Airtanker Memories

[Sasquatch]

THREAD OF THE YEAR!
Outstanding stuff there, el-tee! Thanks so much for posting your great shots, and please keep them coming if you are so inclined. Very cool stuff! And you were one lucky ramp rat!!

--Tom

[robkamm]

FANTASTIC STUFF!!!! love the c119 with the jet assist on the roof. i want to see it blowing smoke on take off! this stuff is awesome. real planes working for a living (and people).

[Chuck97]

Awesome, to say the very least. Can't you just remember standing behind those Beautiful "Older" Ladies, and, smelling that wonderful perfume from their exhaust stacks. That crap from the newer jets, would gag a maggot.

[me109g4]

Awesome pics, many thanks. JT

[GARY HILTON]

Thanks so much for sharing your pics and memories!
Would you happen to have a picture of the B-25 that was at Hemet in mid 70's, named "Rough House 69"?
Thanks!
G

[Ethan]

arnt they still using TBMs as tankers somewhere?

[Chappie]

Fanatastic stuff. Absolutley fan-damn-tastic. It is great to see old color photos from the late 60s aitranker ops. We wold not have many of the warbirds today if they had not been saved from the scrapper by these airtanker companies.


Chappie

[dred]

I love all the tanker threads, including Larry Kraus's. Thanks to all posting!!

[WallyB]

Never mind, I screwed up.

Last edited by WallyB on Tue Mar 22, 2011 10:44 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[Chris]

Are there any pics of Grumman Guardians (AF2S) flying as tankers?

[TimAPNY]

Great pictures!

Tim

[Barrie MacLeod]

Thank you for the great Tanker thread.

Contrary to a post above, FPL in Canada was still using TBMs as tankers in 2010 and Bu.# 86020 C-GFPL #22 had a fatal crash on 23 April 2010.

[Lt51506]

Alright, quit bickering over who's TBM was the last in service...feast your eye on a few more jewels More coming, but I need to dig them out and scan them


DC-4's from Aero Union, Hemet Ca, Aug 1987


US Forest Service T-28 Trojan, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Summer 1971


TBM Tanker 95, Hemet Ca, July 1966


Aero Union DC-4, Tanker 14, Hemet Ca, Oct 2001


CDF O-2A, Air Attack A12 (including a much older ramp rat w/ little brother) Rohnerville
Ca, July 1979


Tanker 54 with ramp rat and Sonny Morrison (1924-1998), Hemet Ca, Dec 1969


Tanker 71 and "you know who". Hemet Ca, Mar 1967


CDF O-2A, Air Attack A12, Rohnerville Ca, July 1979


HVFS TBM dropping in the Santa Ana Canyon, West of Corona, Jul 1966


Hawkins & Powers Tanker 126 dropping near Willow Creek Ca, Aug 1979


Unknown TBM's and DC-4, Date and location unknown


AeroFlite Tanker 166, Hemet Ca, Date unknown


S-2A, Just arrived from AMARC, formerly with Training Squadron 27 (VT-27) Boomers. This became HVFS's test bed for the first retardant tanking of the S-2A model.


HVFS Tanker 72 landing during fire operations. Hemet Ca, Summer of 1974 (note the S-2A turning base in the background) The photographer is unknown.


HVFS Tanker 71 landing during fire operations. Hemet Ca, Summer of 1974. The photographer is unknown.


HVFS Tanker 83 outbound from the reloading pits. Hemet Ca, Summer 1974. The photographer is unknown.


HVFS Tanker 72, forced landing on the Soboba Indian Reservation, San Jacinto Ca, Late 60's


S-2A, Tanker 72, Hemet Ca, Jul 1975


Sis-Q Tanker E22, Location unknown, Image obtained from the Mike Fagan Family collection.


Sis-Q Tanker E22, Location unknown, Image obtained from the Mike Fagan Family collection.


Ardco Aviation DC-4, Tanker 153, Hemet Ca, Oct 1996

[WallyB]

Thank you for the great Tanker thread.

Contrary to a post above, FPL in Canada was still using TBMs as tankers in 2010 and Bu.# 86020 C-GFPL #22 had a fatal crash on 23 April 2010.

My mistake; didn't see that part of the website.

[gary1954]

Thanks so much for sharing your pics and memories!
Would you happen to have a picture of the B-25 that was at Hemet in mid 70's, named "Rough House 69"?
Thanks!
G

What Gary Said!!
And these are wonderful Wonderful Photos. The ones of the Heavies Low, Gawdddddddddddd what a sound that must have been. Awesome, just awesome!