Flying in from Sproat Lake on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, a World War II-era plane called the Philippine Mars landed in Seaplane Lagoon at about 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 9. The Alameda ...

Vancouver-based entrepreneur and aviation enthusiast Ian Bell, who first saw the Martin Mars in action at Sproat Lake about 50 years ago, recalls being awestruck by its size and power.

The Philippine Mars water bomber — a fixture on Sproat Lake near Port Alberni for decades — left Vancouver Island on Sunday, made an overnight stop in San Francisco, then took off again on its journey ...