The Philippine Mars WW2 Flying Boat

[Auggie56]

Four were built during WW2 to fly cargo so it could get there, without being taken by ship which were endangered from Nazi subs. The only two survivors flew fighting fires in Western Canada. They retired this one. The Naval Air Museum in Florida took interest, and a deal was made. The paint job you see was applied by the museum, as the previous color was white over red. However, the FFA stuck their nose in and refused to let her fly to the museum. The latest I could find was over two years ago, and she's still at the fire fighter base in Canada.

 

[Cheapsunglasses]

So many brave US and allied forces lost to the German U boats. If the world didn’t come together, the war would have been different.

 

[Photon440]

Four were built during WW2 to fly cargo so it could get there, without being taken by ship which were endangered from Nazi subs. The only two survivors flew fighting fires in Western Canada. They retired this one. The Naval Air Museum in Florida took interest, and a deal was made. The paint job you see was applied by the museum, as the previous color was white over red. However, the FFA stuck their nose in and refused to let her fly to the museum. The latest I could find was over two years ago, and she's still at the fire fighter base in Canada.

Martin built five of them. The last flyable example, Hawaii Mars, was put up for sale last year: 1945 Martin JRM-3 Mars | Platinum Fighter Sales
It was last used in firefighting duty in 2015.

 

[peabodyracin]

Listening to one of those old radials light off still gives me chills. Worked on 1820’s in service with the Hamilton Std prop. When on duty at night I used to make up excuses to go out on the flight line, start the APU, go sit in the pilot’s seat, flip all the switches, full rich on mixture, about 1/3 throttle, push starter button, count 12 blades, ignition on and a couple hits of the primer button. Off she’d go. Lean it out a bit until it cleaned up and just sit there. Ah the memories! Too stupid to really appreciate it at the time.

 

[Chilsam]

Was this equipped with the R-4360 WASP MAJORS as in the XP-72 ULTRABOLT n SUPER CORSAIR ?...I THINK the SPRUCE GOOSE had them also...

 

[Photon440]

Was this equipped with the R-4360 WASP MAJORS as in the XP-72 ULTRABOLT n SUPER CORSAIR ?...I THINK the SPRUCE GOOSE had them also...View attachment 1417696

View attachment 1417698

The Martin Mars planes used the Wright R-3350.