Steve Ginter

Naval Fighters Number Twenty-nine Martin Mars Xpb2m-1r & Jrm Flying Boats Steve Ginter

The photos in this edition are black and white. WWII's 4-engine Martin Mars flying boat would be the World's largest aircraft weighing in at over 150,00 pounds until the Spruce Goose came along. Used as a transport, five production aircraft were built and used throughout the Pacific as the Navys heavy hauler into the mid-1950s when they were purchased and converted into fire bombers in Canada and used to this day. The five aircraft were named Philippine Mars, Marianas Mars, Marshall Mars, Hawaii Mars and Carolline Mars.