The Striking Lines of the Howard 250 Executive

How a World War II-era military transport became a go-to luxury airplane for large corporations.

Tuesday, August 30, 2022 at 07:00 AM ET

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The Gulfstream of its day, the Howard 250 was converted from a military cargo airplane to a luxurious executive transport. [Photo: Jason McDowell]

Key Takeaways:

Many World War II military aircraft found new, diverse missions after the war, including roles in air racing, firefighting, and corporate aviation, moving beyond their original combat purposes.
A notable post-war trend involved converting surplus military aircraft into luxurious executive and corporate transports, offering enhanced speed, range, and comfort for business travel.
The Howard 250, a modified Lockheed C-60A Lodestar, exemplified this conversion, featuring aerodynamic improvements and opulent interiors with amenities like a wet bar, full lavatory, and panoramic windows for VIP passengers.
Despite its advanced design for the time, fewer than 20 Howard 250s were built due to the emergence of newer jet and turboprop aircraft, though remaining examples are now being preserved and restored.

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Of the countless captivating stories centered around the people and aircraft of World War II, most are understandably focused on the war effort itself. From tales of ferocious aerial battles above European farm fields to bombing missions in the Pacific Theatre, there was a lot of action, and military aircraft were in the midst of it all.

Shadowed by the drama of war and often overlooked are the lives led by many aircraft after the war ended. Like the pilots who flew them, a significant number of aircraft found new missions serving in altogether different roles.