First Draft, 18 July 2021
New Brunswick
Aircraft
28 Cessna
22 TBM-3e
2 Snow Commander (CF-RTW, #48, pilot Lawhon and CF-RTX, #49, pilot Myers)
2 Ag-Cat (CF-UOF, #51, pilot Schmidt and CF-UOG, #52, pilot Laird)
55 Stearman
– 43 USA (mostly 1966 only)
– 12 Canada (mostly 1966-1969)
1 Helicopter. The helicopter was used for sampling in hard-to-get spots before spraying began and in biological surveys, but is not identified.
This was the first use in New Brunswick of Grumman Ag-Cats and Snow Commanders for aerial spraying. They were particularly suited for operating on river sides and stream borders, in pairs.
Active Airstrips: Chipman, Dunphy, Fredericton Airport, and Juniper (TBMs); Taxis (25 Stearmans) and Trout Brook (30 Stearmans)
“Formations of five Stearmans using the same aerial flagging as the T.B.M.s and flying straight line swaths replaced the 14-year-old system of spraying natural boundary blocks in pairs while under partial surveillance.”
The “Stearman spraying group consisted of a leader radio equipped, and four others in either V or echelon formation in which the individual aircraft would be laterally separated approximately 6 wing spans or 200 ft.” Pilots were reluctant to fly in the V formation, which was the formation the Company preferred. “Without breaking formation it was possible to fly Stearmans in this way in terrain too hilly for close contact T.B.M. spraying.” [Flieger, B.W., 11 Nov 1966. Aerial Forest Spraying Operations 1966, Forest Protection Limited, Campbellton, N.B.]
Stearmans moved into Juniper to cover the hilly terrain there, and a small amount of spraying was also conducted out of Dunphy late in the project. Stearmans also took part in an experimental use of insecticides out of Dunphy.
Calibration of all aircraft was “started on May 19, 1966, at Dunphy Airstrip and continued until June 4, 1966. The scene of the operation had to be moved to Juniper Airstrip when Stearman pilots complained about landing on asphalt.” [See reference under list below]
Stearmans organized by tail/project number – 1966
[From: Forest Protection Limited 1966 Project: Report on Aircraft Calibration. R.E. Hanusiak, August 25, 1966. FPL Files]. Barney Flieger was not interested in recording the identities of the spray aircraft, but Rudy E. Hanusiak jumped right in with that info in his calibration reports.
Stearmans were calibrated for a flow rate of 20 gallons per minute, which resulted in a 200 foot swath, 100 m.p.h. airspeed, and an application rate of 0.5 gal. per acre.
The calibration report did not identify the Stearmans by company, so some information was gleaned from photographs from the FPL files and from other sources. Amazingly, 43 of the Stearmans worked only in 1966; all these were American, the remaining being Canadian.
The list below provides the Stearman registration, project number, and pilot’s name, plus many details of the calibration results. The many gaps in the project number system probably indicate a different company or maybe spotter aircraft, but correct identification is still not total. Contributing to the gaps were the Snow Commanders, #48 and #49, and the Ag-Cats, #51 and #52.
PILOTS: Pilots’ names refer to 1966 only, as from the calibration list.
SOURCES: Sources include Aerial Visuals and the Joe Baugher series. Not all records were relevant to 1966 exactly, so I cited the nearest date, e.g., 1964, as in #1 below.
IMAGES: Many images come from the Forest Protection Limited archive, and some of these have been used in Aerial Visuals.
Canadian Stearmans, 1966
For additional images and text see Canadian Stearmans and Canadian Civil Registry HERE.
#41 CF-UCB, Glenair Aerial Spraying, Bright, Ont., [1967-1969]; 1966, pilot Howling
Registered N49948 in the USA to Henry Holyfield, Sikeston, Missouri. In 1965, the aircraft was exported to Canada and registered CF-UCB where it operated in 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program as #41 for Glenair Aerial Spraying, Bright, Ontario.
#42 CF-UCC, Glenair Aerial Spraying, Bright, Ont., [1965, 1967-1969]; 1966, pilot SandhaM
Was N58121 under Henry Holyfield, Sikeston, Missouri, early 1960s. Operated as CF-UCC in the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program, New Brunswick, as #42.
