RCAF vehicles in domestic service

[Hanno Spoelstra]

A nice C60S Tipper:

"Truck of the RCAF with a plane beside - ca July 1943."
a064700-v8.jpg
Source: Canada. Dept. of National Defence / Library and Archives Canada / PA-064700

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Nice 1939 Chevrolet panel van in gloss paint, body in blue and mudguards / wings in black. It has LHD so it was built for domestic use (i.e. in Canada).

"Truck - panel Chevrolet, 23 Sept. 1939"
a063507-v8.jpg
Source: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Collec...Number=3581420

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Dodge Bomb Loading truck for domestice use, by 1943 it was still painted in the pre-war scheme of gloss blue/black. By that time vehicles used overseas were painted in the relevant Army camouflage colours.

"RCAF Bomb loading truck, 4 May 1943"
a065172-v8.jpg
Source: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Collec...Number=3589507

"R.C.A.F. Mechanical Transport Vehicle, Apr. 1943"
a065194-v8.jpg
Source: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Collec...Number=3586785

The same type of truck is still in the same colour scheme when in service post-war:

"M.T. vehicle, truck - SC bomb hoist, 5 Jan. 1949"
a066154-v8.jpg
Source: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Collec...Number=3584202

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Another CMP in service with the RCAF, a GM C60X with census number 37-098.

Are my eyes deceiving me or does this C60X have it chassis and mudguards painted black?!?

"RCAF M.T. lorry, exterior view, 21 July 1943"
a064609-v8.jpg
Source: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Collec...Number=3582986

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

Are my eyes deceiving me or does this C60X have it chassis and mudguards painted black?!?

I agree Hanno...it looks like the chassis, fenders and even inner fenders and bumper might be painted gloss black.....matching the colour scheme of the other vehicles you posted. But...indeed 1943....seems a bit unusual (late) for this paint scheme. I am not saying the date on the picture is wrong.....I think it's more likely that (some) vehicles for domestic use were still being painted in the pre-war paint scheme(?).

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Originally Posted by Alex van de Wetering

I agree Hanno...it looks like the chassis, fenders and even inner fenders and bumper might be painted gloss black.....matching the colour scheme of the other vehicles you posted. But...indeed 1943....seems a bit unusual (late) for this paint scheme. I am not saying the date on the picture is wrong.....I think it's more likely that (some) vehicles for domestic use were still being painted in the pre-war paint scheme(?).

Thanks for the confirmation, Alex. It is my understanding that RCAF vehicles for domestic use were painted in the pre-war colour scheme as specified by the RCAF. This could be blue/black, yellow or red for airside vehicles or just plain black for administrative vehicles like light cars.

The gloss paint is easier to maintain and black is carried as a standard colour by all manufacturers. Of course, vehicles like CMPs trucks came in the standard flat Army colours. The C60S tipper shown above still had that colour by 1949 (see below).

So I reckon that GM C60X in RCAF blue/black must have been one of very few thus repainted!


Some samples shown below:

Colour: gloss black
Door marking: R.C.A.F. No 2000 RE
"1941 Chevrolet - staff car with flag, 18 June 1941"
a063852-v8.jpg
Source: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Collec...Number=3581798

Colour: yellow with black chassis and fenders
Door marking: R.C.A.F. No 345
"Ford refuelling truck, 4 May 1943"
a065171-v8.jpg
Source: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Collec...Number=3589506

Colour: Khaki Green G3 / S.C.C.2 brown / S.C.C.15 Olive Drab (you tell me, but it is flat paint)
Census number: 36-405
"M.T. vehicle, truck - 2 ton dump, 25 Jan. 1949"
a066152-v8(1).jpg
Source: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Collec...Number=3584200

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Some types like this Aerodrome Control Car had a different paint scheme specified for later contracts (or were repainted during the course of their service).

This International Aerodrome Control Car was first painted airside yellow with a black roof to minimise glare for the air traffic controllers.

"R.C.A.F. Mechanical Transport Vehicle,12 Apr. 1943"
Census: R.C.A.F. No 4925
a065200-v8.jpg
Source: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Collec...Number=3586779

The next picture shows the same type of truck in a flat drab paint of some sort with white panels.

"RCAF Station - Aerodrome Control Car, 14 Mar. 1944"
Census: R.C.A.F. 35-725 BY
a136730-v8.jpg
Source: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/Collec...Number=3199203

[Alex van de Wetering]

Originally Posted by Hanno Spoelstra

It is my understanding that RCAF vehicles for domestic use were painted in the pre-war colour scheme as specified by the RCAF. This could be blue/black, yellow or red for airside vehicles or just plain black for administrative vehicles like light cars.

Good point Hanno; that's new to me. I was responding with the RAF "rules" in mind...not realising there is a big difference between domestic UK and domestic Canada.....with UK being under constant threat from the air, especially in the early part of the war!

Andre Gibeault's C60X is painted in RCAF gloss blue and black for chassis. I understand that since Andre's passing, his collection has moved to Borden.
Attached is a picture borrowed from Flickr.

30817443077_b9fec60c36_h.jpg
source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/736834...43077/sizes/l/