Rabbit Team, Juniper, NB, 1970. L to R: Claude Marcoux (Lead TBM pilot), John Lavigne (#3 TBM pilot), Barry Paton (#2 TBM pilot) in front of Maritime AS #900 FXOM.
This is the second edition of Don Henry’s “Pilots – Years Worked” list. I have added names and initials where available, but for many there is no information, especially from the early sixties. Evidence of pilots who flew in 1960 and 1961 comes solely from Don Henry’s original list. (He must have had information that is no longer available to me.) The spelling of some names in the handwritten and typed lists varies between years; these lists were always modified over the course of the spray season, often by hand. I have also updated the years the TBM pilots worked, added the company they flew with (based on the ownership of the Avenger they flew) and added names of those who flew for FPL in later years (up to 2010).
U.S. and Canadian Pilots’ license numbers come from a 1958 list compiled by Wheeler Airlines and a 1971 list compiled by Evergreen Air Service. Some pilots on the 1958 list were designated as having had previous experience with budworm projects, which was important in the first year of TBM usage; this is noted.
Obituaries, articles and other information have been added, but I have not made an exhaustive attempt to research pilots. Steve Smith’s Fly the Biggest Piece Back (1988, rev. ed.) contains a list of Johnson Flying Service pilots (p. 227).
Some of these pilots also flew Cessnas and M-18s for the spray program.
For more on some of the pilots, see TBM Pilots on The Sevogle Times site.
Several pilots are active on the closed Facebook group Forest Protection Limited Alumni, which is an active site full of images, anecdotes and comments regarding the spray program in the 1980s.
Source: Don Henry, 2008
Revised 2014, Nov 2015
Ken Atkins in front of Skyway TBM #612 wreckage, Juniper, NB, 1961.
Known US Pilots – Italics
Fatalities – bold
A
ABBOTT – 1979 [FPL]
ADAMI, Russell, lic.# 1405015 – 1971, 72 (Maine) [Hillcrest Aircraft]
ALEXANDER, Linc. See Al Linkowich.
ALMOND – 1969,70 [Conair Aviation]
ANDERSON, John C. “Long John”, lic.# SC 103 – 1958,60,61 [previous experience with budworm projects] [Skyway Air Services]
ANGUS – 1974,75 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying]
ANNIS, Ralph H., McAdam, N.B. – 1981,82,83,84,85 [FPL] [FPL Chief Pilot 1991-1993] [1932 – . Ralph was also a member of Canada’s first official aerobatics team, the Golden Hawks: see here, here and here.]
ARCHER, Albert (Bert), Port McNicoll, Ont. – 1969,70,71,72,73,74,75,77,78,79,80,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,91,92, 93, 94 [Evergreen Air Services] [FPL] From comment below: “Just want to inform anyone who knew my dad Bert Archer, who flew with most of you I presume. He passed away on Sat, June 18 with his family by his side, at Hillcrest Manor.” A celebration of his Life was held on July 23/2016 at the Midland Legion. – daughter Joan Taylor.
ATKINS, Ken J., FPL Chief Pilot, code name “Snoopy” – 1976,77,78 [Conair Aviation] [FPL] [Died in 2014 at age 85, Oshawa, Ont. Obituary]
Ralph Annis. Ralph was one of the original “Golden Hawks”, the RCAF Sabre Jet aerial acrobatic team. Posted by Marcia Provenzano to Forest Protection Limited Alumni, October 18, 20, 2013.
Bert Archer (L) in front of TBM #3, 4 June 1991.
FPL Chief pilot Eric Bradley, pheromone pod calibration, Brockway, NB, 11 Oct 2006. [C. Adam]
BALL, Ed – 1960,61,66 [Ball-Ralston?] [Skyway Air Services] [See article about Ed Ball’s daughter.]
BAUER, B., lic.# 1410829 [crashed in Iowa en route to N.B. 1971 flying N9599C, fatality, Air Tankers Inc.]
BEECROFT – 1975,76,77 [Conair Aviation]
BELUSE, M. – 1958,60 [previous experience with budworm projects] [Wheeler Air Lines]
BEZIC – 1966 [Skyway Air Services]
BIRO, J. – 1975 [see FBEF crash] [Miramichi Air Services]
BISSON – 1974,75,76,78,79 [Miramichi Air Services] [FPL]
BLYTHE – 1974 [Conair Aviation]
BOULTON [Bolton?] – 1970,71,72 [Conair Aviation]
BOWLER – 1960,61
BOYCE, A., lic.# YZC 7857 – 1958 [Wheeler Air Lines]
BRADLEY, Eric – 1995, 96,97,98,99,2000,01 [FPL] [FPL Chief Pilot since 2000]
BRECHIN, John David – 1980,81,82,83,84 [Hicks and Lawrence]
BRECKON, Ronald Thomas – 1971,73,74 [Evergreen Air Service]
BROWN – 1974 [Conair Aviation]
BUCHANON, “Buck” – 1972 [Conair Aviation] [Buck Buchanan was an ex-Navy pilot who flew a TBM in the service. In 1974, presumably disturbed at having just bombed the crash site of a fellow pilot, Lloyd Rauw, near Clinton, landed his A26 wheels up in Williams Lake, and ceased flying. – George Plawski, comment on FIMM page. (Presumably in B.C. – C. Adam)]
BUMGARNER, Walt, Moses Lake, Wash. – 1981 [owner, Stewart Aviation, 4500 hours in TBMs] [Walt is now a real estate agent with Windermere Real Estate in Moses Lake.]