Accident: 27 May 1966, Taxis Airstrip, N.B, Pilot William A. Sandham, age 34, Commercial Pilot License No. C-6256. Operator: Sandham Air Service (No Commercial Operator No.). Pilot “failed to compensate for wind. Ground-looped during crosswind landing. During the landing roll in crosswind conditions, the pilot lost directional control of the aircraft. The aircraft ground-looped into wind and tipped onto its left wingtip. Damage: Substantial. Injuries: Nil.” [back of Dept. of Transport Accident Card; see HERE for more info.]
#43-47 not used; #48-49 are Snow Commanders
#50 CF-SEK, WHEELER AIRLINES Ltd./Evergreen, Quebec, [1965, 1967-1969]; 1966, pilot RON Beckon
Registered as N60232 to Mid Continent Aerial Sprayers Inc., Hayti, Missouri, cancelled 1965 on export to Canada. Registered as CF-SEK, Twinn Pest Control, Toronto, Ontario??. Subcontracted to Wheeler Airlines. Operated by Wheeler Airlines Ltd., St. Jovite, Quebec, for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1965 and 1966 as #50 and in 1967-1969 as #65.
#51-52 are Ag-Cats; #53-58 not used
#59 CF-KQB, Hicks and Lawrence, Ltd., Ostrander, Ont., [1958?, 1967-1969]; 1966, pilot O’Rourke
Was N60486 while in USA, registration cancelled March 1958. To H&L as CF-KQB #59 in 1966 for the Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program, New Brunswick, but probably also as CF-KQB #59 in 1958.
#60 CF-ULY, Hicks and Lawrence, Ltd., Ostrander, Ont., [1967-1969]; 1966, pilot Martindale
Aerial Visuals has two images of CF-ULY at St. Thomas, Ont., taken 8 May 1966 by Larry Johnson. Operated in the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program, New Brunswick, as #60.
#61 CF-EQS, Wheeler Airlines, St. Jovite, Que., [1960-1962, 1967-1969, 1972-1973]; 1966, Pilot Beauvais
Was N49669 in 1951. Acquired by Wheeler in 1952. Operated in the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program, New Brunswick, as #61 throughout all years.
#62 CF-EQT, Wheeler Airlines, St. Jovite, Que., [1952-1958, 1960-1962, 1967-1969]; 1966, pilot Girard
Registered 1948 as N21967, owner not identified. Registered in 1952 as CF-EQT to Wheeler Airlines Ltd., St. Jovite, Quebec. Operated for the Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program in New Brunswick in 1953-58 as #62 throughout all years. Substantially damaged near Napierville, Quebec, 30 July 1958. Operated for the Canadian budworm spray program 1966-69 as #62 for Wheeler-Northland Airways Ltd., St. Jean, Quebec. In external storage at Fredericton, New Brunswick, August 1975, Evergreen Air Services Ltd., Roxboro, Quebec.
#63 CF-EQU, Wheeler Airlines, St. Jovite, Que., [1952-1958, 1960-1962, 1967-1969, 1972-1973]; 1966, pilot GASTON St. Pierre
Was N51680 in late 1940s, owner not identified. Operated for the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program, New Brunswick, as #63 throughout all years.
#64-66 not used
#67 CF-EQY, Wheeler Airlines, St. Jovite, Que., [1953-1958, 1960-1962, 1967-1969]; 1966, PILOT MCGRORY
Operated in the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program, New Brunswick as #67 throughout all years.
#68-70 not used
#71 CF-FBD, General Airspray Ltd., St. Thomas, Ont., [1954?-1958 with Bradley; 1967-1970 with General Airspray]; 1966, pilot ROC Hodgins
Operated in the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program, New Brunswick and Ontario as #71 throughout all years. See HERE for several images of CF-FBD including one in Ontario in 1966.
#72-76 not used
#77 CF-FRZ, General Airspray Ltd., St. Thomas, Ont., [1955-1958 with Leavans Bros; 1967-1969 with General Airspray]; 1966, pilot STEVE Tomechek
Operated in the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program, New Brunswick as #77 throughout all years. See HERE for more info on CF-FRZ.
