Images of some aircraft that participated in the New Brunswick spruce budworm spray program are provided below, together with a brief history. I have also expanded this list to include other spray or fire bomber Stearmans in Canada. Unfortunately, there are no images available for many of the aircraft.
Some of the historical information is scattered and incomplete, but what there is I present below. Some of it may actually be wrong. Sources include the official Canadian Civil Aircraft Register (CCAR), which has records only as far back as 1982; Historic CCAR, run by volunteers; the Archives Search at Library and Archives Canada, for the earlier material, including Department of Transport (DOT) accident reports; Aerial Visuals; Airport-Data.com; and the Airframes Database at Aerial Visuals.
1) CF-Dxx
CF-DFC #81, later #14
- Boeing Stearman Kaydet A75N1 (PT-17), #75-4895
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1955, 1956, 1957
- Owners: Skyway Air Services Ltd., Langley, British Columbia / Conair Aviation Ltd, Abbotsford, British Columbia / Became N61GP.
CF-DQL #82
- 1942 Boeing Stearman Kaydet A75N1 (PT-17), #75-4528
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1952, 1957, 1958
- Owners: Skyway Air Services Ltd., Langley, British Columbia/ Conair Aviation Ltd, Abbotsford, British Columbia.
CF-DQP #73
- 1941 Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-2789
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1953, 1957, 1960
- Owner: Bradley Air Services Ltd. Carp, Ontario; Northcana Ltd.?
CF-DQU
- Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-xxxx
- Did not fly in New Brunswick.
- Owner: Skyway Air Services, Langley, British Columbia
CF-DZC #72
- Boeing Stearman E75N1 (PT-13D), #75-8164
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1960
- Owner:
CF-DZT
- Boeing Stearman A75N1
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1953
- Owner: Bradley Air Services, Carp, Ontario, owner Russ Bradley
2) CF-EQx Wheeler
CF-EQS #61
- Boeing Stearman E75 (PT-13D), #75-1728
- 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
CF-EQT #62
- 1943 Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17B), #75-3235
- 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
CF-EQU #63
- 1943 Boeing Stearman Kaydet A75N1 (PT-17B), #75-2568
- 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
CF-EQV #64
- Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-4372
- 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
CF-EQW #65
- 1943 Boeing Stearman E75N1 (N2S-5), #75-8514
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1958
- Owner: Wheeler Airlines Ltd., St. Jovite, Quebec
CF-EQX #66
- Boeing Stearman
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1958
- Owner: Wheeler Airlines Ltd., St. Jovite, Quebec
CF-EQY #67
- 1940 Boeing Stearman Kaydet, A75 (PT-13B), #75-085x
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1958, (Wheeler) 1966, 1967, 1968 (Wheeler-Northland)
- Owners: Wheeler Air Lines Ltd., St. Jovite, Quebec / Wheeler-Northland Airways Ltd., St. Jean, Quebec
3) CF-Fxx
CF-FBD #71
- 1949-51? Boeing Stearman N2S-5? (PT-13D?), #75-8279
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1957 (Bradley) and 1960, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1970 (General Airspray)
- Owners: Bradley Air Services Ltd., Carp, Ontario / General Airspray Ltd., St. Thomas, Ontario.
CF-FBU #20 #83
- 1941 Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-2195
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1952 as #20 and 1957 as #83, according to the 1957 list
- Owner: Skyway Air Services Ltd., Langley, British Columbia
CF-FBV #19
- 1940? Boeing Stearman A75 (PT-13), #75-2196/3250??
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1952
- Owners: Skyway Air Services Ltd., Langley, British Columbia / Conair Aviation Ltd, Box 220, Abbotsford, British Columbia
CF-FRW #76
- 1942 Boeing Stearman B75N1 (N2S-3), #75-7560
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1958
- Owner: Leavens Brothers Air Services Ltd., Essex, Ontario
CF-FRY #75
- 1942 Boeing Stearman B75N1 (N2S-3), #75-7272
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1954, 1957, 1958
- Owner:
CF-FRZ #77
- 1941 Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-3423
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1958 (Leavens), 1966, 1967, 1968 (General Airspray)
- Owner: Leavens Brothers Air Services Ltd., Essex, Ontario / General Airspray Ltd., St Thomas, Ontario / Sams Discount Warehouse, Glen Meyer, Ontario
CF-FWV
- 1942 Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-0523
- Did not spray in New Brunswick.
