Hundreds of people flocked to the Sproat Lake Bomber Base on Saturday to say one final goodbye to the Martin Mars waterbombers.
The Hawaii Mars will be the first of the remaining Coulson Flying Tankers to leave the site, sometime in the next few weeks, enroute to its new home with the B.C. Aviation Museum in Victoria. The distinctive red and white aircraft is moored in Sproat Lake as Coulson Aviation awaits various permits to allow its final flight.
The Philippine Mars, painted in retro U.S. Navy blue and sitting on land at the Sproat Lake Bomber Base, will eventually head to Pima Air and Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona.
People came from all over Vancouver Island and the Lower Mainland for one last chance to see the bombers up close before they leave the lake that has been their home for decades. Among the crowd were present and former Martin Mars pilots, employees and family members. Coulson Aviation president and COO Britt Coulson thanked everyone for the love given to the retired tankers.
“Martin Mars hold a very dear piece of our heart,” said Coulson, who grew up on the shores of Sproat Lake. He shared stories of chasing the plane in a boat, and hearing the roar of the engines as it taxiied for takeoff.
The event was put on by the Sproat Lake Community Association with help from various community organizations.
Do you have a special memory or photos of the Martin Mars waterbombers you'd like to share? The Alberni Valley News will publish a special section on the waterbombers in an upcoming print edition. Email your memories to editor@albernivalleynews.com.
