Red Cross Ambulances

[J R McNarry]

This is very interesting thread, I have the responsibility of looking after the MT collection of the Commonwealth Air Training Museum in Brandon Manitoba. The collection at present consists of:

1940 Chevrolet Staff Car
1940 International Panel / Ambulance
1940 Three ton Ford Fuel tender
1942 Ford 1/4 ton pickup
1944 Ford Crash/rescue 6x6 Marmon conversion (two)
194? Dodge ordinance truck
194? Dodge rapid response fire truck
194? Willys jeep
1944 FWD SnoGO
1942 Fordson 2N utility tractor

Most of these vehicles are civillian units pressed into service on BCATP bases. The Dodge trucks and the Ford 6x6's have military data tags.

I have had some very interesting didcussions with WD drivers about the "proper" shade of blue for the Air Force units.

Seems to me they were just requisitioned as "blue" and were accepted with what was sent.

The Dodges and the Fords have evidence of the red and yellow resprayed over the black and green army colours.

I suspect civillian truck production was routed as a matter of need and the CMPs were required elsewere, so very few of those ended up in Air Force BCATP markings.

I would like to find photos of the interior of the IH Panel as an Ambulance. Its original fittings were stripped out when it was used to haul beer post WWII

Thanks John