- Owner: Skyway Air Services Ltd.
4) CF-GAR, CF-HKZ, CF-Ixx, CF-Jxx
CF-GAR #22, #78
- 1941? Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-1059
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1958 (Leavens), 1966 (General Airspray?)
- Owner: Leavens Brothers Air Services Ltd., Essex, Ontario / General Airspray Ltd., St Thomas, Ontario?
CF-HKZ #80
- Boeing Stearman
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1958
- Owner:
CF-IAD #68
- 1936 Boeing Stearman 75 (PT-13), #75-xxxx
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1958
- Owner: Harrington Airspray; Airspray Ltd., Wetaskiwin, Alberta
CF-IBA #74
- 1943? Boeing Stearman E75N1 (PT-13), #75-5052
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1960
- Owner: Bradley Air Services Ltd., Carp, Ontario
CF-JCH
- Stearman A75N1
- Did not fly in New Brunswick.
- Owner: Skyway Air Services
CF-JLS #84
- Boeing Stearman
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1957
- Owner: Skyway Air Services Ltd., Langley, British Columbia
CF-JOU #60
- Stearman A75 (PT-13), #75-7582
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1957, 1958
- Owner: Hicks & Lawrence Ltd., Ostrander, Ontario (Commercial Operator #3620)
CF-JRK
- Boeing Stearman A75 (PT-13), #75-6470
- Did not spray in New Brunswick.
- Owner: Hicks and Lawrence Ltd (operator in 1957, according to Department of Transport accident card); Airspray Ltd., Wetaskiwin, Alberta
5) CF-Kxx, CF-Lxx, CF-Mxx, CF-Oxx
CF-KPX, C-FKPX
- 1941 Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-1702
- Did not spray in New Brunswick.
- Owners: Skyway Air Services Ltd., Langley, British Columbia / Harrington Air Services Ltd., Industrial Airport, Edmonton, Alberta
CF-KQA
- Boeing E75
- Flew in New Brunswick?
- Owner: Wheeler Air Lines
CF-KQB #59
- 1944 Boeing Stearman Kaydet A75 (PT-13B), #75-255
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1966, 1967, 1968
- Owners: Hicks & Lawrence Ltd., Ostrander, Ontario / AgAir Ltd., Dawson Creek, British Columbia / Central Aviation Ltd., Wetaskiwin, Alberta (Norman Rix) / Byron Reynolds, Wetaskiwin, Alberta / Reported at Reynolds Alberta Museum, Wetaskiwin, Alberta.
CF-KQJ #54
- 1943? Boeing Stearman E75 (PT-13), #75-5739
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1958
- Owner: Northcana Ltd., Toronto, Ontario
CF-LOA
- Boeing Stearman B75N1
- Did not fly in New Brunswick.
- Owner: Airspray Ltd., Wetaskiwin, Alberta
CF-LOB #69
- 1942 Boeing Stearman B75N1 (N2S-3), #75-1836
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1968
- Owner: Airspray Ltd., Wetaskiwin, Alberta
CF-MMB [see CF-VOB]
CF-MSB
- 1942 Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-4854
- Did not spray in New Brunswick.
- Owners: Skyway Air Services Ltd., Langley, British Columbia / Conair Aviation Ltd, Abbotsford, British Columbia
CF-OMH #2
- 1941 Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-2043
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1968
- Owners: Evergreen Air Services, Roxboro, Quebec / Peter Sleeman, Richmond, British Columbia.
