US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

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US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by 17thAirborne » Sun May 02, 2021 7:43 am

I am happy to add this item to my collection and put in line for a restoration. It is a US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor. It is rated at 55 CFM and mounts a Wisconsin VT-4 engine. Parts for the engine are apparently plentiful.
compressor 1.jpg
compressor 2.jpg
compressor 3.jpg
compressor 4.jpg
I found the TM for this as a reprint: TM 5-5106. It is 162 pages long, so probably has great info on repair and tools to be used with it. Hopefully it arrives in a few days.

The Table of Organization and Equipment show only 1 per Airborne Engineer Glider Company, and by default only 1 in each Airborne Division. I do not have access to the Airborne Aviation Battalion TO&E, so I imagine they had several for use in airfield construction also. By all counts, there were not many in use during WW2.

Here is the TO&E excerpt:
TM (1).jpg
After WW2 a detailed report was written which interviewed several commanders of airborne companies, battalions up to the divisional level. They recounted strengths and weaknesses of tactics, techniques and equipment. Therein a comment is made that in an Airborne DIVISION, there was only 1 trailer mounted compressor. So that makes a total of 5 in airborne units, and who knows how many others elsewhere. Hopfully the TM discusses Registration Numbers, Contracts and the like.

Here is an exerpt from the After Action Report found here: https://usacac.army.mil/sites/default/f ... to-016.pdf
TM 2.png
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by 17thAirborne » Sun May 02, 2021 7:48 am

I can find no period images of this in use, but I plan on restoring it and pulling it behind in my 1942 GPW which will be tagged as the Glider Company of the 139th Airborne Engineer Battalion (17th A/B Div).
TV
Eventually I'll post the progress on my restoration site: (not maximized for mobile device)

http://gpw.castraponere.com/
.
.
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GPW Restoration.png
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by Dave M38A1 » Sun May 02, 2021 11:58 am

Looks like a cool find. That looks really useful. Should be a great project.

I have one of those 2 cylinder Wisconsin engines from a guy who used it in a wood splitter, those are good engines.



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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by 17thAirborne » Sun May 02, 2021 11:59 am

Dave,

Good to hear about the engines. Thanks for commenting.
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by 17thAirborne » Sun May 02, 2021 2:26 pm

Although a 1952 version, there is an on-line pdf of the Wisconsin Engine TM.

https://radionerds.com/images/e/e3/TM_5 ... 4_1952.pdf
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tm 5-5193.png
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by TwoCar » Tue May 04, 2021 12:27 pm

Hello Oz.

That is a great find! Very nice!

- Mike
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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by 17thAirborne » Tue May 04, 2021 1:19 pm

Mike,
Thanks. I can't wait to get it here. WIll be using Fastenal for shipping from IL. WIll post better pics upon arrival.
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by TwoCar » Tue May 04, 2021 6:50 pm

Great! I look forward to seeing them.
GPWs 196622 & 196623
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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by D.R.H. » Wed May 05, 2021 3:14 pm

I have a really soft spot in heart for generators and air compressors 17th Airborne. I can say without any reservation that I am jealous of your find, but in a good way. Great find and congratulations. :)
In Loving Memoriam: George R. Hancock. 20 Mar. 1938 - 11 Jan. 2017. U.S.A.F. 1956 - 1962. R.I.P. Dad.
In Loving Memoriam: Ann Hancock, 08 Mar. 1934 - 25 Sept. 2021. R.N. 1960 - 2005. R.I.P. Mom.
Thank You BOTH for always being there.

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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by 17thAirborne » Wed May 05, 2021 4:51 pm

Thank you sir. It will be a fun project for sure. I enjoy Airborne Engineer things.
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat May 15, 2021 4:22 am

I finally picked up the compressor from Fastenal. It weathered the trip nicely and now sits in my workshop. I have decided to tag my first GPW restoration as 139th Airborne Engineer Battalion. I'll make it the Glider Company and the Trailer Mounted Airborne Compressor will fit right in. It will be a while before I get to the formal resoration as I am focusing my attention on GPW 14518.

In the meanwhile, here are a few shots of the compressor. The data plate is in very good condition, showing a Date of Delivery of 5 June 1943, but unfortunately the Reg No is blank. There is a subsequent coat of OD over most sheet metal parts and the tool box, which bolts onto the back bumper, so I am hopeful I can reveal some unit markings.

on trailer1.jpg
compressor front1.jpg
Compressor RS1.jpg
engine1.jpg
data plate1.jpg
Attachments
date1.jpg
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Jun 12, 2021 10:52 am

I finally received my reproduction copy of TM 5-5106. Since I am still working on my first GPW, this is sitting in the wings, but on my free time I thought I would work on the tool kit. According to the manual, these are the tools that go in the tool box. Since the tool box is not too large, I might refinish that. It has the same configuration as the standard GMTK with a small recess in the lid for the TM. I'll get some images of that soon.

The only tool that was original and in the box was the Spark Plug Wrench. The rest I will begin assembling. Should be fairly easy with the exception of the Hose COupling for tire inflation.
Compressor Tool Kit b.jpg
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by 17thAirborne » Fri Aug 19, 2022 2:12 pm

I finally got around to a slow start on the compressor trailer. Now that my GPW is up and running, I am going to spend a bit of time on this. I made a few updates to the web page for the restoration here:

https://gpw.castraponere.com/index.php/ ... tear-down/
IMG_6835.JPG
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)

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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by Adam » Sat Aug 20, 2022 9:34 am

Nice, definitely different,

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Re: US WW2 Corps of Engineer Airborne Trailer Mounted Compressor

Post by 17thAirborne » Sat Aug 20, 2022 11:52 am

Thanks for noticing. According to the TM which lists the War Department POs, there were 554 of these produced, and only 5 went to airborne divisions. I really think this will be a great piece to display in an airborne engineer scenario with other pioneer too chests. I also found a vintage jack hammer which will look nice next to the compressor with the industrial grade hose connected to it.
Oz

Feb 43 GPW 98532 USA 20206257
Oct 70 Land Rover Series 2a 25334079G NZ16GF36
http://gpw.castraponere.com/ (My Restoration Page)


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