America's Biggest WW2 Plane - The Martin Mars
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 27 ส.ค. 2024
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Dr. Mark Felton is a well-known British historian, the author of 22 non-fiction books, including bestsellers 'Zero Night' and 'Castle of the Eagles', both currently being developed into movies in Hollywood. In addition to writing, Mark also appears regularly in television documentaries around the world, including on The History Channel, Netflix, National Geographic, Quest, American Heroes Channel and RMC Decouverte. His books have formed the background to several TV and radio documentaries. More information about Mark can be found at: en.wikipedia.o...
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Footage Credit: Dan von Raesfeld
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Ok
I love you, still a shitty game and your fastened voice mean it
Yep, great vids!
The game (bad or not) is a good fit for you channel but if you get any bigger will you get turned by the Dark side (Raid Shadow Legends)?
Great video but that add... NO THANKS.
At least it wasn’t Raid Shadow Legends
My mom built these during ww2, she was a Rosie. She passed 8/19 bless her and her memory
@Ron Neff, God Bless your Mum and I thank her for the sacrifices and hardships that she endured, in those days it was called "just doing your part" and everyone was in the same boat, working hard to defeat the enemy. I personally understand it as I'm a disabled British war pensioner, Iraq and Afghanistan. When I was my sons age, I had been to five continents, was married, had a mortgage, had him and had fought in Op Granby (desert storm,) he's more interested in drinking and playing computer games! God Bless your Mum, she's in my thoughts and prayers. 👍🇬🇧🙏👍
Wow. You must be old as me then.
My mom was a WAC during WWII and was part of a unit that ferried B-17's from here in Everett, Wa to So Calif for deployment to the Pacific. She got to fire the 50 cal's and she once horked out the bomb bay! To her last breath, she absolutely loved her B-17's!! RIP 🙏 ♥ Mom!
Utmost respect, thx for sharing.
True hero
The Hawaii Mars was delivered to Pat Bay, Victoria British Columbia this past Sunday August 11 2024 to begin her next career as a museum display. She served in war and peace very successfully over an 80 year career. Wayne Coulson graciously donated her to the B.C Aviation Museum located at the Victoria international airport at Sydney B.C. where she will be enjoyed by thousands of enthusiasts for many years to come! Her last flight was piloted by Captains Peter Killin and Rick Mathews, two highly experienced Mars drivers, both of who are very long time Coast Dogs( coastal float pilots)
Saw it on its final flight fly by Comox, still remember her scooping up water in Baynes Sound to put out a fire on the Beaufort Mountains. What a machine!!
Martin Mars was retired last weekend and is being placed at an aviation museum in Victoria BC. It flew over my house on its ferry flight to the museum.
Seeing the Empire in a flying boat must have been a experience
@@JS-el3zm Or if you are a civil servant and have been given positions in the Empire
An experience. The Empire demands good diction. Please provide it. Good evening.
You can see the empire now with a quick boat trip around Britain.
almost as good as a Zeppelin tour
Watching a flying boat takeoff was a spectacular sight. I watched from Bradley’s Head as they launched from Sydney Harbour. One of my boyhood memories.
when the world need him most, our history teacher is back.
He never left!
Indeed
@@QuantumPyrite_88.9 Pardon?
And he doesn’t even set us homework.
I think the videos are good, short and precise.
It's still incredible watching these planes collect water on the go in forest fire season here in BC. Truly massive even today
We really appreciate you keeping them. Thanks!
I was fortunate to watch one of these collect water at Waterton Lake in Southern Alberta (mere kilometres over the provincial border from B.C.).
It was a sight to behold.
Incredible to still know they’re in service.
@@thEannoyingE They are sadly not in service any more they have not been used for over three years now
@@raymondharper9294 They cost too much to fly. And rebuilding those huge ancient radial piston engines is a nightmare
During WWII my father was a US Marine that flew in Consolidated PBY Catalina’s. He said they smelled of gasoline and that every crew member was required to search each other for matches or lighters before a flight to prevent someone from lightning a cigarette in flight and blowing up the plane.
Oh my gosh
My dear Grandad flew Catalinas as a navigator in RAF Coastal Command, out of Scotland. Loads of stories, one being flying nonstop from the Arctic Circle to Gibraltar, IN AUGUST! The oldest member of the crew was just 27. Incredible feats performed by brave young men.
