Coulson Group Announces Sale of Hawaii Mars

PRESS RELEASE

January 17, 2022

Port Alberni, BC – Coulson Group has announced the sale of the Hawaii Mars and has engaged the services of Platinum Fighter Sales, an international sales group of vintage aircraft.

The Martin Mars aircraft were manufactured in Baltimore, Maryland at the Glenn L. Martin factory and was the largest aircraft built by the United States Government during the WW2 era.

The Hawaii Mars started service in 1945 for the United States Navy providing air support to the Hawaiian Islands from the West Coast of California.

Hawaii Mars was the United States largest air ambulance shuttling injured soldiers from Hawaii to California during the Korean War and could carry over 120 soldiers plus medical crews.

The fleet of 5 Martin Mars aircraft were purchased in 1958 by a consortium of timber companies in British Columbia and converted to water bombers to protect their timber lands on the West Coast of Vancouver Island.

Two Martin Mars aircraft were converted to water bombers with a water capacity of 7,200 USG each, and were the largest firefighting aircraft worldwide until 2006.

Wayne Coulson stated, “The Martin Mars aircraft and crews have served as critical support in both its military and civilian life, and we’re looking to find an individual that will respect and care for the aircraft as much as we have, and its previous owners did.”

Media Contact Information – Coulson Aviation: Nicole Sendey nicole.sendey@coulsongroup.com