John Brechin, Bob McKinnon and Bob Leblanc, Tiger Team, Sevogle, NB, 1982.
C
CASSELMAN – 1981 [FPL]
CARR, O., lic.# 1157017 – 1971 [SisQ Flying Service]
CAVOLI – 1961
CHASE, J.A., lic.# 1632445 – 1971 [Hemet Valley F.S.]
CLAYTON – 1979 [FPL]
CLINE – 1961
CLIFF, Malcolm “Mac”- 1981,82 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying]
Posted by Kay Langmuir to Forest Protection Limited Alumni October 27, 2013 I took this maybe ’79-’80 during an inter-base ferry, riding back seat with one of the American pilots, nice fella with a southern drawl. The man at the controls of B16 was Frank Gilland’s wing man, and childhood friend, Mac I think [Malcolm Cliff] was his name, a tall gentle bear of a man with a Hemingway-esque beard. I liked him and this shot turned out so beautifully that I sent a 8×10 copy to his home in California. (The photo posted here was developed after the negative got damaged and the color is off. Mac’s version was beautiful.) Mac was so delighted that we kept up some correspondence over the next several months … He was a very good writer. Skin cancer claimed him a short time later and his family wrote and told me how much the photo meant to them all, and asked for the negative, which I sent. REALLY glad I took this photo.
COOPER, Boyd, Edmonton, Alberta – 1966,67,69,72 [Skyway Air Services]
CRAIG, Dan – 1972 (Maine), 1982? [Stewart Aviation]
CRANFORD, Pete – 1972 [SisQ Flying Service]
CRAVEN, R., lic.# C 5454 – 1958,60,74,75,76 [previous experience with budworm projects] [Wheeler Air Lines] [Hicks and Lawrence]
CREASEY, Larry – 1976 [FPL]
CROCKER, J. – 1976 [FPL]
CROOK – 1958,61 [Skyway Air Services]
CULVER – 1960
CUSIC – 1981,82 [Stewart Aviation]
Boyd Cooper. Posted by John Truran to FPL Alumni on 9 November 2015.
Ron Clowes, 6 July 1998.
Sam Copeland and TBM pilot Walt Darran, right, Boston Brook, NB, 2 June 1976. [Tom Wilson]
D
DARRAN, Walt – 1975 [FPL] [“Walt passed away [in 2013] and a friend of mine Bob Forbes attended his memorial in northern California. He checked in on FB occasionally since 2010. He flew with Bob and Don Ornbaum back in the ’70’s at TBM, Inc. Porterville, CA. I just spotted Walt’s name also on the revised pilot’s list with this photo.” Obituary (scroll down). Posted to FPL Alumni 27 May 2014, Phil M. Schmidt. See also here.]
DAVIDSON – 1961
DAVIS – 1974,75 [FPL]
DEMING, Bill, lic.# 42490-41 – 1969,70,71,72,76,77,78,79 [Johnson Flying Service] [Evergreen Air Services] [FPL]
DENTON – 1972 [Johnson Flying Service]
DESCHENES, G. – 2009,10 [FPL]
DOHERTY, P. – 1996,97,98 [FPL]
DORCAS, Kevin – 2004,06,07,08,09,10 [FPL]
DUCH – 1974 [Conair Aviation]
DUNCAN, R., lic.# 1342770 – 1971 [Reeder Flying Service]
DUNN – 1980 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying]
DYCK – 1961
Kevin Dorcas, 2000 or 2001.
ELLISON, Warren – 1958 [Skyway Air Services] [died 8 Feb 2008, bio in Rudder Flutter 58(2): Spring 2012]
Pilot Jim Fewell. FPL files.
F
FAGAN, Mike, lic.# 1440109 – 1971,72 [Hillcrest Aircraft]
FAIR, Don – 1981,82,83,84,85 [FPL]
FALKOWSKI – 1972,73,74 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying]
FARRELL, William (Bill) – 1978,79,80,81,82,83 [see 1989 crash article at Sevogle Times] [Norfolk Aerial Spraying]
FENWICK, Dave – 1980,81,82,83 [FPL] Dave is from Ashcroft, BC, and currently resides in Vancouver. He is a member of FPL Alumni.
