The Grumman Goose
 

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N709, S/N 1147.  This was the first Fish and Wildlife goose to operate around Kodiak.  It was based here in the late 40's until and accident in the fall of 1956.  It was shipped to McKinnon Enterprises in Oregon and was converted to a 4 engine Lycoming powered Goose.  It's whereabouts are unknown at this time.


 

 N150M, S/N 1147.  This is the ex-Fish and Wildlife goose, N709 after its conversion to a 4 engine Lycoming powered aircraft.  Its whereabouts are unknown at this time.
Goose - N69264, S/N 1195 N69264, S/N 1195, is believed to be the first commercially operated Grumman Goose based in Kodiak.  It was operated by Vince Daly starting in the 50's and operated into the early 60's.  This is reported to be the same goose that crashed and sunk at Point Baker, Alaska on August 25th, 1974, and registered as N1045.
Goose - N69264, S/N 1195 N69264, S/N 1195,  This is a picture of Vice Daly departing from Port Bailey in the Early 1950's. 

N1583V S/N 1125.  This was the first Grumman Goose purchased by Kodiak Airways.  It was purchased from Catalina Airlines in 1956.  It is pictured here in Kodiak with the original Catalina Air Paint scheme.

N1583V S/N 1125.  Here it is in its Kodiak Airways red and white paint scheme preparing for takeoff.

 

 
N1583V S/N 1125.  A beautiful shot of 83V headed for Wide Bay. During the 1964 tidal wave 83V was down in the states being rebuilt.  Sadly 83V was lost on a trip returning from Old Harbor to Kodiak 12-11-74 after encountering bad weather.  All were lost including Bob Hall’s son “Robbie” who was the pilot.  He will always be remembered.
 
N1503V S/N 1020.  This was the second Goose that Kodiak Airways purchased from Catalina Airlines in 1957.  Unfortunately it crashed on takeoff from Old Harbor in December 1961. During a salvage attempt the plane was destroyed in its entirety.

N1503V S/N 1020.  This picture was taken at Old Harbor in the late 50’s during the mail run.  Notice the smoked salmon hanging on drying racks.

 
Goose - N68174 S?N 1173 N68174 S/N 1173.  This plane was purchased by Kodiak Airways in late 1958.  One of their favorites to fly, unfortunately when the tidal wave struck March 27th 1964 it was in the hangar.  Both the plane and the hangar were lost during the tidal wave.

N69263 S/N 1132.  This Goose joined the Kodiak Airways fleet in the early 60’s.  It was saved from the tidal wave by Al Cratty who flew it from the downtown seaplane base to the Kodiak Municipal strip as the wave was coming in.  The Goose flew with Kodiak Airways until about 1990 when it was sold to Catalina Seaplanes.  It is now under private ownership, located in Missouri.
N87U S/N B-126.  Kodiak Airways expanded their fleet with this Goose in the fall of 1964.  It is shown here with a blown right engine and a feathered right prop.  The crew is preparing to tow it up the ramp at the downtown location to do maintenance.

N87U S/N B-126.  Here is a good shot of 87U in Kodiak Airways colors on final for the Kodiak Municipal strip.  It had a long history in Kodiak, and is now privately owned.  It is painted in military colors.  It was featured in the Mel Gibson movie “Forever Young”.

 

N88U S/N B-100.  As Kodiak Airways continued to add planes to its fleet, this Goose arrived in the summer of 1970.  This was Bob Hall’s private Goose and leased to Kodiak Airways.  It was damaged in a mishap hauling live salmon from Akalura lake.  It was left in the lake until winter.  After the lake had frozen it was moved on top of the ice, repaired good enough to make a ferry flight back to Kodiak.  It was sold as is, and is now completely restored and flying as N600ZE, and owned by William R. Rose in Barrington, Illinois.

N88U S/N B-100.  N88U taking off from Lilly lake in Kodiak Western colors.

