On 23 August 1938 the US Navy ordered from Martin a single prototype of the Martin 170 design for a patrol bomber of flying-boat configuration. Designated XPB2M-1, it was the world's largest flying-boat when flown for the first time on 3 July 1942, but by then the United States had become involved in World War II and it was decided not to proceed with procurement of the type as a patrol bomber. Instead, the boat was modified for use in a transport role, becoming re-designated XPB2M-1R and entering service in December 1943. It remains the largest flying-boat to have been operated by the US Navy and an early demonstration of its capability came in 1944, when a 9299kg cargo was delivered to Hawaii in a 7564km round trip completed in only 27 hours 36 minutes, resulting in a US Navy order for a production version under the designation JRM-1 Mars. This covered 20 aircraft to be completed specially for the transport role, but the end of World War II brought contract cancellations and only five were built, plus a single JRM-2 for operation at a higher gross weight. When the five JRM-1s were later modified to this latter standard they became redesignated JRM-3. These 60.96m span aircraft were powered by four 1715kW Wright R-3350-8 engines, and an appreciation of their capacity can be gained from the fact that on 19 May one of them, Marshall Mars, carried a total of 301 passengers, plus its crew of seven.
If anyone would like to see the only Mars aircraft still flying (as water bombers) they are still active at Sprout Lake B.C. Canada. I also have a scratcth built 1 /72 scale model on display in the Alberta Aviation Museum , Edmonton Canada
I had the pleasure of being a passenger on this aircraft early in my Navy career (1955), flying from NAS Alameda to Hawaii on the first leg of a PCS transfer to Japan. The seats for passengers were very plush and covered with kind of blue velvet material - felt like I was some sort of VIP ...
Lois m Sharpe, e-mail, 15.01.2024 Bill Farmer CTTCM(SS)
I had the honor of serving as a Flight Orderly on board the US Navy JRM1 Mars Seaplane flights between Alameda Naval Air and Honolulu TX during the period 1954 -1957. I am a Black female à few days before my 91st birthday. Just for the record. Lois
Lee Henderson, e-mail, 15.11.2021 Bill Farmer CTTCM(SS)
Bill, I flew with my family from Oakland? to Hawaii about 1954. My dad was assigned to VMF214 on Kaneohe Bay. As I remember all the marines were on the lower deck and dependents on the second deck. There was a 4 bunk sleeping area forward and a VIP gave it to my mom and I. Do you have any more info about the shuttle service, aircraft name? Thanks!
My father, Bryan E. Bradford, flew the Mars from Alameda when we lived in Oakland in the early 1950's. I remember being in the aircraft several times, and still have my father's log book of flights. What great memories I have.
My husband, John Ellis Gill, was the flight surgeon for VR 2 from 1951 to 1953. I've since lost track of friends we had in the squadron, but I remember well coming to pick him up at the dock when he returned from his periodic flights to serve the squadron members in Hawaii. I was thrilled to get a glimpse of Walter Pidgeon along with others deplaning one morning.
My Grandfather was an aircrewman on the mars in the early 50s or late 40s My mom has told me stories she heard him tell about engines falling off and such, sadly he passed before I was born, Did anyone know a Frank Stapleton?
After watching 10 PBM's go up in flaming crashes in Manila Bay while stationed at Sangley Point P.I. 1950-1951 logging a lot of hours to Clark and Subic on our Amphibian PBM and crewing one on a Congressional VIP trip to Hong Kong, I vowed never to fly Martin again. However, after cumshawing a flight to Hawaii at the end of my tour, the only flight I ever found was on the Martin to NAS Alameda. I thought it was fantastic especially being under water before takeoff, and watching that water recede. What a great airplane. That's my era, the best ever. Dr. Dale Smith
In 1944 I was an ART 1 /c, assigned to AROU#1 (Aviation, Repair& Overhaul Unit #1; We shipped to Marianas soon after. While there I frequently saw them tied up near the Essex carrier at Oakland. That's all I know, but they were certainly impressive ships!
