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[1972.024.001] Aircraft - 'SNB-5P/RC-45J Navigator' |
| Accession Number |
1972.024.001 |
| Accession Date |
09/04/1997 |
| Creator |
| Creator |
Creator Role |
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Manufacturer |
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| Date Created |
1942 |
| Object Desciption |
Accepted by the Navy on 20 February 1942, as a JRB-2 Expeditor, this aircraft initially served as a utility plane with Marine Corps units at Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Quantico, Virginia, and Naval Air Stations (NAS) San Diego, California, including Marine Aircraft Groups (MAG) 15 and 35. Following World War II it flew at NAS Corpus Christi, Texas, NAS Alameda, California, and NAS Anacostia, D.C. before placement in storage in 1948. Entering active service again at MCAS Cherry Point, North Carolina, in 1950, the aircraft underwent conversion to the SNB-5P Navigator configuration and subsequently served at NAS Willow Grove, Pennsylvania, NAS Glenview, Illinois, NAS Pensacola, Florida, NAS Atlanta, Georgia. It was redesignated an RC-45J in 1962.
When it retired from service at Naval Air Technical Training Unit (NATTU) Pensacola on 29 June 1972, it was the last aircraft of its type flying in the Navy. It was donated to the museum the following day. |
| Notes |
Ordered by the Navy in 1940 for use as an aerial photography platform, the Beech 18 eventually served in a variety of other roles, from administrative and logistic support to training. In the latter capacity, the versatile aircraft carried everything from cameras to sophisticated radar and jamming equipment in training aerial photographers and naval flight officers. Many a naval aviator not assigned to an operational squadron relied on the SNB, or "Bugsmasher" as it was affectionately called, to maintain flying proficiency for the purpose of collecting "hazardous duty" pay. As a result, "Bugsmasher" time appears in the logbooks of most naval aviators who served over the course of the aircraft's thirty years service.
With a service life that spanned multiple years, the aircraft was known by a variety of designations and nicknames, including Navigator, Expeditor, and Kansan (Beech, the airplane's manufacturer, was headquartered in Wichita). In 1962, with the decision to standardize all military aircraft designations, all SNB/JRB aircraft were redesignated C-45s.
The Museum's RC-45J was obtained in 1972 from the Naval Air Technical Training Unit at Naval Air Station (NAS) Pensacola, Florida.
Specifications for RC-45J
Manufacturer: Beech Aircraft Company
Dimensions: Length: 34 ft., 3 in.; Height: 9 ft., 4 in.; Wingspan: 47 ft., 8 in.
Weights: Empty: 6,203 lb.; Gross: 8,000 lb.
Power Plant: Two 450 horsepower Pratt & Whitney R-985-AN-3 engines
Performance: Maximum Speed: 209 M.P.H. at sea level.; Service Ceiling: 21,500 ft.; Range: 780 miles
Armament: One 30-in. machine gun in dorsal turret and capability to carry ten 100 lb. bombs
Crew: Two pilots and up to five passengers or students
Aircraft in the Museum Collection
RC-45J (BuNo 09771)- On outdoor static display
UC-45J (BuNo 39213)- On loan to Pima Air and Space Museum, Pima, Arizona |
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