Clarktor Aircraft Tugs in Britain and Australia

[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

[Lang]

David,

You might be right.

There are photos (and some recently recovered aircraft) of brand new Royal Navy Corsairs being dumped just off Caloundra near Brisbane in 1945.

I suppose there could have been Clarktors associated with some of that activity.

Lang

[Lang]

Here is a USMC aircraft in the Pacific with a tractor.

[Lynn Eades]

It's a Ford.

[Mike Cecil]

Seems the possibilities for their ending up in Australia are almost endless - RAAF, RAN, RN, ex-RAF, private import - given the absence of any evidence other than (1) supplied to British under a Brit contract and (2) now in Australia. The 'bit in the middle' between (1) and (2) is indeed intriguing!

Unlike the Army (who used almost anyone's registration numbers!) the RAAF appear to have been pretty diligent in recording a registration against an acquired equipment item, even as late as at the time of it's disposal, in order to account for it's existence. I suppose that's easier given the small fleet totals at any one time. Odd things pop up, plenty seemingly out of sequence and with the acquisition field simply listed as 'not known', but with a known disposals date.

The ones that crack me up are the 'not sighted': ie we know we had it, but now we just don't seem to be able to find it....

Mike C

[Lynn Eades]

Mike, When I was an army apprentice, the CQMS has a line of damaged tools laid out,on the floor of his store, in preparation for a "board of survey" ("writing them off").
At the end of the line were 3 cresents drawn in chalk on the floor.
While I was watching the Boarding Officer was there.
He asked the CQMS what the chalk marks were.
The CQMS said " three by eight inch Cresents Sir"
The Boarding Officer asked What is wrong with them?
The CQMS walked over, with chalk in hand, and drew a line through them, Immediately answering "they are broken Sir!"
On acceptance by the Boarding Officer, the CQMS's books were balanced, in military style.
It probably didn't always go that well.

[Rod Lovell]

Hi guys. Newbie here. I'm now the proud owner (although not home yet) of a Clarktor 46 which on the data plate states "Manufactured in Australia under licence to Clark Equipment Coy_ Michigan USA"
Serial No: O3X2184L and showing 2,353 hrs. Interestingly it has a 4 speed gearbox.
Guess who is a happy chappy?
Regards. Rod.