FEWELL, J. – 1960,61,66,69,71,72 [Wheeler Air Lines]
FOLDEN – 1961
FOOTE, Bert – 1960,61,75,80 [FPL]
FOTHERINGHAM, J. – 1990,91,92 [FPL]
FOURNIER, C. – 2001 [FPL]
FROESE – 1969,71 [Conair Aviation]
FURY [Furey?] – 1978,84,85,86 [FPL]
“Bill Farrell … at Juniper NB circa 1983. Poor old Bill succumbed to cancer about five or six years ago. He was in his eighties. A true character… [Posted by Marcia Provenzano to Forest Protection Limited Alumni on November 19, 2013]
Pilot John Gomany at FPL, Miramichi NB, 2000. [FPL files]
GALLAGHER – 1973,74 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying]
GAMBLE, Robert (Bob) – 1980,81,82,83 [FPL]
GARON, Paul, Truro, N.S. – 1976,78,79,82,85,86,87 [Fatality; crashed 1987 while flying GLEH. There is a detailed account of the crash, complete with a map, on The Sevogle Times site (The Garon Dossier).] [FPL]
GERMAINE – 1978,79 [Hicks and Lawrence]
GILLAND, Frank – 1972,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,82,83 [Evergreen Air Services] [Norfolk Aerial Spraying] [FPL] Frank passed away of 27 December 2008; see the write-up and an excellent image at The Sevogle Times. “During WWII Frank flew Hawker Typhoons. He was shot down at Rotterdam harbour and spent a couple of years as a PoW.” [Marcia Provenzano, FPL Alumni, October 19, 2013] “What I remember most was him growling at his pointers over the radio, ‘Anticipate!!!'” [Rick Wightman, FPL Alumni, October 19, 2013]
GILLIES, Bill – 2004 [FPL]
GLASS, C. – 1975 [FPL]
GODBY – 1974 [Hicks and Lawrence]
GOMANY, John – 1977,78,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90, 91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,2000,01,02,05 [FPL]
GOSSETT, Mort – 1972,73,76,80 [Conair Aviation] [FPL]
GRAVES, Bob – 1969,70,71,72 [Wheeler Airlines] [Reeder Flying Service]
GREEN, B. – 1966,67 [J.D. Irving]
GREENE, Ray, lic.# 1203376, Twin Falls, Idaho – 1960,66,69,70,71,72,75,76,77,78,79,80 [Johnson Flying Service] [Evergreen Air Services] [FPL] Ray Green also flew out of Juniper for Johnson as chief pilot under Reindeer#1 team in 1964. I was a radio operator there and got to fly with him as a stow away and flew from Juniper to F’ton at the end of the project with Ray and the rest of the team. [Rhys W. Reynolds
GROSENICK, Bill – 1970,71,72 [Conair Aviation]
GRINNIGER [Grunigar?]- 1969,70,72 [Conair Aviation]
GUINDON, Al – 1978,79,81,82 [FPL]
GUMMER, Tom – 1975,77 [FPL]
GUNNS, Yakima, Wash. – 1970 [Central/Airway?] [Fatality at St. Martins N.B. 1970 while flying N7031C]
TBM with pilots, Sevogle, NB, 1972. Standing (l to r): Kenny Owens, Mort Gossett. Kneeling (l to r): Merrill McBride, Bob Graves
Pilots John Wood, Mark Provenzano and Dan Hyland, Dunphy 1981.
Bob Gamble, John Wood. [Posted by Marcia Provenzano to Forest Protection Limited Alumni on November 17, 2013]
Frank Gilland‘s departure for his last flight on a TBM.
Pilots John Gomany, Erwin Joyall and Ron Clowes in front of TBM #23.
Fritz Howdy Haradon beside Hemet Valley FS #97, Paso Robles?, CA, 1971. Posted by ? Stein, March 2011 to Airtanker Memories, Warbird Information Exchange.
Left to right: Dave Fenwick, Dean Kelly, Don Fair, John Hopping circa 1983 Brockway. Hopping, Fair and Fenwick were Whiskey Team and Dean Kelly was with Brandy Team. [Posted by Marcia Provenzano to Forest Protection Limited Alumni on November 18, 2013]
HADEN, Andy – 1980,81,82,84,88,89,90,91 [FPL]
HARADON, F. HOWARD, Goleta, Calif. – 1973 [Hicks and Lawrence][Howard Heradon was the pilot-owner of #E52 but sold her to Sis-Q FS by the Fall 1966 and moved up to Paso Robles, California to sell real estate at Heritage Ranch on Lake Naciemento.]
HARBISON, Ray – 1981 [Stewart Aviation]
HARDWICK, C.D. – 1958,60,61 [Wheeler Air Lines]
HARLAND – 1981 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying]
HARRINGTON, Roy – 1971,72,78,79,80,81,82,83,84 [FPL]
HARRISON, Bill – 1978,79,81,82,83 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying] [FPL]
HARTWANGER – 1976,77 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying]
HAWES, H. – 1962,63,64,65,66,68,69,70 [Skyway Air Services] [See the extensive comment by Harold Hawes’ wife Hazel Clare HERE.]
HIEBERT, Abram – 1981,82,83 [FPL]
HILL, Donald Sutherland – 1960,66,67 [fatality 8 August 1967 in Surrey, B.C., crash while flying FKCK] [Skyway Air Services]
HODSON, John – 1966,67 [Skyway Air Services][Early years as a pilot with the RCAF Transport Command. – Article on Skyway Avenger pilots, 1967.]
HOLLAND, Jim, lic.# 57098 – 1960,61,69,71 [Hillcrest Aircraft]
HOLMES, “Stubby”- 1974,75 [Conair Air Services]
HOPPING, John – 1978,81,82,83 [FPL]
HOUGHTON, Ronald – 1977,78 [FPL]
HUTCHINGS, Clayton (Clay) Wilfred, Corner Brook, Nfld. (1931-2003) – 1980,81,82,84,92 [1931-2003; see 2004 article “Clayt”] [FPL] Clayt “passed away peacefully April 14, 2003 at Western Memorial Regional Hospital in Corner Brook, NL after a short battle with cancer. Clayton was born on August 30,1931 in Corner Brook, NL and spent 49 years as a bush pilot in Canada logging over 30,000 hours. His career spanned from Newfoundland/Labrador to British Columbia and all points in between. Clayton flew to live and lived to fly. … He was a veteran of the Korean War where he served as a member of the 2nd Battalion of Princess Patricias Canadian Light Infantry.” North Island Gazette.
HUTCHISON – 1976 [Hutcheson in FKCL list] [Conair Aviation]
HYLAND, Dan – 1975,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,88,89,90 [Conair Aviation] [FPL]
HYSLOP, Robert (Bob) – 1980,81,82,83 [FPL] Lived in Wentworth, Nova Scotia. Passed away on 29 March 2014, age about 85 [FPL Alumni]
“Nice picture of the quizzical Andy Haydn”. Posted by John W. Wood to FPL Alumni 14-15 July 2014.
