UNIQUE WOOD CARGO BODY

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:16 am

One modification of the CCKW was the High Lift truck with a scissors type lift. It was used to transfer cargo into Army Air Force transport aircraft. These Wood Cargo Bodies were manufactured by Garwood and Heil. The wood tailgates were actually loading ramps. The Manual for this truck is a T.O..

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:26 am

These trucks were sometimes repainted Yellow by the AAF and later USAF. There were no troop seats.

Matt · Post by **Matt** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:36 am

Do any of these survive with the body lift intact? I've never seen one in preservation.

Matt.

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:40 am

I have a colored photo of one of these trucks somewhere in my archives. They are loading supplies onto a C54 at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 10:51 am

They started disappearing in the mid 50s were some the last of the CCKWs in service, lasting into the early 60s. They were replaced by a commercial 1955 era 10 Ton 6X4 GMC V-8 powered truck with an improved steel body. My take on their phasing out was due to the army phasing out the CCKW by the 60s. They were a popular sight at USAF Bases.
Joel

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:14 pm

There was also another move and that was by the Air Force to move from the side entrance doored cargo planes to the rear entry low slung fuselage aircraft so that could be loaded with the use of ramps The developement and use of these type of aircraft started in the fifties and continues until today.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:29 pm

These trucks were unique, and the last one I saw was being used to service an engine on a B-36 at Dow AFB in 1956.

joel gopan · Post by **joel gopan** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 12:51 pm

One of these high lift bodies was used until recently as a freight elevator in the old Star Beef building in Bangor. The building was demolished two years ago.
Joel

Bill_Wolf · Post by **Bill_Wolf** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:21 pm

Where did the body go?

joel gopan wrote:One of these high lift bodies was used until recently as a freight elevator in the old Star Beef building in Bangor. The building was demolished two years ago.
Joel

Bill_Wolf · Post by **Bill_Wolf** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:23 pm

Picture hidden on the website:

http://www.cckw.org/cckw_articles.htm

armydriver wrote:I have a colored photo of one of these trucks somewhere in my archives. They are loading supplies onto a C54 at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas.

dr deuce · Post by **dr deuce** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 3:27 pm

The C54 didn't come into service until very late in ww2. The need for the scissors lift was probably limited because of that. I just read an article about the drop across the Rhine in 1945. The Brits were using C54s because of their heavier gliders.

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:54 pm

That it Weasle nut. I wonder what ever happened to that truck as it has never shown up here in SA even though there is a disposal outlet at Kelly AFB.

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 4:58 pm

I just noticed how the spare tire is mounted. Unusal configuration to say the least for a wooden cargo bed truck.

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:04 pm

That must have been pretty sensative cargo. Note the two airpolice under the wing, what appears to be other personel that have the area cordoned off and also what appears to be a jeep forward of the nose of the aircraft.

Bill_Wolf · Post by **Bill_Wolf** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:10 pm

I noticed that too......

Either secret or they wanted to be "Movie Stars'

I have always loved those yellow trucks....especially the USAAF CCKW tanker....I think it gives it "personality".

I have a spare wood steering wheel that color yellow.

Bill

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:17 pm

Definately, if I had a CCKW tanker it would be flight line yellow. I have also noted that I don't think this is a Douglas C-54. Not enough engines. I believe it is a Convair C-131 that went into service around 1948 with the Air Force.

dr deuce · Post by **dr deuce** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:24 pm

Did you all notice the directionals...?

Bill_Wolf · Post by **Bill_Wolf** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 5:32 pm

I know somebody who has a nice CCKW airfield tanker about to be restored but he wants to paint it OD....

dr deuce · Post by **dr deuce** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 6:04 pm

And rightly (OD) so...

War zone tankers are OD! One can/color of paint fits all

Haven't you left yet...?

armydriver · Post by **armydriver** » Wed Feb 08, 2006 7:16 pm

Color is in the eye of the beholder. I like the yellow tankers, but then I painted my cargo, which was Air Force flight line yellow OD, so go figure.

The GMC CCKW

UNIQUE WOOD CARGO BODY

UNIQUE WOOD CARGO BODY

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