Clarktor Aircraft Tugs in Britain and Australia

[Mike Cecil]

The first recorded Clarktor tractors in the RAAF were purchased in early 1946. They were Clarktor 6 models with serials commencing with/prefixed with CM33, and were listed as 'Tractor, Stores'.

Only a small number were purchased in a single batch, with no subsequent purchases between then and the mid-1960s (when my 'good' data gets kind of, errr, 'patchy'....).

RAN also operated Clarktor aircraft tugs /tractors on carrier decks (Sydney, Melbourne) and at the RANAS at Nowra.

Mike C

[Lang]

Mike,

The Clark people in USA have sent me all the production info.

As we said Jarrod's and my BH (British Heavy) series CT6 Clarktors are from a British order Government Specification 91-66 in 1941. 690 were bult in Michigan and shipped to UK/Middle East.

The CT6 CM-33 series you mention were built 1944/45 for a total of 3,065 units. They only had single back wheels.

I imagine there would have been many left in Australia by the Americans that finished up in RAAF use. They must have carried on through the 50's mainly with tractors??? Korean war photos of RAAF Meteors all have tractors pulling them.

Lang

[Lang]

YEP Looks like the RAAF had tractors. New delivery handover of Fergies in 50's.

[Mike Cecil]

Lang,

I was not doubting what you had said, simply adding to it: Clarktor tractors were not registered with the RAAF during the war, and only 'Tractor, Stores' were registered after the war, and then in 1946.

Do either of yours or Jarrods have RAAF registration numbers? I'd be interested to hear if they do - it would give me something positive to work with. But the chassis/serial numbers you have quoted don't appear in the RAAF records that I have located. That leads me to wonder/ask why you think they were RAAF-operated Clarktor tractors? What markings were evident on either tractor when you received them?

Mike C

[Lang]

Mike,

I have no evidence whatsoever our tugs were operated by the RAAF just weight of probability.

If they were from American delivered serial numbers you would have to conclude they were American stocks left here (whether used by the RAAF or sold to civilians directly).

Being British 1941 delivered tugs and both ours so close in serial numbers I would assume they were issued to the RAAF somewhere - most probably Middle East. The photo of the RAAF operated tug in Libya adds some possibility these two and others were brought back to Australia from there. Maybe they were handed to the Australians in the Japan Occupation Force or Korea or Malaya?
As you know any equipment picked up by these "deals" might have unit, formation or even theatre records but have absolutely nothing in the armed forces central aquisition records.

To my mind it seems unlikely they were some sort of post war civil import but who knows.

Lang

[Lynn Eades]

Lang, in the same way that Kiwi C8AX's made it into Australia, after the war. Many vehicles were pulled back from the islands, into to N.Z. and Australia by those that had the resources to do so. I imagine there was at times, some fairly stiff competition.
In New Zealand, names like Gillies and Giltrap did very well.
It is possible.

[Lang]

Lyn,

That is true, Theiss is a name from Australia bringing shiploads of vehicles and machinery in from New Guinea sales.

The Clarktors we are talking about were of British origin and could not have been brought back from Pacific post war sales (unless the Australians got them in the Middle East and subsequently took them to New Guinea which is highly unlikely)

I will try to find a photo I have seen of a USMC aircraft in the Pacific being towed by a Ford/Ferguson tractor (set up for aircraft with tow bumpers etc) demonstrating even the Americans were not totally tug oriented. On rough, newly constructed strips a tractor is far more capable than a Clarktor.

Lang

[motto (RIP)]

A possible explanation for the presence of these tugs in Australia is the build up of British naval forces in the Pacific that was already under way when the big bungers were dropped and the war ended.
I recall reading some time ago that British aircraft carriers were staging through or operating out of Sydney and there was a scramble to establish the required support that would enable the Royal Navy to operate effectively alongside the U.S.N.
I suspect some of the equipment was disposed of locally in the scaling down.

Just thought I'd throw that in.

David