Dan Hyland. Posted to FPL Alumni by John Wood.
“His Royal Highness, the Right Honorable Earl of Hexham, aka Dave Fenwick, with his most treasured possession…..the ‘Sign'”. Posted to FPL Alumni by J. Wood, 27 October 2013.
“One interesting story I heard from Dan Hyland concerns “Stubby” Holmes whom I met in ’76 at Castlegar. Apparently he was leading the Conair TBMs eastbound when they approached Sault Ste. Marie for a refuelling stop. Tower held a departing Air Canada DC-9 for the arrival of the less than precise flock. The airline captain said something to the effect that it wasn’t much of a formation and that when he was in the Navy they called that sort of flying a gaggle. Stubby very quickly came back with “Navy? Navy? Oh yes, didn’t you people have something to do with boats? That’s it, boats.” The man in the jet wasn’t amused. Touche.” [Posted to Forest Protection Limited Alumni by Marcia Provenzano 25 August 2015]
INMAN, John – 1974,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83 [FPL]
JACKSON, C., Wetaskiwin, Alberta – 1960
JAUSSERAN – 1978 [FPL]
JEWERS, Leigh – 1977,78,79,80 [FPL]
JOHNSON, W. – 1972 [Hillcrest Aviation] “W. Johnson was likely the pilot that “visited” us as in [a] TBM “dive bombing” the Clarkston shop in ’71 after returning from Viet Nam.” [posted to FPL Alumni, 27 May 2014, by Phil M. Schmidt]
JONES – 1960,61
JORGENSON, George – 1972,77 [FPL]
JOYALL, Irwin – 1999,2000,01,02,05,06 [FPL]
“John Inman in a parody Camel ad back in the days before Photoshop. It was literally cut and paste. Humour from thirty years ago. – M. Provenzano.
Conair pilot Slim Knights (l) and Don Henry, 1970.
KEITH, Gordie “Doc” – 1973 [Conair Aviation]
KELLY, Dean – 1971,72,73,74,75,76,77,78,79,80,81,82,83 [Evergreen Air Services] [Hicks and Lawrence] [FPL] F/L Dean Kelly of 441 Squadron fame is widely regarded by his peers as having probably been the greatest solo aerobatic pilot ever to fly in the Sabre era [see here].
KIRSCHKE, J. – 1975,76,77,78,80,81,82 [FPL] [Stewart Aviation]
KNIGHTS, H. “Slim”, Kamloops, B.C. – 1966,67 [Skyway Air Services][Flew Lancasters, Halifaxes, and Stirlings for the RCAF out of wartime Britain. He was shot down over Berlin at Christmas 1943, and he spent 18 months as a prisoner of war. – Article on Skyway Avenger pilots, 1967.]
KNUDSON, S., lic.# 304590 – 1966,67,71,72 [Wheeler Air Lines] [Hemet Valley F.S.]
KOERFGEN, Hans – 1975,76,77,78,79,84,88 [Hicks and Lawrence] [FPL]
KOMBEREC, Dick, lic.# 1600935 – 1971,72,77 [Johnson Flying Service] [FPL] [“Dick Komberec, at 26 one of the youngest retardant pilots flying out of Missoula for Johnson, got his low-level experience spraying forests in New Brunswick.” In Smith 1988:275, quoting a 1973 article by Charles Hood in the Missoulian. See also this article from the Missoulian.]
KORPATNIKI, Pat – 1960,61 [Skyway Air Services]
KYDD – 1969
Page 305 in Smith, Steve, 1988, Fly the Biggest Piece Back. Caption:” Johnson’s Dick Komberec poses near his TBM slurry bomber while on assignment near Upper Blackville, New Brunswick, Canada, in June 1977. The TBMs were being used to spray spruce budworms.”
Pilot Erwin Joyall at FPL, Miramichi NB. [FPL files]
J.J. Lavigne receiving a plaque from Don Henry commemorating his retirement and his dedication to the ACAM TBM restoration project. At FPL, 2000.
End of an era: Forest Protection Limited sold off their last World War II TBM Avenger on Thursday. Above John Lavigne, former chief pilot with FPL, stands with the plane prior to its flight to Nova Scotia. [Photo Stephen MacGillivray, The Daily Gleaner]
A page from Don Henry’s history of FZYC featuring Hans Koerfgen.
Pilots John Lapham, Larry Creasey, Cecil Peck and Mort Gosset at Juniper Airstrip, NB, 1976. Photo by Don McKnight.
LAIRD, Bob – 1960,61,78,79 [FPL]
LANGEMANN, Ralph – 1966,67,69,70,72 [Skyway Air Services] [Conair Aviation] “Back in the Day, Ralph Langemann was either the guy in charge, or at the very least, mentor to everyone there. As I understand it, he is retired now. Prior to that, he was a Budworm pilot on the TBMs back when I was in NB. Probably the last guy to fly a Lancaster for a living. Knew everybody that was anybody.” [Posted to AvCanada (scroll down to find comment), 19 October 2009, subject Mount Royal College]
LAPHAM, John – 1976,78 [FPL]
LAUDERT, K., lic.# 1752170 – 1971,72 [Reeder Flying Service]
LAVIGNE, John J. (J.J.) – 1970,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90, 91,92 [see article 1998] [Wheeler Air Lines] [Maritime Air Service] [FPL] [FPL Chief Pilot – 1993-2000] John is retired and is active on FPL Alumni. He was born on 22 May 1933 in Bathurst, NB, and currently resides in Fredericton. Lavigne flew for Maritime Air Service 1970 and for FPL 1983 -2000; he was Chief Pilot from 1993- 2000 when he retired.