CF-OMM
- Boeing Stearman E75
- Did not fly in New Brunswick
- Owner: Evergreen Air Services
6) CF-Sxx, CF-Uxx
CF-SEK #50, later #65
- Boeing Stearman
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1966 (as #50), 1967 and 1968 (as #65)
- Owner: Evergreen Air Services
CF-SIQ #3
- 1941 Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-2493
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1968
- Owner: Walker Flying Services, Edmonton, Alberta
CF-UCB #41, C-FUCB, N49948, D-EDLL
- 1941 Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-2764
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1966, 1967, 1968
- Owner: Glenair Aerial Spraying, Bright, Ontario; Mid-air Canada Ltd, Commercial Operator #5284, Norwich, Ontario
CF-UCC #42, C-FUCC, N5812N
- 1941 Boeing Stearman E75 / A75N1 (PT-17), #75-852
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1966, 67, 68
- Owner:
CF-ULY #60
- 1941 Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-3403.
- Constructed as a N2S-4 by Boeing with USN BuNo 29972.
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1966, 1967, 1968
- Owner: Hicks & Lawrence Ltd., Ostrander, Ontario
CF-UWK #xx, N49366
- 1941 Boeing Stearman Kaydet A75N1 (PT-17), #75-3522
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1967, 68
- Owner: General Airspray Ltd., St Thomas, Ontario / Hicks & Lawrence Ltd., Ostrander, Ontario / Now at Reynolds Alberta Museum, Wetaskiwin, Alberta (Byron Reynolds).
CF-UWL #13
- Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-12351?
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1967, 1968
- Owner: Hicks & Lawrence Ltd., Ostrander, Ontario / General Airspray Ltd., St Thomas, Ontario
CF-UWM #14, C-FUWM
- Boeing Stearman B75N1, #75-912x?
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1967, 1968
- Owner: Hicks and Lawrence? / General Airspray Ltd., St Thomas, Ontario
7) CF-VOB #76, C-FBYI, CF-MMB, N1323N
- 1941 Boeing Stearman A75N1 (PT-17), #75-2779
- Flew in New Brunswick: 1967, 1968
- Owner: General Airspray Ltd., St Thomas, Ontario / Sportair Ltd., Coldstream, British Columbia (Rhys Perraton)
8) Unidentified Canadian Stearmans
CF-xxx #22
Owner: Agriculture Aviation Service
CF-xxx #50
Owner: Twinn Pest Control Co.
CF-xxx #26
Flew in New Brunswick: 1968
Owner: ?
CF-xxx #73
Owner: Wheeler Air Lines Ltd., St. Jovite, QU
9) Canadian Civil Aircraft Register Listings
The number of Stearmans in Canada, according to the Canadian Civil Aircraft Register (Transport Canada) is a lot more than listed under just Stearman. Stearmans are also listed under their model type: Model 75, NS-1, N2S, PT-13, PT-17, PT-18, PT-27 (the Canadian version), A75 and A75N1, B75 and B75N1, E75 and E75N1.
The remaining spray Stearmans (bold), plus a few others (not bold, xx), on Canadian Civil Registers 1962, 1970, 2004, 2006 and 2015.
| Registration | 1962 | 1970 | 2004 | 2006 | 2015 | In NB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CF-DFC | X | X | 1968 | |||
| CF-DQL | X | X | 1952, 1957-58 | |||
| CF-DQP | X | 1957, 1960 | ||||
| CF-DQU | X | xx | ||||
| CF-DZC | X | 1957, 1960 | ||||
| CF-EQS | X | X | 1953, 1957-58, 1966-68, 1973-73 | |||
| CF-EQT | X | X | 1957-58, 1966-68 | |||
| CF-EQU | X | X | X | X | 1957, 1966-68, 1972-73 | |
| CF-EQV | X | 1957, 1966-68 | ||||
| CF-EQW | X | 1957-58 | ||||
| CF-EQX | 1957-58 | |||||
| CF-EQY | X | X | X | X | 1957-58, 1966-68 | |
| CF-FBD | X | X | 1957, 1960, 1966-68, 1970 | |||
| CF-FBU | X | X | 1952, 1957 | |||
| CF-FBV | X | X | 1952 | |||
| CF-FRW | X | 1957-58 | ||||
| CF-FRY | X | 1954, 1957-58 | ||||
| CF-FRZ | X | X | 1957-58, 1966-68 | |||
| CF-FWV | X | X | X | xx | ||
| CF-GAR | 1957-58, 1966 | |||||
| CF-HKZ | 1957-58 | |||||
| CF-IAD | 1957-58 | |||||
| CF-IBA | X | 1957, 1960, 1970? | ||||
| CF-JLS | 1957 | |||||
| CF-JOU | X | 1957-58 | ||||
| CF-JRK | X | xx | ||||
| CF-KPX | X | X | xx | |||
| CF-KQB | X | X | X | X | X | 1966-68 |
| CF-KQJ | X | 1958 | ||||
| CF-LOB | X | 1968 | ||||
| CF-MSB | X | X | xx | |||
| CF-OMH | X | X | X | 1968 | ||
| CF-SEK | 1965-68 | |||||
