CF-EQx Series: Wheeler

CF-EQS #61

Boeing Stearman E75 (PT-13D), #75-1728

First registered as N49669. Canadian-owned from 1952.10.20 to 1979.01.16. (NCCAR)

Flew in New Brunswick: 1953, 1957, 1958 (Wheeler), 1966, 1967, 1968 (Wheeler-Northland), 1972, 1973 (Evergreen)

Owners: Wheeler Airlines Ltd., St. Jovite, Quebec / Wheeler-Northland Airways, St. Jean, Quebec / Evergreen Air Services, Roxboro, Quebec.

Present Location: American Air Museum, Duxford, UK. See Air Britain and Wikipedia.

Wheeler Stearman CF-EQS #61 at Nictau Airstrip, New Brunswick, during the spray season 27 May to 2 June, 1953. [Richard Arless Photo, from the FPL Files]

Wheeler-Northland Stearman CF-EQS #61 loading at Juniper, New Brunswick, June 1967. [FPL Files]

Eric Bentley took some pictures of Evergreen CF-EQS #61 in the late 1960’s or early 70’s at the Charlottetown airport, Prince Edward Island.

CF-EQS #61, Evergreen Stearman, stored at Fredericton airport, 11 August 1975. The other Stearman is Wheeler #62 CF-EQT. A colour image of the same two Stearmans shows that they are entirely yellow. [Barrie MacLeod]

CF-EQT #62

1943 Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17B), #75-3235

Canadian-owned from 1952.10.20 to 1989.12.01. (NCCAR)

Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1958 (Wheeler), 1966, 1967, 1968 (Wheeler-Northland)

Owners: Wheeler Airlines Ltd., St. Jovite, Quebec / Wheeler-Northland Airways Ltd., St. Jean, Quebec / Evergreen Air Services Ltd, Roxboro, Quebec.

History:
– Constructed as an A75N1 by Boeing.
– 14 May 1970 – To Evergreen Air Services Ltd, Roxboro, Quebec, as CF-EQU #62 (A75N1, 75-2568).
– 6 June 2001 – Civil registration, CF-EQU, cancelled.

Wheeler Stearman parked, probably Nictau airstrip, 1954.

Evergreen Stearman CF-EQT #62 stored beside her sister CF-EQS #61, Fredericton, New Brunswick, 11 August 1975. A colour image of the same two Stearmans shows that they are entirely yellow. [Barrie MacLeod]

Accident: 30 July 1958, at an airfield near Napierville, Quebec. Pilot A. Becker, c-7017, age 30. “Taking off from field to crop dust, pilot allowed aircraft to run off runway. Intensive rain caused soggy condition of field.” Damage was substantial, but pilot Becker was not injured. [Department of Transport accident card]

CF-EQU #63

1943 Boeing Stearman Kaydet A75N1 (PT-17B), #75-2568

First registered as N51680. Owned from 1952.10.20. (NCCAR)

Flew in New Brunswick: 1957 (Wheeler), 1966, 1967, 1968 (Wheeler-Northland ), 1972, 1973 (Evergreen)

Owners: Wheeler Airlines Ltd., St. Jovite, Quebec / Wheeler-Northland Airways Ltd., St. Jean, Quebec / Evergreen Air Services, Roxboro, Quebec.

History:
– Imported to Canada 1952
– Flew with Wheeler Airlines and Wheeler-Northland Airways, Quebec, as CF-EQU #63
– 14 May 1970 – To Evergreen Air Service Ltd, Roxboro, Quebec as CF-EQU (A75N1, #75-2568)
– 6 June 2001 – Civil registration, CF-EQU, cancelled
– registration cancelled 27 May 1982.
– latest owner reported in Quebec

Accident: 3 July 1956 at Riviere du Loup, Quebec. Pilot Michael Gordy. While budworm spraying, the pilot misjudged his approach on a small turf field and undershot the landing area, striking a drainage ditch and nosing over. Damage was minor and the pilot was not hurt. [Department of Transport accident card]

Wheeler Stearman CF-EQU #63 via Barrie MacLeod. Location and date not known.

