RCAF vehicles in domestic service

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Thread about RCAF trucks in domestic service in Canada:

Ford stake truck towing a trailer with a captured Stuka aircraft during a "Buy War Bonds" parade. In Canada, date and location unknown.

The Ford was built for so-called domestic use, only to be used in Canada and not overseas. Thus it has LHD, a blue/black gloss paint scheme and census number R.C.A.F. 32-937.

For more details on the Stuka see Captured Ju 87 Stuka on War Bonds parade.

257968032_10160992558265701_5305794764260054265_n.jpg

[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]

Original Toronto Star caption: "Tractor driving is among various branches of the vehicle operating trade in which W.D.'s replace men in the R.C.A.F.
Pictured above is an airwoman driving the type of tractor used on R.C.A.F. stations to take aircraft on and off the tarmac."

84812.jpg
Source: https://digitalarchive.tpl.ca/object...he-vehicle-ope

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Has anyone seen this F15A Crash Tender before?

"RCAF crash tender on 4x4 chassis, 22 Oct 1942."

60fe0d93f8a0bd5c36b43074_RCAF-crash-tender-on-4-X---chassis--22-Oct-1942---MIKAN-No--3582294.jpeg 60fe0d9340ad09fe1db85d57_RCAF-crash-tender-on-4-X---chassis--22-Oct-1942---MIKAN-No--3582259.jpeg
Source: Library and Archives Canada Photo, MIKAN No. 3582294 and 3582259 via https://www.silverhawkauthor.com/pos...-equipment-mse

[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

[Hanno Spoelstra]

What on earth is the function of this trailer?


"Exterior 3/4 view from front end motor, flaps up, milk tender, U.S. 240"
RCAF files, date 13 Nov. 1944
a065343-v8.jpg
Source: http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redire...83584&lang=eng

[Hanno Spoelstra]

Postwar, US-built vehicles are becoming the norm.

"Radio equipment"
Date(s): 18 Feb. 1949
Place: Sudbury, Ont.,
a066172-v8.jpg
Source: http://central.bac-lac.gc.ca/.redire...84220&lang=eng