistered on 20 Mar 2013.