| CF-SIQ | X | X | 1968 | |||
| CF-UCB | X | X | 1966-68 | |||
| CF-UCC | X | X | X | X | 1966-68 | |
| CF-ULY | X | X | X | X | 1966-68 | |
| CF-UWK | X | X | X | X | 1967-68 | |
| CF-UWL | X | X | 1967-68 | |||
| CF-UWM | X | X | X | 1967-68 | ||
| CF-VOB | X | X | X | X | 1967-68 |
Forest Spraying Stearmans in New Brunswick 
I have owned CF-OMH since 1980. Last flight from memory was a Ferry Permit by Air Spray from St Thomas Ont to Thunder Bay Ont. Trucked to Confederation College.
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Hi there,
CF-FWV was owned by Skyways Aviation as indicated by your site, and remained in the Seller family until last month when the late Art Seller’s son, David, donated the Stearman to the Canadian Museum of Flight at Langley Airport, BC. The Canadian Museum of flight intents to return CF-FWV back to flying status and display it at local airshows. I have photos of its current condition if you’re interested.
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Thanks, David. I have just check out Skyway CF-FWV at the Museum site: http://www.canadianflight.org/content/stearman-a75n1. Looks good, and yes I would appreciate some images. cadam at nbnet dot nb dot ca.
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My father died on June 20th 1957 about 3 miles south of Budworm City. He was flying a Stearman for Medford Air Service. His name was Elwyn Gail Behnke. Any info on the crash or any pictures would be helpful . It will be 60 years this June that he was killed in the crash
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My father died in a Stearman crash 6/20/57 about 3 miles south south west of Budworm City. His name was Elwyn Gail Behnke. He was flying for Medford Air Service. Any info or reports would be helpful
Thank you
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Mark,
Any luck in your search ?
Found this report on budworn city from CBC dating from July 7, 1957.
There is no mention of the accident, but it have great image of the city and people.
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/1757418984/
NB archive would probably have newspapers with articles on the accident.
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Your fathers plane was found a few days ago in the forest in northern new-brunswick. A forest worker found the wreckage with the plane ID #N1054N. A list of planes and pilots show that this was the plane your father flew in 1957 for budworm spraying. He was flying for Medford Aviation Services out of Oregon. Please contact me for more info at 1-506-737-7191.
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Check CBC news(French network) the plane has been found by a feller buncher operator a few days ago. Photo
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CF-KQB is now being restored in Wetaskiwin by Mr. Jeff Deuchar
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My brother Don and I owned. CF. KPX for over twenty years we put in a. Continental. 220. Fantastic aircraft The previous accident had a Pratt 450 the lower left engine mount firewall bolt failed on takeoff in Grand. Prairie Stan Mc Leod was flying. Clarke. Watson.
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CF. UWL. CF. UWK. We’re owned for several years by. Don. Misky Alberta. Central Airspray. Stony Plain. Alta I maintained thes e aircraft for many years for. Don UWL flew home from a job on 8 cylinders and a broken connecting rod. One summer Clarke. Watson.
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Here is a link to a picture which I believe is CF-KQJ taken in front of the hangar at St. Thomas Ontario. https://www.flickr.com/photos/edk7/8557202171/
The picture makes reference to Downsview Ontario but I am sure this is at St. Thomas.
Bill Hayes
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We found the plane today
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The history for CF-EQT is incorrect and a repeat for that of CF-EQU.
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