While Howard Aero's Lockheed conversions focused mainly on the PV-1 Ventura, the Howard 250 was a successful conversion of the earlier Lockheed Lodestar. This aircraft left the production line as 42-55873 for delivery to the RCAF with serial 551. After 1946, the Lodestar flew as a business aircraft and was converted in 1963. Seized for running drugs in 1976, the airplane was auctioned off a year later and is pictured when owned by Atlas Aircraft Corporation, an aircraft parts dealer. It was again seized for drug running in April 1984 with a new owner and impounded at Nassau, Bahamas.