(COLORADO SPRINGS) — A rare piece of World War II history took to the skies on Saturday, July 19. A restored SB2C Helldiver made its first public flight, and it was a sight to see.
Late in World War II, the Helldiver was used as a dive bomber against Japanese ships. There are only three known Helldivers flying today, and this one is the newest addition at the National Museum of World War II Aviation in Colorado Springs.
The Helldiver was recovered by two young men in their late teens from a lake near Seattle, Washington, in the 1980s.
Matt McCauley was one of the scuba divers who discovered and ultimately recovered the aircraft, which was restored to flying condition in Colorado Springs by Westpac…