Martin Mars Water Bomber Tribute

[camptramp]

Jim Backland BCFP .

 

[camptramp]

Jim Backland , BCFP.

 

[camptramp]

Jim Backland , BCFP .

 

[camptramp]

Jim Backland , BCFP

 

[Murk100]

Where was this fire at Camptramp ? looks like Gold River country

 

[camptramp]

I'm not sure Jim B. was a Foreman in several BCFP Mainland Camp's , I have over 600 of Jim's slide's with nothing written on them . Some of the pictures I have figured out were taken at Narrows Inlet , as I went there as a relief operator in 1977 for a shift and recognize the camp . These pictures could have been taken at Narrows Inlet but I'm not positive .

 

[Murk100]

I'm not sure Jim B. was a Foreman in several BCFP Mainland Camp's , I have over 600 of Jim's slide's with nothing written on them . Some of the pictures I have figured out were taken at Narrows Inlet , as I went there as a relief operator in 1977 for a shift and recognize the camp . These pictures could have been taken at Narrows Inlet but I'm not positive .

Thanks, nice pictures. keep

 

[camptramp]

Jim Backland , BCFP .

 

[Murk100]

Jim Backland , BCFP .View attachment 167955 View attachment 167956 View attachment 167957 View attachment 167958

WOW.... great pictures both planes working in tandem.... thanks again for your work getting them to us.

 

[camptramp]

Jim Backlund , BCFP .

 

[camptramp]

Ernie Harrison , BCFP Renfrew Div.

 

[Born2clearcut]

I'm not sure Jim B. was a Foreman in several BCFP Mainland Camp's , I have over 600 of Jim's slide's with nothing written on them . Some of the pictures I have figured out were taken at Narrows Inlet , as I went there as a relief operator in 1977 for a shift and recognize the camp . These pictures could have been taken at Narrows Inlet but I'm not positive .

Yes these look to be Narrows Inlet

 

[camptramp]

Peter Mortensen Collection Martian Mars water bombers ready to fight fire on Sproat Lake

 

[donkey doctor]

Peter Mortensen Collection Martian Mars water bombers ready to fight fire on Sproat Lake

It's been a while. Welcome back. d.d.

 

[camptramp]

It's been a while. Welcome back. d.d.

Thanks d.d. Back a few years when our divison was relocating or changing ownership , Pete grab these slides before they were thrown away . There are a couple hundred slides , some pictures and a folder of negatives . Could be interesting .

 

[skyking1]

That's Hawaii Mars, it is now up for sale as they no longer use it.
5 million

They say the Mars will load water out of 113 lakes in BC, and the little planes can work 1700 lakes.

 

[camptramp]

That's Hawaii Mars, it is now up for sale as they no longer use it.
5 million

They say the Mars will load water out of 113 lakes in BC, and the little planes can work 1700 lakes.

The two remaining Martian Mars are "Moth Balled" and will probably never be used again . Its a shame that they are considered obsolete , when we were fighting a fire and the Mars arrived it was like the Cavalry arriving .

 

[skyking1]

they are beauties. I hope to see them in their home lake next summer.

 

[Tones]

Isn't there some bureaucratic BS going on with them. My understanding is Kermit Weeks wanted Hawaii Mars but the Canadian grubermint wouldn't allow the sale because of there historical value so Coulson's said you buy it which they didn't. I haven't followed any progress since then.

 

[camptramp]

B.C. forest Products , MacMillan & Bloedel , Pacific Logging and the Tahsis Co. formed Forest Industries Flying Tankers (FIFT) in the early 1960's . Purchased the Martin Mars cargo planes and made water bombers out of them . When FIFT was funded by those companies , they were stationed at Sproat Lake and available for fire fighting on Vancouver Island and the B.C. West Coast . There are several lakes on Vancouver Island and the ocean surrounding it to pick up water from . When the Forest holdings were taken over by major Corporations they were deemed an unnecessary expense and sold off . The powers that be in our government say they are to expensive to operate and they are limited to where the Martin Mars can operate . I have to wonder how much cost and expense would have been save if the Martin Mars had made a couple of drops on the Cameron Lake fire or if it had been sent to West Kelowna to save homes in the fire by Lake Okannogan . The Martin Mars is a tool for fighting fires . It saddens me to have seen what it is capable of in the right situation , and now see it parked when it could have been utilized this Summer . There is talk that it may be put in an Aviation Museum near Victoria B.C. , if they do there should be a statue of the men that created it along side it . Perhaps those who deemed it unusable should spend some time on the fire line with a fire axe and shovel .