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My mom built these during ww2, she was a Rosie. She passed 8/19 bless her and her memory

Seeing the Empire in a flying boat must have been a experience

It's still incredible watching these planes collect water on the go in forest fire season here in BC. Truly massive even today

when the world need him most, our history teacher is back.

During WWII my father was a US Marine that flew in Consolidated PBY Catalina’s. He said they smelled of gasoline and that every crew member was required to search each other for matches or lighters before a flight to prevent someone from lightning a cigarette in flight and blowing up the plane.

In the early '50's Phillipine Mars visited NAS Squantum, where Dad did his Navy Reserve duty. He took me on a very memorable tour. Thanks, Dad. And thank YOU,Mark for this vid!

God, that's like having a building fly over you. Incredible that they are still in service.

Definitely a testament to the incredible engineering of these planes when theyre still being used 75+ years later. Not only did i get to learn about a float plane i wasnt very familiar with, but i got to see a modern day clip of it as well. Hopefully they succceed in preserving them for more years to come.

That historic takeoff footage with the audio was phenomenal.

Sitting here with a cold beer and and steak outside listening to Mark Felton around the fire. top notch my good Sir

Just a heads up, the Philippine mars has long since been retired, it resides now in the national museum of naval aviation in Pensacola, Florida

5:33 Good Lord! The bloody thing has given birth to a baby flying boat

During the Berlin Airlift the Sunderlands flew from near Hamburg to the Berlin Lakes with supplies and ferried exports, mail and passengers out including children that needed either hospital treatment or recuperation.

Anyone else find something oddly satisfying about military flying boats?

I grew up on Vancouver Island late 70-80’s. Got to see them fly many times, they were awesome to watch!

Great to see this! I had my first plane trip on the Philippine Mars as a baby when my family returned Stateside from Hawaii in late '52 or early '53 when my dad was reassigned to San Francisco by the Navy. So I have great affection for the aircraft. I need to get out to BC and get a look at the survivors.

I live in Port Alberni, BC, Canada. Home of the Martin Mars water bombers. They are mothballed now but I saw them fly. The Pride of the Alberni Valley. Coulson's Flying Tankers at Sproat Lake.

I never want this channel to end! I got to see a Mars water bomber in action during the 2003 Okanagan Park Mountain Fire, they are awesome to see

I've seen this aircraft fighting a fire, what a sight, amazing. Thank you Mr. Felton.

My favorite history professor of all time is Dr. Mark Felton!

In 1992 on a flight to Canada I watched an inflight film about these planes and made it a mission to find them while I was there. I found them at Sproat Lake on Vancouver Island and even though I had no invitation, the people there were really welcoming and gladly showed me around. Absolutely amazing craft. Back then they had only 18 new engines left to keep these beasts in the air. Great memories. Thanks for reminding me.

My uncle was actually the chief water bomber pilot for the Mars when they were operated out of British Columbia, Canada.

I like how he’s got almost 800 likes only 20 minutes after releasing an 8:45 video! Keep up the good work Mark!

I had the chance, back in the 90's, to bird dog the Hawaii Mars over a large fire near Peerless Lake along with a pair of CL 215's. It was so cool to use the Mars to lay about a mile of line along a cutline with one drop and then use the relatively tiny and more maneuverable 215's to touch up hot spots. What a privilege!

What a mesmerizing engine sound and also a beautiful sight. Mark just delivered another awe-inspiring piece of jelewry of past aviation.

When the plane is big enough to be it's own museum. :- ]

Thanks for posting this, Mark! I had the pleasure of seeing these two aircraft in flight at Sproat Lake where they are based. I remember as a teenager boating out to these giants and being in awe of their sheer size. Thanks for bringing back those wonderful memories! And thanks for doing what you do!

i was fortunate enough to sit in between the pilot and co-pilot just 4 years ago and fly around the Port Alberni valley twice, it was one of the last times this plane flew...

I've actually seen these start up and idle. It's an amazing sight.

I got to see one of the Martin Mars in action. Taking off from Lake Elsinore, California to fight a fire only a couple Kilometers away. Very impressive.