@@stuartliddle7228 The younger you are the more apt to think your invincible...I was in the military young and I was tough...now I'm older and it's a little different now.
@@wirelessone2986 Oh yeah, i totally agree.
That’s the first time I heard that about the Catalinas, but I have heard that one definitely about the mariner , it’s the reason believed why the one that was looking for the lost flight of avengers in 1945 which was in the Bermuda Triangle disappeared.
In the early '50's Phillipine Mars visited NAS Squantum, where Dad did his Navy Reserve duty. He took me on a very memorable tour. Thanks, Dad. And thank YOU,Mark for this vid!
Interesting point as I live in massachusetts and sometimes volunteer at a mass air and space museum and NAS squantum is always mentioned
Update: Hawaii Mars & Philippine Mars are being restored to flight for final flights to museums. Hawaii Mars returned to the air on August 1 and will go to the BC Air Museum on August 11. Philippine Mars will be transferred and flown to the Pima Air and Space Museum at Davis-Monthan AFB in Arizona later this year.
God, that's like having a building fly over you. Incredible that they are still in service.
Definitely a testament to the incredible engineering of these planes when theyre still being used 75+ years later. Not only did i get to learn about a float plane i wasnt very familiar with, but i got to see a modern day clip of it as well. Hopefully they succceed in preserving them for more years to come.
I live in Port Alberni , Vancouver Island B.C. Canada , The Mars are stationed here on Sprout Lake just outside of town,They have tours for the public.I've been lucky enough to fly in both of them.
@@ihategoogle4310 Oh now that sounds like a "barrel" roll of fun right there. Thats so cool they give tours in them.
It's incredible how many planes are that old and still flying
@@TheRumbles13 They were certainly built tough back then.
Probably only the B-52 is close to such longevity in the type of service for which originally designed (as opposed to airshow relics or P-51 racing).
Just a heads up, the Philippine mars has long since been retired, it resides now in the national museum of naval aviation in Pensacola, Florida
Thanks - I read there was some legal dispute holding up its movement to a museum.
@@MarkFeltonProductions No problem, if I recall correctly they even do guided tours onto the the plane for private tour groups, they also repainted it in what I believe to be its original livery
@@MarkFeltonProductions I read that the owners, Coulson Aviation, were denied an export permit for the plane. For some strange reason the Canadian government thought the Mars', being used for so many years as water bombers in British Columbia, were a part of Canadian heritage even thought they were designed, built and used by the US military in WW2.
@@MarkFeltonProductions it was indeed a blocked sale she was repainted into us navy colours and now resides at her home base of Coulson Airbase in Port Alberni, BC along with her sister in her red and white fire fighting livery. These planes are only 20 kms from my residence and they are a beloved aircraft here in BC. As a wildland firefighter I was lucky enough to work with it the final year it was deployed some 8 years ago now. Due to costs and politics they have since sat idle.
They both require extensive work. The Hawaii Mars could not fly safely to Tofino let alone the US. They had plans to retrofit only the Hawaii, the Philipine Mars may be at its resting place at Sprout Lake
Sitting here with a cold beer and and steak outside listening to Mark Felton around the fire. top notch my good Sir
Seems like you're living your best life ;)
That sounds nice
Just up with coffee to a very wet and flooded east coast of AU.
That's an uncommon breakfast, but good on you.
lautoka63 beats my bag of Doritos and water bottle full of whole milk as I sit here on a folding beach chair in my bedroom lol.
That historic takeoff footage with the audio was phenomenal.
That was like being at an Airshow!
I know,, RIGHT
My brother (RIP) when he was fighting a forest fire here in BC Canada was saved by those two water bombers. In the crews when they heard those plans over head they described not just hearing them but feeling a "rumble" in their chest. I saw them later on in my life at the Abbotsford annual airshow on two separate occasions. They were retired here in BC form service due to high costs of engineered maintenance vs a fleet of much smaller aircraft that could utilize much smaller lakes for sources of water. If you get a chance to see one of them at an airshow please do go. You won't forget what you see and feel.
I've seen this aircraft fighting a fire, what a sight, amazing. Thank you Mr. Felton.
