One last mission: Philippine Mars to move through Buckeye tonight after final flight

Philippine Mars, one of five U.S. Navy flying boats built during WWII, will pass through Buckeye tonight before it is placed in the Pima Air & Space Museum.

The last Martin JRM Mars flying boat to take off, Philippine Mars left its home at Sproat Lake on Vancouver Island in December, following the retirement of sister ship Hawaii Mars back in August to the BC Aviation Museum in North Saanich, British Columbia.

Philippine Mars is destined for the Pima Air & Space Museum in Tucson.

After being officially retired from service in 2012, it was repainted back into its original U.S. Navy colors as part of a deal with the National Naval Aviation Museum in Pensacola, Fla. That deal eventually fell through, and Arizona is now its presumptive final home.

After the plane's military service, Philippine Mars was purchased by a consortium of Canadian timber companies along with three other Martin Mars flying boats. The purchase was known as "The Big Four."

The plane has a storied history fighting fires in British Columbia for over four decades. It was seen as a beautiful piece of B.C. aviation history, having lived most of its life there. The four-engine boat plane’s departure from Sproat Lake made big aviation news.

After not flying for 17 years, residents and sentimental fans who worked alongside the majestic plane saw it fire up its last-of-its-kind four engine rig one last time, embarking on a final run.

Now in Arizona, it has been dismantled for transport to Tucson, where it will be reassembled to its final glory.

Update: Sources close to InBuckeye said it will move from Buckeye Airport tonight at about 9 p.m.  

Michael McDaniel can be reached at [email protected]. We invite our readers to submit their civil comments or opinions on this or any issue. Email [email protected].