68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Military Trucks 2 1/2 ton and greater, Wanted, For Sale (NO AUCTION or EBAY), and Knowledge Base

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Joe Gopan
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Sat Oct 19, 2019 11:19 pm

When the 506th rotated into Dow Field during 1952, the unit had a Strata Blue 40's Cadillac Staff Car which Colonels Bertram, Hunziker and Coward could be seen riding in.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO


Joe Gopan
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Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Mar 08, 2020 4:58 am

What is fun is discovering photos of the Officers and Airmen of the 50's era at Dow on ebay, or when reading Unit History Books such as "The 4th Fighter Wing in the Korean War" and discovering a photo of A1C Miller, a daily customer of our Restaurant across from DOW who was rewarded for his assigned aircraft flying 90 Missions without an abort in Korea with a T-33 ride at Dow Field... Airman Miller Was from Connecticut,his folks owned a Coca Cola plant. He got his T-33 ride when he returned to the States from Korea and was assigned to the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing. These memories come alive just like yesterday. Some where I have a Balsa Monogram Speedee Bilt Corsair and B-24 that were built from Kits that the Airmen bought at the PX for me.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Location: Proving Ground

Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Apr 29, 2020 12:09 am

With the departure of activated ANG P-51 from Iowa and the arrival of the 506th Strategic Fighter Wing, traces of WWII uniforms disappeared and the new USAF fatigues and insignia replaced them. Some of the ANG flight line crews still wore sheepskin bomber jackets.
I have one NOS crated HQ Field Desk leftover from the IOWA/Nebraska ANG 51-52 period.
The MV activity at busy Korean War period Dow Field would be exciting for the younger G503 members as much of the equipment was WWII.
I still play one of my favorite tunes from 52-54 period, "MARIE" by the Four Tunes" , Dow Field comes alive again with the old jukebox music.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Wed Apr 29, 2020 9:50 am

Why the reruns? I enjoy talking Army Trucks and Military aircraft and have had a non-stop ringside seat to them since the end of WWII.
Another big reason, the local Memorial Day Parade has just been canceled.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Sun Sep 27, 2020 4:34 am

Still looking for the film "The Story of a Jet Pilot".
Hope I am not boring anyone with these MV moments in history, there is much more to military MV's than the TM's. What is also neat are the various books by KuKu Fan about famous Jets of the World (printed in Japanese)and spotting photos of aircraft history being made at Dow Field such as the 14th Fighter Group's P-84 B Thunder Jets and the F-80's of the 56th Fighter Group led by Col. David Shilling on their "Fox Able" missions to Germany. One of the photos shows a 5 Ton 4X4 COE Tractor with a fuel Trailer. The Cab Cover is torn and hanging over the passenger seat. I used to see this very truck every day. 72 years come alive again in these books.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:45 pm

The 50's introduced a new sound on the streets of DOW Field and all of the Air Force Bases, The new M-Series 6X6 derivatives by Studebaker and Reo had a signature sound that spoke of power and were easier to operate than their WWII ancestors due to synchronized transmissions. M-108 and M-246 Wreckers were a daily sight on and off base. The O-11A Crash Trucks also had their own signature Continental Motors sound.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Feb 11, 2021 10:54 am

What is neat about this hobby is encountering the Airmen in that I knew from Korean War era DOW FIELD in books such as the Osprey and KuKu Fan publications.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

Joe Gopan
Jeep Heaven
Posts: 49841
Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 12:37 pm
Location: Proving Ground

Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by Joe Gopan » Thu Mar 11, 2021 2:38 pm

I can remember the first C-124 Globemaster to land at Dow Field, it was around 1952 during the January cold snap, -10F was common. They attempted to start it, it would turn over slow, then fast and quit, this went on for a day or two. It was parked by the big coal pile by Hangar #1 and next to the Iowa/Nebraska F-51's that were activated for Korea.
The youngsters today are missing out the excitement of seeing all the WWII aircraft in the inventory plus the period Jets.
2011 MVPA PIONEER AWARD - MVPA #1064
HONOR GRAD-WHEELED VEHICLE MECHANIC SCHOOL 1960 - US ARMY ORDNANCE SCHOOL(MACHINIST) ABERDEEN PG 1962 - O-1 BIRD DOG CREWCHIEF - 300,000+TROUBLE FREE M-38A1 MILES
LIFE MEMBER AM LEGION-40/8-DAV
7 MIL SPEC MAINTAINED MV'S
COL. BRUNO BROOKS (ARMY MOTORS) IS MY HERO

fernando mendes
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Re: 68 MB/CCKW DOW FIELD YEARS AGO

Post by fernando mendes » Sat Mar 13, 2021 2:17 am

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C7VurLMoXa8
First american jet fighter BELL P-59 AIRACOMET 1942.
Jeep Willys MB DoD dec,16 1942 s/n:196275
Dodge B3-B 4x2 1952 s/n:90099559
CCKW 353 Banjo 1944 s/n:309623


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