WC 54 Dodge Ambulances ?

[Robert Dabkowski]

Can anyone tell me whether or not the Canadian Forces used these trucks in WWII, Korea, Cyprus, peace keeping wherever ?
Thanks, Robert in Toronto

[Mark W. Tonner]

Robert;

Use of the WC 54 Dodge Ambulance by Cdn Forces:

- WWII - no, not that I'm aware of.

- Korea - possible - there is a reference in AHQ Report # 062 - Canadian Participation in the Korean War - Part 1: 25 Jun 50 - 31 Mar 52 - Para 70 - to the effect that Cdn vehs were to be replaced by US pattern vehs.

- Cyprus - no.

- other peacekeeping missions - unknown, but I don't think so.

Hope this helps.

Cheers

[Mark W. Tonner]

Robert;

Bit of a follow-up:

Regarding Korea, the history of the RCASC mentions that the US pattern vehs that were issued to No. 54 Transport Company, RCASC and No. 38 Motor Ambulance Company, RCASC, were of WWII vintage. Also, I think if Art Johnson happens to read your post, he could probably give you a definite answer on the use of the WC 54 Dodge Ambulance by the Cdn Forces in Korea. Over to you Art.............

Regarding use by Cdn Forces in peacekeeping operations, the attached picture is of the Cdn Forces vehicles bound for UNEF on board H.M.C.S. Magnificent (1956/57), the two ambulances pictured are not WC 54's and I can't remember their proper name at the moment, just remember them by "3/4 Ton Box Ambs". So I doubt that Cdn Forces ever used WC 54's on peacekeeping ops.

Anyways, that's my 2¢ worth.

Cheers

[Jon Skagfeld]

Reference "box ambs" aboard the Maggie...they appear to be, or are a variant, of the M152 series Dodge Cdn fleet. Rob Dabkowski might comment further.

[Lars Ulvestad]

I think the ambulances seen on the picture are Dodge T249 M43CDN (built on the T249 3/4-ton 4X4 chassis) on their way to service in UNEF. The Canadians had a medical detachment in UNEF-service from late in 1956 until October 1957 when the Canadian Medical Detachment and the Norwegian Medical Coy together formed the UNEF Hospital in the Canadian Camp in Rafah in the Gaza Strip. The hospital continued to be a Canadian/Norwegain joint-service to March 1959.

I finished a Master Degree about Norwegian Field Hospital's in international service (UN/NATO) last summer, and I have seen pictures of these Canadian ambulances painted in white and with UN registration numbers. The Norwegian Medical Coy / Field Hospital didn't bring any ambulances, but if they had it would probably have been WC 54's.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Hi Guys;

Here's a clearer picture of the ambulance type that the Maggie was carrying to UNEF service.

Cheers

[Lars Ulvestad]

A few books later I found one picture showing two of these M43CDN in the UNEF Hospital in Camp Rafah.

[Mark W. Tonner]

Robert;

It's a little beat-up, but this is one of the ambulances used by CANLOG (UNDOF) on the Golan Heights (1982), you'll have to excuse the snow, worst storm in 40 yrs, or so they said.

Cheers

[Lars Ulvestad]

This one seems to be a US-built Kaiser Jeep M725 (Truck, 1 1/4-ton, 4X4, Ambulance, M725) from the late 1960's.

[Robert Dabkowski]

Many thanks to you all for the info. + photos posted. My question didn't flush out much WC 54 detail but I now know more about the (4) M43s that I own (2 ambulances, 2 variants). Am now even MORE bewildered about the various sizes, styles and positions of the red crosses applied to these trucks. Every photo shows a different background shape, font and location. I thought that the military would standardize things like that but I guess not.

Anyway, now that you are all thinking about ambulances, I am also researching the use of International Harvester M5, M9 and M14 halftracks as armoured ambulances during WWII. I know that the Canadian and British forces used them and have seen several exterior photos of them with red crosses/tarps mounted. What I need is a photo, sketch or verbal description of the internal layout of such an ambulance. I am restoring an M5/M9 combination and would like to fabricate/install whatever stretcher racks/fittings were mounted inside. I did manage to track down the IHC archives but the ambulance "kits" were fabricated by other companies and mostly installed in the UK during pre-invasion training. ANY leads much appreciated. Robert in Toronto

[Ian McCallum]

Originally posted by Robert Dabkowski
Am now even MORE bewildered about the various sizes, styles and positions of the red crosses applied to these trucks. Every photo shows a different background shape, font and location. I thought that the military would standardize things like that but I guess not.

Robert,

While researching photos of C8A ambulances 'in service' to complete my restoration as authentically as possible I came across the same problem. When the large red crosses were applied for front line service it appears the rule was "to be applied as large as possible to horizontal and vertical sides to aid recognition". In the case of the C8A this means that on some of the photos this was taken literally and the white circle extended above the gutter line and slightly onto the curve of the roof. On others they purely filled the space between top of rear mudguard and gutter line. Likewise with the red cross some appear too narrow for the size of circle some look right! I am sure there must have been a formal standard but like everything else would be down to interpretation.

Ian :

Mark and Rob. Frankly I wouldn’t know one Dodge 3/4 ton from another. Nobody told
me 50 years ago to pay attention and that they would be asking questions later on.
When I was wounded I was taken out in a Jeep Ambulance to the RAP and from there to
the CCP in the same or similar vehicle. From the CCP to 8055 MASH was in a bigger
vehicle that still only took two strechers as I remember. This could well have been a
Dodge vehicle. I don’t recall anything about the trip from MASH to the Canadian Hospital
in Seoul. From there I went to 121 Evacuation Hospital (US) in a much larger ambulance,
it took four strechers and the cab was seperate from the driving compartment. The interior
of this vehicle was quite high I was on one of the top strechers and had difficulty reaching
the roof with my hand to brace myself on the rough roads.
The RCASC web site has a number of pictures of vehicles from WWII and Korea on it.
Unfortunatelly I was not able to bring some of the ambulace pictures up. The URL below
shows the type of Jeep ambulance in service in Korea.

Rob, what is the latest on 695?

[Mark W. Tonner]

Thanks Art, ...........its ok, I have a hard time remembering yesterday most of the time.

Cheers

[Bob Moseley (RIP)]

Hi all - just to add to your confusion, here is an image of Ada's and mine ambulance. It's a 1945 Ford Blitz that was restored many years ago by the late Ken Hughes. The body isn't original as its been tinned over. Was originally canvas over a wooden frame. We are in the process of getting her running again, motor, all boxes and brakes. Be a great camper when done.

Bob

Boy how wrong can you get. My trip from the CCP to MASH was in a helicopter not an ambulance.