AIRCRAFT: VR-2 MARS BUNO: 76824 "...Martin JRM-2 Mars (BuNo 76824), Caroline Mars, circa 1946-48. Photographed by Clay Jansson. Photo from the TailHook Association http://www.tailhook.org/..." Contributed by Mahlon K. Miller mkwsmiller@cox.net [21MAR2004]

AIRCRAFT: VR-2 MARS BUNO: 76820 "...The Martin JRM-3 Philippine Mars (BuNo. 76820) of transport squadron VR-2 taking off fom San Francisco Bay at NAS Alameda, California to Honululu, Hawaii, in 1946. A "long hull" Essex-class aircraft carrier painted in the wartime measure 21 is visible in the background. By 1956, the Mars had outlived its usefulness for the Navy and had been condemned to the scrap yard. However, after a series of disastrous fire seasons in British Columbia (Canada), a group of logging companies heard about the availability of the Mars. The Mars was ideally suited to British Columbia's abundance of waterways and shortage of strategically placed airfields. Mr. MacMillan Bloedel took the initiative and formed Forest Industry Flying Tankers Limited (FIFT), in partnership with Pacific Forest Products Limited and TimberWest Forest Limited. The new company purchased the last four remaining Martin Mars from the US Navy in 1959. After installation of a 27276 l (7206 US gal) plywood holding tank and retractable filling probes. As of 2008 Philippine Mars is still in use by "Coulson Flying Tankers" with the Canadian registration C-FLYK. Source U.S. Navy Naval History Center, USN photo no. 1053758 [1] - Date 1946 - Author USN..." WebSite: Wikimedia http://commons.wikimedia.org/ [20OCT2008]

AIRCRAFT: VR-2 MARS BUNO: 76820 "...Philippine MARS - NAS Jacksonville, Florida..." http://www.nasjax.navy.mil/ command%20information/ aircraft_1950s_photo _gallery.htm [17JUN2002]

AIRCRAFT: VR-2 MARS BUNO: 76822 "...Marshall MARS..." Contributed by John Lucas john.lucas@netzero.net [12JUN2002]

AIRCRAFT: VR-2 MARS BUNO: 76824 Contributed by John Lucas john.lucas@netzero.net [16FEB2003]

AIRCRAFT: VR-2 MARS BUNO: 76824 Contributed by THOMAS, Arthur R. (Deceased) c/o His Son Greg Thomas glassart@pacbell.net [17FEB2003]

AIRCRAFT: VR-2 MARS BUNO: 76824 "...Carolina MARS - NAS Jacksonville, Florida..." Contributed by William T. Larkin via KOONTS, AT2 Billy billkoonts@aol.com [01NOV2002]

AIRCRAFT: VR-2 MARS BUNO: 76824 "...Carolina MARS - NAS Jacksonville, Florida..." Contributed by John Lucas john.lucas@netzero.net [01NOV2002]

AIRCRAFT: VR-2 MARS BUNO: 76824 "...Carolina MARS - NAS Jacksonville, Florida..." http://www.nasjax.navy.mil/ command%20information/ aircraft_1940s_photo _gallery.htm [17JUN2002]

AIRCRAFT: VR-2 MARS BUNO: 76820, 76821, 76823, and 76824 "...Martin MARS in formation--late 1940's. From front to back, Nos. 76820 (Philippine Mars), 76821, 76823 and 76824. Could not discern the names of the last three from the photo..." Contributed by Cliff Lewis lewisc1@digitalexp.com [02DEC2001]

AIRCRAFT: VR-2 MARS BUNO: Unknown "...VR-2 Naval Air Transport Service - Philippines MARS - Saipan 1946-1947..." Contributed by Ed Callen ecall755@aol.com [22NOV2002]

AIRCRAFT: VR-2 MARS BUNO: Unknown "...MARS running up-- VR-2--September 52..." Contributed by Cliff Lewis lewisc1@digitalexp.com [02DEC2001]

AIRCRAFT: "...VR-2 MARS Aircraft Model..." Contributed by Dan J. Dertien ddertien@shaw.ca [07JAN2005]

AIRCRAFT: VR-2 R3Y-2 BUNO: Unknown "...Four JRM-2 Mars from VR-2 in flight, circa 1953-54. Philippine Mars is RA 820 and Hawaii Mars is RA 823 (third in line). Photographed by Clay Jansson. Photo from the TailHook Association http://www.tailhook.org/..." Contributed by Mahlon K. Miller mkwsmiller@cox.net [21MAR2004]

"...From front to back in the photo they are: 76820-Philippine 76821-Marianas 76823-Hawaii 75824-Caroline The taking of this photo presented some difficulty. Usual photos of four aircraft in formation is nothing special but when there are only four in existance it is much more difficult. Normal operation was three aircraft in flight status and one in overhaul. In addition one aircraft was usually in Hawaii and rarly were they all three at Alameda at the same time. To obtain this photo it meant that all four had to be in NAS Alameda, California and in flying status at the same time, no mean trick. As I recall they only had one day to get the picture for flight schedule reasons or the one aircraft was due into overhaul the next day. Anyway, it was a typical overcast Bay Area day so they had to climb above the overcast to get the proper lighting. The resulting picture was later made available to all squadron personnel. Maybe someone else closer to the planning for this photo shoot can add to or correct this account. I would be very interested to hear any additional information...STOTT, AD3 Marvin pema123@charter.net..." [17OCT2004]

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