LAWRENCE – 1971 [Reeder Flying Service]
LEBANS, B. – 1966,67 [Skyway Air Services]
LEBLANC, Robert (Bobby) – 1981,82,83,93,94,95,96,97,98,99,2000,01,02 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying][“Robert Leblanc was the pilot who survived the crash and final flight of Tanker 14. Unfortunately Robert was not able to beat cancer although he fought until his last day and never gave up. We were on our way to Woodstock N.B. myself, Robert and Eric Bradley. Bobby was flying close formation when Engine blew up. Watched him go in the woods, not a very good feeling to say the least. Shortly after the crash we [saw] Bobby out on the road waving his arms. Birddog arrived and we went back to Chatham. Went to hospital and [saw] Bobby great humor, sore but on some good drugs so in a good mood. Miss him, we started together in 1972.” Posted to FPL Alumni, 18 Sep 2014, by Robert Mckinnon]
LINKOWICH, Alex “Al” (aka Linc Alexander), Red Deer, Alberta – 1960,61,66,67 [author Firebomber into Hell] [Skyway Air Services] [See comment below: “This is to advise you of the passing of former air tanker pilot Linc Alexander, who flew in New Brunswick in the 1960s under his original name of Alex Linkewich. Linc was a well-known tanker pilot and author of several books on the topic. I first met him a couple of years ago when he joined the Quarter Century in Aviation Club here in Vancouver and we had some good conversations about air tankers, etc. Early this year he joined us as a Member of the Air Force Officers’ Association and I was shocked to hear of his passing due to a coronary, as I had seen him only a few weeks before. His ashes were spread over the water by a Conair Firecat on 07 Sep 12 and there will be a celebration of his life at a church near the Langley Airport on 09 Nov 12, including a missing man flypast by the Fraser Blues air demonstration team. – Jerry Vernon”]
LIPPOTT – 1975 [FPL]
LOSEE, Jerry, Lic.#YZC 9379 – 1972,73,74,75,76,77 [Conair Aviation] [Norfolk Aerial Spraying] From his comment below: “I left Norfolk in 77 and started my company in Ont., Farm Air Services, for 78, we used 7 aircraft to spray forestry and farm crops, I had the pleasure of having several former TBM drivers fly with my company over the next 32 yrs. I retired after 43 yrs. and 14K hrs. Ag, forestry, and fire.”
LUMSDEN, Don – 1967 [Skyway Air Services]
Pilot Ralph Langemann. From the FPL files, source not known.
Jan Kirschke. Posted by John W. Wood to FPL Alumni 14-15 July 2014.
Al Linkowich = Linc Alexander. Posted to Fire Bombers (fb), 26 May 2012, by Steve Whitby.
Posted by Don McKnight to Forest Protection Limited Alumni, May 26, 2012.
![Pilot B. LeBlanc at FPL, Miramichi, NB. [FPL files]](https://forestprotectiontbmavengers.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/b-leblanc_miramichinb_p-153.jpg?w=389&h=253)
Pilot Bob LeBlanc at FPL, Miramichi NB. [FPL files]
Pilot Bob McKinnon at FPL, Miramichi NB, 2000. [FPL files]
Raccoon Team, 1983. Location, possibly Brockway, New Brunswick. Left to right, Tom Martindale, Ian White, Claude Marcoux.
MACNEIL, J. – 2000 [FPL]
MAIKE, Lester – 1975,76,77,83 [Conair Aviation] [FPL] [Norfolk Aerial Spraying]
MARCOUX, Claude – 1969,70,74,75,77,81,82,83 [Wheeler Air Lines] [Evergreen Air Services] [Conair Aviation] [FPL]
MARSDEN – 1973 [Conair Aviation?]
MARSTON, Thomas “Tommy”, Langley, B.C., lic.# SC 46 – 1958 [previous experience with budworm projects] [Skyway Air Services, age 37, flying FIMJ, first casualty in the TBM spray program]
MARTINDALE, Tom, Tillsonberg, Ont. – 1973,74,79,80,82,83 [Hicks and Lawrence] [FPL]
MASON, C.I. – 1958,60 [Wheeler Air Lines]
MCBRIDE, Merrill – 1972,73,74 [Miramichi Air Service] [Fatality; crashed in 1974, Sevogle N.B., after hitting the slipstream of the preceding aircraft on a turn.] McBride’s son Glenn wrote that his dad was “120 lbs. soaking wet” and was 5’6″ tall.
– I was in the area when Merrill McBride went down. That was a very sad day. I knew Merrill since he looked after AYL maintenance in 71. He was a real fine person. [Comment submitted by Louis Sytsma to FAYL page 18 Jan 2011.]
MCGARRIGLE – 1966 [Skyway Air Services]
MCILWAINE, Robert – 1975,76,77,83,88,89,90,91,92,93 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying] [FPL]
MCKINNON, Robert (Bob) – 1981,82,83,84,87,88,89,90,91,9293,94,95,96,97,98,99,2000,03 [Hicks and Lawrence] Bob is from Miramichi, NB, and currently resides in Port Dover, Ontario. He is a member of FPL Alumni.
MCKNIGHT, Don – 1976,77,78,80 [FPL] [“I worked as a TBM pilot in 76,77,78,80 and also as a pointer in the mid 60s and look back at those years as a highlight of my career as a fixed and rotating wing pilot.” – Don McKnight, comment posted below, 18 Jan 2011. Don is retired and is active on FPL Alumni. He resides in Sept-Îles, Quebec.
