# Timeline — Martin Mars / Hawaii Mars

- **1940s** — Martin JRM Mars built as large U.S. Navy flying boat / transport class; Hawaii Mars later became one of the surviving aircraft.
- **1958–1960s** — Surviving fleet sold to B.C. forest-industry consortium and converted into water bombers.
- **1963** — Hawaii Mars and Philippine Mars converted for firefighting, per AerialFire history.
- **2007** — Coulson purchased the two Mars aircraft, starting its fixed-wing airtanker operations, per BCAM/Coulson release.
- **2013** — AerialFire says final U.S. use was the La Brea Fire, after which aircraft returned to Sproat Lake.
- **2015** — BCAM/Coulson release says Coulson retired its Mars waterbombers in 2015; Vintage Aviation quotes BCWS saying it had not been used in B.C. since 2015.
- **Aug. 11, 2024** — Hawaii Mars final flight from Port Alberni/Sproat Lake area to Pat Bay / BC Aviation Museum, escorted by Snowbirds.
- **Sept. 28, 2024** — BCAM planned official ribbon-cutting/opening for public display.