I saw one over lake Elsinore in southern calif maybe 10 years ago.
I grew up on Vancouver Island late 70-80’s. Got to see them fly many times, they were awesome to watch!
In 1992 on a flight to Canada I watched an inflight film about these planes and made it a mission to find them while I was there. I found them at Sproat Lake on Vancouver Island and even though I had no invitation, the people there were really welcoming and gladly showed me around. Absolutely amazing craft. Back then they had only 18 new engines left to keep these beasts in the air. Great memories. Thanks for reminding me.
I never want this channel to end! I got to see a Mars water bomber in action during the 2003 Okanagan Park Mountain Fire, they are awesome to see
Great to see this! I had my first plane trip on the Philippine Mars as a baby when my family returned Stateside from Hawaii in late '52 or early '53 when my dad was reassigned to San Francisco by the Navy. So I have great affection for the aircraft. I need to get out to BC and get a look at the survivors.
They are stationed here in Port Alberni, B.C. Vancouver island, on Sprout Lake , they have tours for the public, growing up my best friend's father was one of the CEO's
@@ihategoogle4310 Well, if travel resumes between our two nations, I'll have to stop by.
And I flew in Hawaii Mars as a toddler with my Navy family SF to Honolulu in 1949. I only wish I could remember the trip!
Anyone else find something oddly satisfying about military flying boats?
Amazing machines. I love using them in War Thunder, even though I hate bombing.
The Japanese navy still uses 4 engine turboprop seaplanes, the Sin Maywa US-2. They aren't Martin Mars big, but they are big enough to impress you if see one operating up close.
I've always loved the PBY Catalinas, especially the "black cats". Not a pretty airplane from any angle, but deadly against Japanese shipping. The original "stealth bomber".
Lol on war thunder i swear, just for fun i will fly the sunderland in RB, get the bombs off and then just do as lany aerobatics as i can, i actually managed to pull off a full loop only 1,000 foot off the runway it was amazing
Well the satisfaction of having a chance to land in water if trouble appear.
During the Berlin Airlift the Sunderlands flew from near Hamburg to the Berlin Lakes with supplies and ferried exports, mail and passengers out including children that needed either hospital treatment or recuperation.
I love the look of the Sunderland, I really am a huge fan of all flying boats, even the widgeon.
As I recall, flying boats were used to fly salt into Berlin, as it was too corrosive to use any other type of aircraft.
@@andrewmcalister3462 the Brussels Air Museum have a TH-cam video on the Sunderland flying into and out of Berlin. It’s a lot longer than the usual ones, sadly it’s soundtrack is not in English but anyone with a smattering of French will understand it and of course a picture tells a story.
The scenes of small children on the Sunderlands reception launch on the Elbe is in my opinion on of the best scenes on TH-cam.
Cool!
The Sunderlands were also used for transporting salt to Berlin. Salt could have a corrosive effect on the rudder-lines of other aircraft but since these were placed high in the Sunderland this was less of an issue.
5:33 Good Lord! The bloody thing has given birth to a baby flying boat
and the spruce goose gave birth to this thing!
The genetic test determined Martin is not the father
Just doing their part to win the war!
@@12what34the What’s up with the lie detector this episode?
Birthed or hatched?
Dad flew the Mars and the PBM Mariner. He flew a PBM from Guantánamo Bay Cuba to Leyte Gulf in the Philippines (with fueling stops) in 1944. No GPS or other navigation aids back then which, as a pilot, I find pretty amazing.
I live in Port Alberni, BC, Canada. Home of the Martin Mars water bombers. They are mothballed now but I saw them fly. The Pride of the Alberni Valley. Coulson's Flying Tankers at Sproat Lake.
Yes, they're out at Sproat lake. Very impressive planes!
It's a bunch of crap their mothballed I've seen what they can do in California fires that no little plane can do I don't care what they say
@@dougc190 It's all about money. They are old and parts are impossible to find. They may fly as museum pieces but as an everyday work horse, probably not. Especially when brand new (but much smaller, I agree) planes can be had for firefighting where parts and maintenance cost much less and parts are readily available. Like the song says, "to everything there is a season". These old girls have had their hayday...it's time for sitting out on the porch!
