another tanker thread - TBM/TBF's

[k5083]

I certainly have no objection to them being on the WR. 69374 is now at the USS Midway museum, recent picture here:
http://www.midwaysaircraft.org/acft/tbm_2.htm
The registry currently has a pretty recent photo of 53858 by Steve T. The other two were written off in 1970-71 and probably looked pretty much like they did in these pics at that time.

August

[Mark Nankivil]

Another resource that might prove useful to some is at:

http://www.dappa.nl/airtankers.htm

HTH! Mark

[Swiss Mustangs]

Hi all

received an e-mail from Randal McFarlane with an attached photo:

Tanker 58 is my aircraft based here in Brisbane .

You might like to post this for the boys..

Regards Randal

and as comparison:


Cordially
Martin

[cadam]

It's wonderful to see all these old tanker photos. Some comments:

There is someone doing a book on firebombing in Canada. Check out
http://trevormctavish.com/flyingfiretru ... ntents.htm

Someone mentioned USAF N108Z used as a fire bomber. I have pics of N104Z doing a demo retardant drop. They were in the Forest Protection Ltd files. I found a letter posted somewhere on the Web from Curt Block of Olympia WA who was requesting images of his aircraft for use in a museum display.

Here's what I sent him:
I've just mailed you a cd with cleaned images of BuNo 69325, as well
> as our images of it as Hicks & Lawrence #18 (FXOM). Our annual reports show FXOM
> operated as #900 as part of a fleet of 19 TBMs, presumably with
> Maritime Airspray out of NB, in 1969 and 1970. I don't have any images
> of that.
> They then show it as #18, operating again as part of a large fleet in
> the 70s and 80s, although there are gaps in the records. For a few
> years, #18 usually flew in a team of 3 with H&L #1 (FBEG, 85983) and
> sometimes FPL #22 (GFPL, 86020) and others (see the images). Its last
> year of operation with FPL was 1984.

Further to this, I am presently compiling a history of the tankers that came through New Brunswick during the budworm spray period in the 60s to 80s. This particular thread is MOST INTERESTING to me. I hope there will be some cooperation here.

Other aerial applicators that used TBMs in Canada are:

Wheeler Airlines (later Wheeler Northland), Quebec
Hicks and Lawrence Ltd, Ontario
Skyway Air Services, BC, later bought by Conair
Norfolk Aerial Spraying Ltd, Fredericton NB
Evergreen Air Services, Quebec
Miramichi Air Service, NB
Maritime Air Service, NB

[HELLDIVERS]

Hi,

Wow I'm looking forward to seeing more published on fire bombers. It sounds like Trevors new book will be mostly based on operations in Canada. I would love to see a book based on the U.S. TBMs that operated in the 60s and 70s. There were several companies that flew TBMs, does anyone know how many were converted? The large sides of the TBM made for a great billboard for advertising the operators name along with large I.D./tanker numbers made for some attractive paint jobs.

The TBMs that were work horses for many years have been for the most part forgotten about. The large fleet of Avengers that graced the skys of the 60s and 70s have all but disappeared. Several survivors have made it into collections were they have been restored to their former glory as WW2 torpedo bombers. Some make the air shows during the summer but many haven't flown in years. Thunder over Michigan saw a good collection of the flying TBMs but was only a drop in the bucket of number that flew sometimes on a daily basis as aerial tankers.

With some of the outstanding photos that I've seen posted here, it would make a great start on a photographic history of the tanker operations of the TBM. We owe the number of TBMs that are still airworthy to the hard working tankers of years gone by. If not for aerial fire fighting the TBM could be as rare as the F6F, SB2C ect. Anyone interested in doing a project of this scale? Granted their not Mustangs but I think there would be enough interest to make it worth while.

Thanks Mike

[Aircraft Mech Paul]

Great Photo's of how these old workhorses were made use of when their combat days were over. It beat the alternative as being scrapped out and melted down. And even better that some still exist to this day,

Thanks for posting these,

Paul

[k5083]

I suppose folks wouldn't mind seeing a few more.

The first three are from CMI (Champaign IL) and they are all dated May 25, 1970.

BuNo 53078, then N68683, later to New Brunswick as CF-BEF and written off in a crash in 1975.
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/avengerr ... 53078.html


BuNo 53484, then N7031C, also to New Brunswick, crashed and destroyed less than a month after this picture was taken.
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/avengerr ... 53484.html


BuNo 85460, then N7032C, an ex-RCN machine later C-GFPS in New Brunswick which survived to be retired and now registered N145WB with an owner in New Jersey:
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/avengerr ... 85460.html


Finally, photographed at Wetaskiwin (Alberta) in August 1989, presumably the Reynolds Museum's 69361 now listed on the WR as airworthy(?) in RCN markings. Anyone have a recent pic?
http://www.warbirdregistry.org/avengerr ... 69361.html


August

[SCOTT G]

Hey Mike are you planning on restoring your TBM to a fire bomber?
Or back to its WWII look? If you need any help let me know, especially the stripping off of the paint.

Scott

[cadam]

Wonderful pics of the "New Brunswick" Avengers!! Can you email me privately, please?

Here are two of the same aircraft, with another tucked in behind.

This is N7031C, Central Airways (?) #111, in 1968 in New Brunswick, along with a JD Irving #508, FIMO, Bu85833, which crashed in 1970.


This is Norfolk TBM B16, GOEG, Bu69361, in 1978. Different colours, a paler yellow, and white instead of black.

[HELLDIVERS]

Hi,

The photos of N7031C it looks like it has the turret fairing from a very rare TBM3-W does anyone have any photos or history of TBM N7849C? Thanks for posting all of these great photos!! I'm thinking of returning N4172A back to its Aerial Applicators colors after restoration and yes Scott you can get started at anytime

Thanks Mike

[Sril]

Hi,

K5083 Do you have a close up of the nose art on tanker #75? Any idea were they were taken? Can someone match the N#s and post them in the registry? How about can anyone match them up with current photos? How many still survive?

Thanks Mike

Sorry for beeing to late to answer.
Tanker E71, E72 and E75 were based at Ramona AAB and had this insigna on both sides.
At Ramona AAB they have color pictures of them on the walls.
The T shirt sold on the base still depicts this nose art .

Have a good day

[RNDMTRS4EVR]

For any of you that have a chance, you need to go to Ramona, CA or Hemet, CA and look up Bob Forbes. He is the relief pilot on the S-2 air tankers there at the moment, he used to fly TBM's as tankers and couple of the ones he flew, are actually shown in this post. He has some great stories.
Scott......

[cadam]

Martin,

Do you have any info on the location of the second image you posted (page 1 of this post):

CF-KCG, CF-MUE CF-IMN September 1975 (caption)? Looks like BC.

[RNDMTRS4EVR]

Mike;
You may already know this, but rumor has that Milo Peltzer (sp) is or was working on a very detailed air tanker history book. I have been chompping at the bit waiting for some news of it being published, he knows some great history of the U.S. air tanker biz.

On another note, you say you may return your TBM into its former tanker/sprayer livery correct? If so, do you plan on putting a tank back into it? I know there are some tanks (or so I'm told) still sitting in Canada.
Scott.......

[Warbird Kid]

Awesome images of this classic Grumman Bomber.

Don't know if its already been discussed here but, has anyone ever thought of restoring and flying a TBM as a retro fire bomber? Ya' know, besides the C.A.F. with there PBY.

I'm guessin not much turnaround cost at an airshow. I mean who would want to book a single engine fire bomber that could do simulated drops for the crowd? Well besides me.