MCLAGGAN – 1971 [Conair Aviation]
MCLEAN, Robert, St. Albert, Alberta – 1979,80,81,82 [Fatality; crashed in 1982 while flying GFPQ] [FPL]
MCMASTER – 1975,76 [Conair Aviation]
MELHAEFF – 1969 [Mehlhaeff in list]
MEREIEN, R. – 1974,75,76,77 [Hicks and Lawrence]
MOFFAT – 1961
MUSGROVE – 1960,61 [Gil?, Johnson F.S. pilot; Smith 1988]
MUSZALA – 1981 [Stewart Aviation]
MYERS, Gene – 1970 [J.D. Irving]
Bob McIlwaine and John Gomany. [Posted by Marcia Provenzano to Forest Protection Limited Alumni, October 18, 2013]
![Pilot John MacNeil at FPL, Miramichi NB, 2000. [FPL files]](https://forestprotectiontbmavengers.files.wordpress.com/2010/12/john-macneil_miramichinb_2000_p-152.jpg?w=342&h=220)
Pilot John MacNeil at FPL, Miramichi NB, 2000. [FPL files]
Merrill McBride in cockpit of Miramichi Air Service #23, FZTS, 1972.
“This was taken in 1979 and the only one I can name is Tom Martindale on the right.” [Posted by Marcia Provenzano to Forest Protection Limited Alumni, October 18, 2013]
NELSON – 1977 [Conair Aviation]
NORMAN, J., lic.# 509412 – 1960,66,71 [Wheeler Air Lines] [Hemet Valley F.S.]
O
O’BRIEN – 1972 [Reeder Flying Service]
O’ROURKE – 1960
OSEN – 1960 [Olsen?]
OSWALD, P. – 1976 [FPL]
OTIS, L., lic.# 1468379 – 1971 [Air Tankers]
OWENS, Kenny, lic.# 422260 – 1960,61,66,69,70,71,72 [Reeder Flying Service] [Conair Aviation]
OWEN, Maurice, lic.# 1061892 – 1971,72 [Skyway Air Services] [Johnson Flying Service; Smith 1988][1929- .] [Mentioned in Missoulian articles here and here.]
Pilot Kenny Owens, Sevogle airstrip, June 1972. Dewey Photography (Chatham NB). [From the FPL files]
Dick Potter near TBM aircraft. Rod Snider photo. Page 297 in Steve Smith, 1988, Fly the Biggest Piece Back.
PAGE, J., lic.# 97184 – 1970,71 [Johnson Flying Service]
PAUL, Norm – 1972,73 [Conair Aviation]
PATON, Barry – 1970 [Maritime Air Services]
PAYTON, John, lic.# 95214 – 1971,72,76,77,78 [Hemet Valley F.S.] [Maritime Air Services] [FPL]
PEARSON, Mel – 1972,73 (Ontario) [Conair Aviation]
PECK, Cecil – 1976 [FPL]
PETERS – 1969
PLAWSKI, George – 1966,67,71 [Skyway Air Services] [SisQ Flying Service]
POOLE – 1969,70 [Conair Aviation]
POPERT, D. – 1984,85,86,87,91,92,93 [FPL]
POTEET, N., lic.# 37304 – 1970,71 [Hillcrest Aircraft] [Evergreen Air Services]
POPHAM – 1975 [FPL]
PORTER, lic.# 404264 – 1971,72,78 [Johnson Flying Service] [FPL]
POTTER, Richard “Dick” Harry, Missoula, Mont.- 1976,77 [Fatality, crashed 1977 near Dunphy airstrip, N.B., while flying GLEQ; see the Steve Smith article in Smith 1988;278-279, reprinted on the GLEQ page.] [Johnson Flying Service] [FPL]
POTTER – 1982 [Stewart Aviation]
PRAST – 1973 [Miramichi Air Service]
PROVENZANO, Mark – 1979,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying] [FPL] Mark, now Marcia, is from Buffalo Gap, South Dakota. She is active on FPL Alumni and lives in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan.
PUGH – 1984 [FPL]
Mark Provenzano beside TBM #22 [M. Provenzano]
RAGANY, Paul – 1975,76,77,78,88,89,91 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying] [FPL]
RAUW, Lloyd – 1971 [Conair Aviation] [Died 1974; See comment under Buchanan above and at FIMM]
REID, Wendell, lic.# 337069 – 1971, 72 (Maine) [Hillcrest Aircraft]
RENSINCK – 1958 [Skyway Air Services] [Resnick, Ralph in N7026C image but Reinsick in text of The First TBF/TBM Air Tanker?]
RETFALVY, Andrew – 1970,71,72 [president, Miramichi Air Service]
RICHARDS, Gary – 1973,74,77 [Conair Aviation] [FPL]
RICHARDSON, R. – 1969,70,72 [Ralph Ray Richardson, 1915-2011 , owner, Richardson Aviation, Yakima, Wash.; obituary]
RICHARDSON, Chuck, Chief Pilot – 1958 [from caption on FIMQ crash]
RICKER, Larry – 2002 [FPL][A Boeing 767 captain for Air Canada. See image in Missoulian article. Larry flew the original Johnson Air Service A13 from Fredericton to he Museum of Mountain Flying hangar in Missoula.]
