The Flying Firemen - who were they?

Flybabe · Post by **Flybabe** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 8:09 pm

I just stumbled across a picture of a Neptune that was apparently operated by The Flying Firemen Ltd. This picture was taken in Victoria in June of 1972.

I'm wondering if anyone knows anything about them? I'd like to know if this machine ended up at the company I work for but haven't asked ops yet.

North Shore · Post by **North Shore** » Sat Jan 03, 2009 8:13 pm

i think that CatDriver should know a little about them - IIRC, he worked there..

Liquid Charlie · Post by **Liquid Charlie** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 7:42 am

Indeed Cat will be the guy to fill us in on that part of canadian aviation history -- there was a select group of pig boat drivers who worked with Moose -

Flybabe · Post by **Flybabe** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:04 am

Talking with him, thanks. If anyone else has information, I would love to hear it

longjon · Post by **longjon** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 10:47 am

What about Bernie from ex Navair in Victoria. I believe he worked for them.

X Driver · Post by **X Driver** » Sun Jan 04, 2009 4:32 pm

As stated above Cat would be the guy, but if you are around Victoria Russ or Mike at Victoria Air Maint might be able to help you. The Flying Firemen were best known for operating Canso's though.

Trevor · Post by **Trevor** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 9:36 am

Flybabe - email inbound.

BD8 · Post by **BD8** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 4:02 pm

Flybabe wrote:Talking with him, thanks. If anyone else has information, I would love to hear it

If you find out, let us know..... I've wondered where MQW ended up. I've tried to find the Bureau/ Serial # on it but no luck.

It was operating on a temporary C of A in '72.

BD8

Flybabe · Post by **Flybabe** » Mon Jan 05, 2009 5:46 pm

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.

Lost in Saigon · Post by **Lost in Saigon** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:35 pm

I flew Canso's and also Bird Dogged for "The Flying Fireman Ltd" in 1984. The owner was Alex Wood and they were based in Victoria, B.C. A few years later they closed up operations.

. . was also there that year. Most of the flying was in Ontario. 1984 wasn't a great year for their aircraft. In the space of 3-4 days in May, they:

1) Bent a wing spar on a Cessna 337
2) Sunk a Canso in Silver Lake (just north of Kenora) when tunnel hatch door opened during a water takeoff after a full stop water landing.
3) Crashed a Canso in Thunder Bay when both engines quit from water in the fuel. (nobody seriously hurt)

CD · Post by CD » Wed Jan 21, 2009 6:49 pm

I think I have about a dozen photos kicking around somewhere of the YQT crash ... one or two relatively good high angle ones that I believe were taken from the bucket of the aerial fire truck. Not sure who the photographer was though.

Flybabe · Post by **Flybabe** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 7:04 pm

Very interesting, thanks a bunch for the reply!

I still haven't traced the neptune I posted 100%, but the thought is that it wrecked in WA in the early 90's. My company has one left of the 3 neptunes it purchased from Canada, and it's still flying.

Tanker 11 in 1974:

Tanker 11 in 2008:

HS-748 2A · Post by **HS-748 2A** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:10 pm

N6456C was obtained by Flying Fireman Ltd of Sidney,BC in June 1980; registered as C-GFFJ and flown as tanker 9.

It crashed and was destroyed during water pick-up at Sioux Lookout, Ontario on 12Jul 81.
Source: www.warbirdregistry.org

SeptRepair · Post by **SeptRepair** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 8:21 pm

I know three of the guys in that picture. One has sinced passed away and another currently flys with us.

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Wed Jan 21, 2009 9:57 pm

delete

Driving Rain · Post by **Driving Rain** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:01 am

HS-748 2A wrote:N6456C was obtained by Flying Fireman Ltd of Sidney,BC in June 1980; registered as C-GFFJ and flown as tanker 9.

It crashed and was destroyed during water pick-up at Sioux Lookout, Ontario on 12Jul 81.
Source: http://www.warbirdregistry.org

I'm not sure but wasn't that the crash where the MNR amphib Turbo Beaver flown by Larry Britton (now deseased) and Bird Dog Officer Bill Wedinhof landed beside the wreak and pulled the crew to safety saving their lives.

After that accident I've always thought a skimmer operation should have an amphib dog overhead for just this reason. A 208 on amphibs could easily dog 215's it might have a little trouble keeping up to a 415 after 80 miles or so.

Lost in Saigon · Post by **Lost in Saigon** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:43 am

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 6:47 am

I'm not sure but wasn't that the crash where the MNR amphib Turbo Beaver flown by Larry Britton (now deseased) and Bird Dog Officer Bill Wedinhof landed beside the wreak and pulled the crew to safety saving their lives.

Yes, however had the bomb doors not been opened on the water the accident would never have happened.

Lost in Saigon · Post by **Lost in Saigon** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:05 am

A Google search turned up this interesting site with some history on the The Flying Fireman.

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

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:19 am

I solved the problem of inadvertent opening of the bomb doors on the water by bypassing the bomb door button on the control wheel and installing a micro switch on the left throttle.

That way I controlled when and if the doors would be activated.

SeptRepair · Post by **SeptRepair** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:27 am

Lost in Saigon wrote:

Yes that guy is Dave Davidson.

Lost in Saigon · Post by **Lost in Saigon** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 7:48 am

What is Dave doing now? How about the other guys you know? And who died?

Cat Driver · Post by **Cat Driver** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 8:05 am

Dave Davidson is dead and so is Gilles LaFaive.

SeptRepair · Post by **SeptRepair** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 11:11 am

Yes . is right. Dave passed away a couple of years ago now and Bob Dyck is a captain on the Mars during the summer months. One hell of a nice guy.

Driving Rain · Post by **Driving Rain** » Thu Jan 22, 2009 5:20 pm

Bruce Armstrong is alive and well living in Vermillion Bay NW OT.

Stewart Wood had a gun battle with . in the summer of 82 in YGQ. . lived to fight another day by using the bunker mentality. Ok,ok . pulled the bunk over himself as Stu fired away emptying a six shooter into Chucks cabin wall and matress. I haven't seen Coln Flint in years but remember he was a really bad poker player.

The Flying Firemen - who were they?

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