The Flying Firemen - who were they?

[FlyingFiremenC/PGSon]

Thanks .... no one was sure what was wrong with Granddad until the final month of his life and I have often wondered if he did know but decided that the dignity of business as usual was far better than suffering the nonsense of treatment... I don't know this but I wonder sometimes about it. He was perhaps the most definable man I have ever known in my life. I have not known anyone who could so clearly be identified by his profession... flying and leading pilots was certainly his given talent.

I have been reading accident reports... stunted ones... on the internet trying to figure out what really happened to Joe Gant.... A powerful memory for me was when my Grandmother and I had to go to Eileen's shortly thereafter and share in their grief. I have seen conflicting reports of pilot fatigue and mechanical difficulties.... am not sure what to make of it> Anyone shed any light on this accident from many years ago.

[Cat Driver]

FlyingFiremenC/PGSon I am sure Mike knew what was happening because he had had an operation some years previously for the same problem as I recall.

When he called me that last time it was only about two weeks later I went to his funeral so I am sure he knew he was dying he just did not let anyone else know.

As to Joe Gant's accident this forum is not the place I wish to discuss this sad event.

I can tell you what I know of it when we meet this spring.

[NormS]

Anyone remember Stan Fletcher.... chief engineer, around 1980/1.

[Cat Driver]

Of course.

[FlyingFiremenC/PGSon]

I was reading an article entitled "Cansos over Canada" in which Stan's name was mentioned a few times. Also in that article was an anonymous pilot with a huge number of Cat hours ( Might be you .?)and Sonny Covin among others. The foundation of the article seems to be the sinking and subsequent recovery of # 4 which eventually ended up in Spain. Great article that I have in PDF format if anyone is interested.

[Human Factor]

I found this:

http://unknownvictoria.blogspot.com/200 ... remen.html

[Flybabe]

Thanks, HF - Lost in Saigon posted that on the first page of this thread.

Good to have it resurected though.

[Human Factor]

Ooops, didn't see it earlier. I guess I just demonstrated one of the Dirty Dozen in Human Factors... Lack of Awareness!

[Flybabe]

We may have had some leniency had you realized the error and made steps to correct it..

[lilfssister]

Flybabe has future TC inspector written all over her

[Cat Driver]

Flybabe had a lobotomy?

[Flybabe]

I'd rather have a bottle in front of me than a frontal lobotomy

[FlyingFiremenC/PGSon]

Where did Nigel Penn end up?

[marsfan]

Hi..I am new to the forum but i wanted to post that i have many great 8x10 shots of the Flying Fireman Canso at Pat Bay...I also have wreckage pictures from CF-FFY that crashed Aug 8 1968 around Lake Cowichan i believe......I would also like to put out there that i am a huge Mars fan and am very into them historically and am always looking for photos of them at Pat Bay/Fairey Aviation....Would love to talk with anyone who may have pics as i have a large archive as well and am always into sharing/swapping etc.......Thanks Dan

[whisair]

In 1982 Mike Pearson hired me. I was running the Victoria Parachute Center at the time and my chief instructor had just got killed in a freak accident. I was looking for a bit of a change and Mike must have felt some compassion becuase I didn't have a lot of experience. It was one of the most interesting summers I have had in aviation. Mike was definetly a leader and a fine person. I was sad to hear that he died.

[sonny covin]

Mike Pearson, the name stands out and for good reason. He was a giant among pilots and showed his humanity in every endeavour. As a former RCAF engineer, and pilot for the FF Mike and I got along like best friends. He'd call me in YBL to go fly in High Level and I was ready in no time. He'd then fly to Campbell River and I'd have some smoke salmon for him to eat while I'm flying the 337 back to Sydney.I recall one time I brought two other pilots to my home and we went to the campbell rtiver estuary and dug out twenty four crab at low tide and brought them to Sydney and had a hell of a feast before we started our training.
Mike was an extradinary human being and I don't think that a week goes by that his memory doesn't comes to mind. I was deeply sadden to hear of his passing.

I got a call from Derwyn Ross in Victoria that the FF are having a reunion on Oct 24th in Sydney and all X FF have an invitation to this worthy ocation. I'm sure there will be lots of stories to tell. Hope to see everyone there. Ph No's Sonny @1 780 222 1850, and Derwyn @1 250 514 6598 Oh, Carl Clouter will not attend he will be marrying off his daughter in Florida on that day. sonny covin

While I was away playing at a slow pitch tournament I got a call from the one and only Carl Clouter and he advised me that he will do his best to attend the reunion on Oct 24th. His first question was Will Bob Dyck be there. ans. Yes!!!

S.C.

[Chuck Ellsworth]

I will be there.

[sonny covin]

Back in the late 70"s there was a co-Jo with the last name of Visher flying for the FF is he still in the area? I don't know how long he flew with the FFthough. Someone should probably know him??

[IceBird]

Hey Sonny

Had a co-worker tell me about all the postings here on the Forum. Thought I'ld better check it out. Brings back a few lost memories for sure. I'm still out there living the dream; flying 'Das Auto' in the high artic. I'm making plans to make it to the reunion in Oct. I saw Carl in Yellowknife last Fall. Still healthy and fiesty.

Cheers. Jim

[Green Hornet]

I worked for the Woods after the Fireman disbanded. I flew several of thier 337's out to Victoria when they were closing up. I worked for Stewart Wood when he ran A-Wood air when he wasn't drunk or stoned.

[sdp]

ya sure you did HORNET!

[Green Hornet]

Well like you would know. Robin Lacey was departing Chief Pilot when I got there. Steward was driving a yellow Corvette at the time.

[sonny covin]

Hey Sonny

Had a co-worker tell me about all the postings here on the Forum. Thought I'ld better check it out. Brings back a few lost memories for sure. I'm still out there living the dream; flying 'Das Auto' in the high artic. I'm making plans to make it to the reunion in Oct. I saw Carl in Yellowknife last Fall. Still healthy and fiesty.

Cheers. Jim

Hey Jim,

It sure was nice to see you at the reunion. Is there a phone number I can call you at or you can call me at my 1 877 980 0556 in the evenings. This number works all over Canada.
Dave Mackenzie and I are going to put on a great 30th year reunion and it will be a blast next year and we will probably have it in Oct. probably around the same time as this years. Derwyn went in the hole a few hundred or so and Dave and I donated to his cause I think it had something to do with the rental of the museum. I know the catering cost was $711.00 and and were checking on the rental. I don`t think Derwyn should be on the hook for any of the cost. He sure put a lot of work into this reunion, and it sure was a lot better than last year.
So if you got some time off give me a call.

Sonny

Flying is all about attitude.

[Nephilim]

Green Hornet. What you say is true except Stuart Wood's 'vette' was dark blue.

[flyerboy101]

Word has it that the company I work for acquired the 3 Neptunes that the Flying Firemen had. 2 are gone, one remains. This one *might* by MQW.

MOW, the one I have a picture of, evidently was lost in WA in the '90's.

I got to be loader man there when I was a student pilot at Vic flying club. I grounded Earl Smith and Joe Gant in the Neptune. I mixed gelgard and fireretardent in the mixing tank. Ooopps! Plugged the flow line. Took all night to clean all tanks and holding tanks with fire hoses. Made the front page if the times columnist paper with pink swans at Pat bay. I grew up to tag on to Earls drop in a DC 6 in high level flying a Douglas invader. He said I came a long way but I still owed him for not getting to fly that fateful day I grounded him and Joe.