@@dougc190 They had to retire one of them years ago, and then used it it for spare parts to keep the last one running 'til it was no longer feasible.
only reason it was no longer feasible cuz the government wouldn't give him a contract anymore for BS reasons I read up all on it. BC should be a shame to themselves
My favorite history professor of all time is Dr. Mark Felton!
What a mesmerizing engine sound and also a beautiful sight. Mark just delivered another awe-inspiring piece of jelewry of past aviation.
i was fortunate enough to sit in between the pilot and co-pilot just 4 years ago and fly around the Port Alberni valley twice, it was one of the last times this plane flew...
just fly again
Thanks for posting this, Mark! I had the pleasure of seeing these two aircraft in flight at Sproat Lake where they are based. I remember as a teenager boating out to these giants and being in awe of their sheer size. Thanks for bringing back those wonderful memories! And thanks for doing what you do!
I like how he’s got almost 800 likes only 20 minutes after releasing an 8:45 video! Keep up the good work Mark!
One day while waiting for the fog to clear before a flight out of San Diego bay, I was chatting with my plane commander (and VP-40 squadron commander) and was surprised to learn that he had flown the Martin Mars in his early days. At the time VP-40 (along with VP-48 & 50) were flying another Martin aircraft, the SP-5B Marlin. My last P-5 flight was in October just before VP-40 closed out Navy seaplane operations on 7 Nov 1967.
VP-40 recently earned the honor of completing the last Lockheed P-3 deployment before transitioning to the Boeing P-8. Good going VP-40!
VP-40 NFO, Jan 66 to Dec 67
I love that you see these machines as beautiful objects too. They really are heroic achievements and it is wonderful to see it still being used. Some things we have created take on a life of their own and must be remembered. Great work Mark!
My uncle was actually the chief water bomber pilot for the Mars when they were operated out of British Columbia, Canada.
I've actually seen these start up and idle. It's an amazing sight.
I grew up down the road from the Mars bomber base. These planes would taxi down the lake past our house and then fly back overtop of it. I remember watching them from the side of the Tofino highway as they tag-teamed a fire for hours on end without stopping. Truly incredible at fighting fires and the fact that we had TWO of them was unmatchable.
A family friend of ours was a mechanic and flight engineer on the Philippine Mars and would tour us around the base and boat us out to the bomber so we could go inside. I remember walking back and forth end to end up on the wings, watching the floats touch down into the lake. Later in my early twenties I got to fly on the Hawaii Mars during a test flight. We did two dumps, one out of Sproat Lake, the second we picked up from out in the Alberni inlet. It was a surreal experience and I still can't believe I got to do it. The feeling you get when that massive plane lets all that water go and instantly feels lighter than air as it drifts upwards. There is nothing quite like it. I was obsessed with those planes growing up so it was a dream come true.
I don't think anything modern will every truly compare to the grace of these old flying boats. Relics on a bygone era that we all wish we could have experienced.
Thanks for the Blohm & Voss, BV 238 mention!
Yes, but he could have shown the (still very big) BV 222 which saw service instead :)
I take it you know......
Voss?
@@insideoutsideupsidedown2218 Somewhat...
Thank you Mark, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate and look forward to your content
The Hawaii Mars was just retired this week the British Columbia Aviation Museum. The Philippine Mars will make the final flight of any Martin Mars aircraft later this year when she's retied to the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. They served fighting forest fires in British Columbia and around the world for the better part of a century and hold a special place in the hearts of the people of this province. It's bitter sweet to see them retire, but gratifying to see these iconic aircraft will be preserved.
Howard Hughes built a bigger flying boat. Because of a falling out he couldn't get the aluminum he needed from the Government during WWII because of rationing, so he stubbornly hired cabinet makers and made his out of wood. He was able to ingenuously come up with a process by which he could bend laminated wood at 90° angles to get the different shapes he needed for construction. Another monumental achievement from that era.
Yet, for all that, it was never more than expensive curiosity.
@@owenshebbeare2999 Was it for curiosity? Or to show intemperance to achieve something great and prove success to those who claimed that it couldn't be done. I guess you'll never know.
Better known as the spruce goose to bad it only flew one time and even that was an accident.
Thank you Mr. Weeks for keeping history alive!
I thought of the video by Kermit when they flew the Hawaii Mars to Oshkosh. Love seeing these things in action.
