Australian Chevrolet books

[Mike K]

I found these pics in the GM-H collection which is held by the Sth Australian state library.

1941: Looks like the manufacturing of the 18 inch divided rims ? The large drill press is a 'camel back' model, it is fitted with a recirculating cutting fluid pump. The vertical lathe appears to be profiling or sizing the edge of the rims. They must have used a very large press in order to stamp the rims. Ford Aust. also manufactured 18 inch army rims. I've noticed that a few different styles of these rims were used, the design evolved. The Australian Army went against the grain when they chose to use the odd sized 18" wheels.

[Mike K]

This 1941 article claims the 18 inch wheels will fit Canadian War Office pattern trucks !

[Mike K]

While looking in the red covered GM-H 1940 repair manual, I came across this signature and army service number . He signed his name in a few other pages.

A quick search in the naa system found his records. Archibald Glover was shipped to New Guinea in July 1942, he spent 1 and 1/2 years there . He was transferred to the 158 General Transport Company. His unit was involved in a tragedy in Port Moresby , a B-24 bomber crashed into parked trucks and over 50 people were killed , including members of his unit.

Pic of one of the burnt trucks, an MCP Chevrolet.

The ship he sailed on to New Guinea, the Dutch owned SS Both. https://birtwistlewiki.com.au/wiki/SS_Both

"in 1943 members of 2/33rd Infantry battalion and 158th General Transport Company were waiting at Jackson’s Airfield near Port Moresby, when a B-24 Liberator bomber accidentally crashed among where the 5 trucks were waiting.
62 men were killed and over 90 were injured; 2 men of 158th General Transport Company and 60 from 2/33rd Infantry battalion - a third of the battalion's fatal casualties for the entire war. Eleven members of the American Liberator aircrew also died in the accident."

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Very interesting to read this, Mike! From the manufacturing of wheels to the sadness of needless loss of life. I sometimes wonder if more lives were lost during training and accidents than during actual combat? For the FAA squadron one of my great uncles served in, that was certainly the case