 

N2845D S/N B112.  Western Alaska Airlines based in Dillingham, Alaska and Kodiak Airways merged during 1969 and 1970.  Kodiak Western, as it was now called got two more Gooses added to the fleet.  Here is 45D as it looked before the Merge. 

 

N2845D S/N B-112.  Here is a picture of 45D as it looked when it flew for Kodiak Western.  The airplane was sold in 1981 to Red Dodge.  It was scheduled to be the Goose in the TV series “Tales of the Gold Monkey”.  On its way south from Anchorage on 2-20-82 it lost power in both engines near Cape Yakataga.  They had to ditch it in rough seas.  One wing float broke off, and both engines broke off from the rough landing.  Both pilots were rescued just as the plane sank.

 

N2021A S/N 114.  Here is another Western Alaska Airlines Goose that joined the Kodiak fleet with the merger.  This airplane flew with Kodiak Western until it was sold to an ex Kodiak Western pilot, Hal Dierich.  He flew 21A on a daily basis until a fatal crash on July 21st 1984 near Ouzinkie.  All were lost.

 

N2021A S/N B-114.  Here is 21A starting up the seaplane ramp at Port Bailey in 1977 in Kodiak Western colors.

 

N2021A S/N B-114. This picture was taken right after it had been rebuilt and arrived back in Kodiak for Hal’s Air Service.

 

N2021A S/N B-114.  Another view of Hal’s Air Service Goose.

 
Goose - N72PR S/N 1164

N72PR S/N 1164.  This goose was at one time N95431, and was one of Alaska Coastal Airlines fleet of 24 Gooses.  It was converted to turbine engines about 1968.  It was sold again in the 70’s and when Kodiak Western acquired N72PR, its N number had been changed, and it had been converted back to the original R-985 engines.  It flew in Kodiak only a short time before it was badly damaged after running off the runway at Old Harbor during an aborted takeoff on September 2nd 1978 because of an engine failure.
Goose - N72PR S/N 1164

N72PR S/N 1164.  N72PR flying over Kodiak

 

N3282 S/N 1110 & N327 S/N 1051.  Both of the planes were brought from Juneau to Kodiak in the spring of 1979.  They were the last Gooses operated by Kodiak Western.  By the winter of 1980 both planes were gone and Kodiak Western closed its doors forever.

 

N22932 S/N B-139.  Brought to Kodiak in the spring of 1981, by Air Transport Service, it was dubbed “The Blue Goose”.  It was painted a very overall blue paint scheme.  When Pen Air bought ATS in the 90’s 932 became part of the Pen Air Fleet.  It remained “The Blue Goose” for many years, and just recently received an all over white paint Scheme.  932 Still flies for Pen Air.

 

N22932 S/N B-139.  Another picture taken in Kodiak

 

N641 S/N B-115.  This Goose was already owned by Pen Air when they bought out Air Transport Services in Kodiak.  641 was sent to Kodiak base and flew out of Kodiak for many years.  Because it had the BLM smoke jumper door, it was very popular with the people in the bush for hauling oversized cargo.  Pen Air Sold this Goose and it is reported to be in rebuild.

 

N641 S/N B-115.  Another picture taken in Kodiak.

 

N641 S/N B-115.  A great shot of 641 taken in Kodiak.

 

N7811 S/N B-122.  This Goose has flown for the USF&W Service, then transferred to the State of Alaska, and then sold to Pen Air.  It spent several years at the Kodiak base until Pen Air pulled out of Kodiak in 2000.  N7811 Still flies for Pen Air.

 

N7811 S/N B-122.  Another shot of 811 in Kodiak.

 

N741 S/N B-97.  This Goose has flown for the USF&W Service and then was transferred to the State of Alaska, and then Sold to Pen Air.  It spent several years at the Kodiak base until Pen Air pulled out of Kodiak in 2000.  N741 still flies for Pen Air.

 

N741 S/N B-97.  Another shot of 741 on the beach in Kodiak.