Kermit never fails to surprise me.
Mark Felton also does. (Sidenote,
Lance Geiger, The History Guy does
as well.)
steve
When the plane is big enough to be it's own museum.
:- ]
During wildfire season here in Southern California several years ago, I was outdoors and had the pleasure of seeing one of the converted Martin Mars on its approach to its destination to its next firefighting assignment near Los Angeles. Even though the craft was at least a good 15 kilometers away, you could easily spot it thanks to clear skies that day. And it was absolutely massive to behold as it kept getting larger and larger as it drew closer to where I was standing - in total awe, by the way. Just as impressive was the fact that you could definitely hear it coming until it was roaring overhead. Even at an altitude of about 2000 feet, most aircraft look small, even commercial airliners. But not the Mars; it literally filled the sky with its presence and the sound of its four engines filled my head. At over 70 years old each, time certainly isn't on the side of these two remaining beauties. Hopefully they will be treated with the honor and respect they deserve when they land for the final time. Well done as always, Mark. :)
Hawaii Mars was retired yesterday. Her final flight a lap around Vancouver Island's sunshine cost before her last landing at the British Columbia Aircraft Museum in North Saanich. She was escorted to her final resting place by the RCAF Snowbirds. A fitting ceremonious ending to an icon of the skies.
Mark. Thank you for telling me about these stories. I never knew them so thank you!
I got to see one of the Martin Mars in action. Taking off from Lake Elsinore, California to fight a fire only a couple Kilometers away. Very impressive.
I had the chance, back in the 90's, to bird dog the Hawaii Mars over a large fire near Peerless Lake along with a pair of CL 215's. It was so cool to use the Mars to lay about a mile of line along a cutline with one drop and then use the relatively tiny and more maneuverable 215's to touch up hot spots. What a privilege!
As a child in San Diego in the 1950's I remember seeing the very large Consolidated Aircraft (e.g. Convair) flying boat with the swinging nose that allowed vehicles to drive out of the nose onto a beach. One of my first model aircraft was the PBY Catalina. Great memories. Thank you.
Keep up the good work. Best history channel on TH-cam.
Keep the content coming your getting me through this lockdown! Thank you Dr Felton!
This helps me understand Howard Hughes' obsession with the Spruce Goose. My mom told me about seeing it's not so successful test flight as a kid. Seeing how big the Mars is, I can only imagine how big the Goose looked to a little girl.
Its called the Hercules, and it will fly god dammit!
these flew over my dad's house in 1995 and shook the windows. There was a forest fire up the hill from him and these were tasked with putting it out. One of my earliest memories.
Looks like I am learning about planes today; thanks Dr. Felton!
Update: Hawaii Mars is going to be donated to the BC Aviation Museum. It’s final ferry flight will be end of 2024. Philippine Mars, which did not get sold, is still in its wartime colors and is still at the Coulson facility at Sproat Lake.
Hawaii Mars final flight was 11-Aug-24. It was given an escort by RCAF's Snowbirds aerobatic team to Patricia Bay, British Colombia. Some excellent videos of the flight have been posted on TH-cam. On April 25th it was announced its remaining sister ship (Philippine Mars) was acquired by the Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona and will be flown there later in 2024.
A friend of mine father was a pararescue swimmer on a USAAF Catalina during WW2. He told me his father - who passed away some years ago - always had interesting stories to tell about his experiences on being a Catalina crew member.
Good story Mark - you,re a veritable bloodhound sniffing out those interesting WW2 histories!
My brother in-laws father flew missions in the Sunderland and other aircraft. He was a navigator and waist gunner. He went down on three occasions. He had some great stories.
Great vid Mark! I live in British Columbia I have watched the Mars fly overhead. Thank you for explaining the history of this truly amazing aircraft.
Not only is this entertaining, but serves a purpose to preserve WW2 history.
My buddy's father Rick flew these for many years when they fought forest fires, and they were a fixture on the local lake where I went waterskiing while growing up. Both Hawaii Mars and Philippine Mars were saved. Hawaii Mars was recently (Aug 2024) acquired by the British Columbia Aviation Museum in Victoria, BC, and will be on display likely by end of September 2024. You can look on TH-cam for many spectacular videos of its final fly-by, accompanied by the Snowbirds. (And yes, Rick was one of the two pilots flying Hawaii Mars on her final flight!)
