Can anyone identify this RAAF crane

[cliff]

The truck is one of the Holden modified Aussie Airbourne GMC's as well. Good find as I missed this photo during my search for photos of the Aussie Airbourne GMC.

I would say the crane set up is a field modified job probably when the cranes regular mover either packed a sad or was destroyed before the war finished. It could even be a piece of Japanese equipment modified for use.

[ozm29c]

Fellows,
My father purchased the remains of a hard cab GMC a few years ago that may have been a crane version. Attached is a photo showing how the rear springs had been replaced with 'Beams' (I am not sure how to properly describe them) which may have been fitted to better support possibly a crane. Anyway please enlighten me if this is indeed a post war mod? The workmanship in these beams was second to none. BTW This GMC had a very early chassis serial number as well.
Cheers
John W.

[ozm29c]

Try the beam photo again

[cliff]

Originally Posted by ozm29c

Try the beam photo again

post war modification.

[lynx42]

Take a trip to Wilson Cranes in Mildura, Australia, and you will see around 8 to 10 of these dinosaur cranes. Another fitted to a Aussie softcab GMC is just out of Ballarat still fitted with it's crane.1
Regards Rick

[cliff]

Originally Posted by lynx42

Another fitted to a Aussie softcab GMC is just out of Ballarat still fitted with it's crane.1
Regards Rick

Rick is the GMC the later standard model GMC soft top military cab or a closed cab with it's steel roof replaced with a demountable canvas roof like that in the original photo in this thread?

[Lang]

There was an identical crane to this sitting at Sumner Park in Brisbane for years until the late 80's. Still had all the RAAF Base Amberley markings from the 50's but the interesting thing was that the truck was not a GMC but an FWD. What happened to it?

[JFL]

Originally Posted by lynx42

Take a trip to Wilson Cranes in Mildura, Australia, and you will see around 8 to 10 of these dinosaur cranes. Another fitted to a Aussie softcab GMC is just out of Ballarat still fitted with it's crane.1
Regards Rick

Actually Rick, the cranes in Wilsons junk yard are G-Well's They are different to the picture as they have a single hydraulic ram to lift the boom whereas the crane pictured is all cable operated.
As for the cranes near Ballarat I presume you are referring to the two at Rokewood Junction. The GMC there was owned for a period by Rickey bros Ballarat. I drove it many times in the late 70s. Prior to that it was owned by "Barney the wrecker" in Sebastopol.He used it in his wrecking yard and contracted with it. The Inter crane was previously owned by a tank maker in delecombe, It had a cab-over prime mover before the inter. It may have been a foden, but I'm not sure. I don't know who made the cranes as there was no makers plate that I know of, but I was told they were left behind by the Americans.Rickeys were big buyers of war surplus trucks and machinery and there was still a lot left in use until the early 80s.

[lynx42]

Thanks JFL for that info. I didn't realize that there was a difference between the cranes.
Welcome to the Forum. I see that this is your first posting.
Who is JFL? We would like to know more about you. You look like you have plenty of knowledge to share, and this is the place to share it.
Regards Rick