ROBB, Maurie – 1971,72,73 [Conair Aviation]
ROBERTS, A.B. – 1969 [Airway Inc]
ROTH – 1980 [FPL] [Ken? Johnson Flying Service; Smith 1988]
ROWE, Howie – 1969,70,71,72,73 (Ontario) [Wheeler Airlines] [Conair Aviation]
Andy Haden, Paul Ragany. Posted by Marcia Provenzano to Forest Protection Limited Alumni October 18, 2013.
Pilot Ralph Resnick in Skyway/Ball-Ralston TBM N7026C, Port Hardy, BC, 1957.
SCHAS – 1960 [Dave? Johnson Flying Service; Smith 1988]
SENDRA – 1966 [Skyway Air Services]
SHALALA – 1975 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying]
SHAUGHNESSY – 1966 [Johnson Flying Service]
SKIDMORE, A. – 1969,70,71,72 [Wheeler Airlines]
SMEED, Robert – 1970,72 [Conair Aviation, 1972 fatality (age 45) in Quebec while flying FAGL]
SMITH, Bill – 1970,71,72,75,76 [Conair Aviation]
SODEN, James Wilson – 1984,89,90,91,92,93 [FPL] Occasional contributor to FPL Alumni.
STAD – 1977 [Conair Aviation]
STORRS – 1961
STUART – 1975,76 [FPL]
SWARD, G., lic.# 1394283 – 1971 [SisQ Flying Service]
SYME, Clarence “Clare”, Abbotsford, B.C. – 1961,69,70 [see article about the 1971 Avenger crash in Dryden, Ont.; these images clearly show that it was Hicks and Lawrence Avenger FZYB] [Conair Aviation]
SYTSMA, Louis “Lou” – 1971,72. “I remember Louis Sytsma from 76/77 with Rob Crewson at Dryden fire base. I kept the attack log from 1976 and we auctioned 222 fires with the Trackers. I think it still may be a record for land based in Ontario.” [Keith McLaughlin. Air attack Officer. Comment submitted to FAYL page 4 Dec 2014.] Also flew in Africa for many years during the off season from spraying and fire bombing. “No I did not fly TBM’s for Irving [Oil]. Flew the thrush commander for Irving and occasionally a TBM for Andy Retfalvy. After Irving I joined the MNR [Ministry of Natural Resources] in Ontario flying Grumman Trackers for 4 seasons and I finished my career as a test pilot with De Havilland for 23 years. Also flew in Africa for many years during the off season from spraying and fire bombing.” [Comments submitted by Louis Sytsma to the FAYL page 18 Jan 2011 and 25 Nov 2014.]
T
TALL, Ari – 1976,77,78,79,80,82 [FPL]
TOMECEK, Steve – 1969,71,73,74,77 [Conair Aviation]
TRUNNELL – 1961
TRURAN, John – 1969,70,71,72,75 [Conair Aviation, 1968-2002] Active on FPL Alumni.
TWEED – 1971 [Conair Aviation]
TYERMAN, T. – 1976,77 [Conair Aviation]
U
V
VALLEE, A. [Valley in lists]- 1975,76,77,78,79 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying] [FPL]
VERMEULEN, Rene – 1976,77 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying]
VERRAULT – 1979 [FPL]
W
WALDERMIRE – 1960 [Bob Waltermire? A seasonal with Johnson Flying Service; Smith 1988]
WALKER – 1960,61
WALL, A. – 1978,79 [FPL]
WATSON, F., lic.# 1334692 – 1971,76,82 [Richardson Aviation] [FPL] [Stewart Aviation]
WELLS – 1978,79 [FPL]
WESLOWSKI – 1970 [Conair Aviation]
WESTMORLAND – 1966 [Don?, Johnson Flying Service; Smith 1988] [Skyway Air Services]
WESTINGHOUSE, George – 1977,78,84,85 [FPL]
WESTWOOD, “Knobby” – 1973 [Conair Aviation]
WHITE – 1958,60 [Skyway Air Services]
WHITE, Al, Moncton, N.B. – 1969
WHITE, Ian – 1975,76,83 [Conair Air Services] [FPL]
WILKIE, Dale – 1974,77,84,86,87,88,89,90,91,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying] [FPL]
WILLETT – 1979 [FPL]
WILSON, Dave – 2007,08 [FPL]
WILSON, Jim – 1979,80,81 [FPL] [Jim Wilson, pilot – Tanker #20, (1979, 1980, 1981) “lost his battle with Alzheimer’s on Sept 6. My Dad used to tell me about a lot of his experiences with FPL and I laughed to myself at the enthusiasm he had when talking about the TBMs. I am sure he would have enjoyed this group and the pictures and stories that are here for all of us to enjoy. I thank each one of you for adding to that chapter of his life and flying career. Flying was his passion.” Posted to FPL Alumni 7 Sep 2014 by Peter Wilson.]
Jim Wilson: “My Dad and the plane he flew, Tanker #20.” Posted to TBMs – Mil & Civ (fb) by Peter Wilson, 14 Jan 2015.
WILSON, Tom – 1960?,61 [Skyway Air Services] Tom was born on 12 September 1936; he is active on FPL Alumni.
WOOD, John W. – 1978,79,80,81,82,83,84,85,86,87,88,89,90,92,93,94,95,96,97,98,99 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying] [FPL] John is retired and is active on FPL Alumni.
WOOD, Stan – 1972,73,75,76,77,78 [Conair Aviation] [FPL] [Stan Wood was an ex-Navy pilot who flew a TBM in the service. – George Plawski, comment on FIMM page]
WOODMANSEE, E.C. “Woody” – 1972 [California fire fighter] [Hemet Valley F.S.]
WOYTAZ, Al – 1972 [Hicks and Lawrence] [Don Henry wrote an account of Woytaz and the crash of FBQS.]
