1961-1965

1961

New Brunswick

Active Airstrips: Dunphy, Juniper

Aircraft
21 Cessna
24 TBM-3e
6 Stearman, all Wheeler, but no details. Used only for smaller blocks of irregular size [D.R. MacDonald, Dept. of Forestry report, Vol. 20 #1]

Forest Protection Limited conducted the first water bombing experiments for the Province using Stearman aircraft.

Wheeler Airlines, under Manager George Lovett, is now officially called Wheeler Airlines (1960) Limited.

Quebec

DDT on 77,000 acres, Stearman [Blais et al. in Prebble 1975]

1962

New Brunswick

Active Airstrips: Dunphy, Scoudouc (not an FPL airstrip; used for this year only), Tabu

Aircraft
10 Cessna
14 TBM-3e – TBMs did 90% of the spraying [D.R. MacDonald, Dept. of Forestry report, Vol. 20 #1]
6 Stearmans – Wheeler Airlines

Quebec

DDT on 69,000 acres, Stearman [Blais et al. in Prebble 1975]

1963

New Brunswick

Active Airstrip: Dunphy

Aircraft
6 Cessna
6 TBM-3e
1 Stearman – no details

Maine

Aircraft
10 TBMs
2 Stearman

All aircraft flew out of Presque Isle, Maine, June 4-19, 1963. A photo of the Presque Isle Budworm Crew (via Norm Ralston) has an extensive caption that identifies Stearman and TBM pilots along with mechanics, pointers and other assistants. Two Stearman pilots from Simsbury Flying Service of Simsbury, Connecticut, are Bob Schumann and Bert Clements. Bill Merrill of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) was identified as the Stearman pilot guide.

1964

New Brunswick

Airstrip Constructed: Chipman

Active Airstrips: Dunphy, Juniper, Kesnac

Aircraft
20 Cessna
28 TBM-3e
8 Stearman
Wheeler provided 8 Stearmans, including:
– 5 Wheeler
– 2 Hicks & Lawrence
– 1 Worgan

According “Interim Report — 1964 Forest Spraying Program” (Forest Protection Limited unpublished report by Barney Flieger, July 22, 1964), one of only two incidents worth mentioning was a ground loop by a Stearman.

The 8 Stearmans operated from Kesnac, and their operations were confined to the forest near the settlements along the main St. John River between Hartland and Prince William.

1965

New Brunswick

Airstrip Constructed:

Active Airstrips: Chipman, Dunphy, Juniper (TBMs), Kesnac, Taxes (Stearmans). Trout Brook was built after the spray season.

Aircraft
20 Cessna
19 TBM-3e
38 Stearman
– 5 Wheeler, 33 other

Stearman identified by image:

#50, #65 CF-SEK 1427829442_camera_ios7_ios_7 Wheeler?

The low volume concentrate (LVC) experiments. Five Wheeler Stearmans were modified for low volume concentrate (LVC) experiments out of Chipman Airstrip, located on the south side of the spruce budworm infestation. The spray apparatus for all five Stearmans was modified according to instructions from the U.S. Department of Agriculture; 36 Mini-spin nozzles were added.

Personnel included five Stearman pilots, one mechanic, and a project coordinator. A method of flying five Stearmans in formation was worked out. “Partly in parody of the now defunct R.C.A.F. Golden Hawks and partly because of the nature of the work and the equipment, these 5 Stearman pilots were dubbed “The Brass Cocks”. [Report: Aerial Forest Spraying Operations, 1965. Forest Protection Limited. 1965, B.W. Flieger]

5 Stearmans spraying, 1967
The five Wheeler Stearmans spraying in formation, 1967. [FPL Files]

Quebec

In August, FPL used seven Stearmans to spray 35,000 lbs. of Phosphamidon to combat the Jack Pine Sawfly on 140,000 acres of the St. Maurice River watershed. The Stearmans flew in the four-plane formation and were flagged by Cessna pointers. The job was conducted from two “hastily built minimum runway strips” well inside the project general area. [Report: Aerial Forest Spraying Operations, 1965. Forest Protection Limited. 1965, B.W. Flieger]