As a child in San Diego in the 1950's I remember seeing the very large Consolidated Aircraft (e.g. Convair) flying boat with the swinging nose that allowed vehicles to drive out of the nose onto a beach. One of my first model aircraft was the PBY Catalina. Great memories. Thank you.

I love that you see these machines as beautiful objects too. They really are heroic achievements and it is wonderful to see it still being used. Some things we have created take on a life of their own and must be remembered. Great work Mark!

Thanks for the Blohm & Voss, BV 238 mention!

Thank you Mark, I can’t tell you how much I appreciate and look forward to your content

Mark, you should have mentioned the Howard Hughes H-4 Hercules (The Spruce Goose) flying boat. Built during WWII but not flown until 1947 it had a 320 ft wingspan. Now on display at Evergreen Air & Space Museum. Had 8 engines, could carry 750 fully equipped troops.

Earlier this month [May 2024] My big sister took my Dad and I on a tour of the HM, around it and inside when the mechanics were on lunch hour. Got to sit in the captain's seat and make plane engine noises. What a joy to see this plane. Standing at the tail, looking up at the size of it is jaw dropping. Thanks to Coulson for letting us see the HM before she's takes off.

This helps me understand Howard Hughes' obsession with the Spruce Goose. My mom told me about seeing it's not so successful test flight as a kid. Seeing how big the Mars is, I can only imagine how big the Goose looked to a little girl.

Thank you Mr. Weeks for keeping history alive!

My brother (RIP) when he was fighting a forest fire here in BC Canada was saved by those two water bombers. In the crews when they heard those plans over head they described not just hearing them but feeling a "rumble" in their chest. I saw them later on in my life at the Abbotsford annual airshow on two separate occasions. They were retired here in BC form service due to high costs of engineered maintenance vs a fleet of much smaller aircraft that could utilize much smaller lakes for sources of water. If you get a chance to see one of them at an airshow please do go. You won't forget what you see and feel.

During wildfire season here in Southern California several years ago, I was outdoors and had the pleasure of seeing one of the converted Martin Mars on its approach to its destination to its next firefighting assignment near Los Angeles. Even though the craft was at least a good 15 kilometers away, you could easily spot it thanks to clear skies that day. And it was absolutely massive to behold as it kept getting larger and larger as it drew closer to where I was standing - in total awe, by the way. Just as impressive was the fact that you could definitely hear it coming until it was roaring overhead. Even at an altitude of about 2000 feet, most aircraft look small, even commercial airliners. But not the Mars; it literally filled the sky with its presence and the sound of its four engines filled my head. At over 70 years old each, time certainly isn't on the side of these two remaining beauties. Hopefully they will be treated with the honor and respect they deserve when they land for the final time. Well done as always, Mark. :)

Mark. Thank you for telling me about these stories. I never knew them so thank you!

Looks like I am learning about planes today; thanks Dr. Felton!

My brother in-laws father flew missions in the Sunderland and other aircraft. He was a navigator and waist gunner. He went down on three occasions. He had some great stories.

This reminds me of Howard Hughes' Hercules (the 'Spruce Goose'). It was the largest flying plane of it's type and due to war rationing Hughes was only given access to wood (spruce) to build the plane. As each piece of same sized wood has a slightly different weight, it was a mathematical achievement in building such a plane, as Hughes had no formal education in engineering. He managed to solve many problems with the use of hydraulics for the rudder and other such difficulties. By the time the plane was finally completed the war was over and the government had no use for it. Despite this (and an investigation into Hughes' war time spending of government's money) it actually did fly for one mile at a height of 100 metres. The fact that Hughes was denied much needed war time materials and funding is incredible in what he was eventually able to accomplish. By far the most incredible aspect is that Hughes suffered from undiagnosed OCD at the time (which I also also suffer from) and despite this, managed to accomplish so much in aeronautics and other adventures. Thanks for sharing Dr Felton.

As a child growing up on Vancouver Island in the 1980s, I had several opportunities to see the Mars in action. One flying overhead made the ground shake.

It is to be hoped that the one Martin Mars in British Columbia designated for the Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, FL can eventually make it there for public display.

Dad flew the Mars and the PBM Mariner. He flew a PBM from Guantánamo Bay Cuba to Leyte Gulf in the Philippines (with fueling stops) in 1944. No GPS or other navigation aids back then which, as a pilot, I find pretty amazing.

