1. San Gorgonio

Description: A short film introducing the S-2 airtanker. In 1972, the State of California (Cal Fire) acquired 19 Gruman S-2A military aircraft from the Department of Defense and converted them for use in firefighting. The planes were previously used by the US Navy as carrier-based anti-submarine aircraft from 1952-1972. This film created in 1973, at the time the S-2A air tanker was converted for service as a firefighting air tanker, shows the S-2A in action. Pilot E.C. "Woody" Woodmansee relates his experience in flying the new tanker and offers praise for its capabilities. The S-2A air tanker served as the predominant part of the Cal Fire (Division of Forestry) fixed wing fleet from the 1970s up through the early 2000s. Filmed at Hemet, California, this film features footage of the S-2A airtanker in flight and making drops of fire retardant. The original S-2As have since been replaced with newer, faster and more maneuverable S-2T turbine air tankers.