#78 CF-GAR, General Airspray Ltd., St. Thomas, Ont., [1952-1955, 1956?, 1957-1958 with Leavans Bros]; 1966, pilot TED Stenton
Operated in the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program, New Brunswick, as #78 throughout all years. Destroyed at Franklin, Quebec, 27 May 1967, south of Montreal near the Vermont border. GAR stalled into trees during an initial climb, and was written off. Stenton suffered minor injuries. [Dept. of Transport Accident Card]
U.S.A. Stearmans, 1966
#1 N53458, unk, 1966 only, pilot Swartley
To Tommy D. Fonderen, Lorenzo, Texas, with new c/r N53458, January 1964. This is the earliest date we have info for. Operated in the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program, New Brunswick, as #1.
#2 N61980, unk, 1966 only, pilot Strange
Registered as N61980. By 1964, owner was C.L. Warmack, Tallahassee, Fla. Operated in the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program, New Brunswick, as #2, owner not confirmed.
#3 N5809V, unk, 1966 only, pilot Dannel
Acquired by Robert Dickson of Plains, Kansas, in 1971, no details of owner in 1966 or in fact before 1971. Operated in the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program, New Brunswick, as #3.
#4-10 not used
#11 N1323N, Farm-Air Company, West Sacramento, Calif., [1957-58, 1967-1969]; 1966, PILOT F. MARY
1957-58, 1966 as N1323N / 1967-1969 as CF-VOB. A complicated history under several Canadian and U.S. registrations.
Registered as N1323N to Farm-Air Company, West Sacramento, Calif. Operated for Forest Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1957 as #103, in Quebec (Farm Lake) in 1958 as #103 and in 1966 as #11.
Registered as CF-VOB to General Airspray Ltd., St Thomas, Ontario. Operated for Canadian spruce budworm spray program 1967-69 as #76. One of three Stearmans was used to spray FENITROTHION pesticide in the Burchell Lake and French Lake areas of northwestern Ontario 6-18 June 1969. Operated on floats.
#12 N49366, Farm-Air Company, West Sacramento, Calif., [1957, 1967-1969]; 1966, pilot Bailey
Registered as N49366 to Farm-Air Company, West Sacramento, Calif. Operated for the Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick 1957 as #102 and 1966 as #12. An interim owner, then registered 1967 as CF-UWK to Hicks and Lawrence Ltd., Ostrander, Ont.
#13 N5435V, unk, 1966 only, pilot McGlochlin
No details.
#14 N56471, West Side Crop Dusters INC., Five Points, Calif., 1966 only, pilot Loomis
Operated for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1966 as #14. Civil registration cancelled in 1967; exported to Canada as CF-UWM with General Airspray. Flew on the spray program in N.B. 1967 as #14.
#15-25 not used
#26 N57761, unk, 1966 only, pilot Dorador
No information from 1958 to 1987.
#27-28 not used
#30 N64812, LUKINS Flying Service, Pecos, Texas, 1966 only, pilot Greenhill
Floyd M. “Luke” Lukins, Pecos, Texas. To unknown owner in 1967. Seriously damaged in accident in Texas in 1967.
#31 N9727H, unk, 1966 only, pilot Aydelott
To unknown owner in 1956, then to Lukins Flying Service in 1970.
#32-40 not used
#41-78 are Canadian Stearmans
#79 not used
#80 N52135, unk, 1966 only, pilot Morris
To John W. Huie, Gideon, Missouri, 1964. Operated for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1966 as #80.
#81 N63910, Farm Air Service, Tallulah, Louisiana, 1966 only, pilot North
By 1964, to G. H. Ferguson, Springfield, [Missouri?]. Operated for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1966 as #81.
#82 N1363V, unk, 1966 only, Pilot Harris
Operated from 1963 by Charles Benny Hicks, Brownfield, Texas, as #82 for the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program, New Brunswick.
