Flying Legends: The Martin Mars Water Bombers
A glance at the comment section on any wildfire news story will often find it filled with nostalgia as folks reminisce about the Martin Mars water bombers, amphibious planes used in aerial firefighting in BC for over 50 years. These large capacity planes were once the largest in the world, with the ability to deposit 27,000 litres of water over a hectare. Their presence in the sky was a symbol of reassurance during wildfire season, their ability to attack a fire with large quantities of water making a dramatic impact on firefighting efforts.
The History of the Mars Water Bombers
The Martin Mars aircraft started out as cargo planes in WWII for the U.S. Navy. Built as “flying boats” (a type of float plane), they were initially designed as patrol bombers. There were only seven of them ever built. As needs changed, they were put into service as cargo planes that flew supplies across the Pacific. They entered service in 1943 and played an important part in logistical operations during the war.
Many excess vehicles and aircraft were converted for civilian use after the war, many of them for forestry operations. In 1959, the four remaining planes were to be sold for scrap, but were instead purchased and converted to water bombers for fighting wildfires by Forest Industries Flying Tankers. The total cost was $750,000, which would be equivalent to $8,165,563 today.
Of the seven original aircraft, only six ever entered service. Four of them ultimately crashed or were severely damaged:
- Hawaii Mars I: crashed during testing in Chesapeake Bay (1943)
- Marshall Mars: crashed in Hawaii (1950)
- Marianas Mars: crashed on Mt. Moriarty, BC (1961)
- Carolina Mars: damaged by Typhoon Freda at Patricia Bay, BC (1962)
The remaining two aircraft, Philippine Mars and Hawaii Mars II, were in service fighting forest fires in BC into the 21st century. In 2007, they were sold to Coulson Forest Products, on the condition that one would be donated to Port Alberni for display upon retirement. Though Hawaii Mars remained in service until 2016, Philippine Mars underwent maintenance and restoration from 2007 to 2012 with the intention of moving it to an aviation museum in the U.S.
In 2015, Hawaii Mars made a brief reappearance during wildfire season in British Columbia, but ultimately retired. In 2024, Coulson Aviation donated Hawaii Mars to the British Columbia Aviation Museum in Victoria, while Philippine Mars was donated to the Pime Air & Space Museum in Tucson, Arizona. The Hawaii and Philippine Mars made their final flights in August 2024 and February 2025, respectively.
A Beast of a Plane: Fighting Fires in BC
The Mars bombers were the largest in the world until 2006, when they were surpassed by the Boeing 747 Global Supertanker and the Russian Ilyushin Il-76TD Supertanker. They could skim 27,000 litres of water in 30 seconds and release it from a height of 30 metres, covering a hectare in seconds. With two of them working in tandem, new fires could swiftly suppress new fires in massive initial attacks. Their operational turnaround could be as quick as 20 minutes, but could also be much longer based on the proximity of the nearest suitable lake.
The first time they appeared in newspapers fighting fires was in July of 1960, when one extinguished 15 acres of a 100-acre wildfire near Powell River before having to return to base due to a faulty fuel pump. Throughout the summer that year, they were utilized infrequently and said to cost $2800 an hour to operate (about $29,700 today).
In 1965, they dropped a record-breaking 4,175,309 litres of water on 17 fires. As time went on, the planes became beloved by British Columbians, saving homes and dousing countless wildfires. In 1966, one even helped to put out a $10 million industrial fire in New Westminster. During spells of dry weather, they would fly patrols with full tanks, ready to respond to new fires.
Still, the Mars aircraft weren’t always able to be utilized. If there was too much smoke, precise drops were impossible, and they stayed grounded. While parts could be difficult to get, overall, the planes were considered cost-effective.
The power of the water and its effect on targets was accidentally demonstrated in 1990 at Sproat Lake, when a full load was dropped on a forestry worker’s truck. While the driver escaped unharmed, the impact collapsed the truck’s roof and shattered its windows.
Why don’t water bombers use salt water?
● It corrodes metal components of aircraft, damaging equipment and reducing an aircraft’s lifespan.
● It increases soil salinity, affecting regrowth in wildfire-impacted areas.
● It can kill living vegetation, making areas prone to future fires.
● High wind and wave height and marine debris create unsafe conditions.
Limitations of the Martin Mars Bombers
The Martin Mars aircraft were powerful, but limited due to their size and age. Anyone who’s driven an older vehicle knows that parts degrade over time. Apply that to a vintage plane, and maintenance costs add up, especially when parts are scarce. Though there are still WWII-era planes that fly today, most of them are not working planes, and instead are used for show.
While the Martin Mars water bombers could carry enormous loads of water, turnaround wasn’t necessarily quick and was dependent on a fire’s proximity to a suitable lake. They needed 4 to 6 kilometres to fully fill their tank. There were only 113 lakes in the province they could skim water from.
Modern firefighting planes, on the other hand, can scoop from over 1700 lakes. Though they may carry less water, their turnaround time is also quicker. In short, modern aerial firefighting techniques have shifted in favour of speed and precision.
Why Haven’t We Built New Ones?
The BC Wildfire Service can contract amphibious water bombers for use from elsewhere in Canada, but these are much smaller in capacity than the Martin Mars water bombers. High demand and a global manufacturing backlog for these kinds of planes means there won’t be any joining their fleet anytime soon.
As the Martin Mars water bombers approached retirement age back in the 1990s, there wasn’t a long-term plan for their replacement. The planes were owned by Coulson Aviation, a private company, and contracted to the BC Wildfire Service when needed. Though the lack of a plan was an unfortunate oversight, it wasn’t entirely the fault of the company or the government.
While we may never see anything like the Martin Mars water bombers in BC again, their iconic status makes them beloved to British Columbians. These heroes of the sky made a dramatic contribution to aerial forest fire fighting efforts, and their incredible legacy lives on through people’s memories.
If you like historical planes, check out our article on plane crash hikes in BC.
Cory is an outdoor writer and adventurer from British Columbia. She has worked as a kayak guide and wildlife rehabber, experiences that deepened her love for wild places and the creatures that call them home. Whether she’s hiking remote trails, paddling along the coast, or setting out on her next backcountry trip, she finds inspiration in nature’s untamed beauty. Through her writing, she shares stories of adventure, resilience, and the deep connection between people and the wilderness.
