The C-45 "Expeditor" was the World War II military version of the Beechcraft Model 18 commercial light transport. Between 1939 and 1945, Beechcraft built 4,526 of these aircraft for the Army Air Forces in four versions: the AT-7 "Navigator" navigation trainer, the AT-11 "Kansan" bombing-gunnery trainer, the C-45 "Expeditor" utility transport, and the F-2 for aerial photography and mapping. The AT-7 and AT-11 became familiar training aircraft for World War II navigators and bombardiers, and thousands of Army Air Forces pilot cadets also received advanced training in twin-engine Beechcraft airplanes. During the early 1950s, Beechcraft completely rebuilt 900 C-45s for the Air Force; redesignated C-45Gs with new serial numbers, they remained in service until 1963 for administrative and light cargo duties. One example was painted to represent a typical C-45 assigned to Headquarters 8th Air Force when Lt. Gen. James H. Doolittle commanded the "Mighty Eighth" from High Wycombe, UK.