On a different note, I used to see Consolidated PBY Catalinas take off from John Wayne Airport in Long Beach, CA, painted blood red, as fire bombers, back in the late 90's, early 2000's. I wonder if they are still being used today.

Keep up the good work. Best history channel on KZfaq.

Great vid Mark! I live in British Columbia I have watched the Mars fly overhead. Thank you for explaining the history of this truly amazing aircraft.

these flew over my dad's house in 1995 and shook the windows. There was a forest fire up the hill from him and these were tasked with putting it out. One of my earliest memories.

My father was Flight Radio Officer for Pan Am aboard these leviathans. He answered an AD in a local Boston newspaper that offered Radio Officer "tryouts". He passed and was invited to attend their school WPB, FL. He graduated in 1943. He was 19. He told a few stories of his adventures. He said his mother would faint if she knew the hazards of securing the hawser while standing between those roaring engines. Although WWII was raging, he flew the Orient/Asia with Pan Am then TWA. I have his passports, vaccination cards and even his uniforms.1944 found him on Liberty SS Arthur Sewell (hull 3006) as SRO 2nd Class. The Sewell was torpedoed in the Channel (with 5 lost), 5 9 miles SW of Plymouth, and towed to Weymouth. He was among the last aboard in 1945 when it was scuttled in the North Sea. I have his logs and the Ships' Placard if anyone is interested. (Reader beware: I'm casually referred to as "The Inaccurate Historian. So I'll check the facts and report back in!)

Not only is this entertaining, but serves a purpose to preserve WW2 history.

Keep the content coming your getting me through this lockdown! Thank you Dr Felton!

Update: Hawaii Mars is going to be donated to the BC Aviation Museum. It’s final ferry flight will be end of 2024. Philippine Mars, which did not get sold, is still in its wartime colors and is still at the Coulson facility at Sproat Lake.

I saw them scoping water from the harbour in Nanaimo, British Columbia, then flew over our house. A sight I will never forget. The airport in Nanaimo also had a couple of Catalinas, I figure i was blessed just being able to see all of these amazing flying boats.

That intro music means I’m always in for a fascinating 10-15 minutes. Often I’m in for more as my interest is piqued and I search for more information about the subject.

It may not be Good Friday, but it is a good Friday when Mark's videos drop. Awww yeah

A friend of mine father was a pararescue swimmer on a USAAF Catalina during WW2. He told me his father - who passed away some years ago - always had interesting stories to tell about his experiences on being a Catalina crew member. Good story Mark - you,re a veritable bloodhound sniffing out those interesting WW2 histories!

About 20 years ago there was a terrible forest fire outside of Salmon Arm BC. Water bombers and choppers were flying and refilling their tanks on Shuswap lake. There was a constant drone of aircraft and we spent a few evenings watching the planes refill and dump their loads just outside of town. Then the Martin Mars arrived. The sheer size of the craft was jaw dropping, and the radial engine sound of pure horsepower from a bygone era.

My friend was flight engineer on one of the two Mars water bombers when they were based on Sproat Lake Vancouver Island.

My father worked on this aircraft as a draftsman department of Glen L. Martin

I have fond memories of the Mars water bombers. When I lived on Vancouver Island my family camped in the front yard of friends on Sproat Lake, where the two remaining Mars are based. One day one of them taxied up the lake, far our of sight on what I later learned was a training exercise. Once the beast had slowly motored up the lake it seemed that many of the locals on both sides of the lake had gotten their boats ready and were waiting. Our host said, "Wait for it." About 20 or so minutes later the Mars came blasting down the lake - never taking off but probably just off the step. As soon as it passed all the small boats took to the lake to surf the enormous wake this thing left. Later that night I got a treat - friend and I took a boat down the lake to where they moored the things. We slowly circled the plane and got close enough to pass under the wings. What a monster! A year or so later I was out gardening in my yard in Nanaimo, BC and heard a most peculiar sound. It turned out there was a fire in a protected marshland a few kilometers south of us and they called in one of the Mars bombers to deal with it. Listening to the sound of these planes on a KZfaq video is nothing like feeling that throaty roar in your bones. I looked up as I heard the noise approaching and didn't see the plane until it cleared the trees in the neighbourhood and it was right overhead. I was stunned - here was this behemoth flying at about 600 -800 feet right over my head. It was taking a starboard turn and from my vantage point it looked like it was flying sideways and about to stall on top of me. Streams of residual water were still pouring from the belly of the beast. I will never forget the sound - that deep note getting lower as it dopplered past - nor the deep visceral impression that I was watching the impossible as this enormous and beautiful aircraft seemed to magically claw its way through the sky. Sadly, the two remaining Mars planes are no longer working - the provincial government has declined to contract them through their owners. I hope at least one will be preserved, and I am grateful to have had the limited experience with them that I have had. They are a true BC icon.