I flew as an Aviation Radioman in VR-2 and logged 559.6 hours in these aircraft in 1949-1950.The basic mission was between Alameda ,California and HNL and flight time was about 14 hours per leg for the JRM-1 and about 12 hours for the JRM-2 (the Caroline Mars #76824).
I was stationed at at NAS Alameda in 1949 with VA-154. After a short deployment, we returned to San Diego and the entire air group, if I remember correctly, consisting of over 300 personnel returned to Alameda on one of the MARS. It had set the record at that time of transporting this many men. It was really a miserable flight. Sweating while on the water and then freezing at cruise altitude. There were no seats available, so 90% were seasted in the cargo hold on our luggage.
I was a YN2 in the Navy and in 1948 I was at Honolulu after spending 2 years on Guam. I had the privelage of flying from Hawaii to Alameda on the Philippine Mars on my return to the states in 1948.
During the Korean War it was my good fortune to be assigned to VR 2, the MARS squadron. It was my second tour with VR 2 & I was able to qualify as TPC (transport PlaneCommander) I remember having to return to base after losing # one engine. With the wind coming from the west we had to back into the berthing lagoon.
I flew in the "Hawaii" MARS with my Sister and Mother from Oakland bay (NAS Alameda)to Hawaii in 1954.My Dad was attached to the squadron(VR-2) @ the time as a flight engineer.
My mom and I flew back from Guam on one of these when i was 6. Cabin was NOT pressurized and I had a heart condition as a kid so they had me on Oxygen for about 4 hours of the flight. A HUGE airplane,especially to a 6 year old. The JATO take-off was a hoot. Still remember the noise!
I forgot to mention I worked on P-5 Marlins an Airman Aprentance with VT-31 1962-63. I would climb up on the wings to wash them. I also got to jump in the bay to launch and beach them. Those were impresively large but those Mars dwarf them. More on my Navy time at www dot Donsafer * com.
My Dad had a 14 foot outboard we would Launch in San Leandro Bay along side of Doolittle during the Korean War. The area near the south side of Alameda Naval Air Station, where the Hornet currently is, was off limits. I remember one day we went out the estuary, did some fishing, and tried to return around the south side. There was a Mars out there that cut us of repeatably. We could out maneuver it but not out run it, so back to the estuary. I supose it couldmave been a Marlin I I think it had 4 engines. Were any Mars kept at (ex) Oakland NAS in the late 50s or 60s? A friend says yes but I think he saw a couple of British flying boats kept there.
I am a avid wreck-chaser andI have followed the Marianas Mars from assembly to her present demise on a mountain top in the Mt Moriarty range near Parskville BC Canada...I had seen her fly over my school in Nanoose Bay BC on her last and fatal flight to drop water on a fire for Northwest Bay Logging Division...she was an awesome site to see flying overhead and the sound of those massive radial engines I'll never forget.....stanley strazza
There are links online for a Mars that had an engine fire resulting in the total loss of the aircraft, but it was near Hawaii, not Maryland. There are pictures of the crew on the aircraft somewhere. The plane sank, and was rediscovered a couple of years ago during a survey of Hawaiian coastal waters in search of answers about additional Japanese invasion forces on 12-7. Just search for "Martin Mars" and you'll come across it.
I visited the site of the crash of the "Mariana Mars Water Bomber" as a young boy. I believe it crashed in Northwest Bay, BC in the summer of 1961. Can anyone help me with the coordinates? I have been trying to find the site again and have had no luck so far. Thanks, B. Dore
My father-in-law was one of the design engineers who did the conversion of the Martin Mars. And if anyone is interested on Feb 23 & 24 the Martin Mars will be in Stevenston, British Columbia as part of a 100 Years in Aviation (part of the Olympic festivites).
Bill Farmer CTTCM(SS)
I had the honor of serving as a Flight Orderly on board the US Navy JRM1 Mars Seaplane flights between Alameda Naval Air and Honolulu TX during the period 1954 -1957.
I am a Black female à few days before my 91st birthday.
Just for the record.
Lois
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