EAGLE LAKE, Maine — A new pilot for the Maine Warden Service was selected Friday to fill a vacancy left after a veteran pilot was killed in a plane crash last year.
Officials with the warden service announced Friday that Alex Candlin Barry, an Old Town native and University of Maine graduate, was hired for the Eagle Lake patrol. He takes over the area once served by Warden Pilot Daryl R. Gordon, a 25-year veteran who died last March when his plane crashed on Clear Lake in a remote section of Piscataquis County
Gordon, 60, of Eagle Lake was patrolling alone. He was the 15th game warden to die in the line of duty in the Maine Warden Service’s 130-year history.
Barry holds a bachelor’s degree in forestry and joined the Maine Air National Guard in 2003. He attended Air Force pilot training and also attended KC-135 tanker training in Oklahoma. He has been a full-time aircraft commander in KC-135 tankers stationed out of Bangor since April 2005.
Barry gained civilian flight experience with a family-owned Cessna 180 and 185.
“I am very excited to have this position and I am looking forward to getting out and working with department employees,” he said in a written statement Friday.
Warden pilots must possess a commercial pilot license and have experience in the operation of aircraft in bush-type conditions. State officials said that 19 pilots from across the country applied for the position.
“I am very pleased that we were able to bring Alex aboard,” said Chief Pilot Charles Later. “His flight experience in the same type of Cessna’s that we operate all four seasons across the state is crucial to the position. As an aircraft commander for the Maine Air Guard, he has demonstrated the ability to make critical decisions that not only affect the safety of a multi-million dollar aircraft, but more importantly that of his crew.”
Barry is working with Later out of the Greenville Air Base to become familiar with warden service air operations. He will be assuming the Eagle Lake patrol next week.
Candlin???? Nice picture Axle!!
God speed old boy!
Good luck.
I hope to see another picture when get his, red ? for safety in woods, is it, dress uniform ?
In part of the world, being a game warden, and battling poachers is like being in a war zone,
because of the world trade in endangered species (parts) .
Here is to the tradition of the Maine Warden Service in hopes it never comes to that
in our forests.
Lewiston Daily Sun – December 23, 1940 – Monday – Page 10 – Headlines – Fish-Game Clubs Seek to Boost Warden’s Pay – Augusta – Representatives of ten counties attending Sunday’s meeting of the Federated Fish and Game clubs of Maine at the Augusta House voted to wage an active campaign to increase the pay of the State’s 100 wardens. In the absence of President Charles Waterman of Portland, Vice-President, Ray T. Mills of Auburn presided over the meeting. It was pointed out that wardens now are paid $28 top wages, must furnish their own uniforms and cars, and that for two years they have been allowed mileage scaled downward from five cents after the first thousand miles. Delegates expressed the belief the wardens’ pay should be on a par with the State police.
Maine Game Warden deaths on Memorial Page website
Maine Game Warden Daryl Gordon was killed in a plane crash on March 25, 2011 in a remote on the frozen Clear Lake in Piscataquis County. He was flying a department-owned Cessna 185 when it crashed sometime during the evening of March 24, 2011. A massive search was launched and wreckage, along with Warden Gordon’s body, were located the following morning at approximately 9:00 am. Warden Gordon had served with the Maine Warden Service for 25 years. He is survived by his wife and two adult children.
Maine Game Warden William F. Hanrahan suffered a fatal heart attack on November 21, 1992 while investigating reports of drunk hunters in the woods. Warden Hanrahan had served with the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife – Warden Service for 15 years. He is survived by his wife, daughter, and three sons.
Maine Game Warden Pilot Richard E. Varney drowned September 27, 1972 after his plane crashed into Maranacook Lake. He had just taken off from the lake base when the plane experienced a malfunction and crashed into the lake. He was able to exit the plane but drowned before rescuers could make it to his location.
Maine Game Warden R. Lyle Frost, Jr. was killed on July 1, 1968 in an explosion while blowing up beaver dams.
Maine Game Warden Pilot George E. Townsend was killed on August 27, 1956 when the plane he was piloting crashed into Maranacook Lake shortly after taking off from its base in nearby Tallwood. Game Warden Pilot Townsend was survived by his wife and two sons.
Maine Game Warden Randall E. Shelley suffered a fatal heart attack on June 3, 1946 while attempting to free his vehicle after it became stuck. He and his partner were patrolling the Moxie-Jackman area when the incident occurred.
Maine Game Warden Supervisor Robert L. Moore was killed in an automobile accident at Mayfield Crossing, near Bingham on October 22, 1935. At the time of the accident, Warden Moore was driving his specially modified vehicle along some railroad tracks. As he approached a blind crossing, his vehicle was struck by a sedan.
Maine Game Warden Jean Baptiste Jalbert drowned on May 13, 1933 when his canoe capsized on the St. Francis River. The river was full of logs as a result of the spring log drive. The canoe struck one of the logs and overturned, throwing Warden Jalbert into the water.
Maine Deputy Game Warden Lee H. Parker was shot and killed on September 1, 1927 after stopping a vehicle that contained four subjects who were spotlighting deer. The passenger of the vehicle shot Deputy Warden in the chest at point blank range. Deputy Warden Parker was survived by his wife and five children.
Maine Game Warden Mertley E. Johnston and Game Warden David F. Brown were shot and killed on November 14, 1922 while investigating illegal beaver trapping on Loon Stream near the Canadian border. After shooting both wardens, the Canadian suspect placed their bodies under the ice on the stream. Their bodies weren’t located until May 22, 1923.
Maine Game Warden Leslie Robinson was killed in an automobile accident on October 8, 1921 while on patrol in the Ripogenus area. His car overturned during a severe snowstorm. His partner was not seriously injured in the accident.
Maine Game Warden Arthur G. Deag drowned on July 19, 1921 after his canoe capsized on the West Branch of the Penobscot River. It is believed that the opening of Rip Dam caused a surge of water that overturned the canoe. Warde Deag struck his head on a hard object in the water and drowned. The son of the commissioner of Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife was riding in the canoe with Warden Deag but was able to make it safety.
Maine Deputy Game Warden Charles W. Niles and Warden Lymon O. Hill were shot and killed on November 8, 1886 while attempting to arrest two poachers near Fletcher’s Brook. Deputy Warden Niles and Warden Hill had been tracking the poachers, who had been using dogs to run deer, for about ten days. When they finally approached the men, an argument broke out. As Deputy Warden Niles took off his coat in order to take hold of the poachers’ dog, one of the poachers pulled out a double-barrel shotgun and opened fire. Deputy Warden Niles and Warden Hill were both killed instantly. The poachers escaped after the incident, but a posse was formed to find and arrest them.
Congratulations warden Barry , you’ll love Eagle Lake and you’ve got big shoes to fill !