The after-war and pre-war service of the big flying boats was much more interesting than this short video could possible cover. I read a book about the big flying boats - including the two versions of the beautiful jet-powered Martin P6M SeaMaster. Despite an almost unique ability to hit Mach .9 near wave-top height, there were expensive problems still to be solved, and the Navy halted the program due to cost. It turned out to be Martin's last aircraft. As each of the several types of big flying boats were put out of service for one reason or another, the writer made it clear this was the passing of an era that may never be seen again. Once around 2005 while photographing airplanes coming and going at a rural airport in AZ I had the good fortune to see a modern day fire-fighting aircraft land. It was a not a flying boat, just a medium size land-based plane able to drop a belly-full of fire retardant powder or liquid on demand. The spillover from the reddish-colored fire retardant colored the rear bottom of the aircraft.

"We're gonna need a bigger flying boat."

Never a boring video!

Quite a remarkable aircraft and quite something to see. I watched the two remaining Mars fly overhead once as they worked together to fight a nearby forest fire. They have a distinctive sound! Many years ago, while at a dinner party with friends, I struck up a conversation with a fellow there. I explained that I had an odd hobby of researching old airplane wreck sites and then hiking into them. He let me know his father was killed in the Marianas Mars crash and asked if I had been to that site. I had! We arranged for me to drive him there and allow him time to see the location his father had passed. It was quite a memorable trip through the back woods. There was very very little metal left at the site and the area had been logged. I would imagine the spot would be largely overgrown today. The views up to Mt. Moriarty were beautiful and the spot on the hillside was quiet and serene. While there a large black bear came rumbling up the road, unaware that we were there. It seemed fitting, somehow, to see. It is amazing how many people have had a connection to these aircraft over the years.

I lived in Corona, CA about 12 years ago. We had wildfires raging often and once I got to see one of those birds. I was outside in my yard watching the aircraft dropping water and retardants on the surrounding hills. I heard a large piston aircraft approaching and sure enough a Mars flew directly over my house less than 1000ft. It was magnificent! The sound of those engines and the sheer massiveness of the aircraft was amazing. Once in a lifetime experience for sure! Thanks for another outstanding video!

Both my Grandfathers were in the US Army Air Corps during WWII... one in the South Pacific... one in N. Africa/Europe... I wonder if either one of them ever saw one of these planes, or maybe even rode on them... excellent video!

That plane saved my house from a forest fire and many others

Howard Hughes built a bigger flying boat. Because of a falling out he couldn't get the aluminum he needed from the Government during WWII because of rationing, so he stubbornly hired cabinet makers and made his out of wood. He was able to ingenuously come up with a process by which he could bend laminated wood at 90° angles to get the different shapes he needed for construction. Another monumental achievement from that era.

Was attending a friend's wedding in Parksville 1977 when one flew low, right over the house prior to the ceremony.Remarkable.

It's a good day when a Mark Felton video drops.

Awesome! Love the uploads

I don't think anything modern will every truly compare to the grace of these old flying boats. Relics on a bygone era that we all wish we could have experienced.

TY . As a life long resident of Van Isle this plane runs through our family history as well. Dad swam out to it while skin diving and tried to climb up the wing tip float ; no way, it was too big. We are all glad they were there to save us from burning, as well as many non Island communities. They should be in the hands of an aviation museum by the time you read this. TY Glenn.L . Martin Co. for your creation of excellent "boats. ;)

Always a pleasure to get new content. Would love a video on the Marine Corps Stinger Machine Gun

And then they became Firefighters. This kept getting better and better!

