RCAF vehicles in domestic service

[Grant Bowker]

A couple of comments on trucks seen in the photos in the page linked to by Hanno above:


The photo of the "refrigerated panel truck" is most likely taken at RCAF station Rockcliffe (Ottawa, and yes, there was a rock cliff just behind the hangar line) as that was where 412 Sqn was based at the time. A probable use for the refrigerated panel truck would have been transport of food from the base kitchen to aircraft (passenger/VIP transport).
60fe0d93409c5b7e58c2e2c7_RCAF-panel-truck--refrigerator--No--412-Sqn--25-Jan-1949---MIKAN-No--3.jpeg


The photo of C60L 61K64 interests me as the body appears the same as that on 61K62-A43 which was recovered from very close to the Killaloe/Bonnechere airport (an easy drive from Ottawa - Uplands where 61K64 was photographed) where I understand it had been used (modified) as a runway snow plow. I suggest that the Caterpillar powered generator set looks like it was installed in the truck rather than cargo - supported by the fact that 61K62 has the traces of what might be a mounting frame welded to the floor of the box. 61K62 has a dash tag identifying it as a C60-448-M-GS-15 but there's an additional tag on the lower cab back frame identifying the truck as one modified by Research Enterprises Ltd (among other things they built radar trains mounted on trucks and trailers that would have needed electric power).
60fe0d9226c1600316023997_RCAF-truck-No--61K64-A43-with-Diesel-engine-pack-loaded--Uplands--13-A.jpeg