Early History
United States Navy. General Motors TBM-3. Construction #: ?.
Royal Canadian Navy. Delivered to RCN 13 May 1950, SOC 30 Jan 1958. Flew as #365.
Wheeler Airlines, St. Jean, Quebec
#500 CF-IMQ 1958-1958
Aerial spray program – NB
1958 – Converted to sprayer, painting, etc., by Fairey Aviation, Dartmouth, NS. Firebombing as part of a fleet of 6 Wheeler and 6 Skyway TBMs.
Crashed 1 June 1958 on takeoff at right side of takeoff runway at Juniper, NB. Pilot J.T.J. (Ted) Zys (of the RCN Reserve) was unhurt. The aircraft was junked.
Wheeler #500 FIMQ at Blissville, 1958.
Wheeler #500 FIMQ at Blissville, 1958.
Wheeler #500 FIMQ wreck at Juniper airstrip, June 1958. Pictured is Chief Pilot Chuck Richardson.
Wheeler #500 FIMQ wreck at Juniper airstrip, June 1958.
Wheeler #500 FIMQ wreck at Juniper airstrip, June 1958.
Juniper Airstrip in 1958. The arrow points to the location of the FIMQ crash. Note the five parked Avengers. [Don Henry]
