Air Spray

LTC (Join to see) thanks for the share, always a pleasure to read.

TSgt Joe C. SFC William Farrell PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SMSgt Minister Gerald A. "Doc" Thomas Maj Marty Hogan SGT (Join to see) SPC Margaret Higgins SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth SP5 Michael Rathbun CW5 Jack Cardwell]] COL Mikel J. Burroughs ] CPL Dave Hoover A1C Ian Williams SFC Shirley Whitfield SPC Jovani Daviu SGT (Join to see) LTC Stephen F. SGT Jim Arnold SSG William Jones

QUITE A NICE ASSEMBLY OF MEN!

Thank you LTC (Join to see) for reminding us about the Douglas A-26 Invader twin-engined light bomber and ground attack aircraft that was built by "Douglas Aircraft Company during World War II, the Invader also saw service during several major Cold War conflicts. A limited number of highly modified United States Air Force aircraft served in Southeast Asia until 1969"

Thanks for sharing an image of modern day Canadian forest fire suppression crewmembers sitting on top of a Douglas A-26 Invader

Airspray Ltd Douglas A-26C Invader C-GHLX (44-35948) airtanker-32 fires up both her R2800-Double Wasp radial engines at Red Deer Industrial Airport (Alberta - Canada) and taxies out for a training flight. (June 1998)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gVy1MmvMzNQ


"1967 marked the year Air Spray was incorporated as a forest fire suppression company. Operating out of the Municipal Airport in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, the company started its business with one air tanker, one bird dog aircraft and a contract for one season with the Alberta Provincial Government to fight forest fires from the air.
Air Spray's founder, Don Hamilton had been an aviator since 1943. After leaving the the Royal Canadian Air Force, Don purchased his first aircraft and began flying as a bush pilot in Northern Alberta. Having experience flying numerous aircraft in various roles, he saw the opportunity to use an old A 26 aircraft to fight forest fires in Alberta. The aircraft was converted to the air tanker role after the installation of a tank to hold the fire retardant in the old bomb bay. Paired with a Cessna 310 as a Bird Dog aircraft, this marked the beginning of Air Spray and an exciting era of fire suppression in Western Canada.
The A 26 flew over 30 seasons with Air Spray throughout Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories. At its peak, Air Spray owned and operated 18 of the aircraft. Able to haul 900 US gallons of fire retardant and flying at a speed of 210 knots the A 26 was the work horse of Air Spray's air tanker fleet."
Thanks for mentioning me SFC Joe S. Davis Jr., MSM, DSL

FYI COL Mikel J. Burroughs LTC Orlando Illi Lt Col Charlie Brown Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Maj William W. 'Bill' Price CPT Jack Durish Capt Tom Brown MSG Andrew White SFC William Farrell SGT (Join to see) Sgt Albert Castro SSG David Andrews Sgt Randy Wilber Sgt John H. CPL Dave Hoover SGT Mark Halmrast SPC Margaret Higgins SrA Christopher Wright