Martin Mars Water Bomber
What is martin mars water bomber?
Key facts
The Martin Mars water bomber is a Martin JRM Mars flying boat, originally built for the U.S. Navy in World War II, later converted for aerial firefighting in British Columbia.
Context
The Martin Mars water bomber is a Martin JRM Mars flying boat, originally built for the U.S. Navy in World War II, later converted for aerial firefighting in British Columbia [2]. The surviving aircraft were bought by Canadian forestry interests, converted for firefighting, and used for decades to drop water on wildfires [4]. The conversion involved installing tanks and water scoops for rapid loading while taxiing [2]. The aircraft were operated as part of Forest Industries Flying Tankers (FIFT) / a Canadian timber consortium [4]. One source says the Mars was the largest water bomber in the world until 2006 [3]. The Hawaii Mars dropped about 190 million litres of water over its operational life [4].
Documented claims
Questions and answers
What happened to the Martin Mars water bomber?
The surviving Martin Mars aircraft were retired from U.S. Navy service in the 1950s, then converted for firefighting in British Columbia and used for decades [4].
How many Martin Mars are still flying?
The sources do not specify the current number of flying Martin Mars aircraft.
Where is Martin Mars now?
The sources do not specify the current location of the Martin Mars.
How much water did the Martin Mars carry?
The Martin Mars carried 7,200 US gallons (27,000 litres) of water [2].
Sources
- Martin Mars — coulsongroup.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- Martin JRM Mars Airtanker — airhistory.net (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- Hawaii Martin Mars, a historic B.C. water bomber, completes its final flight — cbc.ca (retrieved August 3, 2026)
- A short history of the Martin Mars flying boats - AirMuseumGuide.com — airmuseumguide.com (retrieved August 3, 2026)