ex USN 153579

Sitting at readiness during the summer wildfire season at Ukiah Fire Attack Base. Originally built as a Grumman S-2F Tracker for the US Navy, 153579. Converted to turbine power by Marsh as an S-2F3AT in 2000, joining the USDA Forest Service. Then operated by the California Department of Forestry and Fire Prevention as firebomber "90".

This is former US Marines Tracker Bu136421, which still has '6421' visible on the fin and 'Marines' on the wings. It was registered to the California Department of Forestry (CDF) as N434DF on 23 Jan 1974, but obviously it was never taken in service and the registration was never applied to the aircraft. Instead it ended up as a spares aircraft for the CDF at Sequoia Field, where it remained until it was moved to the Castle Air Museum on 14 Nov 2012. On 1 Feb 2000 the same registration N434DF was issued to Tracker c/n 335C.

Originally S-2G Tracker 153579 with the US Navy, the US Forestry Commission got this aircraft out of storage in 1996. Converted to turbine in 2000 and used by CAL Fire.