I love seeing these old birds on the way to Tofino BC.

Another great video! My grandfather flew a PBY Catalina in defense of the Atlantic coast for the last 2 years of the war. He saw when they captured a U boat intact and had it towed to Florida I believe. I’m sure Mark has a video on that or will one day. Best WW2 historical channel out there!

"could fly to Europe and back nonstop" damn I didn’t realize we had anything that could do that. Impressive.

6:09 Passenger: "What's the other guy for?" Engineer: "So I can reach everything on my control panel".

I grew up near Middle River, MD. Martin's was right down the road from us. My sister-in-law's Mom worked for Martin until her retirement.

One day while waiting for the fog to clear before a flight out of San Diego bay, I was chatting with my plane commander (and VP-40 squadron commander) and was surprised to learn that he had flown the Martin Mars in his early days. At the time VP-40 (along with VP-48 & 50) were flying another Martin aircraft, the SP-5B Marlin. My last P-5 flight was in October just before VP-40 closed out Navy seaplane operations on 7 Nov 1967. VP-40 recently earned the honor of completing the last Lockheed P-3 deployment before transitioning to the Boeing P-8. Good going VP-40! VP-40 NFO, Jan 66 to Dec 67

I'm not big on mobile games, but if it supports this channel, I'll give Warpath a try.

You should do a video on Howard Hughes spruce goose

Love the sound of big propeller aircraft and my gaze is always and has been drawn towards the sky to see since a kid growing up in the sixties.

I had two short sightseeing trips in a Catalina PBY5A in the late '90s. I even sat in one of the blisters. Takeoffs and landings were on a runway, the "A" designation is for "A"mphibian, which means "on land and on water".

Kermit Weeks has a series of excellent videos touring the interior of and the operation of both the Philippine and Hawaii Mars aircraft on his KZfaq channel . They're well worth a look if you want more detail on these massive flying boats.

When there's big involved it's big history from dr Felton!

I grew up down the road from the Mars bomber base. These planes would taxi down the lake past our house and then fly back overtop of it. I remember watching them from the side of the Tofino highway as they tag-teamed a fire for hours on end without stopping. Truly incredible at fighting fires and the fact that we had TWO of them was unmatchable. A family friend of ours was a mechanic and flight engineer on the Philippine Mars and would tour us around the base and boat us out to the bomber so we could go inside. I remember walking back and forth end to end up on the wings, watching the floats touch down into the lake. Later in my early twenties I got to fly on the Hawaii Mars during a test flight. We did two dumps, one out of Sproat Lake, the second we picked up from out in the Alberni inlet. It was a surreal experience and I still can't believe I got to do it. The feeling you get when that massive plane lets all that water go and instantly feels lighter than air as it drifts upwards. There is nothing quite like it. I was obsessed with those planes growing up so it was a dream come true.

I love Flying boats! What a treat this was. Thank you for your work, Mr Felton.

Mark the man with the most expansive knowledge, top work once again fella.

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My father, USN E9-James MacAdory Wilhite I, was crew chief on both Hawaii & Philippines Mars. I was born in Honolulu as a result of his Naval service. Thank you for this documentary. I enjoy your videos very much.

Saw these at Sproat Lake, BC in 2011. It's unbelievable how big they are! Love that sound of the R-3350s.

That flight to Alameda was to the Alameda Naval Air Station. There is to this day a large Seaplane Lagoon on the west side of the base. Alameda is an island next to Oakland, California. The Seaplane Lagoon has ramps leading down in San Francisco Bay, on the shore there are large service and warehouse facilities. The base is now decommissioned and being redeveloped. The USS Hornet museum ship is there, you can tour it for a price. A Martin Mariner was also lost searching for the lost Flight 47 in the Bermuda Triangle.

Martin Mars is one of my most favorite aircraft. I know a man called Kermit Week make a video about flying one of it to Oshkosh. Very sad to hear her being stoped flying. From one of your Vietnamese subscriber.

I was born in 1946 and I recall seeing these monsters on San Diego Bay. I must have been around 6 y.o . We were at a harbor side restaurant and two of these were maneuvering in circles on the water.