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| GO TO PAGE 1 GO TO PAGE 3 GO TO PAGE 4 GO TO ALBERNI VALLEY FOREST FIRE GO TO THE SUMMER WHEN B.C. BURNED FLYING TANKER HOME PAGE |
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| FLYING TANKERS: THE MARTIN MARS WATER BOMBERS OF SPROAT LAKE |
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| BOMBER BASE AT SPROAT LAKE, B.C. (above) |
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| IN THE SUMMER OF 1967 THE RAYONIER SAWMILL IN NEW WESTMINSTER, B.C. WAS ON FIRE. THE ONLY HOPE TO CONTROL THE FIRE WAS THE WATER BOMBERS FROM VANCOUVER ISLAND. WHEN THE BOMBERS ARRIVE ON SCENE THE MILL IS FULLY INVOLVED. MYLES GREEN CAN BE SEEN TAKING PHOTOS BY THE FENCE AT 1211 CAMERON STREET. |
| FIRE ! |
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| THE FLYING TANKERS ARE CALLED IN TO SAVE THE MILL'S INVENTORY OF LUMBER. |
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| THE BIRD DOG RADIOS THE DROP ZONE TO THE BOMBER PILOT. THE BOMBER FOLLOWS BEHIND AND DROPS A LOAD OF SPROAT LAKE WATER AS IT APPROACHES THE CHARRED REMAINS OF THE MILL. |
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| 76819 / 76838 MARTIN JRM-1 MARS Only the first five were built. All four surviving JRM-1s converted to JRM-3 76819 HAWAII MARS sank in Chesapeake Bay August 5, 1945 after porpoising during landing 76820 (JRM-3) "PHILLIPINE MARS" flying as C-FLYK with Forest Industries Flying Tankers of Port Alberni, BC. 76821 (JRM-3, *MARIANA MARS*) to Forest Industries Flying Tankers as CF-LYJ. Crashed into Mount Moriarty near Nanaimo Jun 23, 1961 killing crew of 4. Water drop mechanism failed, leaving aircraft unable to climb quickly enough to clear mountain. 76822 (JRM-3, *MARSHALL MARS*) force landed in Keehi Lagoon, Oahu in Apr 5, 1950 with engine fire. Crew was rescued after which aircraft exploded. 76823 (JRM-3) "HAWAII MARS -2" flying as C-FLYL with Forest Industries Flying Tankers of Port Alberni, BC. 76824 completed as JRM-2 *CAROLINA MARS*. To Forest Industries Flying Tankers. Destroyed in Typhoon Freda at Victoria, Canada Oct 12, 1962. SOURCE: U.S.NAVY & U.S. MARINE CORP BUnos THIRD SERIES (70188-80258) |
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| IN THE EARLY EVENING A FLYING TANKER APPEARS FROM THE NORTH PRECEDED BY A "BIRD DOG" SPOTTER PLANE. THE TWO AIRCRAFT APPROACH LOW OVER SOUTH BURNABY AND BOMB THE MILL ON THE BANKS OF THE FRASER RIVER IN NEW WESTMINSTER. |
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| FLAMES ARE IMMEDIATELY SUPPRESSED IN THE DROP ZONE. STEAM RISES AS THE BOMBER HEADS OFF FOR ANOTHER LOAD OF WATER. IN THE END THE MILL IS A TOTAL LOSS. |
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| LOST IN ACTION: 23.JUNE.1961 MARIANA MARS A FOREST INDUSTRIES FLYING TANKERS, WATER BOMBER. IT CRASHED INTO MOUNT MORIARITY ON VANCOUVER ISLAND. ALL CREW MEMBERS WERE LOST: WG RICHMOND WJ WIGGINS RA MORAN JV EDWARDS |