Hello Jim.
Wondered where that "Radar" CMP had gone to. Peter Ford and I had a look at it about 10 years ago in the Ft. Garry area of Winnipeg and it disappeared from that area a couple of years later when a new subdivision went in.
The truck is one of an 8 vehicle Radar Caravan developed by Canada during WW2. Peter had researched the details of the caravan, but we were unable to confirm exactly what equipment this particular truck carried. It was clearly set up for a lot of electronic gear, as one could trace a series of electric blowers around the perimeter of the truck at approximately chair rail height and the center of the box roof held a large porcelin insulator, possibly a communication antenna mount. The specific Data Plates that identified the equipment setup for each truck in the caravan were made of a hard black 'plastic' designed to be broken easily if the vehicle had to be abandonned, and I believe Peter's research indicated each vehicle carried a demo charge as well. The plate was gone in this truck, but one could still see where it had mounted.
This particular vehicle would have been mated up with another one in the caravan. The two vehicles would approach each other from the left side about eight feet apart and park opposite each other. The lower left side would drop to form a walkway, with the upper half forming a roof. A similar setup would take place with the second vehicle. A series of hooks around the outside perimeter of the opening on each truck allowed a canvas cover to be installed, thereby joining the two vehicles together with a weather resistant walkway.
Peter's research on these Canadian Radar Caravans also indicated at least one of these caravans (personnel and all) had been requested to be seconded to the US Military to provide air protection for the Panama Canal during the war.
This truck was part of a caravan that served at RCAF Station Winnipeg during or immediately after the war. The cab showed the original green wartime paint with Royal Canadian Air Force printed out in small caps, with the wartime reg'n number below it. In it's latter service years if got the newer Hazard Yellow paint job, the initials RCAF and a new numbering system. After demob, the other seven vehicles were sold off, but this one lingered at the base for a few more years as a 'smoke shack' before being sold. It disappeared onto civvie street for years until surfacing in Ft. Garry when Peter and I spotted it. The owner then wanted the running gear to build a mud truck, but probably ran out of time when the city expropriated the property for development.
Hope this info helps.
David
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