Warbird Registry
Aerial Visuals
Early History
United States Navy. Eastern TBM-3 Avenger. Construction number 2062. Delivered as Bu. 69323. BOC: circa 1944. SOC: 19??. Sold at NAS North Island, 1958.
In 2003, Forest Protection Limited requested copies of Aircraft History Cards on seven former U.S. Navy Avenger aircraft currently in the FPL fleet from the National Air and Space Museum of the Smithsonian Institution. Some of the cards were poorly microfilmed, and are presented below as received.
![clip_image002[5]](https://forestprotectiontbmavengers.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/clip_image0025.jpg "clip_image002[5]")
![clip_image006[5]](https://forestprotectiontbmavengers.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/clip_image0065.jpg "clip_image006[5]")
Daro Inc, San Clemente, CA. Flew as tanker #92 and registered as N7961C, 1963-1970. Damaged substantially in wheels-up landing, Willows, CA, September 19, 1967 [NTSB Report].
![clip_image010[5]](https://forestprotectiontbmavengers.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/clip_image0105.jpg "clip_image010[5]")
Sis-Q Flying Service Inc., Santa Rosa, CA
#E92 / #E24 N7961C 1970-1974
1974 – Sis-Q sold #E24 to FPL, one of 5 in total. #E24 did not fly in NB while owned by Sis-Q.
Forest Protection Limited, Fredericton, NB
#E24 / #24 C-GLEJ 1975-2004
Aerial Spray Program – NB
1974 – FPL purchased #E24 in late1974 for $25,429 from Sis-Q Flying Service Inc., Santa Rosa, California. Did not fly in NB in 1974. 1975 – FPL dry leased GLEJ from Evergreen Air Service Ltd. of Montreal for the 1975 season. Pilot Kirschke 1976 – Dry leased from Evergreen Air Service Ltd. for the season. Pilot McIlwaine. 1977 – Pilot Archer. 1978 – Pilots Jausseran and Wood. Repainted and renumbered (#E24 to #24) to fleet standard after 4 July, 1978. 1979 – Pilot Vallee. 1980, 1981, 1982 – Pilot Kelly. 1983 – Pilot Hiebert. 1984, 1985 – Pilot Westinghouse.
Inactive – NB
1986, 1987 – In storage at FPL.
Aerial Spray Program – NB
1988, 1989, 1990 – Pilot Haden.
Fire Suppression – NB
1991, 1992 – Pilot Lavigne. 1993, 1994 – Pilot Archer. 1995, 1996, 1997 – Pilot Bradley. 1998 – Pilots Bradley and Gomany. 1999, 2000, 2001 – Pilot Bradley. 2002 – Spare, then fire suppression. Pilot Ricker. 2003 – Still operating as firebomber. 2004 – Sold to company in Texas.
Post-spray History
Andrew Donohue, Argyle, TX July 6, 2005-2008. Registered as N124TB. Undergoing restoration to airworthy in Argyle, Texas. David Huffman, Bristow, OK, May 2012. Ferried to Oklahoma. Currently under restoration at Wiley Post Airport in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma [J. Sublett, 27 May 2012, comment on Web page].
Some Images of FPL’s C-GLEJ
![clip_image020[4]](https://forestprotectiontbmavengers.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/clip_image0204.jpg "clip_image020[4]")
![clip_image028[4]](https://forestprotectiontbmavengers.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/clip_image0284.jpg "clip_image028[4]")
![clip_image032[4]](https://forestprotectiontbmavengers.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/clip_image0324.jpg "clip_image032[4]")
![clip_image036[4]](https://forestprotectiontbmavengers.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/clip_image0364.jpg "clip_image036[4]")
![clip_image042[4]](https://forestprotectiontbmavengers.files.wordpress.com/2011/01/clip_image0424.jpg "clip_image042[4]")
Just fyi, this airframe is currently under restoration in Oklahoma City at Wiley Post Airport.