I lived in Corona, CA about 12 years ago. We had wildfires raging often and once I got to see one of those birds. I was outside in my yard watching the aircraft dropping water and retardants on the surrounding hills. I heard a large piston aircraft approaching and sure enough a Mars flew directly over my house less than 1000ft. It was magnificent! The sound of those engines and the sheer massiveness of the aircraft was amazing. Once in a lifetime experience for sure!
Thanks for another outstanding video!
It may not be Good Friday, but it is a good Friday when Mark's videos drop. Awww yeah
As a child growing up on Vancouver Island in the 1980s, I had several opportunities to see the Mars in action. One flying overhead made the ground shake.
Mark: UPDATE!!! Hawaii Mars will be taking her final flight this Sunday Aug 11th from home base on Sproat lake near Port Alberni B.C. to Patricia Bay B.C. near Victoria and will be finding her new home at the B.C. aviation museum. During this flight she will be accompanied by the RCAF Snowbirds and will fly over most citys on the east coast of Vancouver Island as a last goodbye. Made in the U.S.A. but B.C. is her home!!!
About 20 years ago there was a terrible forest fire outside of Salmon Arm BC. Water bombers and choppers were flying and refilling their tanks on Shuswap lake. There was a constant drone of aircraft and we spent a few evenings watching the planes refill and dump their loads just outside of town. Then the Martin Mars arrived. The sheer size of the craft was jaw dropping, and the radial engine sound of pure horsepower from a bygone era.
I met a lovely lady from Salmon Arm once, I like your handshake! Haha
Mark, you should have mentioned the Howard Hughes H-4 Hercules (The Spruce Goose) flying boat. Built during WWII but not flown until 1947 it had a 320 ft wingspan. Now on display at Evergreen Air & Space Museum. Had 8 engines, could carry 750 fully equipped troops.
It is to be hoped that the one Martin Mars in British Columbia designated for the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL can eventually make it there for public display.
@@Kamina1703 My understanding it that the last two are in British Columbia, Canada, They're no longer operational dropping water on forest fires, but apparently still flyable. One's slated to be preserved in B.C. and the other at the Museum of Naval Aviation at Pensacola, Florida.
This reminds me of Howard Hughes' Hercules (the 'Spruce Goose'). It was the largest flying plane of it's type and due to war rationing Hughes was only given access to wood (spruce) to build the plane. As each piece of same sized wood has a slightly different weight, it was a mathematical achievement in building such a plane, as Hughes had no formal education in engineering. He managed to solve many problems with the use of hydraulics for the rudder and other such difficulties. By the time the plane was finally completed the war was over and the government had no use for it. Despite this (and an investigation into Hughes' war time spending of government's money) it actually did fly for one mile at a height of 100 metres. The fact that Hughes was denied much needed war time materials and funding is incredible in what he was eventually able to accomplish. By far the most incredible aspect is that Hughes suffered from undiagnosed OCD at the time (which I also also suffer from) and despite this, managed to accomplish so much in aeronautics and other adventures. Thanks for sharing Dr Felton.
2024-August Update - The last flying Mars, the Hawaii Mars was just retired to a museum on Vancouver Island. Flying to the museum under its own power.
6:09 Passenger: "What's the other guy for?"
Engineer: "So I can reach everything on my control panel".
Hilarious!!
Was the Mars bigger than the Spur Goos?
@@johnvanriesen2017 Spruce Goose is larger but didn't fly until 1947, so technically not a WW2 plane
"We're gonna need a bigger flying boat."
I take it your fishing for sharks
50 year old reference, still cool.
The irony is this has nothing on the Spruce Goose, which is almost twice as big and over twice the weight of the Mars
@@opairsoft8100 Yeah, but the Goose never entered service.
@@opairsoft8100 And arguably never truly flew, depending on whether the ground-effect argument holds, and certainly never entered service.
That intro music means I’m always in for a fascinating 10-15 minutes. Often I’m in for more as my interest is piqued and I search for more information about the subject.
Back during the Korean War, my Dad was recalled to the Navy and we moved to Alameda Naval Air Station. Mom would take me down to the Bay to watch the Mars land and take off. Now, 72-years later, I still remember seeing them.