#83 N1074N, Farm-Air Co., West Sacramento, Calif., [1954-1958]; 1966, pilot Grant
Acquired in 1954-55 by Farm-Air Company, West Sacramento, Calif., as N1074N. No confirmation of owner in 1966.
#84 N61860, unk, 1966 only, pilot Johnson
Operated as #84 for the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick. Owner not identified.
#85 N69623, UNK, 1966 only, pilot Goodman
No details after 1942.
#86 N52968, Holyfield Flying Service, Sikeston, Missouri, 1966 only, pilot JOHN S. Kenny
Destroyed in accident in N.B. ,18 June 1966, operator Holyfield Flying Service, incorporated in 1966 under Henry J. Holyfield. Born March 29, 1933, in Sikeston, Holyfield was the owner and operator of Holyfield Flying Service for 27 years and from 1968 to 1978, he was manager of Sikeston Municipal Airport.
Accident:
Pilot was John S. Kenny, age 52, U.S. Commercial License 355693. “Pilot ran aircraft into propeller wake which caused loss of control at a height too low for recovery. Improper training and supervision of flight – command pilot (formation leader) failed to provide adequate briefing and instruction to crews of other aircraft in formation. Loss of control in the air. 5 aircraft were flying in stepped-up echelon formation and making a 180 deg turn when the accident aircraft went out of control. Aircraft crashed into trees while in a steep left bank and struck the ground in a 45 deg nose-down attitude and 90 deg back. Damage: Destroyed. Injuries: Serious.” [back of Dept. of Transport Accident Card] See also the NTSB accident report.
#87 N1528M, unk, 1966 only, pilot Tillman
Operated for the Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1966 as #87. Owner in 1966 not identified.
#88, N64926, Roane Flying Service, Jeanerette, Louisiana, 1966 only, pilot Taylor
Operated for the Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1966 for Roane FS as #88. The registration number for this Stearman was missing from the typed and hand-written lists, but was identified from the registration visible in an image by spotter Don McKnight.
#89 N75661, unk, 1966 only, pilot Janes
Owner in 1960s not identified. Operated as #89 for the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program in New Brunswick.
#90, N52014, unk, 1966 only, pilot Vickers
Owner in 1960s not identified. Operated as #90 for the 1966 Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick.
#91 not used
#92 N2535R, Aero Insect Control Inc., Cape May County Airport, Rio Grande, New jersey, [1957]; 1966, pilot McKesson
To Aero Insect Control Inc, Cape May County Airport, Rio Grande, NJ, in 1951 with new c/r N2535R. Leased to Simsbury Flying Services, Simsbury, Conn., in 1957 for Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick; flew as #93; flew also in 1966 as #92. Crashes in New Jersey 1964 and 1967.
#93 N60723, Aero Insect Control Incorporated, Rio Grande, New Jersey, [1957], 1966, pilot smith
To Simsbury Flying Services, Simsbury, Conn. Flew as #94 for Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1957. January 1964, sold to Aero Insect Control Inc., Rio Grande, NJ. Flew in 1966 for Aero as #93 for Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick.
#94-95 not used
#96 N58065, Simsbury Flying Services, Simsbury, Conn., [1950s]; 1966, pilot hazlett
Registered as N58065, Medford Air Services, Medford, Oregon, operated for Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program in New Brunswick 1953 as #100. Operated for New Brunswick spruce budworm spray program for Simsbury Flying Services, Simsbury, Conn., in 1955 as #102 and in 1957-58 and 1966 as #96 for Simsbury. See 1953.
#97 not used
#98 N55099, Jenkins Aerial, Winnie, Texas, 1966 only, pilot schumann
Simsbury Flying Services, Simsbury, Conn. 1964, then Jenkins Aerial, Winnie, Texas. Operated for Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program in New Brunswick in 1966 as #98.
#99, N60330, Conn Aerial Spray Company Inc, Cedar Lake Road, Chester, Conn., 1966 only, pilot ziemba
Operated for Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program in New Brunswick in 1966 as #99.
#100 not used
#101 N61419, W.F. Whitney, Liberal, Kansas, 1966 only, pilot Gordon
By 1964, To Dale M. Johnson, Seminole, Texas. Operated for Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program in New Brunswick in 1966 by W. F. Whitney, Liberal, Kansas as #101.