Dave Wilson in #23, Fredericton, NB, 27 July 2012, waiting to fly FPL’s last TBM to Montana. Wayne Burpee.
TBM pilot John Wood.
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YAWORSKY – 1973 [Evergreen Air Services]
YUILL, Eric – 1972,73 [Conair Aviation]
Z
ZAHORSKY, Z. – 1961,66,67,73 [Wheeler Air Lines]
ZIMMER – 1970 [Conair Aviation]
ZWARTZ – 1978 [Norfolk Aerial Spraying] [Fatality; crashed near Minto, N.B., 1978 while flying GOBK]
ZYS, J.T.J. “Ted”, lic.# YZC 7919 – 1958 [Skyway Air Services]
My father, Herman “Slim” Knights was also one of 5 consortium members who founded Conair Aviation, and served as Executive Vice President until his death in 1989.
Linc Alexander was one of my best friends in high school , building model airplanes etc. And then we went on to buy PT- 26’s to build hours for our commercial licences .linc then went on to join the CAF
Wonder what happened to some of my fellow pilots? Hans Koefgen,John Lapham,Paul(cigar)Ragany and Andre Vallee, I would like to hear from you guys! Rene Vermeulen, Norfolk Airs 76,77.
I left Norfolk in 77 and started my company in Ont., Farm Air Services, for 78, we used 7 aircraft to spray forestry and farm crops, I had the pleasure of having several former TBM drivers fly with my company over the next 32 yrs. I retired after 43 yrs. and 14K hrs. Ag,.Forestry, and fire.
Just want to inform anyone who knew my dad Bert Archer, who flew with most of you I presume. He passed away on Sat, June 18 with his family by his side, at Hillcrest Manor. We are having a celebration of Life on July 23/2016 at the Midland Legion from 1-4. If anyone can make it , it would be an honour to see you. My email is littlemspetite@yahoo.ca eldest daughter of Bert Archer.
Old student of Erwin Joyall….looking for contact number address email just to say hello from the old farts of the OFC.
Assistance would be appreciated
robtroyewan@ msn.com
R
I believe Erwin Joyall works out of FPL’s Miramichi base.
I flew #3 position with rabbit team in Juniper 1970. The pointers were called pink team.
Pink Rabbit team photo appears to have wrong description as there is no AC in the background and there are four pilots- Kenny Owens and Mort Gossett in back and Merrill McBride, Bob Graves in front.
It looks good to me Chris but remember I am an old pilot now and it has been about 50 years since I first worked for FPL. The only possible addition for me would be that FPL (for the first time) trained 4 new TBM drivers in 1976. There was Paul Garon,Ari Tall,Don McKnight and I think it was Andre XXXX from Lac St. Jean in Quebec. I heard his family owned an aviation business in Alma Quebec. Our instructor was Bob Laird. Don
Date: Sun, 24 Jan 2016 17:26:34 +0000 To: dsmcknight@hotmail.com
Bert Archer was never chief pilot for FPL. Ralph Annis was chief pilot 1991 -1993. JJ Lavigne flew for Maritime Air Service 1970 and for FPL 1983 -2000
and chief pilot from 1993- 2000 when he retired. Eric Bradley was chief pilot 2000 -2014
This is to advise you of the passing of former air tanker pilot Linc Alexander, who flew in New Brunswick in the 1960s under his original name of Alex Linkewich. Linc was a well-known tanker pilot and author of several books on the topic. I first met him a couple of years ago when he joined the Quarter Century in Aviation Club here in Vancouver and we had some good conversations about air tankers, etc. Early this year he joined us as a Member of the Air Force Officers’ Association and I was shocked to hear of his passing due to a coronary, as I had seen him only a few weeks before. His ashes were spread over the water by a Conair Firecat on 07 Sep 12 and there will be a celebration of his life at a church near the Langley Airport on 09 Nov 12, including a missing man flypast by the Fraser Blues air demonstration team.
Please contact me at jevernon@telus.net and I can send you several detailed attachments.
Jerry Vernon,
Secretary, Air Force Officers’ Association
I was the Insecticide Clerk in Juniper, NB for two seasons–1975 & ’76. Never in my life have I experienced another situation where I worked as hard, (well, maybe the gravel pit in ’78…) slept less, or laughed more. The people I met–from the Goopers to the Gronchers to the Turkey Drivers–were all stellar, and these many years later I still remember each of them as if it were only yesterday. I find it’s really difficult to talk to anyone about that time who didn’t also experience it. Great memories and no regrets. Rock on , y’all! For those who have already passed on, hope to see you on the other side so we can relive it in one another’s stories. I’m 61 years old now, so we may not have to wait all that long! (Bet I could still carry my dipstick with panache…) With love and peace, “K!”
Excerpt taken from dad’s diary dated Thursday, June 12, 1958
About 8pm a TBM “Avenger” stalled & spun into the woods near Becaquimic Lake. I was flown to the crash which was still burning. They lowered me into the woods by hoist & with some difficulty I found the charred remains of the pilot, Thomas Marston, of Langley, BC. Stayed overnight at Juniper. John & Alice Lockart came into the airstrip.
I worked as a TBM pilot in 76,77,78,80 and also as a pointer in the mid 60s and look back at those years as a highlight of my career as a fixed and rotating wing pilot
Ray Green also flew out of Juniper for Johnson as chief pilot under Reindeer#1 team in 1964. I was a radio operator there and got to fly with him as a stow away and flew from Juniper to F’ton at the end of the project with Ray and the rest of the team.