Boeing N2S-4 Kaydet (A75N1), CF-EQU / 75-2568, Wheeler Airlines. Bill Fisher collection, actual photographer unknown, 1958. [ABPIC]

Boeing N2S-4 Kaydet (A75N1), CF-EQU / 75-2568, Wheeler Northland. Mike Ody Collection via George Trussell. Airport: St. Jean Airport (YJN / CYJN), 1966. Quebec. Beside CF-EQU are CF-EQT, CF-EQY and CF-EQS.

CF-EQV #64

Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-4372

First registered as N58455. Canadian-owned from 1952.10.20 to 1962.08.16, written off.

Flew in New Brunswick: 1957 (Wheeler), 1966, 1967, 1968 (Wheeler-Northland)

Owner: Wheeler Airlines Ltd., St. Jovite, Quebec / Wheeler-Northland Airways Ltd., St. Jean, Quebec.

Wheeler Stearmans CF-EQV #64 and CF-EQT #62 parked at Nictau, New Brunswick, probably 1953. {FPL Files]

Wheeler Stearman CF-EQV #64, New Brunswick, probably 1954. [FPL Files]

Wheeler Stearman CF-EQV #64 at Patapedia Airstrip, Quebec, probably 1954. [Richard Arless photo, FPL Files]

Accident 1: 17 May 1958, one mile from St. Jovite Airport, Quebec, the Wheeler Airlines base. Pilot J.E.M. Beluse, SC-591, age 33. The engine failed immediately after takeoff and the aircraft was forced to land in a ploughed field. Damage was substantial but injuries were nil. [Department of Transport accident card]

Accident 2: 22 May 1961, Municipal Airport, Caribou, Maine, USA. Pilot Marcel Beluse, ULA-920, age 36. Aircraft ground looped on loading, causing substantial damage but no injuries. [Department of Transport accident card]

Accident 3: 3 July 1962, 35 km northwest of Baie Comeau, Quebec. Pilot Gordon Trevor Burroughs, YZS-608, age 27. Spraying operation. While operating at near maximum weight, the aircraft stalled, hit some trees and crashed to the ground. The aircraft burned and was destroyed. Pilot Burroughs was seriously injured. [Department of Transport accident card]

CF-EQW #65

1943 Boeing Stearman E75N1 (N2S-5), #75-8514

First registered as N9087H. Canadian-owned from 1952.10.20 to 1967.03.01, written off. (NCCAR)

Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1958

Owner: Wheeler Airlines Ltd., St. Jovite, Quebec.

Accident: 1910 h AST, 26 August 1960, 5 miles east of Enniskillen, New Brunswick. Pilot Peter Camche, ULC-7471, of Montreal, age 27. The aircraft developed a fuel leak and force landed on rough terrain. The location is also 8 miles southwest of Blissville Airfield. [DOT Accident Report, Serial No. 1097; Department of Transport accident card]

Pilot Camche had flown 800 hours, 24 of which was on this aircraft in the 90 days prior to the accident. He was spraying herbicide out of Blissville Airstrip and had completed one run when the fuel gauge sight glass protruding from the bottom of the fuel tank broke off. The fuel sprayed over the pilot, whose eyes were fortunately protected by goggles. “The pilot considered that the aircraft might catch fire, and cut off the throttles and switched for an immediate forced landing. The aircraft came to rest upright in thick shrubs scattered with boulders and tree stumps.” The aircraft was substantially damaged but there was no fire. Pilot Camche was not injured.

Wheeler Stearmans CF-EQW #65 and CF-EQY #67 parked, New Brunswick, probably 1954. [FPL Files]

CF-EQX #66

Boeing Stearman E75N1, 75-8699

First registered as N9081H. Canadian owned from 1952.10.20 to 1960.09.21, written off. (NCCAR)

Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1958

Owner: Wheeler Airlines Ltd., St. Jovite, Quebec.

