Willows in Glenn County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
Birth of the Air Tanker Program
Dedicated to the Pioneers who started Aerial Firefighting
Photographed By Gene Russell
1. Birth of the Air Tanker Program Marker
The first operational air tanker was developed in Willows, by the Willows Flying Service in 1955, at the request of the Fire Control Officer for the Mendocino National Forest. A Boeing Stearman 75 “Caydet” Agricultural Aircraft was modified with a 170 gallon tank at the Willows Airport. This Aircraft, N75081, became the first registered free fall air tanker in the history of aviation. The first “air drop” was made on the Mendenhall Fire, August 12, 1955, on the Mendocino National Forest.
In 1956, seven agricultural aircraft were modified and formed the first operational air tanker squadron in the United States. Piloted by local aviators, this squadron operated out of the Willows Airport fighting wildfires throughout California.
In 1959, heavy air tankers, capable of carrying 2,000 gallons of fire retardant were providing an effective tool in controlling wildfires. Aircraft having a retardant capacity of 3,000 gallons have contributed to successful wildfire control throughout the United States.
Marker includes line portraits of Joe Ely, Fire Control Officer • Lee Sherwood, Air Attack Pilot • Harold Hendrickson • Dale Nolta • Floyd Nolta • Vance Nolta • Ray Varney • Frank Prentice • L. H. McCurley • Warren Bullock; and a depiction of a Caydet dropping its load of water.
Erected
this page online
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Air & Space • Horticulture & Forestry. A significant historical date for this entry is August 12, 1955.
Location. 39° 31.387′ N, 122° 13.108′ W. Marker is in Willows, California, in Glenn County. Marker is at the intersection of County Road G and Airport Road on County Road G. Located near the Willows-Glenn County Airport Cafe. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 353 Co Rd G, Willows CA 95988, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 2 other markers are within 10 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Kanawha (approx. 4.6 miles away); Bayliss Library (approx. 10 miles away).
Also see . . .
1. Aerial Tanker Development. This page includes photos and an essay by Joe Ely entitled “How It Was.” Excerpt:
A week later, being busy at something else myself, I asked (the late) Al Edwards to go out to Nolta's airstrip. Floyd had cut a hole in the bottom of a Stearman biplane, added a gate with hinges and a snag and pull-rope, and filled the thing with water. His brother (the late) Vance Nolta took it up, Al and Floyd lit the dry grass along the airstrip, Vance came over low and pulled the rope, and put out the fire. We were in business. It was July 23, 1955.(Submitted on August 12, 2023.)
On August 13, 1955, a crew was building handline in thebrush on the lower side of the Mendenhall fire on the west side of Bald Mountain on Jack Weddle's Covelo District. They heard a plane coming in close and looked up just in time to see a load of water come down upon them and the edge of the fire. It was the first free-fall drop ever made on a forest fire.Photographed By Gene Russell2. Birth of the Air Tanker Program Marker
2. National Register of Historic Places nomination in 2023.
Willows-Glenn County Airport is a 320-acre general aviation airport on the western edge of the city of Willows, the Glenn County seat. Contributing resources include three multi-plane hangars and the former Airport Administration Building, the paved flight apron, and a steel tower with rotating beacon. Constructed in 1928 as an Intermediate Landing Field along the Seattle to Los Angeles Air Mail route, the airport was used by the U.S. Army Air Forces during World War II. In 1956, the property became the base of operations for the first air tanker squad to be formed in the United States — a squad composed primarily of veterans, and their biplanes — to fight forest fires from the air.(Submitted on January 15, 2024, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California.)
Photographer unknown (Public Domain) via NWGC.gov
3. First Airtanker – Mendocino 1955
Credits. This page was last revised on January 15, 2024. It was originally submitted on May 3, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. This page has been viewed 570 times since then and 83 times this year. Last updated on August 15, 2023, by Carl Gordon Moore Jr. of North East, Maryland. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on May 3, 2021, by Craig Baker of Sylmar, California. 3. submitted on August 12, 2023, by J. J. Prats of Powell, Ohio. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