That plane saved my house from a forest fire and many others
nothing like lounging on a beach in the summer and seeing one of these bad boys come out of no where and pick up water 100 meter in front of the beach
My father worked on this aircraft as a draftsman department of Glen L. Martin
Love the sound of big propeller aircraft and my gaze is always and has been drawn towards the sky to see since a kid growing up in the sixties.
I saw them scoping water from the harbour in Nanaimo, British Columbia, then flew over our house. A sight I will never forget. The airport in Nanaimo also had a couple of Catalinas, I figure i was blessed just being able to see all of these amazing flying boats.
8 minute video is perfect for my break, thank you Mark you are like always the best historian on you tube hands down
Both my Grandfathers were in the US Army Air Corps during WWII... one in the South Pacific... one in N. Africa/Europe... I wonder if either one of them ever saw one of these planes, or maybe even rode on them... excellent video!
The US Army Air Corps did not exist during World War 2. It was redesignated US Army Air Force in early 1941, before the attack on Pearl Harbor and the US entry into the war.
This is incorrect. My grandfather was a B-29 Capt in the Army Air Corps in WWII. He was KIA in 1945
@@earussell1114
The United States Army Air Corps (USAAC) was the aerial warfare service component of the United States Army between 1926 and 1941. After World War I, as early aviation became an increasingly important part of modern warfare, a philosophical rift developed between more traditional ground-based army personnel and those who felt that aircraft were being underutilized and that air operations were being stifled for political reasons unrelated to their effectiveness. The USAAC was renamed from the earlier United States Army Air Service on 2 July 1926, and was part of the larger United States Army. The Air Corps became the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF) on 20 June 1941, giving it greater autonomy from the Army's middle-level command structure.
No, it's not incorrect, you are simply misinformed.
@@earussell1114 The air corps after this point was the name of the training arm of the US Army Air Force. So, unless he was killed in training stateside, he wasn't KIA in the Air Corps. And if he was, he was still a member of the US Army Air Force assigned to the training corps.
On 20 June 1941, the Army Air Corps' existence as the primary air arm of the U.S. Army changed to that of solely being the training and logistics elements of the then-new United States Army Air Forces, which embraced the formerly-named General Headquarters Air Force under the new Air Force Combat Command organization for front-line combat operations; this new element, along with the Air Corps, comprised the USAAF.[2]
These are the facts, I mean no disrespect. My purpose is to enlighten.
I LOVE this channel. I consider myself a lifelong aviation aficionado and WW2 buff, but I’ve never heard of this magnificent plane. Thank you so much for sharing.
I love Flying boats! What a treat this was. Thank you for your work, Mr Felton.
Never a boring video!
My friend was flight engineer on one of the two Mars water bombers when they were based on Sproat Lake Vancouver Island.
Another great video! My grandfather flew a PBY Catalina in defense of the Atlantic coast for the last 2 years of the war. He saw when they captured a U boat intact and had it towed to Florida I believe. I’m sure Mark has a video on that or will one day. Best WW2 historical channel out there!
I saw these in BC, 1988. One took off, and they sound like no other plane. Awesome, thanks, Mark!
Mark the man with the most expansive knowledge, top work once again fella.
On a different note, I used to see Consolidated PBY Catalinas take off from John Wayne Airport in Long Beach, CA, painted blood red, as fire bombers, back in the late 90's, early 2000's. I wonder if they are still being used today.
Quite a remarkable aircraft and quite something to see. I watched the two remaining Mars fly overhead once as they worked together to fight a nearby forest fire. They have a distinctive sound! Many years ago, while at a dinner party with friends, I struck up a conversation with a fellow there. I explained that I had an odd hobby of researching old airplane wreck sites and then hiking into them. He let me know his father was killed in the Marianas Mars crash and asked if I had been to that site. I had! We arranged for me to drive him there and allow him time to see the location his father had passed. It was quite a memorable trip through the back woods. There was very very little metal left at the site and the area had been logged. I would imagine the spot would be largely overgrown today. The views up to Mt. Moriarty were beautiful and the spot on the hillside was quiet and serene. While there a large black bear came rumbling up the road, unaware that we were there. It seemed fitting, somehow, to see. It is amazing how many people have had a connection to these aircraft over the years.