#102 N65013, Simsbury Flying Services, Simsbury, Conn., 1966 only, pilot Shucks
By January 1964, To Joseph A. Shucks, Fort Worth, Texas, then Simsbury Flying Services, Simsbury, Conn. Operated for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program by Simsbury in New Brunswick in 1966 as #102.
Tail/project numbers end at #102 and begin again at #401
#401 N1614M, unk, 1966 only, pilot K. Tillman
Image from Juniper airstrip, N.B., by spotter Don McKnight, 1966. Operated for Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program in New Brunswick in 1966 as #401.
#402-407 not used
#408 N55898, Ueding Flying Service, Vincennes, Ind., [1955-1958]; 1966, pilot Hopper
Operated for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick 1966 as #408, and previously for Ueding in 1955 to 1956 and #96 and 1957 and 1958 as #21.
#409 not used
#410 N57958 unk, 1966 only, pilot Boudreaux
Operated for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1966 as #410.
#411 N61322 Mid Continent Aerial Sprayers Inc., Hayti, Missouri, 1958, 1966, pilot amos
Operated by Mid-Continent Aerial Sprayers Inc, Hayti, Miss. for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1958 as #431 and in 1966 as #411.
#412 N64590, Mid-Continent Aerial Sprayers Inc., Hayti, Missouri, 1966 only, pilot Mathews
**[Your Assistance is Needed: The FAA quotes the Boeing construction number as 75-75007. This is not a valid number. If you know the true identity of this airframe, please share your information with Aerial Visuals.]
Operated by Mid-Continent Aerial Sprayers Inc, Hayti, Miss., for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1966 as #412.
#413-419 not used
#420 N60601, Odom Dusting Service Inc, Bradley, Ariz., 1966 only, pilot Campbell
Presumably to Orville M. Odom, Bradley, Ark., in 1964. Operated for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1966 as #420.
Trivia: A 1972 Martin Scorsese film “Boxcar Bertha” shows N60601 in its opening sequence.
#421 N3995B, Odom Dusting Service Inc, Bradley, Ariz., 1966 only, pilot Guffey
Operated for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1966 as #421.
#422-423 not used
#424 N60255, Simsbury Flying Services, Simsbury, Conn., [1957 and 1958]; 1966, pilot Knudsen
Simsbury Flying Services, Simsbury, Conn. Operated for Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program in 1966 as #424 and in 1957-58 as #97.
#425 N9386H, Simsbury Flying Services, Simsbury, Conn., [1954-1958]; 1966, pilot Reeves
Operated under Simsbury for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1954 to 1958 with two tail numbers, #99 and #101, and in 1966 under #425.
#426-439 not used
#440 N61117, unk, 1966 only, pilot Baker
Acquired by Corbett E. Baker, Clarksdale, Miss., in 1960. Operated for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1966 as #440.
#441 N9719H, Ueding Flying Service, Vincennes, Ind., [1955-57]; 1966, pilot Toler
Operated 1955-1957 as #53 and #26 for Hammer Crop Dusters and Ueding Flying Service. Non-fatal accident spraying in New Brunswick in 1955. Operated by Ueding for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1966 as #441.
#442 N62465, Fess Flying Service, Elaine, Arkansas?, 1966 only, pilot Bragalon
Acquired by Fess Flying Service, Elaine, Arkansas, in 1964. Operated for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1966 as #442.
#443 not used
#444 N50093, Bil Ray Air Services, Batesville, Mississippi, 1966 only, pilot McGraw
Acquired by Bil Ray Air Services, Batesville, Miss., in 1966. Operated for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program New Brunswick in 1966 as #444. Destroyed in 1967.
#445-449 not used
#450 N75361, Marsh Aviation Co. inc., Mesa, Ariz., [1957]; 1966, pilot Bowen
Operated under Marsh for Canadian Forest Protection Limited spruce budworm spray program in New Brunswick in 1957 as #269 and in 1966 as #450.
Forest Spraying Stearmans in New Brunswick 