Accident 1: 6 December 1952, Kingston (Ulster Airport), New York, USA. Pilot Paul Gagnon, C-6051. The aircraft ground-looped on landing, resulting in substantial damage. Pilot Gagnon was not injured. [Department of Transport accident card]

Accident 2: 1930 h EST, 28 July 1960, St. Honoré Airport, Quebec (now the Chicoutimi/Saint-Honoré Aerodrome). Wheeler Airlines (1960) Limited CF-EQX crash landed at St. Honoré Airport on completion of a spraying operation. “For undetermined reasons, the pilot lost control of the aircraft while approaching the airport at low altitude.” Pilot Carl D. Jackson (WGC-7237, age 43) of Vancouver, B.C., died in the accident. [DOT Accident Report, Serial No. 1064 (Amended); Department of Transport accident card]

Pilot Jackson was an experienced pilot with in excess of 5000 hours. He had flown Grumman Avenger aircraft for 56 hours between June 2 and July 12, 1960, and a Stearman for 6.5 hours from 19 July to the date of the accident. Jackson “appeared to be in good health and normal spirits on the day of the accident. People associated with him considered that he was a calm, mature and reliable person.” The autopsy proved inconclusive.

On approach, witnesses observed that “the aircraft entered a steep right bank which progressed past the vertical and continued to an inverted position. The aircraft then appeared to tumble in a steep diving or side slipping attitude, losing altitude rapidly.” CF-EQX slid for 118 feet from the point of impact and was destroyed.

Wheeler Stearman CF-EQX #66 and sister aircraft. Pg. 36 in “Application Technology”, A.P. Randall, In: M.L. Prebble, ed., Aerial Control of Forest Insects in Canada. 1975.

CF-EQY #67

1940 Boeing Stearman Kaydet A75N1, A75 (PT-13B), #75-0085

First registered as N60327. Canadian-owned from 1952.10.20 to 2001.06.06. (NCCAR)

Owners: Wheeler Air Lines Ltd., St. Jovite, Quebec / Wheeler-Northland Airways Ltd., St. Jean, Quebec.

Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1958, (Wheeler) 1966, 1967, 1968 (Wheeler-Northland)

Aerial Visuals info:
– Constructed as a A75 by Boeing in 1943?.
– Taken on Strength/Charge with the United States Army Air Force with s/n 37-246.
– 15 February 1956 – Civil registration, N60327, cancelled.
– Flew as CF-EQY #67 for Wheeler Air Lines Ltd., St. Jovite, Quebec, and Wheeler-Northland Airways Ltd., St. Jean, Quebec
– 2 March 1966 – To Wheeler-Northland Airways Ltd, Saint Jean, QC with c/r CF-EQY (A75N1, 75-0085). Cancelled 27 May 1982 and 23 October 1996.
– 6 June 2001 – Civil registration, CF-EQY, cancelled.
– 17 May 2002 – To Wheeler-Northland Airways Ltd, Saint Jean, QC with c/r CF-EQY (A75N1, 75-0085).
– Exported to USA 24 January 2011 / 9 May 2012 – To Biplane Investments Llc, South Hero, Vermont

Wheeler Stearman CF-EQY #67 at Nictau Airstrip, New Brunswick, 1953. [Richard Arless photo, FPL Files]

Wheeler Stearman CF-EQY #67 spraying, 1955. [FPL files]

Wheeler Wheeler Stearmans CF-EQW #65 and CF-EQY #67 parked, New Brunswick, probably 1954. [FPL Files] parked

Accident: 30 May 1957, 300 feet south of Humphrey R.R. Station (near Moncton). Pilot Rodney Turner Wray, ULC-7108. The aircraft collided with high tension wires during low-level spraying operations. Damage was substantial, but pilot Gagnon was not injured. [Department of Transport accident card]

Wheeler-Northland Stearman CF-EQY #67 spraying out of Juniper Airstrip, New Brunswick, June 1967. [FPL Files]