My father, USN E9-James MacAdory Wilhite I, was crew chief on both Hawaii & Philippines Mars. I was born in Honolulu as a result of his Naval service. Thank you for this documentary. I enjoy your videos very much.
When there's big involved it's big history from dr Felton!
Always a pleasure to get new content. Would love a video on the Marine Corps Stinger Machine Gun
I've only recently stumbled upon this channel and have only 'recently' (my 30s) taken an obsession into history. Extra interesting considering I was born on the western fringes of the USSR (Ukraine) - where the fighting was intense.
Thank you Dr. Felton - a gentleman and a scholar.
I grew up near Middle River, MD. Martin's was right down the road from us. My sister-in-law's Mom worked for Martin until her retirement.
It's a good day when a Mark Felton video drops.
I love seeing these old birds on the way to Tofino BC.
My father was Flight Radio Officer for Pan Am aboard these leviathans. He answered an AD in a local Boston newspaper that offered Radio Officer "tryouts". He passed and was invited to attend their school WPB, FL. He graduated in 1943. He was 19. He told a few stories of his adventures. He said his mother would faint if she knew the hazards of securing the hawser while standing between those roaring engines. Although WWII was raging, he flew the Orient/Asia with Pan Am then TWA. I have his passports, vaccination cards and even his uniforms.1944 found him on Liberty SS Arthur Sewell (hull 3006) as SRO 2nd Class. The Sewell was torpedoed in the Channel (with 5 lost), 5 9 miles SW of Plymouth, and towed to Weymouth. He was among the last aboard in 1945 when it was scuttled in the North Sea. I have his logs and the Ships' Placard if anyone is interested. (Reader beware: I'm casually referred to as "The Inaccurate Historian. So I'll check the facts and report back in!)
And then they became Firefighters. This kept getting better and better!
I'm not big on mobile games, but if it supports this channel, I'll give Warpath a try.
If they support Dr. Felton, that’s good enough for me!
I have fond memories of the Mars water bombers. When I lived on Vancouver Island my family camped in the front yard of friends on Sproat Lake, where the two remaining Mars are based. One day one of them taxied up the lake, far our of sight on what I later learned was a training exercise. Once the beast had slowly motored up the lake it seemed that many of the locals on both sides of the lake had gotten their boats ready and were waiting. Our host said, "Wait for it." About 20 or so minutes later the Mars came blasting down the lake - never taking off but probably just off the step. As soon as it passed all the small boats took to the lake to surf the enormous wake this thing left. Later that night I got a treat - friend and I took a boat down the lake to where they moored the things. We slowly circled the plane and got close enough to pass under the wings. What a monster! A year or so later I was out gardening in my yard in Nanaimo, BC and heard a most peculiar sound. It turned out there was a fire in a protected marshland a few kilometers south of us and they called in one of the Mars bombers to deal with it. Listening to the sound of these planes on a TH-cam video is nothing like feeling that throaty roar in your bones. I looked up as I heard the noise approaching and didn't see the plane until it cleared the trees in the neighbourhood and it was right overhead. I was stunned - here was this behemoth flying at about 600 -800 feet right over my head. It was taking a starboard turn and from my vantage point it looked like it was flying sideways and about to stall on top of me. Streams of residual water were still pouring from the belly of the beast. I will never forget the sound - that deep note getting lower as it dopplered past - nor the deep visceral impression that I was watching the impossible as this enormous and beautiful aircraft seemed to magically claw its way through the sky. Sadly, the two remaining Mars planes are no longer working - the provincial government has declined to contract them through their owners. I hope at least one will be preserved, and I am grateful to have had the limited experience with them that I have had. They are a true BC icon.
Great stories!
I was a guard at the Glen L. Martin State Airport in Essex Maryland. It was “across the street” from the aircraft assembly building which built missiles in the 70s when I worked there. But a lot of WWII stuff was still there, like the seaplane ramps, the hut for the flight directors. It also had a tower to test rocket bells. Not the standard ones, nuclear thrusters. The exhaust was funneled into a small building full of cages, and bees that still tripped the giver counter. There were 4 small block buildings lined up near the fence along the road. Each had an inground reactor. They were all cold. We found documents reporting on the progress of Martins nuclear powered sea plane for the Cold War.